Pasadena High School (California)

The school was first established as a district school in 1884 and became Pasadena High School in 1891.{{cite web|url=http://www.pusd.us/staticpages/sarc/phs203-04.pdf|title=2003-2004 School Accountability Report Card|publisher=Pasadena Unified School District|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190621/http://www.pusd.us/staticpages/sarc/phs203-04.pdf|archive-date=2007-09-27}} In 1928, the school merged into Pasadena Junior College and operated as a four-year school, grades 11, 12, 13 and 14. Pasadena realigned its 6-4-4 school system in 1954 with Pasadena High School regaining its separate identity. PHS, however, shared the Pasadena City College Colorado Boulevard campus through the graduating class of 1960 when PHS moved to its present campus on Sierra Madre Boulevard at Washington Boulevard.

The Rose Parade, post parade Showcase of Floats takes place in front of the high school utilizing some of the school grounds and parking lots.

Pasadena High School's athletic field was renovated, adding light towers, a new track and replacing the grass field with artificial turf. It opened at the start of the 2009-10 school year. The school's junior varsity and varsity football teams as well as the boys' and girls' soccer teams play their home games on the field. The school also is used for its track meets in the spring.

On January 8, 2019, Pasadena High School opened the renovated Tom Hamilton Gymnasium at the cost of $19 million. It is used for boys and girls junior varsity and varsity basketball teams and the girls volleyball team for their home games.

On February 7th, students at Pasadena High School staged a walkout alongside four other nearby high schools.[https://localnewspasadena.com/2025/hundreds-of-phs-students-picket-city-hall/ "Hundreds of Local Students Picket City Hall"] Calvin Madsen, Pasadena Local News

The school's auditorium is named after Gladiss Edwards, who was the principal during the late 1950s and into the 1960s.

{{Update|date=February 2025|reason=Outdated demographics data, needs updating.|section=Demographics}}

In the 2022-23 school year, Pasadena High School's student population consisted of 1,609 students, with 53.9% of students being Latino, 19.6% white, 12.3% African-American, and 7.7% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 0.4% American Indian/Alaska Native.

Pasadena High School offers several special unique programs. The Graphic Communications Academy was established in partnership with the Printing Industry of Southern California and Pasadena City College. The Visual Arts and Design Academy is linked with the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena City College and the Pasadena Art Armory. The Center for Independent Study program is a remedial program to help students who are behind in credits. PHS also offers a career pathway called the App Academy, which helps students learn about web design.

Pasadena High School competes against John Muir High School at the Rose Bowl in a football game known as the Turkey Tussle. The tradition began in 1947, and Muir leads the series 42-18-2.{{cite web |url=http://phs.pasadenausd.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=160658&sessionid=081d6555d9b0f7f7ad6df2c1aa27cea0&sessionid=081d6555d9b0f7f7ad6df2c1aa27cea0 |title=The Turkey Tussle |access-date=2007-12-09 |publisher=Pasadena High School Official Website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727164220/http://phs.pasadenausd.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=160658&sessionid=081d6555d9b0f7f7ad6df2c1aa27cea0&sessionid=081d6555d9b0f7f7ad6df2c1aa27cea0 |archive-date=2011-07-27 }}

Pasadena High School also has a NNDCC unit, which is a non-funded version of the US Navy's NJROTC program.{{cite web|title=Orientation to High School|url=http://phs.pusd.us/files/_GRLV5_/ec32360907393cad3745a49013852ec4/Orientation_to_High_School_2015-2016.pdf|publisher=PUSD|access-date=25 April 2016}} Pasadena High School has had a Reserves Officer's Training Corps since 1920 starting as Army but has also been Air Force and Marines as well in the past. They disbanded in 2017-2018 academic year.

{{Alumni|SAL|date=April 2019}}

{{category see also|Pasadena High School (California) alumni}}

• Robert Armstrong, 1968, cartoonist, known for creating Mickey Rat who popularized the term "couch potato"
• Louise Beavers, 1920, Actress
• Walt Becker, 1986, film director, "Van Wilder," "Wild Dogs," "Old Dogs (film)"
• Armon Binns, 2011, NFL player
• Mario Clark, NFL cornerback
• Carol Cleveland, 1960, actress, associated with Monty Python's Flying Circus TV show{{Cite web|url=http://www.cardinalfang.net/biographies/cleveland_biog.html|title=Carol Cleveland biography|website=Cardinal Fang's Python Site|access-date=2018-06-07}}
• Mike Connelly, 1952, NFL lineman, Dallas Cowboys
• Michael Cooper, 1974, basketball player and coach, 5-time NBA champion, WNBA head coach{{cite web|url=http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/406403sports11-10-05.htm|title=ABQjournal: From Childhood, Through UNM and the NBA, Michael Cooper Has Persevered|last=Wright|first=Rick|date=10 November 2005|work=Albuquerque Journal|access-date=17 April 2011}}
• Donald D. Engen, 1941, US Navy Vice Admiral, former Administrator of Federal Aviation Administration and Director of National Air and Space Museum{{cite book|last=Wise|first=James|title=At the Helm of USS America: The Aircraft Carrier and Its 23 Commanders, 1965-1996|publisher=McFarland|year=2014|isbn=9780786476565|page=17}}
• Bob Eubanks, 1955, radio-TV personality, host of The Newlywed Game and longtime broadcaster of Rose Parade{{cite news|url=http://www.theacorn.com/news/2010-12-09/Community/Bob_Eubanks_fullfills_lifelong_dream.html|title=Bob Eubanks {{sic|nolink=y|fullfills|expected=fulfills}} lifelong dream|last=Holt|first=Steve|date=9 December 2010|work=The Acorn|access-date=17 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212105813/http://www.theacorn.com/news/2010-12-09/Community/Bob_Eubanks_fullfills_lifelong_dream.html|archive-date=December 12, 2010|url-status=dead}}
• Victor Gordo, 1987, Pasadena City Councilmember (2001-2020), 55th Mayor of Pasadena (2020-)
• Howard Hawks, 1914, Hollywood film director (Scarface, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Rio Bravo)McCarthy, Todd. Howard hawks: The Grey Fox of Hollywood. Grove Press. 1997. p. 36.
• Chris Holden, 1978, 53rd Mayor of Pasadena, city councilman (District 3) (1989–2012),{{cite news|url=http://cityofpasadena.net/district3/|title=City of Pasadena: Councilmember Chris Holden (1989–2012) |access-date=17 April 2011}} California State Assemblyman, 41st District (2012–2024)
• Michael Holton, 1979, basketball player and ESPN analyst[http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/holton_michael00.html Player Bio: Michael Holton] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807095529/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/holton_michael00.html |date=2011-08-07 }}, UCLABruins.com
• Chidi Iwuoma, 1996, NFL Player
• Payton Jordan, Hall of Fame Olympic track coach and Masters track and field world record holder{{cite web|url=http://www.oxy.edu/x2848.xml|title=Occidental College :: Legendary Track Coach Payton Jordan to be Honored at SCIAC Track Championships April 23|last=Tranquada|first=Jim|work=Occidental College|access-date=17 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928120915/http://www.oxy.edu/x2848.xml|archive-date=28 September 2011}}
• Kathryn Le Veque, 1982, bestselling historical romance fiction author and publisher{{cite web|url=https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/40514?page=25|title=Pasadena High School Yearbook 1982}}
• María de López, Californian suffragette
• Jim Matheny, UCLA and professional football player
• Chris McAlister, 1995, NFL Player{{Cite news | last = Hodges | first = Jim | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-25-sp-36142-story.html | title = Would-Be Bruin Declares War on Westwood | newspaper = Los Angeles Times | date = September 25, 1997}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pusd.us/Page/1009 |title=Welcome to Bulldog Athletics / NFL 50th Honor Roll Super Bowl | website = Pasadena High School | access-date = October 6, 2019}}{{dead link|date=November 2024}}
• Edwin McMillan, co-recipient of 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry{{cite web | title = Oral History Transcript — Dr. Edwin McMillan | publisher = American Institute of Physics | date = June 1, 1972 | url = http://www.aip.org/history/ohilist/4773_1.html}}
• Zephyr Moore Ramsey, African American lawyer
• Charley Paddock, two-time Olympic champion, "fastest man in the world"{{cite news | url=http://www.gainesvilleregister.com/local/x116023745/Gainesville-native-called-fastest-man-in-the-world | title=Gainesville native called fastest man in the world | first=Marvin | last=Hogan | work=Gainesville Daily Register | date=July 29, 2008 | access-date=January 4, 2013}}
• William H. Press, 1965, astrophysicist and 165th president of American Association for the Advancement of Science
• QUIÑ (Bianca Quiñones), singer{{cite web | url =https://milk.xyz/articles/quin-is-bringing-her-fantasy-soul-dreamland-to-life-with-dreamgirl/ | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190131041305/https://milk.xyz/articles/quin-is-bringing-her-fantasy-soul-dreamland-to-life-with-dreamgirl/ | url-status =usurped | archive-date =January 31, 2019 | title =QUIÑ is Bringing Her Fantasy Soul Dreamland to Life With 'DREAMGIRL' | last =Jayes | first =Ella | date =September 13, 2017 | website =milk.xyz | publisher =Milk Agency LLC | access-date =2019-03-04 }}
• James Sanford, 1980 world's fastest human
• Stan Smith, 1964, tennis player and two-time Grand Slam singles champion
• May Sutton, tennis player, winner of singles title at U.S. National Championships and Wimbledon{{Cite news |last=Rasmussen |first=Cecilia |date=1999-03-28 |title=May Bundy Rewrote the Tennis Record Books |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-28-me-21844-story.html |access-date=2023-12-04 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
• Bill Sweek, 1964, basketball player and coach{{cite news|last=Jensen|first=George|title=Marsh Named Valley's Top Prep Cager|date=March 23, 1964|newspaper=Pasadena Independent|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2916913/|access-date=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
• Jerry Tarkanian, ~1948, college basketball coach, NCAA champion and Hall of Famer{{cite news|last1=Trevino|first1=Chris|title=Jerry Tarkanian, former Long Beach State and UNLV coaching great, dies at 84|date=February 11, 2015|newspaper=Daily News|url=https://www.dailynews.com/sports/20150211/jerry-tarkanian-former-long-beach-state-and-unlv-coaching-great-also-coached-at-pcc-redlands-high-dies-at-84}}
• Kevin Tighe, 1962, actor Emergency!{{cite news |title='Franco's Kids' Pay Tribute |first=Beverly |last=Beyette |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-04-vw-22227-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles, California |date=1988-01-04 |quote=After 26 years as drama teacher at Pasadena High, Franco was retiring to devote full time to acting and writing. For three months, his one-time pupils had planned this tribute, a party Saturday night at the Bel-Air home of scriptwriter Cynthia Whitcomb (class of '69). }}
• Lester Towns, 1995, NFL player
• James Turrell, 1961, an American artist known for his work within the Light and Space movement{{Cite web|url=https://jamesturrell.com/about/biography/|title = Biography| work=James Turrell }}
• Alex Van Halen, 1972, member of rock band Van Halen{{cite web |url=http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Alex_Van_Halen.html |title=Drummerworld: Alex van halen |access-date=December 1, 2008}}
• Eddie Van Halen, 1973, founding member of Van Halen
• Lee Walls, Major League Baseball outfielder
• Cynthia Whitcomb, 1969, television writer and playwright
• Dick Williams, 1947, former Major League Baseball player and manager
• Dick Railsback, 1964, former American pole vaulterDick Railsback{{Circular reference|date=February 2025}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Pasadena, California}}

{{authority control}}{{Portalbar|Schools|California|Education}}

Category:Educational institutions established in 1884

Category:Public high schools in Los Angeles County, California

Category:1884 establishments in California

Category:Schools in Pasadena, California