Robert McQueen High School

The school was named for Dr. Robert McQueen, emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. During his tenure from 1955 to 1991, Dr. McQueen headed UNR's scholarship program, served as department chair and dean, and was appointed to Nevada's first psychological board of examiners. Dr. McQueen served on the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees from 1969 to 1990, during which the district built several new schools, including Reed and McQueen . He also negotiated the purchase of McQueen's {{convert|60|acre|m2|adj=on}} site from the Bureau of Land Management for just one dollar.{{cite web|last=Williams |first=Alli |title=The number one psychologist in Nevada |url=http://studentdev.jour.unr.edu/aewilliams/?p=173 |work=Alli Williams blog |access-date=10 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719231835/http://studentdev.jour.unr.edu/aewilliams/?p=173 |archive-date=July 19, 2011 }}

When the school opened in 1982, adjoining Seventh Street and Robb Drive were only dirt roads extended out to allow access to the school. Some remarked the school was "in the middle of nowhere" as it was more than a mile from other buildings. Since then, the construction of numerous subdevelopments has resulted in overcrowding problems. The building was designed for an enrollment of 1,600; in 2009/10 more than 1,800 were enrolled. In order to mitigate overcrowding concerns and comply with local fire regulations, several modular classrooms have been added to the campus.

In 2010, Newsweek listed McQueen as the 740th best high school in the United States[https://archive.today/20120905022825/http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?sort=Rank&count=1236&start=0&limit=100&year=2005&Search=NV Newsweek 2005 High School Rankings] using the ratio of number of AP exams taken to graduating students as its criterion.

In March 2018, student Noah Christiansen called the office of U.S. Representative Mark Amodei to argue in favor of banning bump stocks and raising the minimum age to buy a gun. A staffer who worked for Amodei called Robert McQueen High School for his use of the word "fuck", which led to Christiansen's suspension.{{cite web|last1=Griggs|first1=Brandon|title=A Nevada teen called his congressman and dropped an F-bomb while demanding action on guns. His school suspended him|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/21/us/nevada-teen-suspended-congressman-amodei-trnd/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=March 23, 2018|date=March 22, 2018}} On March 19, the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to the school district demanding that the suspension be overturned.{{cite web|last1=DeHaven|first1=James|last2=Duggan|first2=Brian|title=ACLU: Student suspended for cursing after call to congressman's office during gun protest|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/03/21/student-who-called-congressmans-office-suspended/448083002/|access-date=March 23, 2018|work=Reno Gazette-Journal|publisher=USA Today|date=March 21, 2018|location=Reno}} On March 23, the school district decided to withdraw the suspension to avoid "expensive and protracted litigation", but stood by the school's action to punish the student.{{cite web|last1=Hernandez|first1=Salvador|title=A Student Who Was Suspended After Calling A Congressman's Office And Demanding Gun Control Won't Be Punished After All|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/salvadorhernandez/a-student-who-was-suspended-after-calling-a-congressmans|publisher=BuzzFeed|access-date=March 24, 2018|date=March 23, 2018}}

• The Lancers compete in the High Desert League, which is part of the Northern Nevada 5A Region. McQueen competes in the 5A level, which is the large school category. In 2008, rivals.com named them the 75th Best High School Football Team in the nation. They beat Palo Verde High School in a rematch of the 2001 state semi-final game on December 6, 2008, with a score of 13-12 for the Nevada 4A High School Football Championship. They finished ranked 48th in the nation by Rivals.com.{{cite web|url=http://highschool.rivals.com/viewrankhs.asp?ra_key=457 |title=RivalsHigh Rankings |publisher=Highschool.rivals.com |date= |access-date=2013-10-24}}

Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association State Championships

• Basketball (Girls) - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
• Football - 1990, 1992, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010
• Soccer (Girls) - 2003,2023
• Softball - 2005, 2006
• Swimming (Girls) - 1995
• Track and Field (Boys) - 2010, 2014, 2022
• Track and Field (Girls) - 2010
• Cross Country (Boys) - 2014, 2015

MARCHING BAND

Current Director: Nathan Williams

The marching band has won the state championships fifteen times: (1986, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2019)[http://www.mcqueenband.org/mcq_band_history.htm McQueen Band History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024185900/http://www.mcqueenband.org/mcq_band_history.htm |date=October 24, 2007 }}

The band has played in the following parades:

• Hollywood Christmas Parade, Los Angeles, CA (2012, 2003)
• Graeagle July 4 Parade (2018 [First Place], 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008)
• Reno Rodeo Parade (2018, 2017, 2012, 2010, 2009 [First Place], 2008 [First Place], 2007 [First Place])
• Fiesta Bowl Parade, Phoenix, AZ (2010/11 Class B National Champion; Field Show, Fourth Place in the Nation; 2006 Class B National Champion Field Show, Fifth Place in the Nation; 2018 Field show and Parade, Second Place Field Show and First Place Field Conductor)
• Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena, CA (2014, 2009)
• American Legion National Convention, Non-Competitive (2007)
• Presidential Inaugural Parade, Washington, DC (2005)

CHOIR

Current Director: Brandon Pierce

• The Robert McQueen High School Choir performed in Carnegie Hall in 2007,[http://www.midamerica-music.com/carnegie/carnegie_janfeb2007.htm#feb Carnegie Hall] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905215139/http://www.midamerica-music.com/carnegie/carnegie_janfeb2007.htm#feb |date=September 5, 2007 }} June 2009,[http://www.midamerica-music.com/carnegie/carnegie_current.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901030937/http://www.midamerica-music.com/carnegie/carnegie_current.htm|date=September 1, 2009}} and March 2019.
• McQueen's Core Jazz vocal ensemble won the "Best in Nevada" award at the UNR Jazz Festival in 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.unr.edu/rjf/old_files/individual%20awards.pdf |title=Reno Jazz Festival |publisher=Unr.edu |access-date=2013-10-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194259/http://www.unr.edu/rjf/old_files/individual%20awards.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-29 }}
• McQueen's Core Jazz choir also had a concert tour of 5 cities in China for the World Choir Games, held in Shaoxing, China, July 2010.

ORCHESTRA

Current Director: Kenny Baker

• The McQueen Orchestra with Kenny Baker has played at the ASTA National Conference in 2010 in Santa Clara, California

Current Coach- Amanda Ayala-Guffey

Competes in NNFL (Sagebrush League). Team has qualified for 30 National Tournaments, held by National Speech and Debate Association.

Achievements

2023- 3 National Qualifiers for National Speech and Debate Tournament in Mesa, Arizona.

2024- 1 National Qualifier, 2 National Competitors for National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.

• The Excalibur — monthly school newspaper, inducted into the National Scholastic Press Association's Hall of Fame in the fall of 2004,{{cite web |url=http://www.washoe.k12.nv.us/docs/pdf/pin4405fnl.pdf |title=Press release |format=PDF |access-date=2013-10-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194336/http://www.washoe.k12.nv.us/docs/pdf/pin4405fnl.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-29 }} making it the only student publication in the state to be inducted. It won a NSPA Newspaper Pacemaker in 2009.{{cite web|title=2009 NSPA Newspaper Pacemaker Winners|url=http://studentpress.org/nspa/winners/npm09.html|work=National Scholastic Press Association|access-date=10 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820010123/http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/winners/npm09.html|archive-date=20 August 2011}}
• "McQueen TV" — closed circuit television station (daily broadcast news show) and video production facility
• Chrysalis — annual literary magazine
• Caxton — yearbook, awarded the national Silver Crown award in 2006{{cite web|url=http://www.columbiauniversity.org/cu/cspa/docs/contests-and-critiques/crown-awards/recipients/2006-scholastic-crown.html#N102E4 |title=Columbia University CSPA |publisher=Columbiauniversity.org |date=1999-02-22 |access-date=2013-10-24}} and the NSPA Yearbook Pacemaker in 2008.{{cite web|title=2008 NSPA Pacemaker winners|url=http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/winners/ypm08.html|work=National Scholastic Press Association|access-date=10 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807054043/http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/winners/ypm08.html|archive-date=7 August 2015}}

In 2009, the school's total enrollment was 1,884, and its ethnic makeup was:{{cite web |url=http://www.washoe.k12.nv.us/docs/public-policy-accountability-assessment/08-09AccountabilityReport/WCSD_District_Acct_Rpt_08-09.pdf |title=WCSD 2008-2009 Accountability Report |format=PDF |access-date=2013-10-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029184747/http://www.washoe.k12.nv.us/docs/public-policy-accountability-assessment/08-09AccountabilityReport/WCSD_District_Acct_Rpt_08-09.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-29 }}

• American Indian/Alaskan Native 39 (2.1%)
• Asian/Pacific Islander 231 (12.3%)
• Hispanic 262 (13.9%)
• Black 79 (4.2%)
• White 1,273 (67.6%)

• 1985, Terri Ivens, actress
• 1986, Michael Landsberry, teacher and military veteran killed during the 2013 Sparks Middle School shooting
• 1987, Mädchen Amick, actress, Alice Cooper on Riverdale
• 1989, David Byerman, Director of the Kentucky General Assembly
• 1989, Nicole King, molecular biologist, professor and MacArthur Fellowship winner
• 1995, Carol Roth, Professional Cheerleader for the Oakland Raiderettes.
• 1996, Teresa Benitez, former Miss Nevada 2002 and politician
• 1997, Chris Aguila, former baseball outfielder, played with the New York Mets
• 1998, April Meservy, singer and songwriter
• 2001, Ryan Bader, professional MMA fighter, won The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir, was competing in the UFC's Light Heavyweight Division, currently the Light Heavyweight Champion of Bellator MMA{{cite web|title=Ryan Bader UFC Bio|url=https://www.ufc.com/athlete/ryan-bader|access-date=2014-01-01}}
• 2001, Chris Carr, football defensive back, played for Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers & New Orleans Saints before retiring in March 2014
• 2002, Jeff Rowe, football quarterback, played for Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks & New England Patriots
• 2002, Ryan Thomas, wrestler; current professional mixed martial arts fighter for American Top Team{{cite web|title=Ryan Thomas MMA Bio|url=http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Ryan-Thomas-20224|access-date=2014-01-01}}
• 2003, Clint Stitser, football kicker, played for New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals & Washington Redskins in the NFL; played for the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League (2009–2012)
• 2009, Kyle Van Noy, football linebacker
• 2016, Brandon Aiyuk, football wide receiver
• 2022, Robby Snelling, pitcher in Miami Marlins organization

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.washoeschools.net/mcqueen Official site]
• [http://www.mcqueenband.org/ School marching band]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120717235904/http://www.lancerfan.com/ Football boosters site]
• [http://www.mcqueen1985.com/ Class of 1985 site]

{{authority control}}

{{Education in Washoe County, Nevada}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcqueen, Robert High School}}

Category:Educational institutions established in 1982

Category:High schools in Reno, Nevada

Category:Washoe County School District

Category:Public high schools in Nevada

Category:School buildings completed in 1982

Category:1982 establishments in Nevada