Santa Monica High School

File:Santa Monica High School postcard c. 1919 (kt5c60330s).jpg

In 1891, the Union High School Law was passed in Santa Monica, thereby establishing a four-year high school for the city. The first graduating class graduated in 1894.

The new campus opened in 1912 with one building, the current History Building, with an enrollment of 50 students. The school sits on the hilltop between 4th and 7th streets and Pico and Olympic Blvds., from which one can see the Pacific Ocean. Ten years later the campus was expanded with construction of the English building.

In 1921, the Open Air Memorial Theater, now called the Greek Amphitheatre, was built to honor the Santa Monicans who served in World War I. One of the best examples of the classical Greek style in Southern California, the amphitheater was built after Santa Monica passed a $30,000 bond measure to fund its construction.{{cite book|last=Cleland|first=Donald|title=A History of the Santa Monica Schools, 1876-1951|year=1952|publisher=Santa Monica Unified School District|location=Santa Monica, CA}} Barnum Hall Theater, originally called the Auditorium, was built in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to be the Civic Auditorium of Santa Monica and host school events. The campus added six buildings during this period: the Language, English, Business, History, Administration, and Music Buildings.

In 1952, Santa Monica High School was finally expanded to what it is now, {{convert|33|acre|m2}}, and two new buildings were built, the Science and Technology D.M. Buildings. As the school aged, renovations took place in Barnum Hall and the Music Building was completely rebuilt.

The Innovation Building was constructed along with an outdoor gathering space called the Centennial Plaza and was ready by the start of the 2015–16 school year.{{cite web|url=http://fip.smmusd.org/santamonica.html|title=SMMUSD Facilities Improvement Projects|access-date=2015-02-05}}

The Discovery Building, including a new pool and cafeteria, was constructed and ready by the start of the 2021–22 school year.{{Cite web |title=SMMUSD Building Futures, Fall 2021 |url=https://www.smmusd.org/cms/lib/CA50000164/Centricity/domain/4176/samohi/Samohi-BF-Fall-2021-Eng-Sp.pdf }}

The History Building was demolished in the summer of 2021{{Cite web |title=Making Way for Phase 3; Cafeteria, Art Building, History Building and Drake Pool |url=https://www.smmusd.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=10641&ViewID=DEDCCD34-7C24-4AF2-812A-33C0075398BC&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=10525&PageID=6157&Tag=&Comments=true |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=www.smmusd.org |language=en}} and its replacement, the Exploration Building, was constructed and ready by the start of the 2024–25 school year.{{Cite web |title=SMMUSD New Exploration building and Gold gymnasium |url=https://www.smmusd.org/Page/5603}}

The South Gym was demolished in 2024 and its replacement, the Gold Gym, opened the same year, a few months after the Exploration Building.

The Business Building is planned to be demolished in the summer of 2026 and its replacement, the Student Services Building, will be complete by the start of the 2028-29 school year.{{Cite web |title= SMMUSD hires contractor for new student services building|url=https://www.thesamohi.com/articles-1/severance-good-tv-is-back-youre-just-not-watching-gatbc-cnh3c-mzm6w-j4hah }}

In 2003, Samohi adopted a house system; similar to college house systems; each student is part of a house.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/22/AR2006022202449.html Schools Chief Pick Sees Enemy in 'Anonymity'], Washington Post, 23 February 2006. There are four houses: S, A, M, and O. Upon enrollment at Santa Monica High School, students are randomly assigned to a house unless the student has already had a sibling at Samohi. In that case, the student has the option to join the house their sibling is in, or to join a new one. The S House office is stationed in the English Building, the A house office is stationed in the Innovation Building, and the M and O house offices are both stationed in the Discovery Building. A principal oversees each of the houses, along with two counselors and an office assistant.

The school also has an academic team which won the 2008 National Science Bowl competition{{Cite web|url=http://science.energy.gov/wdts/nsb/about/historical-information/past-national-science-bowl-winners/past-hs-winners/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102123800/http://science.energy.gov/wdts/nsb/about/historical-information/past-national-science-bowl-winners/past-hs-winners/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2017|title=Past High School National Science Bowl Winners (1991 - 2014) | U.S. DOE Office of Science (SC)|date=January 2, 2017}} as well as the 2017 National Ocean Sciences Bowl.{{cite web|url=http://nosb.org/santa-monica-high-school-wins-20th-annual-national-ocean-sciences-bowl/|title=Santa Monica High School Wins 20th Annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl|date=24 April 2017}} Additionally, the quiz bowl team remains competitive in the Southern California circuit.{{cite web|url=https://www.naqt.com/stats/school/results.jsp?org_id=54707|title=NAQT - Santa Monica High School - Results|website=www.naqt.com}}

Image:Barnum Hall.jpg

In 2005, Symphony Orchestra was labeled the best high school-level orchestra in the nation by the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) at the National Orchestra Festival in Reno, Nevada.{{Cite web|url=http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/santa-monica-high-school-symphony-orchestra|title=Santa Monica High School Symphony Orchestra - LA Phil}} The orchestra program is made up of many different ensembles, ranging from the smaller Beginning Strings / String Orchestra to the large Symphony Orchestra. Many of the orchestras from Santa Monica High School have had the chance to travel around the nation and the world. In February 2006, Symphony Orchestra became the first public high school orchestra to perform in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles.[http://www.laphil.com/press/press_release/index.cfm?id=1656 Santa Monica High School Symphony Makes Its Walt Disney Concert Hall Debut...], LA Phil Presents

File:Santa Monica High School marching band 1.jpg parade]]

The Santa Monica High School Viking Marching Band is one of the oldest high school marching bands in the state of California. The marching band performs for home football games and for many school and community events. The band enjoys a long history of competing in parades and field shows, most notably participating in shows sponsored by the SCSBOA (Southern California Student Band and Orchestra Association). In 2006, the marching band qualified for the first time in the SCSBOA 5A division championship.{{cite web|title=2006 SCSBOA Championship Score Grid|url=http://www.scsboa.org/pdf/FldCscor.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710001458/http://www.scsboa.org/pdf/FldCscor.pdf|archive-date=2007-07-10|date=10 July 2007}}

Samohi currently offers five concert bands, with the Wind Ensemble recognized as one of the most exceptionally talented high school bands in California. The Wind Ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall in 2007 and 2015, as well as Chicago Symphony Hall in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://smmirror.com/2013/01/santa-monica-high-school-wind-ensemble-receives-grant-for-chicago-music-festival/|title=Santa Monica High School Wind Ensemble Receives Grant For Chicago Music Festival|date=29 January 2013|website=SM Mirror}} In 2016, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the California All-State Music Educator's Conference (CASMEC) in San Jose. All ensembles regularly perform in festivals, conferences, and invitational concerts. The program enrolls over 300 students.{{cite web|url=http://www.samohiband.org/newhomepage/directors.html |title=Directors |publisher=Samohiband.org |access-date=2013-06-02}}

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Girls Varsity team won the 2010 CIF Southern Division 1 championship, defeating Summit High, 69–63. It was the first girls basketball title for SAMOHI; they went on to the Fourth Round of State and lost by two.

Boys Varsity won the 2013 CIF Division 1A Southern Section Championship against El Toro High School 66–56 at the Anaheim Convention Center. They entered the Division 1 State Championship as a #1 seed, losing in the championship game, 73–57, to Pleasant Grove.{{cite news|last=Morante|first=Roger|title=Samohi Comes Together To Win CIF Championship Game Over El Toro 66-56|url=http://www.smmirror.com/articles/Sports/Samohi-Comes-Together-To-Win-CIF-Championship-Game-Over-El-Toro-66-56/36932|access-date=5 March 2013|newspaper=Santa Monica Mirror|date=3 March 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://smdp.com/basketball-samohi-falls-in-state-final/120192|title=Basketball: Samohi falls in state final|date=2013-03-23|access-date=2015-02-05}} They also made it to the finals of the 2010 CIF Southern Division 1 Championship, but they were defeated at the Honda Center against Luezinger, and they went on to lose in second round of state.

The cross country team informally known as the "XC team" is composed of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. As of 2019, the Cross-country team competes in division 1 of CIF.{{cite web|url=http://www.smmirror.com/?ajax#mode=single&view=31090 |title=Santa Monica Mirror |publisher=Smmirror.com |access-date=2013-06-02}}

The wrestling team won the CIF State Championship in 1986. Also won the CIF State Championship in {{convert|152|lb|abbr=on}} weight class in 2007. For the past 7 years, the team has qualified individuals for the Southern Section CIF Masters and CIF State Championships.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cifss.org/sports_category.php?id=17&menu=18|title=CIF List of Winners}}

The lady Vikings have been undefeated in league games since 2004. In 2010 and 2014 the lady Vikings won CIF division IV southern section.{{cite web|url=https://smmirror.com/2014/06/samohi-softball-team-takes-home-cif-championship/|title=Samohi Softball Team Takes Home CIF Championship|date=14 June 2014|website=SM Mirror}}

Samohi's color guard and winter guard team performs in shows sponsored by Winter Guard International and Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC). Originally a joint drill team with Santa Monica College named the "Coronettes", the team utilizes both wooden guns and flags in their routines that are featured during halftime of every home football game. Additionally, after three years of membership, each participant receives a varsity letter. The team won gold medals in the WGASC championships in 2014, 2015, and 2016.{{cite web|url=http://santamonicahighcolorguard.weebly.com/|title=Santa monica high color guard|website=Santa monica high color guard|access-date=2017-04-18}}

{{Main category|Santa Monica High School alumni}}

• Art Alexakis (class of 1980), lead singer of Everclear{{Cite web |title=Santa Monica High School |url=https://www.seeing-stars.com/Schools/SantaMonicaHigh.shtml |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=www.seeing-stars.com}}
• Ben Allen (class of 1996), California state senator
• Lita Albuquerque (class of 1963), artist
• Sam Anno, former NFL linebacker
• Lee Arenberg, actor{{Cite web|last=Skinner|first=Keven|date=2015-11-15|title=Lee Arenberg Talks About Grumpy in Once Upon a Time Season 5, Pirates of The Caribbean & More [Interview]|url=https://www.foxforcefivenews.com/lee-arenberg-talks-about-grumpy-in-once-upon-a-time-season-5-pirates-of-the-caribbean-more-interview/|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Fox Force Five News|language=en-CA}}
• Dirk Blocker, actor
• Joan Blondell, actorSanta Monica High School Yearbook, 1925
• Don Bluth (class of 1955), filmmaker and animator{{Cite web |title=Hall of Fame |url=https://www.samohialumni.org/hall-of-fame.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Samohi Alumni Association |language=en}}
• Randolph Bresnik (class of 1985), NASA astronaut{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/randolph-j-bresnik/biography |title=Randolph J. Bresnik (Colonel, USMC)|publisher=NASA|year=2008|author=National Aeronautics and Space Administration|author-link=National Aeronautics and Space Administration}}
• Harold L. Brode (class of 1941), nuclear-weapons-effects physicist
• Patrick Burleigh, screenwriter{{Cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Patrick |date=2019-01-16 |title=I Was a 4-Year-Old Trapped in a Teenager's Body |url=https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/precocious-puberty-patrick-burleigh.html |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=The Cut |language=en}}
• Dean Cain, actor{{cite web| url=https://rollcall.com/2014/05/05/superman-dean-cain-mulls-run-for-congress/ | title='Superman' Dean Cain Mulls Run for Congress | publisher=Roll Call | date=May 5, 2014 | author=Livingston, Abby}}{{cite web| url=https://smmirror.com/2022/03/active-football-players-from-santa-monica// | title=Active Football Players from Santa Monica | publisher=Santa Monica Mirror | date= March 22, 2022}}
• Carson Daly (class of 1991), television host and personality
• Ken Darby (class of 1927), composer and lyricist; also composed school's fight song
• Robert Downey Jr., actor (did not graduate){{cite news |last1=Pasquini |first1=Maria |title=Rob Lowe Cozies Up to 'Old Friend' Robert Downey Jr. at Gwyneth Paltrow's Wedding: 'I Luv Ya' |url=https://people.com/movies/rob-lowe-robert-downey-jr-gwyneth-paltrow-wedding/ |access-date=September 11, 2020 |work=People magazine |date=September 30, 2018 |language=EN}}
• John Ehrlichman, lawyer and political advisor to Nixon during the Watergate era{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Steven V. |title=Ehrlichman Focus Of a Coast Dispute |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/21/archives/ehrlichman-focus-of-a-coast-dispute-anger-and-cynicism.html |access-date=March 16, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=May 21, 1973}}
• Emilio Estevez, actor, director, screenwriter, producer{{Cite web|title=Emilio Estevez|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000389/bio|access-date=2022-02-20|website=IMDb}}
• Frank Finch, sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times; brother of Gloria Stuart{{cite book|last1=Stuart|first1=Gloria|last2=Thompson|first2=Sylvia|author-link2=Gloria Stuart|title=Gloria Stuart: I Just Kept Hoping|publisher=Little, Brown, and Company|year=1999|location=Boston|isbn=0-316-81571-3|url=https://archive.org/details/gloriastuartijus00stua|url-access=registration|page=13}}
• Rhenzy Feliz, actor{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Luaine|title=Teen years in Hollywood were an advantage for Rhenzy Feliz|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/tv/teen-years-in-hollywood-were-an-advantage-for-rhenzy-feliz/|access-date=November 10, 2020|work=The Seattle Times|date=November 16, 2017|language=EN}}
• Paul Fleischman (class of 1970), children's author
• Glenn Ford, actor{{cite news |last1=Baum |first1=Gary |title=Santa Monica High School Cancels Scientology Anti-Drug Program After Uproar (Exclusive) {{!}} Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/santa-monica-high-scientology-drug-program-1003364 |access-date=September 11, 2020 |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=May 12, 2017}}
• Spencer Freedman (born 1998), college basketball player for the Harvard Crimson and NYU Violets
• Henry Fukuhara (class of 1931), painter
• Lisa Gerritsen, actress
• Christian Lee Hutson (class of 2009), singer-songwriter{{cite web | url=https://www.reddit.com/r/indieheads/comments/txpavs/comment/i3o02j6/ | title=R/Indieheads - Comment by u/Christianleehutson on "I'm Christian Lee Hutson and I just released my new album 'Quitters' - AMA!" | date=6 April 2022 }}
• Anita Kanter (born 1933), tennis player[http://archive.org/details/ucladailybruin28losa UCLA Daily Bruin]{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
• Natas Kaupas (born 1969), professional skateboarder{{cite news |title=Sanra Monica High School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-a-students/140744459/ |access-date=30 December 2024 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=2 June 1985 |page=12}}{{cite news |title=Santa Monica High School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/143564911/ |access-date=30 December 2024 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=1 June 1986 |page=12}}
• Jonny Kim (class of 2002), NASA astronaut{{Cite web|last=Tonnessen|first=Heather|date=2017-06-05|title=Astronaut Jonny Kim|url=http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jonny-kim/biography|access-date=2020-10-12|website=NASA}}
• Lorenzo Lamas, actor
• Tim Leary, baseball player{{cite news |title=Former Dodger Pitcher, Santa Monica Star Looks Back At 1988 Triumph |url=https://smmirror.com/2015/10/former-dodger-pitcher-santa-monica-star-looks-back-at-1988-triumph/ |access-date=March 16, 2021 |work=Santa Monica Mirror |date=October 16, 2015}}
• Chad Lowe, actor & director{{Cite web|title="Rob Lowe Biography". Bio. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2021.|url=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/rob-lowe.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901213448/http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/rob-lowe.html|archive-date=2012-09-01|url-status=live}}
• Rob Lowe, actor
• Stephen Miller, political advisor
• Rick Monday (class of 1963), Major League Baseball player and broadcaster
• Nathan Myhrvold (class of 1974), computer scientist and businessman
• Gene Nelson (class of 1938), actor
• William Overgard (class of 1944), cartoonist and novelist
• Damon Packard (class of 1985), actor & director
• Karyn Parsons (class of 1984), actress
• Sean Penn, actor
• Holly Robinson Peete, actress
• Eric Pop, engineer and professor{{Cite web |last=Costea |first=Bogdan |date=2011-01-13 |title=Eric Pop, de la Jules Verne la Barack Obama |url=https://ziarultimpul.ro/eric-pop-de-la-jules-verne-la-barack-obama/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Ziarul Timpul |language=ro-RO}}
• Ronda Rousey, UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion{{cite news |author=Lance Pugmire |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-xpm-2013-feb-21-la-sp-0222-ronda-rousey-20130222-story.html |title=Ronda Rousey's maverick ways lead to landmark UFC bout |newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=2013-02-21 |access-date=2013-06-02}}
• Liane Sato (class of 1982), Olympic volleyball player and current volleyball coach at Samohi
• Terry Schofield, basketball player and coach{{cite news|last=McCullough|first=Susie|title=Corsair Basketball Star Terry Schofield Proves Hard Work Is Key To Success|date=March 1, 1967|newspaper=The Corsair|page=4|url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=CRS19670301.2.29|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6YsDARshj?url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/imageserver/imageserver.pl?oid=CRS19670301&key=&getpdf=true|archive-date=May 28, 2015|url-status=live}}
• Charlie Sheen, actor
• Tyler Skaggs, Major League Baseball player{{cite web|author=Kevin Baxter|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jun-10-sp-angels-fyi10-story.html|title=Angels go after power in the draft|work=Los Angeles Times|date=10 June 2009|access-date=28 March 2014}}
• Cecil Smith (class of 1935), longtime critic and columnist for the Los Angeles Times{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-cecil-smith14-2009jul14-story.html|title=Cecil Smith dies at 92; Times TV critic advocated literate, high-quality shows|author=Dennis Mclellan|date=July 14, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times}}
• Jan Steckel (class of 1980), poet and writer
• Gloria Stuart, actress
• Jubilant Sykes (class of 1972), opera singer
• Heather Thomas (class of 1975), actress
• Sandra Tsing Loh (class of 1979), writer and actress
• Madison Tung, wrestler, military officer, and Rhodes Scholar{{cite web |last1=Finn |first1=Mike |title=Rhodes Scholar Tung builds off her wrestling drive |url=https://www.win-magazine.com/2019/05/rhodes-scholar-tung-builds-off-her-wrestling-drive/ |website=WIN Magazine: Wrestling News |publisher=WIN Magazine |access-date=18 June 2019 |date=28 May 2019}}
• Robert Wagner, actor
• Jane Wickline (class of 2017), comedian, Saturday Night Live cast member{{cite news |first=Thomas |last=Leffler |title=Samohi alum joins 'Saturday Night Live' cast |work=Santa Monica Daily Press |date=2024-09-17 |url=https://smdp.com/2024/09/17/samohi-alum-joins-saturday-night-live-cast/ |access-date=2024-10-06}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

{{Portal|Greater Los Angeles|Schools}}

• [https://www.smmusd.org/samohi Santa Monica High School website]
• {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.samohi.org/|title=Former official website at Samohi.org}}
• http://www.samohi.smmusd.org/art/
• http://www.samohiband.org/
• http://www.samohichoir.org/
• http://www.samohiorchestras.org/
• http://www.samohitheatre.org/

{{Santa Monica, California}}

{{Los Angeles County Westside Schools}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1891 establishments in California

Category:Educational institutions established in 1891

Category:Buildings and structures in Santa Monica, California

Category:Public high schools in Los Angeles County, California