Santa Monica High School, officially abbreviated to Samohi or SMHS, is a public high school in

Santa Monica, California Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

. Founded in 1891, it changed location several times in its early years before settling into its present campus at 601 Pico Boulevard. It is a part of the

Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is a school district located in Santa Monica, California. The district serves the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu, as well as a portion of Westlake Village, the Pepperdine University c ...

. As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had 2,806 students and 131.11 teachers of a full-time employee basis for a teacher-student ratio of 21.08, according to data by the

National Center for Education Statistics The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the principal federal agency responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on education in the United States. Established under , it operates within the Institute of Education S ...

History

19th century

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.

20th century

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 World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. One of the best examples of the classical Greek style in

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...

, the amphitheater was built after Santa Monica passed a $30,000 bond measure to fund its construction. Barnum Hall Theater, originally called the Auditorium, was built in 1937 by the

Works Progress Administration The Works Progress Administration (WPA; from 1935 to 1939, then known as the Work Projects Administration from 1939 to 1943) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to car ...

(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, , 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.

21st century

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. The Discovery Building, including a new pool and cafeteria, was constructed and ready by the start of the 2021–22 school year. The History Building was demolished in the summer of 2021 and its replacement, the Exploration Building, was constructed and ready by the start of the 2024–25 school year. 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.

Houses

In 2003, Samohi adopted a house system; similar to college house systems; each student is part of a house. 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.

Academics

The school also has an academic team which won the 2008

National Science Bowl The National Science Bowl (NSB) is a high school and middle school science knowledge competition, using a quiz bowl format, held in the United States. A buzzer system similar to those seen on popular television game shows is used to signal an an ...

competition as well as the 2017

National Ocean Sciences Bowl The National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) is a national Student competition, high-school science competition currently hosted by the Center for Ocean Leadership, a University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Community Program beginning 10/3/2022 ...

. Additionally, the

quiz bowl Quiz bowl (quizbowl, scholars' bowl, scholastic bowl, academic bowl, academic team, academic challenge, etc.) is a family of quiz-based competitions that test players on Outline of academic disciplines, a wide variety of academic subjects. Stand ...

team remains competitive in the Southern California circuit.

Music department

Orchestral program

In 2005, Symphony Orchestra was labeled the best high school-level orchestra in the nation by the

American String Teachers Association The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) is a professional organization for bowed string music teachers based in the United States. It is the largest organization in the U.S. for string teachers. ASTA serves teachers and students in all are ...

(ASTA) at the National Orchestra Festival in

Reno, Nevada Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County, Nevada, Washoe County. Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, ...

. 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 The Walt Disney Concert Hall at 111 South Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles, California, is the fourth hall of the Los Angeles Music Center and was designed by Frank Gehry. It was opened on October 23, 2003. Bounded by Hope Street, Grand Av ...

in Downtown Los Angeles.

Marching band

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 The Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) provides a number of services for elementary through college level instrumental music groups in Southern California, including providing clinics for educators and students and h ...

(Southern California Student Band and Orchestra Association). In 2006, the marching band qualified for the first time in the SCSBOA 5A division championship. 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 Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

in 2007 and 2015, as well as Chicago Symphony Hall in 2013. 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.

Athletics

Basketball

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. 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.

Cross country

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.

Wrestling

The wrestling team won the CIF State Championship in 1986. Also won the CIF State Championship in weight class in 2007. For the past 7 years, the team has qualified individuals for the Southern Section CIF Masters and CIF State Championships.

Softball

The lady Vikings have been undefeated in league games since 2004. In 2010 and 2014 the lady Vikings won CIF division IV southern section.

Color guard

Samohi's

color guard In Military, military organizations, a colour guard (or color guard) is a detachment of soldiers assigned to the protection of Colours, standards and guidons, regimental colours and the national flag. This duty is highly prestigious, and the mil ...

and

winter guard Winter guard (sometimes spelled "winterguard") is an indoor Color guard (flag spinning), color guard sport and performance art derived from military ceremonies. Modern winter guard is a competitive, performance-based activity which incorporates c ...

team performs in shows sponsored by

Winter Guard International Winter Guard International (WGI) is an American governing body that sanctions championship events for three competitive performing arts activities: winter guard, percussion ensembles, and indoor wind ensembles. WGI was founded in 1977 in respon ...

and Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC). Originally a joint

drill team A drill team can be one of four different entities: # A military drill team is a marching unit that performs routines based on military foot drill, foot or exhibition drills. Military drill teams perform either armed or unarmed. # A dance squad ...

with

Santa Monica College Santa Monica College (SMC) is a Public university, public community college in Santa Monica, California. Founded as a Junior college#United States, junior college in 1929, SMC enrolls over 30,000 students in more than 90 fields of study. The coll ...

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 A varsity letter (or monogram) is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its recipient was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met. A person who ...

. The team won gold medals in the WGASC championships in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Notable alumni

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* Ben Allen (class of 1996), California state senator * Lita Albuquerque (class of 1963), artist * Sam Anno, former

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linebacker *

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(class of 1985),

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astronaut * Harold L. Brode (class of 1941), nuclear-weapons-effects physicist *

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, screenwriter *

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(class of 1991), television host and personality *

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(class of 1927), composer and lyricist; also composed school's fight song *

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''; brother of

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, actor *

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(class of 1970), children's author *

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, actor *

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and

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* Henry Fukuhara (class of 1931), painter *

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, actress *

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(class of 2009), singer-songwriter * Anita Kanter (born 1933), tennis player *

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, actor * Tim Leary, baseball player *

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, UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion *

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(class of 1982), Olympic volleyball player and current volleyball coach at Samohi *

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, basketball player and coach *

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'' * Jan Steckel (class of 1980), poet and writer *

, actress *

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(class of 1972), opera singer *

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, actor *

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'' cast member

References

External links

Santa Monica High School website
** * http://www.samohi.smmusd.org/art/ * http://www.samohiband.org/ * http://www.samohichoir.org/ * http://www.samohiorchestras.org/ * http://www.samohitheatre.org/ {{Authority control 1891 establishments in California Educational institutions established in 1891 Buildings and structures in Santa Monica, California Public high schools in Los Angeles County, California