Redwood High School (Larkspur)

Redwood High School (Larkspur)
Name	Redwood High School
Established	1918
Type	Public high school
District	Tamalpais Union High School District
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	~1,200
Colors	Green and Gold
Mascot	Spartan
City	Larkspur
State	California
Country	United States

Redwood High School (Larkspur) is a public secondary school serving grades 9–12 in Larkspur, California. Located in Marin County, the school is part of the Tamalpais Union High School District and serves students from Larkspur, Corte Madera, and parts of San Rafael. Redwood is known for combining comprehensive college preparatory curricula with extensive arts, athletics, and community programs.

History

Founded in 1918, Redwood opened amid regional growth associated with the post-World War I era and the expansion of Marin County communities. Over decades the campus experienced major developments tied to local civic initiatives and bond measures similar in scale to projects undertaken by the Tamalpais Union High School District and adjacent districts. Renovations and seismic retrofits in the late 20th and early 21st centuries paralleled statewide efforts such as those influenced by the Field Act and passed by California legislatures. The school’s evolution reflects demographic shifts related to migration patterns in the San Francisco Bay Area, economic changes linked to technology firms headquartered near San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and cultural influences from nearby institutions including College of Marin, Mills College, and California State University, East Bay collaborations.

Campus

Redwood’s campus occupies a site near downtown Larkspur, featuring classic Mission Revival and modernist buildings arranged around athletic fields and performing arts facilities. The campus layout includes science laboratories equipped for programs aligned with Advanced Placement offerings common across California public high schools, a performing arts center used for theater and music, and a library media center supporting college research associated with regional universities such as Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and Santa Clara University. Outdoor spaces host athletics on fields and courts adjacent to facilities named during community fundraising campaigns and bonds comparable to measures in neighboring districts. Proximity to transit corridors and bicycle routes connects the school to Marin County civic centers like San Rafael and recreational areas such as Muir Woods National Monument.

Academics

Redwood provides a college-preparatory curriculum with Advanced Placement courses, honors sequences, and career-technical education pathways. Departments include English, mathematics, laboratory sciences, world languages, and social sciences, with offerings that prepare students for admission to institutions like University of California, California State University, University of Southern California, University of Oregon, and private colleges such as Harvey Mudd College and Pomona College. The school’s counseling program liaises with scholarship and testing organizations akin to the College Board and regional college counseling consortia. Specialized programs have emphasized STEM partnerships reflecting trends from nearby research centers and corporations including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, NASA Ames Research Center, and technology companies based in Palo Alto and Menlo Park.

Extracurricular activities

Student life features a wide array of clubs and organizations spanning academic teams, performing arts ensembles, and service groups. Notable activities include speech and debate teams participating in circuits like the National Speech & Debate Association, robotics teams aligned with FIRST Robotics Competition and engineering outreach, and music ensembles performing repertoire ranging from classical works to contemporary compositions often programmed in collaboration with regional orchestras such as the San Francisco Symphony and choral festivals associated with conservatories like the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Theater productions stage plays and musicals in styles associated with playwrights and composers whose works appear on professional stages such as Broadway and regional theaters like the American Conservatory Theater. Service organizations coordinate with local nonprofits, community foundations, and civic groups including chapters similar to Rotary International and Kiwanis International.

Athletics

Redwood competes in interscholastic sports across fall, winter, and spring seasons within leagues comparable to conferences in the North Coast Section. Programs include football, basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, track and field, cross country, swimming and diving, tennis, and lacrosse. Training and coaching staffs often emphasize pathways to collegiate athletics at institutions such as NCAA Division I schools, NCAA Division II schools, and NCAA Division III schools. Athletic achievements over time include league championships, playoff appearances, and athletes advancing to collegiate rosters and professional opportunities in leagues like Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, and international competitions. Facilities include turf and grass fields, a track, gymnasiums, and weight rooms renovated through community capital campaigns.

Student demographics and culture

The student body reflects diversity typical of Marin County feeder elementary districts, with socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds influenced by nearby municipalities and employment centers. Cultural life on campus features student-led publications, multicultural clubs celebrating heritage similar to festivals seen in San Francisco and community arts collaborations, and academic competitions that connect students to regional scholars and institutions like California Academy of Sciences and Exploratorium. Extracurricular engagement and parent organizations support college matriculation, arts programming, and community service initiatives modeled after nonprofit partnerships throughout the Bay Area.

Notable alumni

Alumni have gone on to prominence across fields including politics, arts, science, sports, and business. Graduates have attended and contributed to universities and institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and professional arenas including the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and entertainment industries represented by organizations like Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and guilds such as the Screen Actors Guild. Notable career paths include elected offices, founding technology ventures, composition and performance in major orchestras, and leadership in nonprofit arts and cultural institutions.

Category:High schools in Marin County, California Category:Public high schools in California