David Starr Jordan High School

David Starr Jordan High School is a public high school located in Long Beach, California, named after David Starr Jordan, a prominent Stanford University educator and Ichthyologist. The school is part of the Long Beach Unified School District and serves students from Long Beach and surrounding areas, including Signal Hill and Lakewood, California. The school's diverse student body is reflective of the Los Angeles metropolitan area and includes students from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, similar to those found in Compton, California and Wilmington, Los Angeles. The school's namesake, David Starr Jordan, was a renowned figure in the fields of Ichthyology and Education, having served as the president of Stanford University and Indiana University.

● History

The school's history dates back to the early 20th century, with its founding in 1935 by the Long Beach Unified School District. The school was named after David Starr Jordan, who was a prominent figure in the fields of Ichthyology and Education, having served as the president of Stanford University and Indiana University. The school has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, including a major renovation in the 1990s and a new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics facility in 2010, similar to those found at California Institute of Technology and University of California, Los Angeles. The school has also been recognized for its academic achievements, including being named a California Distinguished School in 2007 and a National Blue Ribbon School in 2012, joining the ranks of other esteemed institutions such as Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The school's history is also marked by its connection to notable figures, including Walt Disney, who attended Polytechnic High School (California) in Long Beach, and Warren Christopher, who attended University of Southern California and later served as the United States Secretary of State.

● Campus

The school's campus is located in the North Long Beach area, near the intersection of Artesia Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue. The campus features a mix of modern and historic buildings, including a newly renovated Library of Congress-style library and a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center, similar to those found at University of California, Berkeley and New York University. The campus is also home to several athletic facilities, including a Football stadium, a Basketball gym, and a Track and field facility, which have hosted events such as the California Interscholastic Federation championships and the United States Olympic Trials. The school's campus is situated near several notable landmarks, including the Long Beach City College and the Port of Long Beach, one of the busiest ports in the United States, similar to the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Oakland.

● Academics

The school offers a wide range of academic programs, including Advanced Placement courses in subjects such as English Literature, Calculus, and Physics, similar to those offered at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology. The school also offers vocational programs in areas such as Automotive Technology and Culinary Arts, which have partnerships with local businesses and organizations, including Toyota and The Cheesecake Factory. The school's academic programs are designed to prepare students for success in college and beyond, with many graduates going on to attend top universities such as University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and Stanford University. The school's academic achievements have been recognized by organizations such as the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the California Department of Education, which have awarded the school for its excellence in Education and Academic Achievement, similar to awards given to Harvard University and Yale University.

● Extracurricular Activities

The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports teams such as Football, Basketball, and Soccer, which compete in the Moore League and have won championships in the California Interscholastic Federation. The school also offers clubs and organizations such as the Debate Team, the Robotics Club, and the Drama Club, which have won awards at competitions such as the National Forensic League and the International Thespian Society. The school's extracurricular activities are designed to provide students with opportunities to develop their interests and talents outside of the classroom, with many students going on to participate in programs such as the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates and the Johns Hopkins University's Center for Talented Youth. The school's extracurricular activities have also been recognized by organizations such as the National Association of Student Councils and the California Association of Student Councils, which have awarded the school for its excellence in Student Leadership and Community Service, similar to awards given to University of Michigan and University of Texas at Austin.

● Notable Alumni

The school has a long list of notable alumni, including Warren Christopher, who served as the United States Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton and attended University of Southern California and Stanford University. Other notable alumni include Bob Foster (politician), who served as the Mayor of Long Beach, California and attended University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Long Beach. The school's alumni have gone on to achieve success in a wide range of fields, including Politics, Business, Entertainment, and Education, with many attending top universities such as Harvard University, Yale University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The school's notable alumni have also included Olympic athletes such as Tony Azevedo, who competed in Water Polo at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics and attended Stanford University, and Misty May-Treanor, who competed in Beach Volleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics and attended University of California, Los Angeles and Long Beach State University.