Oroville High School is a public high school located in the rural north valley at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills, about seventy miles north of Sacramento, California, United States. Founded in 1892, Oroville High School is the oldest high school in the district. The campus covers 4 acres (16,000 m2). Of the 46 classrooms on campus, five have full functioning computer labs. The campus also has two computer labs and a library.
In 2003, a school bond for $8,523,932 was passed, allowing for the construction of a new library, a science wing, and an industrial technology center. These funds were intended to convert older buildings on campus to an art building, a center for performing arts, and a more modern gymnasium. Despite the money set aside, all of these projects were shelved due to the extreme financial situation of the school district.
Historic buildings
Oroville High School has one of the oldest buildings in the city. The original three-story building was built in 1917. The cafeteria was in the basement and the gymnasium in the middle floor. The school had an auditorium with a theater, and a shop class. Although the buildings were big, the classes were small: 20 by 20 in dimension. Altogether the school grounds covered about 16,000 feet (4,900 m).
The building was torn down because of earthquake safety concerns. Now the oldest school building is the gymnasium, which is now used as the cafeteria. Oroville High remains as the city's oldest school.
Faculty and staff
Oroville High School employs 50 certificated teachers, four counselors, and 25 classified staff.
The rating for Oroville High School, using weighted 2006 test averages as compared to other high schools in California with a range from 0 (worst) to 100 (best), is 63.[2]
Opportunities for higher education
Butte College offers comprehensive programs in many fields as well as a college connection program for current seniors. California State University Chico, a four-year university that offers a full spectrum of curricula, is about a 25-minute drive from Oroville. Oroville is about three hours from the cultural centers of San Francisco and the Bay Area, and about two hours from Reno, Tahoe and Sacramento.
Other schools in the league are about twice Oroville's size. The track, cross country and wrestling teams have recently seen at least one state-level championship participant nearly every year. In 2009 the boys' and girls' cross country teams both qualified first in their division and went to state.
School programs
The link crew program connects upperclassmen with freshmen students link leaders help freshmen improve student study skills and beneficial academic habits.[3] Activities including tailgate parties and movie nights help freshmen become more involved in high school life.
The safe school ambassadors are students trained to identify potential problems on campus dealing with bullying and mistreatment.
Conflict managers are students who have been trained to act as neutral third parties to help settle disputes between other students.
On respect days up to 100 students are taken out of class for the day and placed together in groups of mixed races, genders, and social affiliations to promote respect for others who are different.
The Las Plumas/Oroville Alliance marching band is the biggest source of prestige for the Oroville Unified High School District, having consistently placed among the top ten bands in California while under the direction of director Jeff Stratton. In the fall of 2008, the LPO band won nine sweepstakes awards, almost breaking the record for the school. In the same school year, the band room's renovation was completed, allowing room for the hundreds of trophies and plaques accumulated over the years. Some of LPO's biggest consistent rivals include Fairfield High School, Armijo, Golden Valley, and Franklin. The ratio of Oroville students enrolled in the band to Las Plumas students is nearly 2:5, with the vast majority of students and leadership at the other school.
Notable alumni
Kevin Brown, left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played parts of three seasons[4]
Jim Campbell, left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played one season for the Kansas City Royals[5]
Dave Hudgens, Major League Baseball first baseman and coach[6]
