Valencia High School is ranked in Newsweek's 2012 list of America's Best High Schools. The list is based on six components provided by school administrators: graduation rate (25 percent), college matriculation rate (25 percent), AP/IB/AICE tests taken per student (25 percent), average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10 percent), and AP courses offered per student (5 percent).
History
Valencia High School opened on September 9, 1994.[citation needed] The school received its first full accreditation from WASC in 1998. In 2001, Dr. Paul A. Priesz was named California Principal of the Year. This was the year that Valencia High School's student population reached over 3,500 students.
Controversies
In 2008 four Valencia highschool students reached a settlement for $300,000 over racial discrimination.[2]
In 2020 during quarantine Principal Stephen Ford resigned after a petition received 600 signatures in response to Ford comparing wearing masks to the Holocaust.[3]
On March 15, 2023 a student was caught on video driving around the school parking lot and singing "I don't like n-". This video sparked outrage from the NAACP and representatives from the William S. Hart School District.
[4]
Principals
In chronological order:
Dr. Paul A. Priesz
John Costanzo
Stephen Ford
Dr. Pete Getz (2020-present)
Activities
VTV anchors Bianca Grava-Calderon and George Salcedo
VTV
VTV is an early morning news broadcast to the school. Valencia High School's video program has entered their productions into competitions such as STN, NFFTY, All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF), and the Santa Clarita Valley Film Festival.
Choir
The Concert Choir has repeatedly achieved the ratings of "Gold Choir" and "Choir of the Festival".[5]
Band
The band performs at home football games, school rallies, community events, and several competitive regional marching band competitions. The band has won gold medals in the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) three times. The band has performed at Bands of America events as well as Hawaii, Carnegie Hall, and Florida.
Color Guard
The color guard performs at home football games and at school rallies. It also has competitive seasons for both the first and second semester of the school year. Within the first semester, the team performs with the Valencia High School marching band. During the second semester, the team takes part in WGASC and WGI competitions. In 2022 Valencia won gold at the SCSBOA Championships in the 2A Division.[6]
ROTC
ROTC’s goal is to train high school cadets in citizenship. The other goals are to instill responsibility, character, and self-discipline.
The boys’ volleyball team won 112 consecutive league matches dating back to 2001, before losing 3-1 to Saugus High School on March 21, 2013. They advanced to the CIF championship game in each season from 2001 to 2006, winning in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2008. They have won the CIF championship in four of the previous six seasons, with a 186-27 record since 2003, posting a school best 35-2 record in 2008. The winning streak spanned from 2001 to March 21, 2013.
Swim Team
In 2014 and 2015, the varsity teams won first place in the Foothill League. In those same years, the teams had finished in the top 10 at the CIF Southern Section competition.
Softball Team
The softball team won ten consecutive Foothill League championships, from 2000 to 2009. They have won 15 league titles. They have also won back to back CIF championships (2007, 2008) and were ranked number one in the nation in 2007.
Athletic Awards
Valencia High School Softball - National Champions 2007
As of the 2021-22 academic year, Valencia was the most populous school in the Hart District, with 2,484 students. 44.2% of students were non-Hispanic white, 23.6% were Hispanic, 20.8% were Asian American, and 3.9% were African American.[1] As of 2020-21, 395 students (15.0%) were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.[7]
