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EspañolBALBOA HIGH SCHOOL (SAN FRANCISCO)
'Balboa High School', colloquially known as 'Bal', is an American public high school located near the Excelsior District in the Mission Terrace neighborhood of San Francisco, California.[2]
Balboa serves grades nine through twelve as part of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).
Balboa is a comprehensive school located in an urban working class district. It historically educates a greater proportion of the city's disadvantaged and minority students relative to other city high schools. Mirroring conditions in the areas it serves, the school has a history marked by periods of violence, controversy, and low academic performance.
The school motto is "First on the Pacific". The campus is the first and only historic landmark school in the district and the only one operating in the city. Following the dismissal of the entire faculty, in 1999 it became the first school in Northern California to embrace and convert its curriculum to the concept of small learning communities. It was the first in California to start a school-based student health clinic. In response to the AIDS pandemic it was the first school in California to freely distribute condoms to students. In the last decade Balboa has experienced a turnaround and has improved its reputation and academic performance.[3]
History
Balboa High School is named after 16th century Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa. Founded in 1928, campus construction was completed in 1931.
In the spring of 1952, students at Balboa invented a variation on a conga line dance which inspired bandleader and songwriter Ray Anthony to compose an accompanying hit song with the same name, "The Bunny Hop".[4]
In 1986, Balboa converted its metal shop into the first school-based health clinic in California: the 'Balboa Teen Health Center'. The clinic provides basic medical and mental health services. The clinic has been credited with improving access and generally improving the health habits of a disadvantaged student population which might otherwise have gone without professional health assistance.[5]
In an effort to prevent the spread of AIDS, Balboa became the first school in California to freely distribute condoms to students in May 1992.[6]
This program and the clinic's other family planning and sexually transmitted disease efforts have featured somewhat controversially in a number of research papers and debates.[7][8][9]
Balboa became embroiled in controversy over a hazing incident on February 22, 1994 in which three JROTC cadets were assaulted by other team members under orders from senior commanders, one cadet ultimately being rendered partially deaf from a punctured eardrum.[10]
The resulting litigation from this incident exposed a culture and history of JROTC hazing at Balboa and several other SFUSD schools extending into the 1980s.[11]
This controversy has been cited by JROTC opponents in efforts to eliminate the program at all SFUSD schools.[12]
Academic resurgence
In 1996, frustrated by high turnover and low performance on the part of the educational staff, the SFUSD dismissed the entire faculty in a desperate move to turn the school around.[13]
During the 1999-2000 academic year, Balboa shifted its entire academic program to the concept of Small Learning Communities (SLC). These communities would form a "school-within-a-school" in an effort to turn around past poor academic performance. To support the formation of SLCs, Balboa was the recipient of funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2004 and 2005 through the Every Child Can Learn Foundation Secondary Redesign Initiative.[14]
Frustrated by poor conditions such as insufficient textbooks and dilapidated facilities during the late 1990s, students at Balboa became members of the class-action lawsuit ''Williams v. California''.[15]
Filed in 2000 by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) against the State of California, the suit alleged a failure to provide adequate facilities, textbooks, and teachers for the poorest schools in the state.[16]
The case was named after Eliezer Williams, a middle school student age 12 at the time, who would go on to graduate from Balboa.[17]
The lawsuit was resolved in 2004, with the administration of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger agreeing to provide US$138 million for instructional material, US$50 million for critical facility repairs at nearly 2,400 state schools, and to reimburse school districts for future repairs of deficient facilities. Estimates indicate California may be liable for up to US$1 billion in reimbursements over several years.[18]
Building on an effort started in 2001 to increase scores by providing breakfast before tests, Balboa initiated a pilot classroom breakfast program in 2005 called "Grab N Go".[19]
A first for Northern California, the program has increased the number of disadvantaged students receiving breakfast. Using magnetic swipe cards, eligible students can pickup a pre-bagged meal as they enter the building and then are allowed to eat the meal during the first ten minutes of their first class.[20]
Previously students would have to arrive up to 30 minutes before classes started and finish the meal in the cafeteria. Prior to 2001 participation in the free or reduced-fee meal program averaged under 40% of eligible enrollment. Since the pilot program started, breakfast participation has averaged over 55%. Credited with increasing academic performance, the program was nominated by Nancy Pelosi for and subsequently received a Victory Against Hunger Award from the Congressional Hunger Center in 2006.[21]
Balboa was one of four schools nationwide to receive part of a grant from the got breakfast? campaign in March 2007 to support the program.[22]
Campus
Location
The school campus is located a few blocks away from major thoroughfares including Mission Street. The campus is close to Balboa Park, Balboa Park Station, and Interstate 280. San Francisco Municipal Railway transit lines J, K, M, 9X, 14, 14L, 14X, 26, 29, 43, 49, and 54 provide nearby service.
The Balboa campus is part of a larger SFUSD academic complex which includes neighboring James Denman Middle School and the San Miguel Child Development Center. Balboa is close to City College of San Francisco, the private Lick-Wilmerding High School, and Catholic Archbishop Riordan High School. Sited at the bottom of a valley, parts of the campus are built over a former river and lake.
Over the River / Unearthing the damp environs of the Cayuga River Sam Whiting
Landmark
Balboa is the only historic landmark school currently operating in San Francisco. The campus became city historic landmark number 205 by proclamation signed on January 20, 1995 by mayor Frank Jordan.[23]
Balboa is regarded as one of the better architected and visually engaging schools within the SFUSD.[24]
San Francisco architect John Reid Jr. designed the first campus buildings in the Spanish Colonial Revival Style with a prominent center courtyard, mission style roof tiles, and arcades.
Although originally designed with a distinctive red mission tile roof, all campus buildings had their roofs replaced in 1998 with seismically stable materials. An original roof tile is housed in Balboa's Hall of History.[25]
Facilities
The main entrance along the eastern side of the campus quadrangle is dominated by the three story main classroom building. The library building to the north of the quad equals the height of the main building. These two buildings are connected by distinct bridges on all three levels. Vocational and cafeteria facilities form the eastern side of the campus quad.
Arts and athletic facilities dominate the southern half of the campus. Facilities along this side of the quad include the gymnasium, tennis courts, track, and football field. Balboa's auditorium, theater, and music rooms are also on the southern side of the campus quad. In 2004, the theater was refurbished with the help of charitable funding from theatrical producer Carole Shorenstein Hays.[26]
In partnership with PG&E, Balboa will be one of seven SFUSD schools to participate in the district's "Solar Schools" program. Solar panels will be installed on the roof to benefit from and raise awareness of alternative energy.[27]
Demographics
Balboa historically has a school population of primarily ethnic minorities. Since 1993 the White population at Balboa has consistently totaled less than 7% of yearly enrollment. Up to 2003, the predominant ethnic groups at the school alternated between Hispanic (24-30%) and African American (19-24%). During this time Filipino students also figured prominently in the ethnic distribution (19-30%) briefly becoming the majority ethnic group between 1997 and 1999. American Indians have always comprised less than 1%, and Pacific Islanders less than 3% of the school population.
Starting in 2004, the school's increasing academic stature combined with city-wide demographic changes attributable to gentrification radically changed the student demographic at Balboa.[28][29]
Asian students became the predominant ethnic group (34-39%) previously accounting for less than 20% of the school population. Hispanic and Filipino students followed with declining majorities. The largest decline was in the number of African American students, accounting for only 11.4% of the school population through the 2006-2007 school year.
Coinciding with the academic turmoil of the late 1990s, the dropout rate at Balboa experienced a spike of over 230 students (16.8%) leaving in 1998. The year 2000 saw a sharp decline in the dropout rate, with no students leaving that year. The rate has averaged 2-6% since then.
The demographic composition of certificated faculty over the last decade has consisted primarily of White teachers (32-54%) with approximately similar distributions of staff reporting Asian (6-15%), Filipino (9-19%), or Hispanic (11-19%) ethnicity. African American staff accounted for the remaining 8-11%. The number of staff over the last decade has averaged between 55 and 91 members.
Curriculum
Balboa participates in the SFUSD's admissions lottery in which students from the entire city can indicate a preference to attend any of the district schools regardless of geographical location. Based on this preference and certain socioeconomic factors, students are then assigned to schools per district policies and goals.
Small learning communities
Academic instruction at Balboa High School is centered on the concept of SLCs. Each community has a thematic focus which is designed to encourage individualized learning, an awareness of the future, and to build personal responsibility.[30]
Teachers and students work in a shared thematic collaboration to integrate lessons from their classes. The same set of students are present in each of the classes, fostering the learning community. Some teachers will follow their students into successive grade levels to enhance continuity.[31]
In their first two years, communities of approximately 60-120 students experience focused core literary and mathematics instruction, with emphasis on community citizenship, and an exploration of career paths. Academies or pathways are chosen by students at the end of the 10th grade for the second half of their school career with the goal of preparation for career and college. A few exceptions are noted below.
Every community or academy has several goals in common. Students are educated in preparation for their future career or post-secondary education. All communities provide the University of California "A-G college prep" coursework necessary for university admissions eligibility.[32] All 11th and 12th grade academies have a common goal of combining coursework with external experiences through field trips, internships, or a mentorship with local business entities or the community at large. These external events are used to raise career awareness. Students in all communities will develop a personal portfolio or résumé. Students will develop skills in research and presentation with the goal of developing collaborative and social skills.
★ '10th Grade E/F': Engages students in their academic future, preparing them to make decisions about the direction of their future high school career. Explores core subjects including ethnic literature, biology, and modern world history.[33]
★ 'Academy of Information and Technology (AoIT)': A two-year academy which develops digital technology skills. Students participate in an electronic mentorship program with professionals in the technology industry and develop a digital portfolio.[34] In collaboration with the Pearson Foundation, AoIT students have developed digital storytelling exercises to learn about historical subjects such as abolitionism.[35]
★ 'Action': Students may choose to enter the Action academy starting in the 10th grade. Students are provided tailored support and instruction to develop an enabling vision of their future. Classwork is combined with community activities to develop social awareness.[36]
★ 'Communication Arts (CAST)': CAST is one of the more popular pathways at Balboa. CAST approaches courses in history, literature, and the sciences with a focus on communication through art, media, and technology. All CAST students participate in a community arts experience.[37]
★ 'International Pathway' (formerly 'World Languages'): This program has a curriculum with an international and multi-cultural focus. Courses focus on ethnic literature, American history, and American literature. Students participate in projects and write papers to develop interpersonal skills (public speaking and conflict resolution), and an awareness of human geography.[38] The International Pathway is available to students for all four years of their high school career.
★ 'Law': The Law Academy prepares 11th and 12th grade students for college and career with a focus on justice. By encouraging students to challenge and reflect on their coursework in American history, American literature, and Pre-law; students develop an awareness of community and interdependence. Students will build analytical and problem solving skills by identifying a need or issue in a community and addressing it.[39]
★ 'Wilderness Arts and Literacy Collaborative (WALC)': A co-curricular academic pathway started in 1998 with the goal of using education in and of the environment to provide an alternative means to learning science, art, technology, math, and literacy. The Sierra Club provided an initial grant as part of a private / public funding initiative to help start the WALC.[40] Currently sponsored by the Tides Center, students combine wilderness experiences in environmental citizenship such as hiking, habitat restoration, recycling, or gardening with a rigorous classroom curriculum. Offered to 11th and 12th grade students.[41]
Advanced Placement
Balboa offers AP classes in addition to various honors classes for students wishing to learn at an accelerated pace. The administration has placed an emphasis on attracting and retaining students in AP courses from underrepresented ethnic groups. For example, the AP Spanish class has been used to introduce Hispanic students to other AP classes. The school has a unique policy of not allowing students to drop out of an AP course without the principal's approval.[42]
★ AP Biology ★ AP Calculus AB | ★ AP Chemistry ★ AP Chinese | ★ AP English Literature ★ AP Physics B | ★ AP Spanish ★ AP Statistics | ★ AP US History ★ AP World History |
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
The athletic programs at Balboa participate in the California Interscholastic Federation:
★ 'Female': Badminton, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track, Volleyball.
★ 'Male': Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track, Volleyball, Wrestling.
The football team achieved a 111-39-5 record between 1962 and 1977, including two wins of the annual city Turkey Day title game in 1967 and 1968. From 1967 to 1984 the team won section or season titles 11 times.[43]
Beginning in 1984 the football program at Balboa went into decline, failing to make it to the Turkey Day playoff until 2004.[44]
They lost to Lowell in 2004 but made it back again in 2005, with that year's Samoan team members notably performing a haka dance before going on to lose to Lincoln High.[45][46]
Organizations
The following is a complete list of organizations and clubs at Balboa High School.
★ 100 Bucs Society ★ Adventure ★ Automotive & Technology ★ Best in Being Living Examples (BIBLE) ★ Black Student Union ★ Break-dancing ★ Bridge ★ Chess ★ Chinese ★ Club (Filipino) ★ Computer Art | ★ Computer Repair ★ Dance ★ Drum Corps: see JROTC ★ French ★ Gay-Straight Alliance ★ Guitar ★ 'JROTC' ★ Korean ★ Latino ★ 'Mock Trial' ★ Movie | ★ Peer Resources ★ Photography ★ Poetry ★ Political Sciences ★ Polynesian ★ Random Acts of Kindness ★ Red Cross Association ★ ROOTS: see United Playaz ★ SASSY (Girls' Club) ★ School to Career ★ Science | ★ Spoken Word/Hip-Hop ★ Student Activities Association (the SA) ★ Student Newspaper and Yearbook ★ Tango ★ 'United Playaz' ★ Urban Debate League ★ Vietnamese ★ Yoga |
Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Balboa has six JROTC companies (classes) with five of them meeting each day, five days a week. Balboa has a before and after school class from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 pm, respectively everyday. The Balboa Battalion's special teams and drill teams practice before and after school. Balboa has a history in several award-winning teams that have consistently placed in city-wide competitions in the San Francisco JROTC Brigade. Among these are the Girls' Drill Team, Boys' Flag Team, Color Guard, Drill Platoon, Squad Drill Team and Drum Corps. Balboa constantly participates in physical activity challenges in its Raiders Team, individual drill-down competitions, guidon flag drill and other drilling and marching exhibitions. Balboa's special teams participate and perform in many parades where it is well-known and award-winning such as the annual San Francisco Veterans Day Parade, the Excelsior District Festival and the annual 91st or spring drill competition in the Presidio.
The Balboa Battalion and its cadet corps of approximately 225 cadets volunteer extensively in different service learning projects and community service projects coordinated by the battalion staff of student officers and the army instructors. The battalion donates canned food items and toys to annual holiday food and toy drives where it has gained notoriety among the Student Association for amassing large amounts of food for the drive; because of this, the Balboa Battalion sponsors and puts together the food drive each year at Balboa. Balboa's JROTC participates in the city-wide beach clean up annually, as well as cleaning up the school campus on a regular basis several times a month. The Balboa Battalion is a familiar face in each Earth Day event at Balboa, where cadets volunteer and clean the school. The JROTC program participates in service learning programs such as training in the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team to respond to any emergency event that may happen within the city or the school to keep fellow cadets and students alike of Balboa High School safe.
Mock Trial
2005-2006 City and County Champion Mock Trial Team
The Balboa High School Mock Trial team is sponsored by Artnelson Concordia, a Law Academy teacher, and the law firm of Heller Ehrman.[47]
The team practices from September to February in preparation for City and County of San Francisco competitions held the last two weeks of February. The City champion from this competition move on to the state competition in March. The state champion will then move on to the national competition in May, representing the state of California.
In 2005, the Balboa Mock Trial team was unable to move from the first round to the semi-finals.
However in 2006, it was crowned the champion of the City and County of San Francisco. Despite a 0-2 record in the first rounds, technicalities (a team’s win/loss record and point percentages) allowed Balboa to move on to the semi-finals. It was then that the Balboa team defeated The School of the Arts after losing to SOTA previously in the first round. The team then went on to defeat Mission High School in the finals. As the winning team for San Francisco, Balboa went on to represent the county at the state competitions in Riverside, California.[48]
In commemoration of this achievement, San Francisco District 11 Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval awarded the Balboa Mock Trial team the title of "District 11 Local Heroes."[49]
In 2007, Balboa lost to Lowell High School, yet defeated Mission High School to advance to the semi-final competitions. In the semi-finals, Balboa lost to the School of the Arts who would then lose to Lowell High School in the city/county championships. Balboa's record for 2007 was 1-2.
United Playaz
United Playaz Logo
United Playaz is an anti-violence and gang prevention program which seeks to stop the seeds of school violence through collaborative meetings and activities. The program was started in 1994 by former Balboa student turned gang prevention counselor, Rudy Corpuz, as a response to racially motivated gang violence between Balboa students. The group is best known for fostering meetings and discussions between formerly adversarial stakeholders including the school administration, community, and various student factions. These efforts were credited with turning the security situation at Balboa around by 1997.[50]
The "Playaz" have hosted sports programs, talent shows, and field trips in an effort to not only target and dissuade at risk youth from gangs but to provide ways for students to openly discuss and express opinions on issues and tensions which unchecked lead to violence.[51]
United Playaz was the subject of an episode on television news magazine California Connected in June 2003.[52]
The United Playaz collaborates with the ROOTS program, a program for students whose parents or family members are incarcerated. ROOTS focuses on interdependence with their peers including the "Playaz."
Notable people
★ 'Alumni'
★
★ William "Billy" Catalano, 1952: Trumpeter for Stan Kenton's jazz orchestra .[53]
★
★ Gary DeLong, 1958: Former soccer goalkeeper of the United States men's national soccer team.
★
★ Juan Eichelberger, 1971: Former professional MLB baseball player.[54]
★
★ Solofa Fatu, 1984: Professional WWE wrestler best known as 'Rikishi'.[55]
★
★ Eddie Flores Jr, 1966: Co-Founder and CEO of the theme restaurant chain L&L Hawaiian Barbecue.[56]
★
★ Jerry Garcia, dropped out in 1959: Lead guitarist and vocalist for the Grateful Dead.[57]
★
★ Cindy Herron: Singer of the Contemporary R&B quartet En Vogue. Actress.
★
★ Philip Lamantia, dropped out in 1943: Surrealist poet of the Beat Generation.[58]
★
★ Jim McLennan, 1950: NHRA Hall of Fame inductee, drag racing pioneer.[59]
★
★ Michael Norris, 1972: Former professional MLB baseball player.[60][61]
★
★ Richard Quitevis, 1987: Turntablist best known as 'DJ QBert'.[62][63]
★
★ Brandy Reed, 1994: Former WNBA professional basketball player.[64]
★
★ Calvin E. Simmons, 1972: The first African-American conductor of a major U.S. symphony orchestra. Former assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and musical director of the Oakland Symphony Orchestra.[65]
★
★ Derrick Ward, 1973: Customized car artist and founder of the Low Creations Car Club.[66]
★
★ Eliezer Williams, 2005: Lead plaintiff in the class-action lawsuit ''Williams v. California (2000)''.
★
★ Willie Wise, 1965: Former professional basketball player with the Denver Nuggets and Seattle SuperSonics. Draft pick of the San Francisco Warriors.[67]
★ 'Staff'
★
★ Josephine E. Cole, 1942-?: The SFUSD's first African-American teacher. Namesake of the library at City College of San Francisco, South East Campus.[68][69]
★
★ Lloyd Leith, 1931-1936: Basketball Hall of Fame coach and referee.
★
★ George White, 1966-1992: Hamburg Blue Devils head coach 1994-1996. California Coaches Hall of Fame inductee.[70]
See also
★ San Francisco County high schools
References
1.
2.
San Francisco's SFProspector
3.
Reluctant Balboa students now are boosters for their school / A less-favored S.F. high school suits them just fine Heather Knight
4.
5.
Linking health and schools
6.
Condom Program Starts May 4 S.F.'s Balboa High will make them available with parental consent
7.
The disastrous results of condom distribution programs, Hartigan, JD, , , Couple to Couple League Family Foundations: 1999 Mar-Apr, 1999
8.
Condom practices of urban teens using Norplant contraceptive implants, oral contraceptives, and condoms for contraception, Darney, Philip D.; Callegari, Lisa S.; Swift, Allison; Atkinson, Elizabeth S.; Robert, Anne M., , , American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1999
9.
Condoms in District Schools Stir Concern, Skepticism Series Sari Horwitz
10.
11.
Racism and Conscription in the JROTC, , Marvin J., Berlowitz, Peace Review: September 2000, 2000
12.
SAN FRANCISCO / School board votes to dump JROTC program Jill Tucker
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40.
Life Study: How Nature Nurtures Students at an Inner-City High School, , Marilyn Berlin, Snell, Sierra Magazine, Nov-December 2003, 2003
41.
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45.
46.
47.
48.
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A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead, , Dennis, Mcnally, Broadway, , ISBN 0-7679-1185-7
58.
59.
60.
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62.
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64.
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66.
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68.
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External links
★ 'Information'
★
★ Balboa High School Online, a student and school-run official website
★
★ Balboa High School - SFUSD portal
★
★ Decent Schools For California - Williams v. California
★ 'Data'
★
★ California Department of Education - DataQuest reports on Balboa HS
★
★ Great Schools profile on Balboa HS
★ 'Alumni and history'
★
★ Balboa High School Alumni Association
★
★ Balboa Photos and Yearbook Pictures (1959-1975)
★
★ Balboa High School: The Sixties
★
★ San Francisco Genealogy - Balboa Students, Faculty, Alumni, History
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