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El Dorado High School (Placentia, California)

Coordinates: 33°53′32″N 117°51′22″W / 33.8922367°N 117.8561696°W / 33.8922367; -117.8561696
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
El Dorado High School
Location
Map
1651 Valencia Avenue
Placentia, CA, 92870

United States
Information
TypePublic
Established1966
School districtPlacentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
PrincipalDavid Okamoto
Grades9–12
Enrollment2,009 (2023–2024)[1]
Color(s)   
Athletics conferenceCentury League
MascotGolden Hawk
YearbookAño De Oro
Websiteedhs.org

El Dorado High School is a 9th–12th grade public high school located in Placentia, California. Established in 1966, El Dorado is one of four high schools in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, and serves the northern parts of Placentia, and Yorba Linda far eastern Fullerton, (east of the 57 freeway), and a small portion of Brea. The EDHS campus is located at 1651 Valencia Avenue, approximately 29 miles from downtown Los Angeles and 18 miles from the California coastline.

The school currently has an enrollment of over 2,400 students. The school's first graduating class was the class of 1969. The campus received a major renovation in 2002. The EDHS gymnasium is dedicated to Joe Raya, a former Athletics department staff member. The theatre is dedicated to Mrs. Gai Jones, who directed the theatre department from 1967 to 2002. The tennis courts are dedicated to Coach John H Cyrus III, who was teaching and coaching there until 2018.

In 2004, Athletic director Sally Reclusado was selected as the CIF Southern Section Athletic Director of the Year. Librarian Linda Birtler was awarded the Orange County Department of Education's Outstanding Contribution to Education Award. El Dorado has also won the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award.[citation needed]

The school is home to the El Dorado Golden Hawks Marching Band; the band's past achievements include a performance in the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony, the Tournament of Roses Parade and top honors in two trips to the Hawaii International Competition.[citation needed]

Marching band

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El Dorado has an award-winning marching band, wind ensemble, symphonic band, winter drumline, colorguard, and three jazz ensembles.[citation needed]

The band has performed in Canada, Florida, Hawaii, and Nevada, as well as at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2005 and 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade. Also, the drumline and color guard performed in the opening ceremonies for the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade. The Hawks have also performed for former President Ronald Reagan and former President George H. W. Bush.[citation needed]

During the 2007 marching season, El Dorado was undefeated in field tournament competition receiving sweepstakes awards at the Irvine Field Tournament, the Mira Mesa Field Tournament, the Vista Field Tournament, and the Arcadia Festival of Bands Field Tournament.[citation needed]. And in the 2019 season, they finished off their season with 2nd place, medaling silver at the SCSBOA 6A Championships.

El Dorado's four jazz ensembles are also well known for their high-level musicianship and straight-ahead jazz style. The three bands have consistently received top honors at local and regional competitions. In Spring 2006, El Dorado's jazz ensemble 1 was distinguished as the "Outstanding Instrumental Ensemble" at the Reno International Jazz Festival.[citation needed]

Athletics

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School teams have won various competitions as follows:

  • 1975: the water polo team won the CIF SS (Southern Section) title in an exciting game played at East LA College. The Golden Hawks beat Indio High School 8–6.
  • 1976: the baseball team, featuring all-CIF pitcher Dan Petry, won the 2-A baseball championship.[2]
  • 1989: the baseball team, led by all-CIF SS players Pete Janicki, Matt Luke, and Phil Nevin, won the 5-A baseball title, beating Millikan High School in the title game 2-0.[3]
  • 2003: the roller hockey team won the NARCh Varsity cup to become the best high school team in the country by beating Santiago High School 5–4 in overtime.[4]
  • 2006: the football team won the CIF Southern Section Championship for the first time in school history by beating Charter Oak High School 17–6.[5]
  • 2007: the football team won the CIF Southwestern division championship by defeating Trabuco Hills High School 13–12.[6]
  • 2007: the wrestling team won the CIF Central Division Championship with 188 points, edging out Canyon Springs High School & Calvary Chapel High School of Santa Ana.
  • 2008: the wrestling team won the CIF Central Division Championship with 186.5 points, edging out Millikan High School & Calvary Chapel High School of Santa Ana.
  • 2010: the varsity cheer team won their first USA Spirit High School National Championship after finishing second in 2009.
  • 2011: the varsity cheer team became the first California School in 23 years to win the UCA National Cheerleading Championships in Orlando Florida. Their performance was broadcast on ESPN and warranted a Foxnews LA feature upon their return. This team finished their second undefeated season and captured CIF, State as well as both the UCA and USA National Championships.
  • 2017: the boys soccer program were crowned CIF Division 3 Champions and then followed it up by becoming CIF Division 3 SoCal State Regional Champions. After starting the season poorly, the team went 19 games unbeaten, winning 17 of those games and ending the season on a 10-game winning streak.

Principals

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  • Howard Roop (1966–1969)
  • Marvin Stewart (1969–1973)
  • Jerry Jertberg (1973–1986)
  • Alvin Hawkins (1986–1988)
  • Richard Bernier (1988–1991)
  • Joann Ball (1991–1994)
  • Joe Quartucci (1994–1999)
  • Karen Wilkins (1999–2010)
  • Cary Johnson (2010–2012)
  • Carey Cecil (2012–2015)
  • Joe Davis (2016–2024)
  • David Okamoto (present)

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "El Dorado High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "1975-76 Baseball All CIF-SS". Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  3. ^ "1988-89 Baseball All CIF-SS". Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  4. ^ "SD Prep Sports". Archived from the original on 2014-05-18. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  5. ^ http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/2006/12/08/alert-el-dorado-wins-southwest-championship/305/
  6. ^ http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/2007/12/07/el-dorado-trabuco-hills-recap/2989/
  7. ^ Howmann, Anders (10 October 2014). "'Frozen' treat for 50". Orange County Register. Freedom Communications, Inc. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  8. ^ "El Dorado's Luke to Play Baseball at California". Los Angeles Times. April 3, 1989. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Public school review page on Placentia HS. Accessed May 29, 2009.
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33°53′32″N 117°51′22″W / 33.8922367°N 117.8561696°W / 33.8922367; -117.8561696