West Covina High School

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West Covina High School
Home of Scholars and Champions
Established Spartans: 1950s
Bulldogs :1988
School type Public Secondary
Grades 9-12
School District West Covina Unified School District
Principal Bradley T. Manning (Interm)
Location West Covina, California, United States
Students 2827
Faculty 185
Colors Blue and White (Spartans)
Maroon and Gold (Bulldogs)
Mascot The Spartans (1950-1988)
The Bulldogs (1988-Present)
Website West Covina High School

West Covina High School (WCHS) is a four year comprehensive secondary school located in West Covina, California. The school was first established the in 1950s, but in 1988 it merged with Edgewood High School into its current incarnation. In 2005 WCHS became fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and a California Distinguished School. The interim principal is Bradley T. Manning, replacing former principal Jim Coombs who was promoted to assistant superintendent of the city of Monrovia.

Contents

[edit] Demographics

Similar to other schools in the area, there has been a decrease in the percentage of white students, possibly due to the white flight that has afflicted the San Gabriel Valley. The concentration of African American students has also decreased over the years. However, there has been an increase in the number and percentage of Hispanic students. There is a large number of Asian American students, who are of mainly of Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese descent. Filipino students have also become noticeably larger in number and percentage. Students choose to attend West Covina High School because of the amazing programs, opportunities, and people. West Covina High School also has one of the best extracurricular activity programs in the area.

[edit] Demographics by ethnicity; 2005-2006

[edit] Academics

Before the merger, WCHS's mascot was Sammy Spartan
Enlarge
Before the merger, WCHS's mascot was Sammy Spartan

Honors & AP courses offered

Honors courses:

courses Grades
Eligible
Subject Currently
Offer
Algebra II Honors 9-10 Mathmatics
Geometry Honors 9-10 Mathmatics
Pre-Calculus Honors
(include Trigonometry)
10-11 Mathmatics
Biology Honors 9-10 Science
Chemistry Honors 10-12 Science
Physics Honors 10-12 Science
English I Honors 9 English
English I Accelerated
(Not fully a Honors course)
9 English
English II Honors 10 English
World History/Cultures Honors 10 History

AP courses:

courses Grades
Eligible
Subject Currently
Offer
AP Biology 11-12 Science
AP Chemistry 11-12 Science
AP Environmental Science 11-12 Science
AP Physics 11-12 Science
AP Psychology 11-12 Science
AP Calculus 11-12 Mathmatics
AP Statistics 11-12 Mathmatics
AP English Language & Composition 11 English
AP English Literature & Composition 12 English
AP French Language 11-12 Foreign Language
AP German Language 11-12 Foreign Language
AP Mandarin Language (Chinese) 11-12 Foreign Language
AP Spanish Language 11-12 Foreign Language
AP Spanish Literature 11-12 Foreign Language
AP Microeconomics
(must be taken concurrently
with AP U.S. Government & Politics)
12 History
AP United States Government & Politics
(must be taken concurrently
with AP Microeconomics)
12 History
AP United States History 11 History
AP World History 10-12 History
AP Music Theory 10-12 Music-Vocal
AP Studio Art 11-12 Fine Art

[edit] Athletics

West Covina High School consists of many athletic teams which have achieved CIF and League titles. In 2004, WCHS defeated South Hills High School to win their first CIF title in over 40 years. The boy's varsity cross country team currently has a 4-year winning streak that continues even with the loss of the notable Mercado twins and Johnny Yerena who took them to CIF in 2005. In 2005, WCHS's basketball programs both won League Titles, the first time in a decade for either. The WCHS Soccer programs both won League Titles as well. The Wrestling Program is also well regarded and took League in 2005, advancing to Regionals and then State.

Fall Season

Winter Season

  • Boys: Basketball Headed By Coach Gary Prestater, Soccer Headed By Coach Desmond Baker
  • Girls: Basketball Headed By Coach Marcene Guerrerro, Soccer Headed By Coach Danielle Broshack, Water Polo Headed By Coach Michael Braham
  • Co-Ed Wrestling Headed By Coach Donnie and Shirley Stephens

Spring Season

In the 2004-2005 school year, a Hockey Team existed, but currently the program does not exist.

[edit] Fine Arts Programs

  • Dance/Drill
  • All-Male Hip-Hop Dance
  • Band
  • Drumline
  • Colorguard
  • Chamber Choir
  • WescovAires
  • Drama
  • Comedy Sportz
  • Spirit Team

[edit] Notable Programs

West Covina High School has two sister schools, one in Germany and one in Japan. The Japanese exchange program has taken place annually for the past 17 years with Yamanashi Gaukin High School in Kofu, Japan. The German Exchange Program has taken place every other year since 1979 with Moltkestrasse Gymnasium in Gummersbach, Germany.

In the 2005-2006 school year, WCHS has debuted the Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program headed by Major Frank Toledo(Ret.) and Staff Sargent Corneilius Walker(Ret.)

In 2006, the Robotics Alliance of West Covina (RAWC) took first place in the Southern California Regional Competition and took second place in the World in the FIRST Robotics Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.

[edit] Student Government

West Covina High School Associated Student Body
Established Spartans: 1950s Bulldogs :1988
School type Student Government
Director Ms. Melanie Wong
Location West Covina, California, United States
Members 39 (32 voting including 7 Executive Board members and 8 Class Representitves, 7 non voting)
Website West Covina High School Associated Student Body

The Associated Student Body (ASB) of WCHS is headed by 7 executive board members: The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Commissioner of Clubs, Commissioner of Recognition, and Commissioner of Events. The ASB cabinet includes 33 members, currently a body of 26 voting and 7 non-voting members. Official Cabinet meetings take place during 4th period on Thursdays to discuss future plans, passing checks and events.

The House of Representatives (HOR) take place on the first Thursday of the month and headed by the Vice President. Representatives are designated by their 4th period to represent the campus. The HOR discuss current events on the campus, and help provide feedback to the ASB Cabinet to then discuss the issues at hand further.

The Inter-Club Council (ICC) take place on the first Wednedsay of the month and headed by the Commissioner of Clubs. Each club on campus must designate a representitve to the ICC. The ICC discuss future events, issues regarding club accounts and events, and communicating club needs and concerns to the ASB Cabinet.

The Rennaisance Program works with ASB to promote achievement on and off campus. Each week Rennisance and the staff help choose a Student of the Week, Athelete(s) of the Week, Classified Staff of the Week, and Tireless Teacher of the Week. Every Semester, Rennisance holds an assembely to recognize students (academic and non academic) achievements, and also Staff and Students nominate a Most Inspirational Student and Teacher.

The School Site Council (SSC) consists of Class representatives, Faculty, Staff and the community to discuss funds and their distribution through the School Imporvement Program (SIP). Meetings usually take place on the 2nd or 3rd Wednesday of each month.

The current ASB director is Ms. Melanie Wong. The current Rennisance director is Mr. Danny Batimana.

[edit] Clubs and Organizations

clubs Website
Creative Writing
Journalism (Newsbytes) http://www.wchsnewsbytes.com
Quest
RAWC (Robotics)
(Robotics Alliance of West Covina)
http://www.rawc.net/index.htm
AFJROTC
(Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps)
Best Buddies
The Cause
ExQu
(Excellent Quest)
http://exquwchs.googlepages.com
German Club
GEO
(Global Exchange Organization)
http://www.wchsgeo.org
Speech/Debate
Science Explorer
Interect http://wchsinteract.vivid-hosting.net/
LEO
Key Club
NHS
(National Honor Society)
CSF
(California Scholarship Federation)
http://westcovinacsf.googlepages.com
AVID
(Advancement Via Individual Determination)
Art Club
Band/Colorguard
Cheer/Spirit Team
Choir Union
Comedy Sportz
Dance/Drill &
All-Male Team
http://www.wchsdancedrill.org/
Thespians/Drama
Academic Decathlon http://wchsacademicdecathlon.googlepages.com/
Leadership
Renaissance
L.U.N.A.
Graduating Classes
(Current classes: class of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)

[edit] Traditions and Memorials

During football home games, the band traditionally plays songs from USC, except for the fight song and Alma Mater, both of which are original compositions.

[edit] Yearly API

Year API Base Data API Growth Data Growth Target Actual Growth
1998 576
1999 576 599 11 23
2000 599 595 10 12
2001 595 626 10 26
2002 626 633 9 7
2003 633 695 8 60
2004 695 720 5 25
2005 720 738 4 18
2006 738 n/a n/a n/a

[edit] Alma Mater

Alma Mater, we praise you
Your strength makes us born anew,
From the ashes of the old world,
You've risen strong and true.
So together as Bulldogs
We fight to be free.
And for West Covina,
Maroon and Gold,
Will project us onto victory!
Alma Mater, hear our love for you.

-Dr. Louis Sergio


[edit] External links