North Hollywood High School


North Hollywood High School is a public high school in North Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, United States. NHHS is located in the San Fernando Valley and enrolls approximately 2,500 students each year. Several neighborhoods, including most of North Hollywood, Valley Village, Studio City and Sun Valley, send students to this school. As of 2020, NHHS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. As of 2020, the school principal is Mr. Ricardo Rosales.

Facilities

The campus facilities include three main buildings, an agricultural area with livestock, a garden, an auditorium, a cafeteria, two gymnasiums, multiple computer labs with internet access, an auto mechanic shop, a wood shop, an instrumental music room, a football field, two softball fields, a baseball diamond, two tennis court areas, a teachers' parking lot, an art room, a college center, a parent center, a student store, and a library.

History

Built in 1927, Lankershim High School was named for the town of Lankershim and its founding family. It opened with only a main building, auditorium, gymnasium, and a shop & mechanics building, with 800 students, graduating its first class in 1928. The Board of Education was asked to employ teachers who were already residents of North Hollywood, creating jobs and education opportunities right in the area. Lankershim High School was renamed North Hollywood High School in 1929. In 1937, a girls' gymnasium and a second major classroom building, now named Frasher Hall after former principal Roscoe Frasher, were built. In 1950, the third major classroom building, now named Randolph Hall, was built. In the 1950s, many smaller construction projects took place, including the agricultural classrooms, the boys' gymnasium, the home-side bleachers, and the instrumental music room. In 1965, the main hall was named the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hall after the President. In 1966, the cafeteria, student store, and two shop buildings were built. In 1973, the Amelia Earhart Continuation High School was built on the campus' northeast corner. In the late 1990s, thirteen modular buildings were installed to support an increase in the number of students.

1990s and beyond

In 1996, the LAUSD board voted to move NHHS to a year-round schedule, but after more classroom space was found, the board reversed course. Several NHHS parents and community members did not want a year-round schedule since they feared it would negatively impact the Highly Gifted Magnet. According to the 1996 scheduling magnet students were supposed to get July–May, which would have impacted their ability to attend summer programs operated by Ivy League universities. The zoo magnet students were to get the September–June schedule.
In 2000, Ramon C. Cortines, the LAUSD superintendent, stated that the overcrowding at NHHS was more severe than originally anticipated, and he announced that NHHS was going year-round. This was despite parents and students protesting against the move for several months. From 2000 to 2007, NHHS was a year-round school with three tracks.
In 2006, East Valley High School opened, relieving overcrowding at NHHS. In 2007, the traditional calendar was re-adopted and the students were divided into many Small Learning Communities. All but three of these SLCs were closed in June 2012.
In 2015, it was announced that NHHS was selected to undergo major renovations, including upgrading buildings and removing portable buildings, to be completed in five years.
In 2018 there was a proposal to co-locate a charter school, Valley International Preparatory High School, on the NHHS campus, but there was student opposition; students created an online petition to oppose the co-location.

Academics

NHHS contains three magnet programs; the Highly Gifted Magnet, the Zoo Magnet, and the STEM Magnet. There are also three Small Learning Communities ; the Humanitas School for Advanced Studies, the Home Engineering Academy, and the Freshmen Academy.

Highly Gifted Magnet

The Highly Gifted Magnet was established in 1989, and is a component of the voluntary integration program of the LAUSD, designed to provide an academically challenging college preparatory program. The program is designed to prepare its students to thrive in the most demanding of university environments. The students in the HGM are from all over Los Angeles, and have a variety of extracurricular interests, as well as diversity in their academic directions.
Children are eligible if they test in the 99.5th percentile or above on an intelligence test conducted by an LAUSD psychologist. Priority is given to children with 99.9%, officially “Highly Gifted” by LAUSD definition. If there are openings remaining in the program, “Gifted” students with 99.5%-99.8% may be admitted with priority based on magnet points. The program had 265 students, 4 administrators, and 7 faculty members in 2016.

Zoo Magnet

The Zoo Magnet was established in 1981, and is a specialized school that buses students to a small campus next to the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park. At this site, approximately 300 students take standard classes such as history, math, and English, in addition to Advanced Placement classes related to biological and zoological sciences. Many of these classes include fieldwork in the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Los Angeles River ecosystem, Autry National Center and the natural world of Griffith Park for tours and observation. Classes are on a block schedule, meeting three days a week for two hours per class.

STEM Magnet

The STEM Magnet was established in 2018, and is an alternative course of study that prepares students for college and career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

Small Learning Communities

The Small Learning Communities are intended to increase student achievement by personalizing the educational experience of students in large schools. Of the eight SLCs originally created, three remain as of 2019; the Humanitas School for Advanced Studies, the Home Engineering Academy, and the Freshmen Academy. The HSAS is designed for identified gifted, high achieving, high-ability students who show an interest in taking Honors and Advanced Placement courses. The HEA specializes in the construction and building trades.

Rankings

In 2020, Niche designated NHHS as #279 in the country, and was awarded an overall grade of "A", with an A- in Academics, an A- in Diversity, an A in Teachers, an A in College Prep, a B- in Clubs and Activities, a B in Health and Safety, a B in Administration, a C+ in Sports, a C in Food, and a C in Resources and Facilities.
In 2020, Newsweek ranked NHHS as #2183 in the country for STEM programs, with a score of 63.6/100.
In 2019, U.S. News & World Report ranked NHHS as 1,558th in the country, 233rd of all high schools in California, 98th in Los Angeles, and gave it a College Readiness Index of 39/100. It also ranked the Highly Gifted Magnet as 192nd in the country.
In 2018, the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress evaluated 11th grade students in English and Mathematics. In the area of English, 11th grade students were classified as 15% standard not met, 17% standard nearly met, 32% standard met, and 36% stanard exceeded. In the area of Math, 11th grade students were classified as 37% standard not met, 26% standard nearly met, 17% standard met, and 20% standard exceeded.
In 2018, schooldigger.com ranked NHHS as 416th of all high schools in California, 25th of all high schools in LAUSD, and 2nd of all public/non-magnet high schools in LAUSD.
In 2017, the Washington Post ranked NHHS as 624th in the country, 77th of all high schools in California, 58th of all public high schools in California, 21st of all high schools in Los Angeles County, 11th of all high schools in LAUSD, and 1st of all high schools in District 2.
For the 2017-18 school year, the average ACT Test scores were a 25 in Reading, a 25 in English, a 24 in Math, and a 24 in Science, each out of 36 points.
In 2016, LAUSD's new School Quality Improvement Index scored NHHS's 2014-15 year as 80/100, broken down into 10.51/15 in Academic Performance English Language Arts, 12.01/15 in Academic Performance Math, 11.25/20 in Four Year Cohort Graduation Rate, 3.7/5 in Five Year Cohort Graduation Rate, 3.51/5 in Six Year Cohort Graduation Rate, 12.68/13.33 in Chronic Absenteeism, 13.35/13.33 in Suspension Rates, and 13.33/13.33 in English Learner Re-Designation.
In 2015, the Los Angeles Times gave NHHS a grade of "A" in arts education, ranking it 6th of all secondary schools, and 9th of all schools within LAUSD. Out of over 700 schools, only 35 received an "A" grade.
In 2014, Los Angeles Magazine ranked NHHS 14th in Los Angeles County, 7th of all public schools in the county, 4th of all LAUSD schools, and 1st in District 2.
In 2013, NHHS's Academic Performance Index score was 778, which is 22 points below the state goal, but an improvement of 8 points since 2012.
For the 2013-14 school year, the average SAT Reasoning Test score was 1557 of a possible 2400 points.
For the 2013-14 school year, the California High School Exit Exam classified 84% of 10th graders in English and 83% of 10th graders in Mathematics, as "proficient or better."
For the 2014-15 school year, in the Physical Fitness Exam for 9th graders, 89.8% of students in Abdominal Strength, 65.5% of students in Aerobic Capacity, 63.1% of students in Body Composition, 91.2% of students in Flexibility, 92.1% of students in Trunk Extension Strength, and 80.9% of students in Upper Body Strength, were considered to be in the "Healthy Fitness Zone."

Advanced Placement Courses

NHHS offers 25 Advanced Placement courses: AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP European History, AP French Language, AP Human Geography, AP Macroeconomics, AP Music Theory, AP Physics 2,,, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Statistics, AP Studio Art, AP US Government and Politics, AP US History, and AP World History.
For the 2017-18 school year, 820 students took 1,883 AP examinations, with 20% receiving a score of 1, 24% receiving a score of 2, 22% receiving a score of 3, 16% receiving a score of 4, and 18% receiving a score of 5.

Extracurriculars

There are a wide variety of extracurricular activities offered at NHHS. While many of these activities are provided by the school, after-school partnerships exist with Los Angeles Valley College and L.A.C.E.R. Afterschool Programs.

Competitive Academics

NHHS offers many highly successful teams in competitive academics:
Academic Decathlon,
CyberPatriot,
DECA,
Duke Moot Court,
FIRST Robotics,
Future Farmers of America,
Mock Trial,
Model United Nations,
North American Computational Linguistics Open competition,
National Ocean Sciences Bowl,
Physics Olympiad,
Science Bowl,
Science Olympiad, and
Speech and Debate.

Athletics

The NHHS Huskies compete in the CIF Los Angeles City Section's East Valley League. NHHS's rivals are Polytechnic High School and Ulysses S. Grant High School. The NHHS Athletics Department offers:
Archery,
Baseball,
Basketball,
Cheerleading,
Cross Country,
Football,
Golf,
Soccer,
Softball,
Students Run LA,
Tennis,
Track & Field,
Ultimate Frisbee,
Volleyball, and
Weight Training.

Performing Arts

NHHS offers a wide variety of performing arts courses.
For the 2018-19 school year, NHHS had a total enrollment of 2,522 students, broken down into 29.9% freshmen, 25.8% sophomores, 21.6% juniors, and 22.7% seniors. 9.6% of NHHS students were English Learners.
During the 2014-15 school year, the student-teacher ratio was 24 to 1, and NHHS had 11 administrators, 114 teachers, and 10 pupil services workers. Of the 114 teachers, 1 has a Doctorate, 61 have Master's degrees, 48 have Bachelor's degrees, and 4 were unreported.

Achievements

NHHS has been the filming location for movies, television shows, and other productions, including the following: