The school was named "Rancho Alamitos" in to the Rancho Los Alamitos landgrant and the Hispanic history in Orange County. The area of the Rancho Alamitos High School campus was originally part of the Rancho Los Alamitos landgrant, itself part of Rancho Los Nietos, a Spanish landgrant made in 1784. After John Bixby died in 1888, numerous sections of Rancho Los Alamitos were sold, and Lumis A. Evans, a real estate dealer, acquired the area. In the mid-1950s the Garden GroveUnion High School District purchased forty acres of this land from the family of Mr. Evans. Construction of Rancho Alamitos High School began in 1956. Rancho Alamitos High School was formulated for classes to start in the Fall of 1957; however, since the campus was not ready, their classes were taught for that first semester on the older Garden Grove High School campus. Although construction of the new campus was incomplete, in the Spring of 1957 the first classes at the Rancho Alamitos High School campus were held in two pre-existing homes on the property, ones that faced Dale Street. They continued to be used as classrooms until construction was completed in 1959. In the Spring of 1957, the Rancho Alamitos campus officially opened and the next Spring the first senior class graduated. ;List of principals
1956–1957 — Mr. Don Kennedy
1957–1960 — Mr. Richard Bivin
1960–1961 — Mr. Sam Chicas
1961–1964 — Mr. Vic McClain
1964–1966 — Mr. William Zogg
1966–1976 — Mr. Tracy Strong
1976–1982 — Mr. Ron Forsyth
1982–1985 — Mr. Jim DeLong
1985–1991 — Mr. Bob Mesa
1991–2000 — Mr. Tom Robins
2000–2006 — Mr. Gene Campbell
2006–2009 — Mr. Frank Mackay
2009–present — Ms Mary Jane Hibbard
Logo
The school colors are green and gold. Until the mid-1970s the school mascot had been "Poco", a cartoon character of a short male dressed in a large poncho with a serape, a Mexican–Indian throw blanket or rug over one shoulder and a large sombrero on his head, covering the eyes.
The school logo was changed to a cowboy boot spur because of racial controversy regarding the character of Poco. More recently, the school's crest or a big letter V with the word "Rancho" across it would be seen on most planners and/or merchandise.
Academics
Based on the 2013 academic year, U.S News & World Report in its "The Best Schools in United States" ranked Rancho Alamitos High School as #367 among California schools, and #1718 in the nation. With that rank, it awarded RAHS the Silver Medal.
Sports
The school's athletic teams are known as the Vaqueros, though Rancho students tend to shorten its name to "Vaqs". The athletic teams are part of California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section, participating in the six-team Garden Grove League, mostly against other schools in the Garden Grove Unified School District.
Categories of Sports
Sports at Rancho Alamitos High School have included:
;1990s The Vaquero football team had moderate success in the early to mid 1990s, led by a slew of talented running. The team made two straight Division VII Finals appearance. Falling just short in 1992 by a score of 14-13, to Sunny Hills High School. Running Back Leon Vickers was the Division VII player of the year for his performance. The following year they fell to Mira Costa 29 to 17. In 1996 and 1997 the Vaqs posted back to back undefeated regular seasons, only to lose to rival Pacifica in the Semi-finals and Northview in the Quarter Finals. In 1996 Leo Kosi was the Division VIII MVP, while in 1997 David Vickers held the same honor. ;Since 2000 The Vaqueros made a Finals appearance in 2014, only to lose to rival Garden Grove 35 to 0. On 16 October 2015, when these rivals again met Garden Grove defeated Rancho Alamitos 34 to 3, with no points scored in the second half.
Steve Martin, comedian, writer, actor, musician and composer, attended Rancho Alamitos his freshman and sophomore years, graduated from Garden Grove High School in 1963.
Ray Martinez, from class of 1973 "DJ RayMar" American Disc Jockey Hall of Fame Inductee, and Author.
Craig Paquette, from the class of 1987, Third Baseman in MLB from 1993–2003.
Paul Soliai NFL Defensive Tackle For the Miami Dolphins and Pro Bowler attended Rancho Alamitos from his freshman to his junior year before moving to American Samoa.
