Valencia High School in Placentia, California, was established in 1933. The high school originally shared buildings with Bradford Avenue Elementary School until 1964, when Bradford Elementary closed and Valencia High School became the sole occupant of the campus property. Until 1967, when El Dorado High School was built, Valencia was Placentia's only high school. Valencia High School is located at 500 North Bradford Avenue; coordinates 33.87622,-117.86929.
Many of Valencia's buildings, including the auditorium and cafeteria, were built during the Depression by the WPA.
Today the school serves a student body of approximately 2,500 students. It is one of four high schools in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD). Beginning in the summer of 2010, Valencia underwent a series of renovations and construction projects, including a new 17-classroom building, modernized school breezeway and administration building, and new bleachers at Bradford Stadium. A modernized "quad" was also among the list of projects, serving as a center of campus life and a common location of school activities. Funding for these improvements was provided by Measure A, which was approved by local voters in 2008.
Valencia is the International Baccalaureate (IB) magnet school in PYLUSD. The school's website claims it is one of the best IB programs in Orange County, CA. The school also hosts an advanced technology program called Val Tech, in which students must complete an internship during the summer between their junior and senior years.
The school's mascot is the Tiger, and its team colors are blue and gold.
Kraemer Middle School is almost part of the campus, with only a long skinny parking lot separating the two.
Athletics
The boys' tennis team won the 2012 and 2015 CIF Championships. The girls won CIF three years in a row (2006, 2007, 2008). The girls also won CIF in 2015. Also, boys' and girls' basketball dominated the Empire League in the 2008â€"09 season. Boys' cross country has dominated the Empire League year after year, achieving a perfect score of 15 in 2015 for Empire League Finals, and qualifying for state during the 2016 season.
Notable alumni
- Héctor Ambriz, Pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.
- Michael Chang, U.S. Tennis Player.
- Beneil Dariush, professional MMA fighter currently fighting for the UFC.
- Chris Draft, NFL pro football player, Falcons/Giants/Panthers.
- Suzanne Enoch, romance novel author.
- Michele Granger, (Class of 1988), U.S. Olympic Gold Medal-winning softball player.
- Daryl Mallett (Class of 1986), author and actor.
- Linda Sánchez (Class of 1987), U.S. Congresswoman representing the 39th District of California.
- Julie Swail, U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo team captain at 2000 Summer Olympics and Triathlete at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Chris Tidland, Professional Golfer (PGA Tour) Nationwide Tour.
References
External links
- Valencia High School Web Site
- Valencia High School Athletics
- Valencia High School Alumni Association
- [http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-700135-diebolt-acts.html/ Diebolt
