Menlo-Atherton High School
Menlo-Atherton High School (known as M-A to locals[2]) is a four-year public high school secondary school located in Atherton, California. Menlo-Atherton is part of the Sequoia Union High School District.[3]
| Menlo-Atherton High School | |
|---|---|
Menlo-Atherton High School in 2011 | |
| Address | |
555 Middlefield Road , 94027 | |
| Coordinates | 37°27′40″N 122°10′30″W / 37.46111°N 122.17500°W |
| Information | |
| Type | public comprehensive |
| Established | 1951 |
| School district | Sequoia Union High School District |
| Principal | Karl Losekoot |
| Faculty | 126.44 (FTE)[1] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 2,450 (2017–18)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 19.38[1] |
| Color(s) | Maroon Gold |
| Nickname | Bears |
| Website | www.mabears.org |
Menlo-Atherton has been named one of the top secondary schools in the nation by the United States Department of Education as part of its National School Recognition Program. It was selected as a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education in 2007 and 2013.[4][5] In 2005, Newsweek ranked the school as the 259th best school in the United States.[6] Menlo-Atherton also offers the most Advanced Placement courses in the district with over twenty, ranging from Studio Art to US History.[7]
Since the closure of Ravenswood High School, Menlo-Atherton has been racially diverse, drawing from Atherton, Menlo Park, Redwood City, East Palo Alto, and Portola Valley. The school's motto is "Strength in Diversity".[8]
Academics
Typically, 97% of graduates continue their education. 37% opt for two-year colleges, 60% go to four-year colleges.[3]
M-A offers the following Advanced Placement courses: Art History; Biology; Calculus AB/BC; Chinese Language; Chemistry; Computer Science; English Language/Composition; English Literature; Environmental Science; European History; French Language; Latin; Physics; Psychology; Spanish Language; Spanish Literature (approximately every other year); Statistics; Studio Art; and US History. M-A has an 84% pass rate on AP exams, with just under 40% scoring a 5. It also has the Advanced Via Individual Determination program and the Computer Academy, programs for students seeking a smaller, supportive learning environment.[3]
Athletics
Menlo-Atherton has nearly 60 teams at the varsity, junior varsity and freshman levels in 15 sports that they offer. Over 46% of the student body participates in a sport with 1,100 athletes in the 2018-19 season. M-A has emerged as one of the most accomplished athletic programs in Northern California, winning 2 CIF State titles (Football & Girls Wrestling-individual title), 8 Central Coast Section titles, and 13 Peninsula Athletic League titles in the 2018-19 school year. The Bears have also won the PAL Commissioner's Cup the last 11 years in a row and in 12 of the 13 years of its existence. The Commissioner's Cup is awarded annually to the Peninsula Athletic League school that best exemplifies the league's commitment to sportsmanship and excellence in athletics. Points are awarded to each varsity team in each sport that they participate in, by the order of finish in league play and for sportsmanship.
In 2017, Co-Athletic Directors Paul Snow and Steven Kryger were named NorCal Athletic Directors of the Year by the California Coaches Association. That same year saw Adhir Ravipati named the NorCal Football Coach of the Year, and in 2018, Jane Worden and Brett Koerten were named State Swim Coaches of the Year, also by the California Coaches Association. In 2017, Menlo-Atherton was named the Northern California Public High School of the Year by Prep2Prep.com for their athletic achievements.
Fine arts
Menlo-Atherton is home to a professional-level 492-seat theater, the Menlo-Atherton Center for Performing Arts. It is home to the school play and musical; band, orchestra, guitar, and choir concerts; the Menlo-Atherton Student Film Festival;[9] the Bear Arts Expo, a collaboration between all of M-A's arts classes;[10] and many other school events. It also hosts events related to the City of Menlo Park, which partially financed its construction, and is a regular venue of ensembles and music festivals including the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Music@Menlo.[11]
The Advanced Jazz Ensemble regularly travels to festivals around the world, including the annual Reno Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival. The band is supported by the Band Boosters.[12]
The Center is home to M-A Drama, Menlo-Atherton's chapter of the International Thespian Society. M-A Drama produces a play and a musical each year. M-A Drama is supported by M-A Drama Boosters.[13]
Alumni
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, California State Legislator
- Chuck Bradley, American football player
- Greg Buckingham, Olympic Silver Medalist in swimming; brother of Lindsey[14]
- Lindsey Buckingham, singer and guitarist with rock group Fleetwood Mac[14]
- Cheryl Burke, Professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars[15]
- Greg Camarillo (born 1982), NFL wide receiver (Minnesota Vikings)[16]
- Chris Dorst, Olympic silver medalist in water polo, Los Angeles 1984
- Marshall "Mark" Drummond, academic administrator
- James Gaughran, Olympic water polo athlete, Melbourne 1956
- Mark Lettieri, Grammy award winning guitarist with Snarky Puppy[17]
- Bob Melvin (born 1961), Major League Baseball player and manager, current manager of the San Diego Padres
- Stevie Nicks, singer with rock group Fleetwood Mac
- Elizabeth Osborn, woman equestrian vaulter United States, 2008[18]
- Ruth Porat, Alphabet and Google CFO; former Morgan Stanley CFO
- Jamila Reinhardt, current player on the USA Rugby women's national team, named in the Eagles 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup squad.[19][20][21]
- Dick Roth, Olympic gold medalist in swimming, Tokyo 1964, Olympic and world record holder 400IM
- Courtney Thorne-Smith, actress
- Rhett Ayers Butler, Journalist and Author[22]
- Bob Weir, singer, guitarist and founding member of The Grateful Dead[14]
- Steve Westly, venture capitalist, former California State Controller, 2006 gubernatorial candidate, and executive at eBay
- Richard L. Wright, political leader[14][23]
Faculty
- Leo Krupnik (born 1979), Ukrainian-born American-Israeli former soccer player and current soccer coach.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Menlo-Atherton High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ About M-A 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c School Profile 2013-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "California Distinguished Schools Awardees 2007 - California Distinguished Schools Program (CA Dept of Education)". www.cde.ca.gov. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ^ "California Distinguished Schools Awardees 2013 - California Distinguished Schools Program (CA Dept of Education)". www.cde.ca.gov. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ^ . www.msnbc.msn.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ^ "Menlo-Atherton High School - AP Courses". www.mabears.org. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ "Reid column: M-A's success comes on and off the field". The Mercury News. September 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ^ Death, Theft, Violence, and Catnip: The M-ASFF In Review 2012-05-24 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ . Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ^ "Venues - Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale". Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ^ M-A Band Boosters 2011-09-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Boosters".
- ^ a b c d "Menlo Atherton High School History Page 6". Menlo Atherton High School Alumni Association. Retrieved December 17, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Hunt, Mary Ellen (December 14, 2008). "Cheryl Burke: 'Dancing With the Stars' tour". SFGate.com. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
- ^ . Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
First-team All-Peninsula Athletic League and All-San Mateo County as senior at Menlo-Atherton High School in Menlo Park, Calif
- ^ "Updated: Menlo Park native wins Grammy as fusion band guitarist".
- ^ Wick, Carrie (July 2, 2008). . The Almanac. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ Wise, Chad (July 17, 2017). "Eagles announced for Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland". USA Rugby. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ^ "Women Eagles Name World Cup Squad". www.thisisamericanrugby.com. July 17, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ^ "New caps in Women's Eagles World Cup squad". Americas Rugby News.com. July 20, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ^ Wood, Barbara (November 8, 2017). "How a curious kid from Atherton started and grew a global environmental news site". Almanac News.
- ^ Bumiller, Elisabeth (August 13, 1999). "Teammate Collects Dollar Bills for Bradley". The New York Times. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
External links
- Menlo-Atherton High School website