Fountain Valley High School

Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) is a public high school in Fountain Valley, California. It was established in 1966 and is a part of the Huntington Beach Union High School District. It is notable for its rivalry with Edison High School, particularly during football season where both schools compete in the "Battle of the Bell."[4]

Fountain Valley High School
Address
17816 Bushard Street

Fountain Valley
,
California
92708

United States
Coordinates 33.70441°N 117.96217°W / 33.70441; -117.96217
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1966 (1966)
School districtHuntington Beach Union High School District
PrincipalPaul Lopez
Teaching staff121.96 (FTE) (2015–16)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment3,530 (2019–20)[2]
Student to teacher ratio29.17:1 (2015–16)[1]
Color(s)Gold, blue and red    
Athletics conferenceCIF Southern Section
Sunset League
Team nameBarons
RivalEdison Chargers
NewspaperBaron Banner[3]
YearbookRaconteur
Websitefvhs.com

For the first few years after opening, Fountain Valley High School had a larger student population than any other high school west of the Mississippi with approximately 4,300 students.[5] Due to the large student body, school days were split into two shifts, mornings for underclassmen and afternoons for upperclassmen.[6] Over the years, enrollment decreased due to various factors, including the opening of Edison High School in 1969.[7][8][9]

The athletic teams are known as the Barons, and the school colors are red, blue, and gold. The school had to renovate some of its buildings, which were sinking, starting in 2002. These renovations yielded new portable buildings in an area that was previously a parking lot. As of 2006, these semi-permanent portable buildings have been removed and replaced with permanent facilities. In March 2011, the track and football field were renovated. The dirt track was replaced by a synthetic track, and the field was replaced with new natural grass.[10] Years later, however, the field was replaced by imitation grass and turf.

Fountain Valley High School's marching band, called the "Royal Regiment," represented California at Ronald Reagan's 1981 inaugural parade. "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" was played by the marching band as hostages were released from the American embassy in Tehran.[11]

In fall 1996, a scene from the 1997 film Wag the Dog was filmed at FVHS during a basketball game and utilized the 1997 graduating class as extras.

In March 2005, the Fountain Valley High School drumline and band was filmed in Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" music video.[12]

In April 2007, Fountain Valley High School was recognized as a California Distinguished School for the second consecutive time.

Fountain Valley High School is also renowned for its vocal music program and the advanced choir, called the “Troubadours,” who have performed at various conferences and conventions.

Leadership

List of principals:[13]

  • Paul Berger – 1966–1979 (founding principal)
  • Larry Lucas – 1979–1980
  • David Hagen – 1980–1985
  • Mike Kasler – 1985–1991
  • Gary Ernst – 1991–2000
  • Connie Mayhugh – 2000–2004
  • Chris Herzfeld – 2004–2014
  • Kirk Kennedy – 2014–2015
  • Morgan Smith – 2015–2021
  • Paul Lopez – 2021–present

Academics

Advanced placement

Fountain Valley High School has an advanced placement (or AP) program which allows high school students to study college-level course work. Nearly every AP course available is offered at FVHS.

Athletics

The school currently competes in the Sunset League and is a part of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF). Prior to 1974, the school competed in the Irvine League. Fountain Valley High School fields all of the following sports: boys baseball, basketball, cross country running, football, golf, soccer, swim, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. On the girls side, Fountain Valley fields the sports of basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and water polo. In the past, Fountain Valley fielded gymnastics and badminton teams. Fountain Valley High School has won 18 CIF Team Championships

  • 1973 Girls Swimming
  • 1977 Wrestling
  • 1978 Football
  • 1978 Gymnastics
  • 1980 Girls Gymnastics
  • 1981 Girls Gymnastics
  • 1981 Gymnastics
  • 1985 Baseball
  • 1985 Wrestling
  • 1988 Football
  • 1994 Baseball
  • 1995 Baseball
  • 1996 Girls Volleyball
  • 2005 Girls Cross Country
  • 2015 Wrestling
  • 2018 Tennis
  • 2019 Wrestling
  • 2020 Wrestling

Fountain Valley has had two coaches and one athlete enshrined in the CIF hall of fame: Carol Strausberg-basketball coach, Ron LaRuffa-Baseball coach, Shirley Babashoff-swimmer.

Fountain Valley High School also holds Five Counties Wrestling Championships, which is one of the biggest tournaments in the nation. The Fountain Valley wrestling team has won 29 League Champion Titles (Irvine 1968, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, '74) (Sunset 1976, '77, '80, '81, '82, '83, '84, '86, '97, '98, 2008, '09, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '17, '18, '19, '20, '21).

Fountain Valley's football game against rival Edison high school on December 11, 1980, was the fourth-highest attended game in state history with 28,968 fans in attendance.[4] The game was held at Anaheim Stadium, now known as Angel Stadium.

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Fountain Valley High". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "Search for Public Schools - Fountain Valley High (061806002228)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  3. "Baron News – Fountain Valley High School Student News".
  4. "Fountain Valley and Edison Drew 28,969 Fans in 1980 : Where Have Big Crowds Gone?". Los Angeles Times. November 11, 1987. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  5. Mellen, Greg (June 14, 2017). "Fountain Valley High School Graduation, 2017". Orange County Register. Once the largest high school west of the Mississippi River with 4,300 students, ...
  6. "Barons For Life: Fountain Valley High celebrating 50th anniversary". Orange County Register. March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  7. "Barons For Life: Fountain Valley High celebrating 50th anniversary". Orange County Register. March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  8. "Students and Parents Rap Plans to Lay Off Teachers". Los Angeles Times. May 24, 1989. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  9. "Drop in High School Students May Force Layoffs". Los Angeles Times. January 15, 1987. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  10. "Fountain Valley High celebrates new all-weather track". Orange County Register. March 2, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  11. "History". www.fvhs.com. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  12. "FVHS Band films with Gwen Stefani". Fountain Valley High School. March 4, 2005. Retrieved from No Doubt Unofficial International Fanclub January 9, 2007.
  13. "History". www.fvhs.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  14. "Altice Feels at Home Even in the Spotlight". Los Angeles Times. October 7, 1996. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  15. "FV History". Fountain Valley High School. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  16. "Olympic swimmer Shirley Babashoff of Fountain Valley sets record straight with new book". Orange County Register. April 20, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  17. "Fountain Valley Living Magazine, February 2016". Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  18. McCoy, Chris (April 5, 2021). "Craig Brewer's Spaceship". Memphis magazine. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  19. "Blake Davis Minor, Fall & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  20. "Actor's Crystal method". Los Angeles Times. March 30, 2006. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  21. "Luke Hudson Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  22. "Casey Janssen Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. "FVHS grad to be inducted into Hall of Fame". Orange County Register. July 15, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  24. Egan, Tim (August 6, 1995). "Michelle Pfeiffer, Sensuous to Sensible". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  25. "Chris Tillman Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  26. "Fountain Valley High School - Posts". Facebook. August 10, 2014.
  27. "C.J. Wilson Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
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