Troy High School (California)
Encyclopedia
Troy High School is a public magnet
school situated in Fullerton, California
, USA, acclaimed for its Troy Tech and International Baccalaureate programs. It is located in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District
. As of the 2008-2009 school year, 2850 students attend the school.
by former U.S. President Bill Clinton
in 2000. It has won first place in the U.S. National Science Olympiad
in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and has also placed favorably in many other competitions on both the regional and national level, including the American Computer Science League
(1st in the nation, 5th overall in 2005). Troy's Science Olympiad team has consistently attended nationals for the last 15 years, emerging as national champions in 8 of those 15 competitions (with 3 second place and 1 third place). Troy’s Science Bowl Team has placed first and second for four years in the Western Regional Science Bowl
sponsored by NASA/JPL and the U.S. Department of Energy. In 2001, the team captured the national second place at the U.S. Dept. of Energy Competition in Washington, D.C. A number of Troy Tech and International Baccalaureate students have received nationally recognized honors, by competing and often placing highly in the prestigious Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology
and the Intel Science Talent Search
. In 2008, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges granted the school a six-year accreditation. Additionally, Troy High School is a member institution of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC).
Troy has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
as well as a California Distinguished School
.
In 2007, Troy's NJROTC program was named the best in Area 11 (60 programs), which is composed of Southern California and Arizona, and 1st nationally, after a 9th place finish at NJROTC Navy Nationals (top 24 of 618 programs) and a 9th place finish in the nationwide National Academic Exam. In 2011, Troy finished second in the NJROTC Navy Nationals competition in Pensacola, Florida.
Division II Title in 2003, 2005, and 2006. Sports Illustrated
ranked the team the #4 program in the country for 2006, and the Los Angeles Times
ranked Troy the #5 program in all of Southern California for the second year in a row.
, with the help of three Naval Science Instructors, Chief Petty Officer Terrik King of the US Navy, 1st Sgt. Steven C. Lyon of the US Marine Corps, and 1st Sgt. Warren Barnes of the US Marine Corps. Troy NJROTC has many competitive teams including drill teams (Armed Regulation, Unarmed Regulation, Armed Exhibition, Unarmed Exhibition, and Personnel Inspection), an Academics Team, a Marksmanship Team, a Physical Training Team, a Color Guard Team, a Brain Brawl Team, and an Orienteering Team. There are also four departments in the unit which are Operations, Administration, Supply, and Drill.
In one incident, five asbestos-containing bags were left near an intake for the ventilation system feeding the entire school. Numerous individuals at the school later reported respiratory symptoms, and over 80 faculty members at the school signed a petition to the district demanding full disclosure of the extent of exposure
School and district officials still deny the existence of asbestos in the building, and refuse to disclose the full extent of the exposure.
students at the school. The article was generally well received by students. However, the school administration initiated disciplinary action against the student, citing school and state education codes that prohibit asking students about their sexual orientation without parental notification. Long claimed she was forced to resign voluntarily or she would be fired from her position as student editor, even though the article had been approved by the newspaper's faculty advisor. Long was supported by the American Civil Liberties Union
, as well as the National Center for Lesbian Rights
, the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and the California Safe Schools Coalition.
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
school situated in Fullerton, California
Fullerton, California
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
, USA, acclaimed for its Troy Tech and International Baccalaureate programs. It is located in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District
Fullerton Joint Union High School District
Fullerton Joint Union High School District , founded in 1893 is a school district in Orange County, California that serves a fifty-square-mile area which includes the cities of Fullerton, La Habra and Buena Park...
. As of the 2008-2009 school year, 2850 students attend the school.
Academics
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, then-principal Jerry Atkin was instrumental in developing and implementing a Science and Technology magnet program, known as Troy Tech, for Troy High School. Troy was one of 27 high schools nationwide honored as a New American High SchoolNew American High Schools
The New American High Schools initiative, started in 1996 under the direction of the United States Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, is a national recognition program for United States secondary schools.-Description:...
by former U.S. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in 2000. It has won first place in the U.S. National Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an American elementary, middle, or high school team competition which tests knowledge of various science topics and engineering ability. Over 6,200 teams from 49 U.S. states compete each year. Most teams compete in three levels of competition: regionals, states, and nationals...
in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and has also placed favorably in many other competitions on both the regional and national level, including the American Computer Science League
American Computer Science League
ACSL , or the American Computer Science League, is an international computer science competition among more than 200 schools. Each round consists of two parts: a written section and a programming section...
(1st in the nation, 5th overall in 2005). Troy's Science Olympiad team has consistently attended nationals for the last 15 years, emerging as national champions in 8 of those 15 competitions (with 3 second place and 1 third place). Troy’s Science Bowl Team has placed first and second for four years in the Western Regional Science Bowl
Science Bowl
Science Bowl is a high school and middle school academic competition, similar to Quiz Bowl, held in the United States. Two teams of four students each compete to answer various science-related questions. In order to determine which student has the right to answer the question, a buzzer system is...
sponsored by NASA/JPL and the U.S. Department of Energy. In 2001, the team captured the national second place at the U.S. Dept. of Energy Competition in Washington, D.C. A number of Troy Tech and International Baccalaureate students have received nationally recognized honors, by competing and often placing highly in the prestigious Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology
Siemens Westinghouse Competition
The Siemens Competition is a science competition funded by the Siemens Foundation and administered by the College Board.- Eligibility requirements :The Siemens Competition is open to high school students who are citizens or permanent residents of the US...
and the Intel Science Talent Search
Intel Science Talent Search
The Intel Science Talent Search , known for its first 57 years as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search is a research-based science competition in the United States for high school seniors. It has been referred to as "the nation's oldest and most prestigious" science competition. In his speech...
. In 2008, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges granted the school a six-year accreditation. Additionally, Troy High School is a member institution of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC).
Troy has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
as well as a California Distinguished School
California Distinguished School
A California Distinguished School is an award given by the California State Board of Education to public schools within the state that best represent exemplary and quality educational programs. Approximately five percent of California schools are awarded this honor each year following a selection...
.
In 2007, Troy's NJROTC program was named the best in Area 11 (60 programs), which is composed of Southern California and Arizona, and 1st nationally, after a 9th place finish at NJROTC Navy Nationals (top 24 of 618 programs) and a 9th place finish in the nationwide National Academic Exam. In 2011, Troy finished second in the NJROTC Navy Nationals competition in Pensacola, Florida.
Basketball
The Girl's Basketball Team won the state CIFCalifornia Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
Division II Title in 2003, 2005, and 2006. Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
ranked the team the #4 program in the country for 2006, and the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
ranked Troy the #5 program in all of Southern California for the second year in a row.
Dance Team
The Troy Dance Team "Red Hots" have won National Champion titles at Florida since 1999 and in 2009, they were awarded Grand National Champions.NJROTC Program
Troy's Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) has won 1st Place at the Area 11 Championship (State Championship) four consecutive times since 2008. It achieved the title of "Best Unit in the Nation" in 2009 and took 2nd Place at NJROTC Nationals 2011. The unit is composed of over 400 cadets making it the largest unit on the west side of the Mississippi River and is now considered a regiment. Currently it is led by Senior Naval Science Instructor, Commander Allen Stubblefield of the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, with the help of three Naval Science Instructors, Chief Petty Officer Terrik King of the US Navy, 1st Sgt. Steven C. Lyon of the US Marine Corps, and 1st Sgt. Warren Barnes of the US Marine Corps. Troy NJROTC has many competitive teams including drill teams (Armed Regulation, Unarmed Regulation, Armed Exhibition, Unarmed Exhibition, and Personnel Inspection), an Academics Team, a Marksmanship Team, a Physical Training Team, a Color Guard Team, a Brain Brawl Team, and an Orienteering Team. There are also four departments in the unit which are Operations, Administration, Supply, and Drill.
SAT
| Section | Mean Score | State Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 1917 | 7 |
| Critical Reading | 622 | 4 |
| Math | 668 | 4 |
| Writing | 627 | 9 |
| Figures for schools with greater than 200 test-takers from 2009-2010 | ||
| Section | Mean Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Math Level 1 | 685 | |
| Math Level 2 | 768 | |
| United States History | 659 | |
| World History | 610 | |
| Chemistry | 695 | |
| Physics | 718 | |
| Biology E | 666 | |
| Biology M | 697 | |
| Chinese w/L | 773 | |
| Korean w/L | 771 | |
| Japanese w/L | 601 | |
| Spanish | 672 | |
| French | 615 | |
| English Literature | 650 | |
| Figures for schools with greater than 50 test-takers from 2007-2008 | ||
AP/IB
- Number of Advanced Placement ExaminationsAdvanced Placement ProgramThe Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
taken in May 2010: 2282 (93.5% pass rate; California Public HS rank: 2) - Number of International Baccalaureate Examinations taken in May 2008: 734 (98% pass rate; World IB Rank: 252; U.S. IB Rank: 93; California IB Rank: 22)
National Merit statistics
| Year | Finalists | Semifinalists | Commended Scholars | Hispanic Scholars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 57 | 95 | 5 | |
| 2008 | 42 | 51 | 87 | 6 |
| 2006 | 39 | 66 | ||
| 2005 | 40 | 42 | 72 | 7 |
| 2004 | 30 | 51 | 8 |
Asbestos
Troy High School and district administrators were embroiled in a controversy surrounding the improper removal and handling of asbestos while school was in session. No public notifications or warning was issued about the removal while school was in session.In one incident, five asbestos-containing bags were left near an intake for the ventilation system feeding the entire school. Numerous individuals at the school later reported respiratory symptoms, and over 80 faculty members at the school signed a petition to the district demanding full disclosure of the extent of exposure
School and district officials still deny the existence of asbestos in the building, and refuse to disclose the full extent of the exposure.
Oracle controversy
In December 2004, Ann Long, at the time a Troy student and editor of the Oracle, the school newspaper, wrote an Oracle article that profiled several openly gayHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
students at the school. The article was generally well received by students. However, the school administration initiated disciplinary action against the student, citing school and state education codes that prohibit asking students about their sexual orientation without parental notification. Long claimed she was forced to resign voluntarily or she would be fired from her position as student editor, even though the article had been approved by the newspaper's faculty advisor. Long was supported by the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
, as well as the National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Lesbian Rights
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national non-profit, public interest law firm that advocates for equitable public policies affecting the LGBT community, provides free legal assistance to LGBT clients and their legal advocates, and conducts community education on LGBT legal issues. It...
, the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and the California Safe Schools Coalition.
Racial slurs by school administrators
In March 2010, an employee at Troy High School came forward with audio tapes that had been taped over a period of 18 months. The tapes contained evidence of racial slurs made by Troy High School administrators against other faculty members. After district officials conducted an investigation of the allegations, vice principals Janine Van Poppellin and Joseph D'Amelia as well as Campus Supervisor Geno Rose were temporarily placed on unpaid leave. At the Fullerton Joint Unified School District board meeting on March 15, 2010, board members deliberated and, despite a tremendous grass roots effort by students in support of D'Amelia, the board eventually approved the "release" of the administrators in question, effective June 30, 2010.Notable alumni
- Marc CherryMarc CherryMarc Cherry is an American writer and producer, best known for creating the show Desperate Housewives.-Early life and career:...
, televisionTelevisionTelevision is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and filmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
producer, executive producer of Desperate HousewivesDesperate HousewivesDesperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W... - Geri JewellGeri Jewell-External links:*...
, television and film actress, comedienne and motivational speaker, known for her role as Cousin Geri on the television series The Facts of Life and as Jewell on the Emmy Award winning HBO series Deadwood. - Gene KanGene KanGene Kan was a British-born Chinese American peer-to-peer file-sharing programmer who was among the first programmers to produce an open-source version of the file-sharing application that implemented the Gnutella protocol. Kan worked together with Spencer Kimball on the program called "gnubile"...
, founder of Infrasearch.com and Gnutella pioneer - Derek O'Brien, drummer for Social DistortionSocial DistortionSocial Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
, Agent OrangeAgent OrangeAgent Orange is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth...
, and The AdolescentsThe AdolescentsThe Adolescents are an American punk band formed in 1980 in Fullerton, California. It is a punk supergroup, made up of early members of Agent Orange and Social Distortion. They are often credited as one of the leading bands of the 1980s hardcore punk scene.... - Steve TrachselSteve TrachselStephen Christopher Trachsel , nicknamed "The Human Rain Delay", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is known for the long amount of time he takes to deliver the ball to home plate in between pitches. Games in which he pitches are known to be considerably longer than most games, leading...
, professional baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player who is currently a free agent after being cut by the Orioles - Alyson NoëlAlyson NoelAlyson Noël is an American author writing from her home in Orange County, California.-Biography:Noel was raised in Orange County and attended Richard Nixon Elementary School for two years. She lived in Mykonos, Greece after leaving her high school, Troy High School...
, author, known for The Immortals (books)The Immortals (books)The Immortals is a sequence of novels written by Alyson Noël. The first two books, Evermore and Blue Moon, are New York Times Bestsellers.-The Story:...