Fallbrook Union High School
Fallbrook Union High School (also referred to as FUHS, Fallbrook High and FHS) is a public high school located in the rural community of Fallbrook, California. Established in 1893, FUHS is the 2nd oldest high school in San Diego County.[1]
Sports
Fallbrook Union High School competes in the Avocado League and in Division I CIF. In 1986 and 2000 Fallbrook Varsity Football won CIF championships.
Fallbrook Union High School competes in the boys sports of baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling
Fallbrook Union High School competes in the girls sports of basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and water polo.[2]
Extracurriculars
The Fallbrook High School Marching Warriors have achieved much success competing in both SCSBOA and WBA, placing 5th at the 1A SCSBOA Championships in 2012, and placing 7th at WBA Championships in 2A in Fresno in 2015. The Color Guard and Winter Guard program has also been very successful, with the 2016 Winterguard show taking home a first place win at WGASC Championships in the Scholastic 3A division. The Winter Drumline has also seen success as they took home gold medals in the Novice division at ALDA Championships in 2015.
History
The school was first opened in 1893 for 20 students.
In 1911, the Fallbrook High School board voted for a $20,000 20-year bond for construction of a new high school.
In the 1930s, the Public Works Administration Project approved a grant of $34,000, 45% of the cost of a new auditorium/gymnasium/cafeteria, a pool and grading of a sports field.
In 1934–1938, the student body voted on the school colors of red and white. The athletic teams were named "The Warriors" in honor of the large number of Native-Americans in the student body.
In 1939, Fallbrook Union High School was rated the most outstanding high school in the country by Chicago Farm Foundation.
In 1946, the State Department of Education rated Fallbrook to be the best small high school in California.
In 1948, the State of California declared that the main part of the school building did not meet the earthquake standards and was condemned. A new building was built the following year.
In 1953, a $325,000 bond was passed to move the school to a site south of town. The 46,000 square foot project was delayed due to county-wide strikes by brick masons and an unusually rainy year.
In 1967, a $900,000 bond was passed to add a cafeteria, classrooms and bus-loading facilities.
In 1994, a $23 million bond to improve the facilities and to ease the overcrowding problem was approved by Fallbrook voters. The project was to include a new gym, performing arts center, agriculture center, media center and vocational arts buildings.
Dr. Robert Thomas also retired in 1994 and Joe Diminicantanio was appointed superintendent. Enrollment had reached an all-time record of 2,300 students.
Construction began during the summer of 1996 on the five new buildings. Included are a $3.3 million, 27,000 square foot gymnasium; $5 million performing arts center; $834,000 agricultural center; $4.5 million media center and a $2 million vocational arts building. The project took almost 6 years to complete with the last building opening in the fall of 2000. The impressive Bob Burton Center for the Performing Arts is a joint community/school facility and is named after Bob Burton, the Student Activities Director for thirty years.
In 1997, Joe Diminicantanio retired and Thomas Anthony was appointed as Superintendent.
In 2007, the Fallbrook High School campus is home to a wide range of comprehensive high school offerings and is also home to Oasis and Ivy High School. Collectively the campus provides educational facilities for more than 3,000 students. [3]
Student Population
1893: 20 students
1934–1938: 160 students
1950: 244 students
1953: 539 students
1958: 750 students
1978: 1875 students
1994: 2300 students
2007: more than 3000 [4]
Alma Mater
On a group of rolling foothills Stands a building we adore.
Tis the Fallbrook Union High School One we’ll love forever more.
When we leave this school for greater And hail their colors bright,
We’ll not forget old Fallbrook, And the dear old red and white.
There are schools both great and mighty, There are schools both great and small,
But there’s one good thing we’re sure of, Old Fallbrook beats them all.
We are loyal to our colors For them we love to fight.
There’s not a thing we love more Than the dear old red and white.
Notable alumni
- Matt Chico, pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball
- John Dutton, quarterback for the Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League
- Mike Leake, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball
- Donny Lucy, catcher for MLB's Chicago White Sox
- Ryan Plackemeier, punter for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League
- Arielle Vandenberg (Class of 2004), actress and modelsee
- Paula Tiso, voiceover actress, broadcast television voiceover
- Howard Keel, actor and singer
- Michael Curtis (class of 1980 ), television writer and producer