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Basic Academy of International Studies

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Coordinates: 36°02′01″N 114°57′44″W / 36.0337°N 114.9621°W / 36.0337; -114.9621
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Basic Academy of International Studies
Front of the school
Address
Map
400 Palo Verde Dr

Henderson
,
Nevada
89015

United States
Coordinates36°02′01″N 114°57′44″W / 36.0337°N 114.9621°W / 36.0337; -114.9621
Information
School typePublic School
Established1942
School districtClark County School District
PrincipalTati Hadavi (since 2025)
Staff200
Faculty108.00 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment2,605 (2022-23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio24.12[1]
Colour(s)Blue and silver
   
Athletics conferenceSunrise 4A Region
RivalFoothill/Green Valley
PublicationEl Lobo yearbook, Lone Wolf newspaper
Websitehttps://www.basicacademy.org

Basic Academy of International Studies (also Basic Academy, previously Basic High School) is a public high school with a magnet program. It is part of the Clark County School District. It was the first high school in Henderson, Nevada, United States.[2][3]

School name

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Along with Basic Road and a few businesses with "Basic" in the name, Basic High School was named after the World War II-era Basic Magnesium refinery, which then employed nearly all the town-site's residents.[4] Henderson was originally referred to as the "Basic town site"[5] until 1946 when it took on the name Henderson.[6]

In 2015, the Clark County School District Trustees approved a name change sought by then-principal David Bechdel to "Basic Academy of International Studies." This was to reflect the addition of its International Baccalaureate magnet program, which are typically referred to as academies.[7][4]

Visible from most of the southeast part of the Las Vegas Valley, a large "B" and smaller "Q" are painted over boulders on side of the River Mountains range that surrounds that corner of Henderson. The "B" is repainted every year by that year's senior class.[8] The "Q" memorializes Quinton Robbins, an alumnus of the school who was a victim of the 2017 Route 91 festival mass-shooting.[9]

History and traditions

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Predating the city of Henderson, the Railroad Pass School District (now defunct) had a one room school house built in 1932.[10] As thousands moved to the area to work at the Basic Magnesium Inc. plant, the World War II magnesium refinery responsible for a quarter of metal need to build the Allied Forces' war efforts supply, like bomb casings, aircraft and tank parts, and engines. In 1942, the one room schoolhouse became a high school. It graduated its first class of ten students in 1943.[10]

In 1954 it moved to a site near Van Wagenen Street and Pacific Avenue, the current site of Lyal Burkholder Academy of Environmental Science.[10] Since, 1973 Basic High School has been located at 400 Palo Verde Drive.[11]

The Henderson Bowl during the 2022 game against Green Valley.

The school received IB accreditation for the Middle Years Programme in 2016 and the Diploma Programme in 2017.[12]

The large "B" on the mountain in Henderson.

From 1942 until 1991 when Green Valley High School opened its doors, Basic was the only high school in Henderson.[11] Since then, the two schools have developed a strong rivalry. During the fall football season, the varsity football teams face off in the Henderson Bowl, which is broadcast on local television. The winner of the game wins the eponymous Bowl, covered with plaques inscribed with each year's winner.[13]

In addition to Green Valley, Basic is also rivals with Foothill High School, against whom they play each year in the "Battle for Boulder Highway," as each school sits on either side of the major road that divides old Henderson.[14]

A large, white letter 'B,' representing the school, sits on the side of River Mountain peak from which a large part of southeastern Las Vegas Valley can see it.[15] The original "B" was painted near the old Basic High School on Black Mountain, now known as Lyal Burkholder Middle School, which was also maintained for many years, long after Basic relocated to its current campus.[10]

Clubs and organizations

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Basic's El Lobo yearbook has won national praise for many years.[citation needed] The 2005 El Lobo Volume LXIII (63rd) yearbook was named the silver medalist by the CSPA and was named All-American with four marks of distinction for the 16th consecutive year. The yearbook is published by Herff Jones Publishing Company.

The school's Lone Wolf is the oldest newspaper currently-published newspaper in Henderson. In its annual high school journalism contest, the Las Vegas Review-Journal awarded the Lone Wolf best newspaper in the reduced format category in 2009.[16] In 2023, it won second place for best high school newspaper.[17]

Representatives from their thespian troop competed at the State Thespian Conference in 2010 and won first place in their category of "Group Musical," with their performance of "Your Fault/Last Midnight" from Sondheim's Into the Woods. The following year, representatives from their troop again placed first at the conference in the "Duet Musical" category with "Serious" from Legally Blonde the Musical.[citation needed]

Basic Academy offers a Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC), which has competed nationally in armed and unarmed drill, physical fitness, and marksmanship. The team won the National Championships at the United States Air Force Academy Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colorado from 1994 to 2003. Basic's MCJROTC Unarmed and Armed Drill Teams competed in the 2012 National Championships held in Torrance, California. They also placed in the Nationals held in 2013 in Torrance, California with the help of First Sergeant Samuel Rael USMC (Ret.).[citation needed]

Basic Academy also offers courses in performing arts such as band, orchestra, choir, and theatre.

Athletics

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Basic Academy NIAA State Championships
Sport Division Years
Baseball 5A Mountain Won: 1955, 1956, 1982, 1987, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2025

Appearances:1955, 1956, 1958, 1962, 1982, 1987, 2001, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022[18]

Basketball (B) 4A Mountain Won: 1947, 1956, 1959[18]

Appearances: 2022, 2023[19]

Basketball (G) 4A Desert Appearances: 1995, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2023[20]
Cross country (B) Team: 1998, 1996, 1992, 1988, 1987

Individual: 1988/1987 Pat Hubbard Appearances: 2016 (6th), 2015 (5th), 2014 (6th), 2004 (6th), 2003 (4th), 2002(7th), 2001 (8th), 2000 (7th), 1999 (2nd), 1998 (W), 1997 (2nd), 1996 (W)[21]

Cross Country (G) Individual: 1998 Cindy Craig

Team appearances: 2017 (eighth), 2002 (ninth), 2001 (ninth), 1999 (seventh), 1998 (third), 1997, 1996[22]

Football 5A S./Lake State won: 1960, 1958

League won: 2015, 2008, 2000[23]

Golf (B) 5A Southeast Team: 1986, 1979[24]
Volleyball (B) Won: 1998, 2002, 2024, 2025

Appearances: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025[25]

Volleyball (G) Won: 1981, 1980, 1977, 1976

Appearances: 2022, 2021, 1985[26]

Softball 4A Sky Won: 2024, 2025

Appearances: 2018, 2019, 2024, 2025[27]

Swimming Individual: 2000, Riva Davidson (50 freestyle); 1998, Julie Whitehead (1m diving)[28]
Tennis (B) Sunrise League Appearances: 2004

Playoff appearances: 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001[29]

Tennis (G) Sunrise League Recent playoff appearances: 2017, 2014, 2012, 2008, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000[30]
Wrestling (B) Team: 1984, 1979, 1976[31]

Individual: 1998, Kevin Lochner (171); 2002, Duane Gonzales (103);[31] 2025,Jaxon Mackey (150)[32]

Notes: (B): boys sports, (G): girls sports. For wrestling, the weight class is indicated for the wrestler who won first place.

Notable alumni

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Feeder schools

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Elementary

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  • Sister Robert Joseph Bailey Elementary School
  • C. T. Sewell Elementary School
  • John Dooley Elementary School
  • Edna F. Hinman Elementary School
  • Sue H. Morrow Elementary School
  • Josh Stevens Elementary School
  • Jim Thorpe Elementary School
  • Harriet Treem Elementary School

Middle school/junior high school

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  • B. Mahlon Brown Junior High School
  • Francis H. Cortney Junior High School
  • Lyal Burkholder Middle School
  • Thurman White Middle School
  • Legacy Traditional School

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Basic Academy of Int'l Studies HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "Ilene Bittle Collection on Basic High School (MS-00331)". Special Collections, University Libraries. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 1993. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Meyer, Alex (June 20, 2017). "Graduate returns as Basic High School principal". Review-Journal. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Carl, Kay; Carpenter, Jami, eds. (2009). Education in the Neon Shadow: The First Fifty Years of the Clark County School District. Stephens Press. ISBN 978-1-932173-83-3.
  5. ^ "Basic Magnesium, Inc". Special Collections, University Libraries. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Credico, Mark (June 14, 2023). "Why Is Henderson Called Henderson?". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on September 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of School Trustees (Report). Las Vegas: Clark County School District. August 13, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 27, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "Ask Mr. Sun: The letter B on the mountain in Henderson". Las Vegas Sun. December 2, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  9. ^ "What does the 'Q' on 'B' Mountain in Henderson stand for?". Las Vegas Review-Journal. June 6, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d Staff (n.d.). "Our School's History". Lyle Burkholder Academy of Environmental Science. Clark County School District. Archived from the original on March 20, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Koch, Ed (October 3, 2005). "Getting back to Basic High School". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  12. ^ "Basic Academy of International Studies". International Baccalaureate®. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  13. ^ Contreras, Evelio. "Henderson Bowl Showdown - Las Vegas Sun News". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  14. ^ Wright, Alex (August 29, 2024). "'Energy is up': Prep football rivalry games still have meaning". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on August 30, 2024.
  15. ^ "Ask Mr. Sun: The letter B on the mountain in Henderson". Letters to the Editor. Las Vegas Sun. December 2, 2008.
  16. ^ Thevenot, Carri Geer (May 15, 2009). "Green Valley High School's newspaper judged the best". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  17. ^ Wilson, David (May 8, 2023). "Review-Journal honors Clark County's best high school journalists". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Nevada Preps: Basic Baseball". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025.
  19. ^ "Nevada Preps: Basic Boys Basketball". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025.
  20. ^ "Nevada Preps: Basic Girls Basketball". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on May 18, 2025.
  21. ^ "Nevada Preps: Basic Boys Cross Country". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025.
  22. ^ "Basic Girls Cross Country". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025.
  23. ^ "Nevada Preps: Football". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025.
  24. ^ "Nevada Preps: Boys Golf". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025.
  25. ^ "Nevada Preps: Basic Boys Volleyball". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025.
  26. ^ "Nevada Preps: Basic Girls Volleyball". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025.
  27. ^ "Nevada Preps: Basic Softball". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on May 18, 2025.
  28. ^ "Basic Girls Swimming and Diving". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025.
  29. ^ "Nevada Preps: Basic Boys Tennis". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025.
  30. ^ "Nevada Preps: Basic Girls Tennis". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025.
  31. ^ a b "Nevada Preps: Basic Wrestling". Las Vegas Review-Journal. n.d. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025.
  32. ^ Wright, Alex (March 12, 2025). "Meet the 2025 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada boys wrestling team". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on March 12, 2025.
  33. ^ Emerson, Justin (May 30, 2019). "Three years after graduating from local high schools, Las Vegans poised to go high in MLB Draft". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019.
  34. ^ "Chris Latham". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on February 13, 2025.
  35. ^ Koch, Ed (October 3, 2005). "Getting back to Basic High School". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012.
  36. ^ Evans, K. J. (February 7, 1999). "Harry Reid". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013.
  37. ^ Congress, United States (2008). Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  38. ^ "The All-Vegas Team". Vegas Seven. August 28, 2013. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
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