Jump to content

Los Alamitos High School

Edit links
Coordinates: 33°48′41″N 118°04′17″W / 33.81141°N 118.07127°W / 33.81141; -118.07127
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Los Alamitos High School
Address
Map
3591 W Cerritos Ave

Los Alamitos
,
California 90720
Coordinates33°48′41″N 118°04′17″W / 33.81141°N 118.07127°W / 33.81141; -118.07127
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1967
School districtLos Alamitos Unified School District
PrincipalChristiana Kraus
Teaching staff120.03 (FTE)[1]
Grades9 - 12
Number of students3,005 (2023-2024)[1]
Student to teacher ratio25.04[1]
Color(s)  Blue
  White
  Red
  Gold
Athletics conferenceCIF Southern Section
Sunset League
MascotGriffin
WebsiteLAHS School website

Los Alamitos High School (also known as Los Al) is a public school for grades 9 to 12 located in Los Alamitos, California, and also serving the city of Seal Beach and the community of Rossmoor. It is the only high school in the Los Alamitos Unified School District. Both Oak Middle School and McAuliffe Middle School feed into Los Alamitos High.

History

[edit]

Initially, classes were held at Pine Junior High School (now McAuliffe Middle), and only sophomores attended. The following year saw the school move into its new campus in its current spot on W Cerritos, and the addition of upper class categories. During its first two years, Los Alamitos High School had a complete flexible schedule program. Students submitted hand-written multi-part daily schedules during their scheduling class, which allowed them to choose from flexible scheduled sessions of their classes depending on the needs of teachers and students. In the third year, it changed to a computer scheduling program to provide more administrative accountability for the students' whereabouts. This version of flexible scheduling used computer technology to generate daily class schedules based on each instructor's lesson plans. Students would report each morning to their "scheduling class" to receive their daily schedule based on each teacher's request amount of instruction time. In their scheduling class, students could rearrange or fill open modules from a listing of available classes. This allowed serious students to make the best use of their schedule to attend classes in a sequence that made more sense for that day. The flexible scheduling was replaced with a traditional school schedule in 1977 after it was discovered that less disciplined students were abusing the system.[2]

Beginning in fall 1987, the Orange County High School of the Arts was resident on its campus, but its success and growth led it to move to a bigger campus in Santa Ana in 2001.[3]

Extracurricular activities

[edit]

Athletic programs

[edit]

Los Al is known for its success in many Varsity sports. The boys' Varsity Football team won a CIF Southern Section Div. 3 title in 1991, and Division II titles in 1992 and 1993 (the latter a shared title with Esperanza) and won a Division I championship in 2002, and reached the finals and semi-finals on numerous other occasions, most recently in 2004.[4] The Boys' water polo team was also CIF-SS Division II champions in fall 1999, and 2004 and were CIF-SS Masters champions in 2007.

The boys' Los Al Tennis team won the CIF SS Division I Championship in 2001 and again in 2015. After the 2015 season, multiple publications listen the Griffins as the best high school tennis team in the nation. Considering the level of competition in tennis in Southern California, this was a most notable accomplishment. It was in CIF Division I semi-finals in 1999 and 2000. From 1995 through 2001 it had a league record of 69–1, an overall record of 128–18 and produced 16 All-Orange County selections. Additionally, 55 players were honored as scholar athletes and went on to play at college level. The team received recognition from the Mayors of the cities of Los Alamitos and Seal Beach for its contribution to positive publicity.

The girls' volleyball team has won a number of CIF local and state championships. It was CIF Southern Section Division IA champions in 2002, 2004, and 2013 and won CIF Division I State championships in 2003, 2005, and 2006, and came in second 2013. In 2018, the team won the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship and lost in the quarterfinals in the CIF Division 1 State Championships.

Girls' soccer won CIF section titles in 1996 (Div. II), 1997 (Div. I) and 2005 (Div. I). The last team was also named the No. 1 team in the nation by Student Sports Magazine. Another indicator of the success of the program was that in 2007 there were 17 Los Al alumni girls playing NCAA Division I soccer.

The Griffin Varsity Boys' soccer team won CIF-Southern Section titles in 1991 and 2002. Alums Mike Munoz (2001) and Jonathan Bornstein (2002) have both made MLS rosters (Galaxy and Chivas USA) and Bornstein was not only the MLS 2007 Rookie of the Year but is currently on the US Men's National team roster.

The boys' Basketball team won CIF Division IA and IAA championships in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Los Al Basketball great Ali Ton holds the assist record at Davidson College. In 2025, the Griffins returned to the CIF SS Division 1 final, defeating Mira Costa High School 63-60 to win their first title in 18 years. Trent Minter was recognized as CIF Division 1 Player of the Year, Coach Nate Berger CIF Division 1 Coach of the Year, and Wesley Trevino made CIF Division 1 All First Team

The Los Alamitos High School Marching Band has competed in circuits such as Western Band Association (WBA) and Marching Band Open Series (MBOS). In 2009 and 2010 they placed 1st in the WBA 3A division as well as the combined 1A/2A/3A Finals, and in 2011 and 2012 the unit placed 3rd in the WBA 3A division. In 2013 they placed 2nd in the WBA 3A division, 3rd in the combined 1A/2A/3A Finals, 1st in the MBOS Black Opal division, and 7th in the combined MBOS Finals. The unit also has an award-winning drumline and color guard.

The LAHS Surf Team took second place over all in ISF State Championships in 2009. Boys' Shortboard finished with second place, bodyboard placed third and Girls' Longboard finished as State Champions. Los Al finished in third place in 2008 and First place in 2007 and 2006.

In their fourth season of competition, the LAHS Girls' Lacrosse team was the undefeated CIF Division I Orange County and Southern Section Champions in 2009 and 2010. Los Al finished the season ranked #4 in the state of California.

LAHS Boys' Golf – They have won back to back league championships while setting course records at difficult golf courses. In a win over Newport Harbor this year, the team set the lowest team score there in 7 years.

CIF teams

[edit]

Note: This list does not include sports which are currently clubs and thus not officially recognized in CIF.

Show Choir

[edit]

Los Alamitos High School has a noted show choir program. Since 2009, Los Alamitos show choirs have held championship titles more than 175 times at various regional and national competitions, across six competitive show choirs and a concert choir. Most notably Sound FX, but additionally Soundtrax, Connexion, Xquisite, Xtreme, Axcent, and Xpressions.[5]

Sound FX have been named Grand Champion 14 times at national competitions and went undefeated in the 2018, 2020 and 2023 competition seasons[citation needed]. Sound FX has recorded and performed with numerous famous artists, including Barry Manilow, Patti Lupone, Kristin Chenoweth, Journey, Foreigner,[6] and Major Parkinson.[7]

Soundtrax have been named Grand Champion 11 times at national competitions since 2015, and went undefeated in the 2019, 2020, and 2022 competition seasons.

Notable recent alumni of the Los Alamitos show choir program include actress Jenna Lea Rosen[8] and recording artist and American Idol contestant Sophia Wackerman.[9]

List of National Accolades
Show Choir National Title Year(s) Achieved Citations
Sound FX SCC Show Choir National Grand Champion 2010, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2022 [10][11][12][13][14]
Fame Hollywood Grand Champion 2012 [15]
Fame Orlando Grand Champion 2013 [16]
Fame New York Grand Champion 2015 [17]
Fame Show Choir National Finals Grand Champion 2015, 2016, 2017 [18][19][20]
Heart of America Orlando Grand Champion 2018 [21]
Heart of America New York City Grand Champion 2023 [22]
Soundtrax Show Choir National Grand Champion 2010, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2022 [23][24][25][26][27]
Fame Show Choir National Finals Grand Champion 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 [28][29][30][31]
Fame New York Grand Champion 2015 [32]

Academic accolades

[edit]
  • United States Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School – 1990, 1994, 1998 (Special Honors in Art Education for 1998)[33]
  • California Department of Education California Distinguished School – 1988, 1994, 1998, 2009[33]
  • California School Boards Association Golden Bell Awards – 1998 (Griffins with a Mission), 2005 (Contemporary Media in the Arts)[33]
  • California Gold Ribbon School – 2016[33]

Notable alumni

[edit]

Actors

[edit]

Sports

[edit]

Music

[edit]

Notable criminals

[edit]
  • Mikhail Markhasev - Murdered Ennis Cosby, the 27 year old son of Bill Cosby, during a robbery.[42]
  • Jeremy Strohmeyer – Murdered 7 year old Sherrice Iverson at the Primadonna Resort and Casino in Primm, Nevada[43]
  • Daniel Wozniak - Murdered his neighbor and friend, Samuel Eliezer "Sam" Herr and Herr's friend, Juri "Julie" Kibuishi, as part of a plan to frame Herr for Kibuishi’s murder and steal his savings. [44]

Other

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Los Alamitos High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  2. ^ "Time capsule from 1970 unveiled at Los Alamitos High School". Spotlight Schools. March 13, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  3. ^ "News | blog". OCSA. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Los Alamitos Choir - Our Choirs". www.losalamitoschoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  6. ^ TV, Los Al (September 11, 2019). "Champion Los Al High Choir Again Takes the Stage at Hollywood Bowl with Barry Manilow". Los Al 360. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Solitary Home - The Hollywood Tapes, April 24, 2020, retrieved February 29, 2024
  8. ^ "Jenna Lea Rosen | Music Department, Actress, Soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  9. ^ TV, Los Al (March 7, 2020). "Former Griffin Show Choir standout Sophia Wackerman kills it on American Idol tryout". Los Al 360. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "SCC: Show Choir Nationals 2010".
  11. ^ "SCC: Show Choir Nationals 2014".
  12. ^ "SCC: Show Choir Nationals 2016".
  13. ^ "SCC: Show Choir Nationals 2019".
  14. ^ "SCC: Show Choir Nationals 2022".
  15. ^ "SCC: FAME Hollywood 2012". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  16. ^ "SCC: FAME Orlando (#2) 2013". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  17. ^ "SCC: FAME New York 2015". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  18. ^ "SCC: FAME Show Choir National Finals 2015". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  19. ^ "SCC: FAME Show Choir National Finals 2016". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  20. ^ "SCC: FAME Show Choir National Finals 2017". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  21. ^ "SCC: Heart of America Orlando 2018". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  22. ^ "SCC: Heart of America New York City 2023". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  23. ^ "SCC: Show Choir Nationals 2010".
  24. ^ "SCC: Show Choir Nationals 2014".
  25. ^ "SCC: Show Choir Nationals 2016".
  26. ^ "SCC: Show Choir Nationals 2019".
  27. ^ "SCC: Show Choir Nationals 2022".
  28. ^ "SCC: FAME Show Choir National Finals 2012".
  29. ^ "SCC: FAME Show Choir National Finals 2015". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  30. ^ "SCC: FAME Show Choir National Finals 2016". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  31. ^ "SCC: FAME Show Choir National Finals 2017". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  32. ^ "SCC: FAME New York 2015". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  33. ^ a b c d "School Recognitions". Los Alamitos Unified School District.
  34. ^ a b c "Los Al notable alumni". LAHS Griffin Gazette. March 23, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  35. ^ "Charles Hinkle - 2011-12 - Men's Basketball". American University.
  36. ^ "Los Angeles-area prospects for MLB draft". Los Angeles Daily News. June 4, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  37. ^ Tom VanHaaren (January 6, 2024). "Ex-USC QB Malachi Nelson, No. 1 recruit in '23, picks Boise St". Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  38. ^ "Senior pitcher Jacob Nix looking to lead talented Los Alamitos baseball". presstelegram.com. March 25, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  39. ^ Mike Patterson. "New York Giants: Mike Patterson". Giants.com. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  40. ^ BISHOP, CHAD. "A closer look at WKU coaching candidate Mike Sanford". www.wbko.com. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  41. ^ "Sanford and Son: Part Two". WNKY 40 News. August 23, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  42. ^ Berry, Steve; Goldman, Abigail (July 12, 1998). "SPECIAL REPORT * Mikail Markhasev's life was full of bad choices. A close look at Ennis Cosby's slayer reveals . . . : A Slide From Honor Student to Killer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  43. ^ "Lost Teens". Drudgereportarchives.com. June 9, 1997. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  44. ^ "Daniel Wozniak case: Full story of California double murder investigated on '20/20′". August 19, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  45. ^ Register, Louis Casiano | Orange County; Register, Susan Christian Goulding | Orange County (October 18, 2017). "'Only the Brave' helps Orange County parents of fallen Hotshots remember their heroic brotherhood". Orange County Register. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Los_Alamitos_High_School&oldid=1302242321"