La Jolla High School, the second-oldest high school in San Diego Unified School District, celebrated a century of educational excellence.
The school celebrated its 100th anniversary on Friday, Sept. 30, with a special homecoming football game, centennial halftime parade, and alumni events. Current students, cheerleaders (above), future La Jolla Vikings, alumni, families, teachers, and school staff joined the festivities to share in the legacy of La Jolla High.
“This is an exciting time for our entire school community,” said Dr. Chuck Podhorsky, principal of La Jolla High. “We have such great support from our alumni, our school foundation, and our families. Our students can really feel how special it is to be a part of the long history of success at La Jolla High.”
To honor this momentous occasion, City Councilmember Joe LaCava presented a proclamation declaring Oct. 1, 2022 “La Jolla High School 100th Anniversary Day” in the City of San Diego. Superintendent Dr. Lamont Jackson and Board Trustee Dr. Mike McQuary joined Podhorsky to receive the proclamation on behalf of the school and district.
The proclamation reads in part: “The growth of the school can be attributed to the school’s leadership, thousands of alumni, the commitment and passion of the teachers and staff, and its ability to adapt to the changing needs of our youths. Thanks to the participation of supportive and involved parents and community members, La Jolla High School continues to thrive, providing quality enrichment and opportunity to its students now and well into the future.”
La Jolla High prides itself on providing a positive climate conducive to learning for its students and has been cited as one of the top high schools in the nation. The school is also recognized as a California Distinguished School, and as an Achievement via Individual Determination (AVID) School of Distinction. In addition, La Jolla High was the first public high school west of the Mississippi to earn a chapter in the Cum Laude Society.
“We are very proud of La Jolla High, the quality education provided to our students who attend school there, and the impressive network of support from the community,” McQuary said. “La Jolla High is sure to continue growing and thriving over the next 100 years.”
Originally built in 1922 on 5.6 acres of land with just 11 students in its first graduating class, the campus now occupies 14.4 acres and serves more than 1,300 students from in and around the La Jolla community. Over the years, the school has grown in numbers, beautified its grounds, and built numerous additions such as the Parker Auditorium, the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex, as well as the school’s gym.
Recently, La Jolla High completed its Whole Site Modernization project that includes a secure campus entryway featuring new gates and fencing that were designed to be both functional and decorative, new classroom science labs to enhance the school’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning, renovated walkways, and a remodeled school cafe.
