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Ulysses S. Grant High School
Location
Ulysses S. Grant High School Show map of San Fernando Valley Ulysses S. Grant High School Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Ulysses S. Grant High School Show map of California Ulysses S. Grant High School Show map of the United States
13000 Oxnard Street, Valley Glen, California 91401
Coordinates	34°10′38″N 118°24′57″W / 34.1773047°N 118.41576199999997°W / 34.1773047; -118.41576199999997Coordinates: 34°10′38″N 118°24′57″W / 34.1773047°N 118.41576199999997°W / 34.1773047; -118.41576199999997
Information
Type	Public
Motto	What we are to be we are now becoming.
Established	1959
School district	Los Angeles Unified School District
Dean	Jon Mannochio, Devin Ellison
Principal	Pamela Damonte
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1,873 (2016-17)[1]
Color(s)	Brown, Orange, White
Mascot	Lancer
Newspaper	The Odyssey
Yearbook	The Shield
Website	granths.org

Ulysses S. Grant High School is a secondary school in the Valley Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in the east-central San Fernando Valley. It is located adjacent to Los Angeles Valley College.

It is part of District North 2 of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school serves several areas, including Valley Glen, much of Sherman Oaks, and sections of both Van Nuys and North Hollywood.^[2]

Its mascot is the Lancer and the school colors are brown, orange, and white. The school motto is: "What we are to be we are now becoming."

The school newspaper is called the "Odyssey" in reference to President Grant's first name - Ulysses - the main character in Homer's epic The Odyssey. There is a school tradition that, on or about April 1, a satirical issue is distributed called the "Oddity", which contains comical and irreverent articles. Past "articles" have been about finals being canceled, the school being closed, rats infesting the cafeteria, clothing-optional P.E. classes, etc.

The school yearbook is called the "Shield".

Connected to Grant High School is a communications/technology magnet which emphasizes smaller class sizes and communications technology electives including film/video production, broadcast journalism, computer technology, graphic communications, and performing arts.^[3]

History

Grant opened as a high school in September,^{[citation needed]} 1959. Grant's original purpose was to serve as a high school for veterans who were moving into the San Fernando Valley as a result of World War II.^[4] Its first students were baby boomers moving into suburban houses in the San Fernando Valley.^[5] Reut Cohen of Neon Tommy, a publication of the Annenberg Media Center, wrote that in the 1970s and 1980s the school was "regarded as an excellent public institution."^[6]

In the 1990s there was an ethnic tension between the Armenian students and the Hispanic and Latino students. An LAUSD official stated a belief that the tension may have originated from earthquake relief drives held in the 1980s which were meant to benefit Armenia and Mexico.^[7] Cohen stated that the ethnic tensions were a major factor in the decline of Grant's reputation in the 1990s.^[6]

The tensions exploded on Thursday, October 21, 1999 when the a fight between an Armenian girl and a Latina girl turned into a fight between 200 students. The fight resulted in 40 students being detained and minor injuries being inflicted on 10 students, some teachers, and a maintenance worker. No serious injuries occurred.^[7] In January 2000 the students signed a "peace treaty" to prevent future fighting. By February banners were erected which promoted peace.^[8] By October of that year there were discussion programs aimed at further reducing tension.^[9]

A fight involving almost 500 students occurred on Tuesday March 8, 2005.^[10]

In 2006, Grant was relieved of many 9th and 10th graders by the opening of East Valley High School, which planned to phase in grades 11 and 12 in the following two years.^[11]

Ethnic tensions reappeared during an Armenian remembrance event in 2008.^[6]

Grant was featured in Newsweek magazines April 17, 2008 cover story about 25 years of divorce in America; Grant was chosen as a prototypical suburban high school and the article featured members of the class of 1982 and their marital stories.^[5]

Academic and artistic feats

In the late 1960s, a local L.A. television station aired a game show called It's Academic, which featured competition among L.A. area high schools in a quiz show format. Grant won the competition both years that the show was on the air.

In 1977, students at Grant achieved a listing in the Guinness Book of World Records for playing the world's largest musical chairs game (record since broken).

Grant students are also credited with helping to paint one of the largest murals in the world—the Great Wall of Los Angeles—in the Tujunga Wash that lies on the border of the campus. The mural, which depicts southwestern U.S. history from prehistoric times, is 2,754 feet (840 m) making it the longest mural in the United States.

Grant's award-winning Academic Decathlon team placed 11th out of 64 schools in the 2009 regional competition.

In 2018 Grant High School had the highest growth of any High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District by an increase of 18 points in the English language arts section and 17 points in math section as a result of the SBAC testing.(Smarter Balanced Assessment California) testing.

^[12]

Small Learning Communities

Grant High School will divide their school into multiple smaller learning communities in order to better create an environment of inclusion and additionally serve students with a curriculum that also includes their interest. Teacher's will use techniques that have been tested and proven to be successful in academic success. ^[13]

The freshman academy is designed to help incoming freshman adapt to the High School environment. The freshman academy will continue its focus on Math, Social Science, Science, English, and PE with methods that will help students better prepare freshman for the next years to come. Not only will they focus on academic preparation but it will also focus on social enhancements with hopes of gaining more student involvement in extra curricular activities. ^[14]

Sophomore Academy/(Has yet to be determined) ^[15]

Upper Grade Acadmies/(Has yet to be determined) ^[16]

Magnet Programs

College Prep of Digital Arts Magnet at Grant High School is a magnet program wishing Grant High School that focuses on enhancing college level skills. The program's center of interest is on Advancement placement and Honor level proficiency. Due to our global society that is in a state rapid growth the program prepares the students for future workplaces that will be in high demand. In order to strengthen their skills they include web-based research, visual rhetoric, video production, broadcast journalism, and digital imaging into their curriculum. ^[17]

Since the year 1990 Humanities has been a small academy at Grant High School. The purpose of this academy was to build a sensed community and to challenge students academically. In August 2018, Humanitas was newly established as the "Humanities Magnet for Interdisciplinary Studies. The program would remain consistent of its original mission but with new enhancements. Students enrolled in this program will have access to Los Angeles Valley Community College, college courses, that are specifically open to the students in this program. The classes will count towards High School and College classes. In addition, Humanitas students have the ability to go on field trips and participate in school activities that are only accessible to them. ^[18]

Demographics

In the mid-20th century the school used a tracking program which resulted in many Jewish students, who anticipated attending colleges and universities, together. Deborah Dash Moore, the author of To the Golden Cities: Pursuing the American Jewish Dream in Miami and L.A., wrote that this made the presence of these Jewish students "more visible than numbers alone would warrant."^[19] Grant offered Modern Hebrew classes.^[19]

In 1978 the school had over 3,000 students.^[5] In 1999 the school had 3,400 students,^[7] and there were 3,300 students in 2000. That year the student body was 51% Hispanic and Latino, 36% White, 6% African-American, 4% Asian, and 2% Filipino. Most of the Hispanic and Latino students were Mexican American and many of the Whites were Armenian American.^[9] As of 2000 the students originated from 48 countries.^[20] As of 2010 65% of the students were Hispanic and Latino, and 20% were Armenian.^[21]

The Hispanic and Latino students, as of 2015, often originated from families who migrated from Mexico and Central America and were born in the United States; they prefer to identify by their countries of origin even though they are grouped together as Hispanic and Latino. The Armenian students, as of 2015, originated in a wave of immigration from Armenia and the former Soviet Union that began in the early 1990s.^[22]

Culture

In 2000 the socialization point for the Latinos was the south side of the school's quad, while the Armenians socialized in the north side. As of that year, fights between Armenian and Latino students often occurred in October. As of 2000 the common belief at the school was that Latinos wore baggy clothes while Armenians dressed more conservatively.^[9]

Film program

Grant has a film program for students either considering a career in that field or with a general interest. Students that have completed his program have earned numerous awards such as certificates, CINE Golden Eagles, trophies and other means of recognition. The students are allowed to freely create stories of their own.

Los Angeles city athletic championships

• 1964 Boys Swimming


• 1965 Boys Swimming


• 1974 Boys Tennis


• 1975 Boys Pole Vault (Howard Kwasman)


• 1986 Boys Baseball


• 1991 Boys Golf


• 1992 Boys Golf


• 1993 Girls Soccer


• 1994 Girls Soccer


• 1996 Girls Gymnastics


• 2012 Boys Pole Vault (Martin Lopez)


• Retired numbers: #13 Rod Beck (Baseball), #21 Nevil Vega (Baseball), #25 Gilbert Arenas (Boys Basketball)

Clubs And Organizations

Clubs and organizations at Grant High School include the following:

• A.C.L.U.


• Academic Decathlon


• Anime Club


• Armenian Club


• Band


• Cheer


• Chess Club


• Christian Club


• College Tours


• Community Club


• Dance Club


• Debate Club


• Environmental Club


• FIDM Fashion Club


• Filipino Club


• Humanitas


• International Food Club


• JSU


• Latinos Unidos


• Mathletes


• Politics


• Super Hero/ Sci Fi Club


• Twilight Zone Club


• Y.A.M Club

^[23]

Renovations

Due to Grant High School being built in 1959 much of its buildings are outdated. LAUSD has conducted a project proposal that would modernize the school and create space for more students as a result of Los Angeles' rapid growing suburbia. The new plan would start by creating a structure that would better accommodate to students with disabilities under the ADA act. (Americans with disabilities) 41 of Grant's classrooms will be demolished and 31 classes would be rebuilt. 48 classes will be remodeled and 14 of them would remain the same. The library and M&O (maintenance and operations) building will be newly rebuilt. The entire 100 building will be torn down in order to create a newly renovated; career center, health unit, administrative building, and an office for the school police.The sewers, water, utilities will be upgraded in order to create a more sanitary environment. In addition, Grant Hall (Auditorium) will be modernized and the school's landscape will be upgraded. ^[24]

Notable alumni

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Citations needed. Shorten descriptors to bare necessity. Keep one blue link per line Please help improve this section if you can. (July 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

• 
  Paul Yeremian, Hip-hop graphic artist, Owner/CEO of Paul Records


• 
  Tye Dye Si, AKA Simon I. , triple platinum selling hip-hop artist


• 
  Barry Carl, former Rockapella band member^[25]
  


• 
  Barry Livingston, actor (including Ernie on My Three Sons) ^[26]
  


• 
  Barry "The Fish" Melton, guitarist and co-founder of the band Country Joe and the Fish
  


• 
  Bobby Diamond, 1964, Los Angeles lawyer and former actor^[27]
  


• 
  Brian Robbins, actor in Head of the Class, director of Norbit^[28]"


• 
  Bruce Manson, former professional tennis player


• 
  Cheryl Holdridge, actress, married to Lance Reventlow^[29]
  


• 
  Craig Hundley, musician and former child actor, now known as Craig Huxley^[30]
  


• 
  Dan Kalb, City Councilmember, Oakland, CA


• 
  Danny Nucci, actor^[31]
  


• 
  David Paich, keyboardist, singer, composer and co-founder of the rock group Toto
  


• 
  Davie Allan, instrumental rock guitarist^[32]
  


• 
  Fran Pavley, California State Senator ^[33]
  


• 
  Genevieve Schorr, Punk Rock Guitarist Backstage Pass 1977 and Slash Magazine Model, The Masque Nightmare in Punk Alley


• 
  Gary Knell, National Geographic Society President and Chief Executive Officer


• 
  Gilbert Arenas, professional basketball player, NBA All-Star with Washington Wizards^[34]
  


• 
  Ike Eisenmann, actor, producer, sound effects specialist


• 
  Jeff Green, former editor-in-chief of Games for Windows: The Official Magazine
  


• 
  Minnette Gersh Lenier, teacher of literacy and professional magician


• 
  Jeff Porcaro, drummer, co-founder of the rock group Toto (d. 1992)^[35]
  


• 
  Jessie Nelson, filmmaker (Corinna, Corinna, I Am Sam, The Story of Us, Fred Claus)^[36]
  


• 
  Jim Gordon, popular session drummer


• 
  Jim Umbarger, Major League Baseball player 1975-78^[37]
  


• 
  Joel Grover - Los Angeles Television News Investigative Reporter


• 
  John Dolmayan rock drummer (System Of A Down)^[38]
  


• 
  Johnette Napolitano, musician, Concrete Blonde^[39]
  


• 
  Joseph Williams, film/TV composer and former lead singer in rock group Toto
  


• 
  Kay Lenz, Emmy Award-winning actress, first wife of David Cassidy^[40]
  


• 
  Kevin Dubrow, lead singer, co-founder of the rock group Quiet Riot (d. 2007)


• Kim Ung-Yong


• 
  Larry Magid, technology journalist


• 
  Lonn Friend, vice president of A & R for Arista Records^[39]
  


• 
  Marcia Reed, movie stills photographer


• 
  Megan Marshack, journalist


• 
  Melora Hardin, actress, Jan in The Office
  


• 
  Michael Landau, session guitarist


• 
  Michael Simpson, Grammy Award-winning record producer and composer, one of the "Dust Brothers"^[41]
  


• 
  Micky Dolenz, actor, musician and drummer of The Monkees^[42]
  


• 
  Mike Curb, record producer, California Lieutenant Governor from 1979-83^[43]
  


• 
  Mike Porcaro, member of rock group Toto


• 
  Mike Post, composer of music and theme songs for popular TV series^[44]
  


• 
  Mitch Gaylord, 1984 Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast^[45]
  


• 
  Moosie Drier, actor and occasional director^[46]
  


• 
  Paul Neubauer, violist of New York Philharmonic and instructor at Juilliard and Mannes College of Music


• 
  Rod Beck, Major League Baseball pitcher 1991-2003, 3-time All-Star^[47]
  


• 
  Ruthann Friedman, folk musician


• 
  Stan Lee (musician) Sobol, guitarist for band The Dickies, formed in 1977, Clown Princes of Punk


• 
  Steve Lukather, musician, member of the rock group Toto^[35]
  


• 
  Steve Porcaro, musician, composer, co-founder of rock group Toto^[35]
  


• 
  Tom Griffin, Major League Baseball player, 1969–82, Sporting News National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1969^[48]
  


• 
  Tom Scott, professional musician and writer of themes to "Starsky & Hutch", "The Streets of San Francisco", and "Family Ties".^[32]
  


• 
  Tom Selleck, actor^[49]
  

Use as a filming location

Grant High School has been featured in a number of film and television productions. This is due to the long strip of road (known as "Lancer Lane") that runs between the eastern boundary of the school and a scenic greenbelt, walking path, and the Tujunga Wash, and the availability of ample parking—combined with the ease of moving equipment around. Grant High School is also recognized as among the best high schools in the country for its film/video productions made by students of the communications/technology magnet.

Among the professional film and television productions that have utilized Grant High School as a filming location:

• 
  American Vandal - Primary location


• Dope (2015 film)


• 
  Balls of Fury - Auditorium and Campus


• 
  Clueless - the film and exterior shots and the television series
  


• CSI: Miami


• Foursome - YouTube Red series


• Ferris Bueller


• Freaks and Geeks


• 
  Ghost Whisperer^[50]
  


• Life Goes On


• Malcolm in the Middle


• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers


• 
  Mini's First Time- Lifetime Original Movie


• 
  My Name Is Earl - TV Show on NBC


• Not Another Teen Movie


• Power Rangers in Space


• Power Rangers Turbo


• Power Rangers Zeo


• 
  Project UFO - NBC TV Show (1978–1979)


• 
  Quincy, M.E. - NBC TV Show (1976–1983)


• Reba


• 
  Reno 911!^[50] - Comedy Central Series with guest star Carmen Electra
  


• 
  Saved By the Bell - exterior shot


• Seduced By Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story


• 
  Six Feet Under - Cable show (interior shots of class rooms)


• 
  The 70's House - MTV Reality Show (Dodgeball scene)


• 
  The Hollow - Movie based on the Legend of Sleepy Hollow


• The Office


• 
  The Secret Life of the American Teenager^[50] - ABC Family TV Series


• 
  The United States of Tara^[50] - Showtime Series


• 
  True Blood - HBO Series


• 
  What Really Happened to the Class of '65? - TV Series


• 
  Where the Action Is - ABC TV Show (1965–1967)


• 
  Who's Your Daddy? - a direct-to-video feature film
  


• 
  With Six You Get Eggroll - 1968 movie starring Doris Day and Brian Keith
  


• 
  You Again^[51]
  


• Yours, Mine and Ours


• 
  It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (The Football Field)^[52]
  

Many music videos including:

• 
  Deftones - "Back to School" (interior and exterior shots)


• 
  Escape The Fate - "Situations"


• 
  Hellogoodbye - "Baby It's Fact"


• 
  N.E.R.D - "Rockstar"


• 
  Three Doors Down - "Loser" (hallways, teachers lounge, class rooms, and exterior shots)


• 
  P Diddy - "It's All About the Benjamins" (used auditorium)


• 
  Tantric - "Breakdown"


• 
  The Offspring - "Kristy, Are you doing Okay?"


• 
  Iggy Azalea - "Fancy"

References

External links

• Ulysses S. Grant High School


• Grant Communications Technology Magnet


• Internet Movie Database: Titles with locations including Grant High School, Valley Glen, California, USA