Fontana High School (FOHI) is a secondary public school in Fontana, California in the Fontana Unified School District. Fontana High serves grades 9 through 12.
Fontana High School is the "Home of Steeler Pride". Students are provided opportunities for personal and group achievement in a safe environment designed to nurture personal, social and academic development. Fontana High School is committed to preparing students for their individual futures in the 21st century.
History
A product of the Southern California post war boom, Fontana High (referred to locally as "FoHi") was completed in September 1952. The school was needed to serve the children of thousands of blue collar families from across the country who came to work at the Kaiser Steel plant â€" built just outside Fontana in the 1940s â€" and at the time the only steel production plant of its kind west of the Mississippi.
2006 riot
In 2006, a riot broke out following a fight between two students at a school pep rally. The Fontana Police Department required assistance from other local law enforcement agencies (including the California Highway Patrol) after students threw rocks at responding officers, but the situation was ultimately resolved in under two hours. Six students were placed under arrest and thirty-four other students were suspended by the school district. There was no significant property damage or injuries, though a teacher was accidentally struck by a police bean bag round.
Demographics
Ethnic breakdown of the 4,073 students enrolled as of the 2007â€"2008 school year was:
85.8% Hispanic
6.9% White
4.8% African American
1% Asian
0.4% Other
Football
After struggling for years, the Steelers began to dominate regional high school football for roughly a 15-year period. Beginning with coach John Tyree, and continuing under coach Dick Bruich, the team peaked in 1987 when it was ranked the best in the nation. The Steeler football team was almost as well known for the traveling "rowdy" fanbase, which followed the team en masse throughout the season and into the playoffs. At home games, much of the town shut down as more than 8,000 maroon and white clad fans filled Steeler Stadium for epic battles with rival schools like Redlands, Pacific, A.B Miller, Eisenhower and Colton.
By the 1990s, the glory days for the team had faded. The reality of an economic downturn ( the Kaiser Steel plant had shut down in 1983) and a continued population boom led to demographic shifts and classroom overcrowding. The addition of new high schools split the talent base and the team fell on hard times â€" enduring a prolonged string of losing seasons.
Advanced Placement courses
The following Advanced Placement courses are offered to the students:
- English Language
- English Literature
- Spanish Language
- Spanish Literature
- French Language
- World History
- U.S. History
- American Government and Politics
- Calculus AB
- Calculus BC
- Statistics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics C: Mechanics
- Psychology
- Art
- Environmental Science
Notable alumni
- Travis Barker â€" known for snare drum in the drumline and drummer for the band Blink-182, Transplants, Box Car Racer, and +44
- Corey Benjamin â€" former NBA player. 1998 1st round draft pick of the Chicago Bulls
- Greg Colbrunn â€" 13-year Major League Baseball Player. Member of the 2001 World Series Champion Arizona Diamondbacks
- Antwuan Dixon â€" professional skateboarder who rides for DeathWish Skateboards
- Sammy Hagar â€"attended Fontana, singer and former member of Van Halen
- Alan Harper â€" American football player
- Reuben Henderson â€" 4-year NFL player. Chicago Bears & San Diego Chargers
- Pedro Nava â€" former California State Assemblyman from Santa Barbara, CA. 2010 candidate for Attorney General
- Ante Razov professional soccer player in MLS
- Sean Rooks â€" 12-year NBA player and former professional basketball coach
- R.J. Soward â€" Former University of Southern California Trojans football star and NFL first round draft pick
- Megan Masters â€" Reporter, editor, producer, actress
- Lester Waleszonia - A 1976 Graduate was QB for Fohi, went on to coach in the Community until his untimely death in 2008.
- Cody Masters - Executive Chef, Food Scientist, Nutritionist. Has designed items sold in super markets in every zip code in the United States, as well as menu items for restaurants like Applebee's, Chili's, Yard House, Olive Garden, and many more
References
External links
- Fontana High School
- Fontanaboyssoccer.vnsports.com