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Gunn High School is one of two public high schools in Palo Alto, California. The school is named after Henry M. Gunn (1898-1988), who served as the Palo Alto superintendent from 1950-1961. During his tenure he saw the Palo Alto Unified School District expand from 5,500 students to 14,000. He also oversaw the expansion of 17 new schools, and is credited with the establishment of De Anza College and Silent Foothill College, two local community colleges. In 1964, the Palo Alto Unified School District announced it would name its third high school after him. The first graduating class was the Class of 1966. The school is also home to the Spangenberg Theatre. The mascot of the school is Timmy the Titan. The student newspaper is ''The Oracle'', part of the High School National Ad Network.
Academic reputation Gunn High School is well known for achieving outstanding academic results. It is listed as the 2nd best public school in California based on the 2006 Academic Performance Index. Newsweek ranked Gunn 53rd in the United States in 2003,• 70th out of America's top 1,000 high schools in 2005,• and 79th out of 1,200 in 2006.• Enrollment is currently in the 1700-1800 student range. The average SAT score for Gunn seniors hovers around 1250-1300 on the former 1600 scale (1267 in 2003, 1249 in 2004, 1291 in 2005). Education in mathematics and computer science is particularly strong. In 2004, 5 students qualified for the USAMO out of around 250 nationally, and during the 2004-2005 school year 5 out of the approximately 35 American students in the Gold Division of the USACO were from Gunn. Senior Pranks On June 8, 1994, an incorrectly concocted smoke bomb designed by three students destroyed a fountain on the high school quad and spewed molten sugar and fertilizer on the quad, injuring 18 students. In 1992, students, presumably from the senior class, entered the school's library, removed all the books and placed them in stacks in the exterior courtyard area known as the "Quad". In the same incident, much of the library's furniture was hoisted onto the roof of the building. Students arriving for class in the morning were amused by the enormity of the prank, while school administrators immediately reacted with harsh condemnation. In 1988 some students hijacked the school's public address system and for a period of a few hours broadcast various humorous recordings and rock music. School administrators were initially unable to turn off the recordings and many classes were disrupted. Many teachers just took their students outside and had their students do independent study on the grass. The prank was picked up by local news and became a minor news item. This prank was repeated near the end of the 2002-2003 school year. Issues With one vehicle entrance to the main parking lot and drop off areas, Gunn has always had a traffic problem. To curb traffic, the administration raised student parking permit costs to $150 for single drivers and $100 for carpools. The price hike has encouraged some students to pursue alternative modes of transportation. Gunn has set up the Pedal-for-Prizes program, which rewards bikers with gifts and chances at larger prizes, like biking gear. The revenue subsidizes student bus passes. In 2005, Gunn's award-winning Gunn Robotics Team withdrew from regional competitions due to internal problems. Two students filed restraining orders against two other students during the six-week build period; as a result, the program was shut down. The 05-06 GRT team was reformed and is again active in the FIRST Robotics Competition. A film series operating at Gunn High School's Spangenberg Theatre was closed in early 2006 after the volunteers operating the theater came into conflict with school administration. Notable alumni Notable alumni of Gunn High School include: Trivia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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