Type Public secondary Principal Paul Belzer Grades 9–12 Phone +1 650-558-2899 Number of students 1,339 | Established 1923 Faculty 67 Enrollment 1,339 (2015–2016) Mascot Black panther | |
 | ||
Similar San Mateo High School, Aragon High School, Hillsdale High School, Capuchino High School, Mills High School Profiles | ||
Burlingame High School is a public high school in Burlingame, California, United States. It is part of the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD).
Contents
History
In order to meet the growing student population, the school was opened in December 1923 under the name "San Mateo High School, Burlingame Branch." Designed by architect W. H. Weeks, the school took in students from Burlingame, Hillsborough, Millbrae, and San Bruno. Initial enrollment consisted of 350 students and 30 teachers. As a branch of San Mateo High School, extracurricular organizations were shared between the schools. There was a single band, football team, and other athletic teams with student members from both schools. Within 10 years the enrollment of the school increased to 494 boys and 474 girls, totalling 968 pupils, a figure close to the school's original design capacity. In 1927 the school name was officially changed to Burlingame High School.
In the summer of 1980, the SMUHSD board decided it must close one of the district's seven schools, due to declining enrollment. Following public hearings, the board narrowed the choice to either Crestmoor High School or Burlingame High School. After study and discussion, the board decided to close Crestmoor in the fall of 1980 and keep Burlingame open.
San Mateo and Burlingame have been rivals since the division of the Burlingame branch, and the rivalry culminates annually in a football matchup dubbed "The Little Big Game" and patterned after the Big Game. As of 2016, Burlingame leads the series record 53–32, with four ties. Burlingame currently holds "The Paw" as part of a seven-game win streak in the rivalry.
Academics
Burlingame High School has been recognized nationally for its academic excellence. For 2013, it was ranked 280th in Newsweek's Top 2,000 Public High Schools, 471st nationally by US News and World Report, and 490th by The Washington Post's ranking of "America's Most Challenging High Schools."
Burlingame High School has a wide array of Advanced Placement course offerings.
Demographics
2015–2016
Marching Band
Burlingame High's Marching Band plays rock, pop, and funk songs at all home basketball and football games. The band presents its field show twice a year often with the unique "dance break" in the middle of the show.
Theatre
Burlingame High School has a very strong drama program. Prior to the 2013-2014 school year, the school would put on two performances a year - a play in the fall and a musical in the spring. Starting in the 2013-2014 school year, the school switched performance schedules and began to perform musicals in the spring and plays in the fall.
Notable alumni
Popular culture
Scenes from the film Dangerous Minds were filmed on the campus of Burlingame High School in the spring of 1994.