School type Public high school Principal Karen Rotondi Grades 9-12 Number of students 2,300 | Established 1963 Faculty 93 Phone +1 805-937-2051 Colors Purple, Gold | |
Motto A Focus on Student Learning Address 941 E Foster Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93455, USA District Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Similar Santa Maria High School, Pioneer Valley High School, Santa Maria High School Di, Orcutt Academy High Sch, St Joseph High School | ||
Ernest Righetti High School (commonly Righetti, or RHS) is a public secondary school in Santa Maria, California, USA, serving students in grades 9-12 The school is part of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, with admission based primarily on the locations of students' homes. Righetti is a fully accredited, two-time California Distinguished School, awarded in 2002 and 2009. Righetti High School, was built in the suburban community of Orcutt, California in 1963 to relieve overcrowding at the Santa Maria High School. Ernest Righetti High School opened in January 1963. Its first graduating class was in June 1964. The school’s boundaries serve students from the areas of several elementary school districts, which include the community of Orcutt, portions of the city of Santa Maria, the city of Guadalupe, and the towns of Los Alamos, Sisquoc, Garey, and Casmalia, as well as a large portion of rural northern Santa Barbara county. Righetti High School maintains a large comprehensive academic and athletic programs, as well as several electives and vocational programs, and a renowned Agricultural program. The school has received three consecutive Six-year accreditations by the Western Association of College and Schools, and academic performance standards have risen steadily throughout the last ten years. As of the 2010-2011 school year, the school had an approximate enrollment of 2,200 students and 93 classroom teachers.
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Righetti's sports mascot is "Willie The Warrior" and its teams are known as "The Righetti Warriors." Ernest Righetti High School is situated across the street from one of its biggest rivals and 2010-11 addition to the PAC-7 league, St. Joseph High School.
The Campus
Righetti High School is found on a sprawling 37 acres (15 ha) campus on a north-facing slope overlooking the Santa Maria Valley, the Los Padres foothills. Most of the permanent classrooms, laboratories, and shops are situated in four single story classroom ‘blocks‘ with approximately 65 classrooms. Through the south-central side of the campus, the three classroom blocks are arranged in a line from west to east and consist of rooms that surround grassy courtyards. The Warrior Gym, the amphitheater style Greek Theater, the quad, The (career) Center, and the Cafeteria all lie in a north–south arrangement roughly perpendicular to the three main classroom blocks. Staff and student parking surround the west and south sides of the campus. The Industrial Arts Building (The 400 Block) the Agricultural Unit, Warrior Gym, Pool, and Stadium, and all athletic fields are situated down hill on the north end of campus. The increase of student enrollment over the past 25 years has necessitated the placement of 35 portable structures that are now mostly situated in the eastern parking lot.
Since 1998, through state funding, local bond money with California State matching funds, Righetti has undergone extensive renovations and additions. Every permanent classroom on campus has been remodeled with new heat/circulation, flooring, ceilings, roofing, asbestos abatement, upgraded data ports, and ‘teaching walls’. With the blessing of local voters bond C2004 has provided RHS with realigned parking lots and electrical upgrades, a new synthetic track and turf field in Warrior Stadium, renovation of the Industrial Arts Building, two new classrooms, one of which is the wrestling room. And after many years of a successful water polo and swimming programs, Righetti High School opened its first swimming pool, The Warrior Pool, in September 2009. The last phases of new construction will include a newly renovated Administration Building (completed in 2011) and a two-story classroom building.
Academics
Righetti operates on a split bell schedule from a 7:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. schedule, which includes seven periods. Righetti offers a comprehensive college preparation program that includes several Advanced Placement and Honors-level courses.
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
Electives
Righetti offers a number of elective courses including Art, Concert, Jazz and Marching Bands, Choir, Madrigals, Ballet Folklórico, Marimba Band, Guitar, Music Theory, Photography, Video Production, Home Economics, Sewing, Marriage and Family, Cooking, Wood Shop, Welding, and Furniture Construction. There are also a large number of academic electives, including Marine Science, Physiology and Anatomy, Advanced Geology, and Psychology.
Regional Occupational (ROP) Courses
Administration
The principal of Righetti High School is Mrs. Karen Rotondi. There are three assistant principals.
Athletics
Righetti High School is part of the CIF Southern Section and competes in the Pac-7 League.