Robert McQueen High School is a public secondary school in Reno, Nevada, USA. It is part of the Washoe County School District.
The school was named for Dr. Robert McQueen, emeritus professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. During his tenure from 1955–1991, Dr. McQueen headed UNR's scholarship program, served as department chair and dean, and was appointed to Nevada's first psychological board of examiners. Dr. McQueen served on the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees from 1969–1990, during which the district built several new schools, including Reed and McQueen . He also negotiated the purchase of McQueen's 60-acre (240,000 m2) site from the Bureau of Land Management for just one dollar.
When the school opened in 1982, adjoining Seventh Street and Robb Drive were only dirt roads extended out to allow access to the school. Some remarked the school was "in the middle of nowhere" as it was more than a mile from other buildings. Since then, the construction of numerous subdevelopments has resulted in overcrowding problems. The building was designed for an enrollment of 1,600; in 2009/10 more than 1,800 were enrolled. In order to mitigate overcrowding concerns and comply with local fire regulations, several modular classrooms have been added to the campus.
In 2010, Newsweek listed McQueen as the 740th best school in the United States using the ratio of number of AP exams taken to graduating students as its criterion.
The Lancers compete in the High Desert League, which is part of the Northern Nevada 4A Region. McQueen competes in the 4A level, which is the large school category. In 2008, rivals.com named them the 75th Best Football Team in the nation. They beat Palo Verde High School in a rematch of the 2001 state semi-final game on December 6, 2008 with a score of 13-12 for the Nevada 4A High School Football Championship. They finished ranked 48th in the nation by Rivals.com.Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association State Championships
Basketball (Girls) - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999Football - 1990, 1992, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010Soccer (Girls) - 2003Softball - 2005, 2006Swimming (Girls) - 1995Track and Field (Boys) - 2010, 2014Track and Field (Girls) - 2010Cross Country (Boys) - 2014MARCHING BAND Current Director: Rick Moffit
The marching band has won the state championships fourteen times: (1986, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
The band has played in the following parades:
Hollywood Christmas Parade, Los Angeles, CA (2012, 2003)Graeagle July 4 Parade (2012, 2010, 2009, 2008)Reno Rodeo Parade (2012, 2010, 2009 [First Place], 2008 [First Place], 2007 [First Place])Fiesta Bowl Parade, Phoenix, AZ (2010/11 Class B National Champion; Field Show, Fourth Place in the Nation; 2006 Class B National Champion Field Show, Fifth Place in the Nation)Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena, CA (2014, 2009)American Legion National Convention, Non-Competitive (2007)Presidential Inaugural Parade, Washington, DC (2005)CHOIR Current Director: Maribeth Burt
The Robert McQueen High School Choir performed in Carnegie Hall in 2007 and June 2009.McQueen's Core Jazz vocal ensemble won the "Best in Nevada" award at the UNR Jazz Festival in 2005.McQueen's Core Jazz choir also had a concert tour of 5 cities in China for the World Choir Games, held in Shaoxing, China, July 2010.ORCHESTRA Current Director: Kenny Baker
The McQueen Orchestra with Kenny Baker has played at the ASTA National Conference in 2010 in Santa Clara, CaliforniaThe Excalibur — monthly school newspaper, inducted into the National Scholastic Press Association's Hall of Fame in the fall of 2004, making it the only student publication in the state to be inducted. It won a NSPA Newspaper Pacemaker in 2009."McQueen TV" — closed circuit telev ision station (daily broadcast news show) and video production facilit yChrysalis — annual literary magazineCaxton — yearbook, awarded the national Silver Crown award in 2006 and the NSPA Yearbook Pacemaker in 2008.In 2009, the school's total enrollment was 1,884, and its ethnic makeup was:
American Indian/Alaskan Native 39 (2.1%)Asian/Pacific Islander 231 (12.3%)Hispanic 262 (13.9%)Black 79 (4.2%)White 1,273 (67.6%)1985, Terri Ivens, actress1987, Mädchen Amick, actress1989, David Byerman, Director of the Kentucky General Assembly1989, Nicole King, molecular biologist, professor and MacArthur Fellowship winner1996, Teresa Benitez, former Miss Nevada 2002 and politician1997, Chris Aguila, baseball outfielder, currently with the New York Mets1998, April Meservy, singer and songwriter2001, Ryan Bader, professional MMA fighter, won The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir, currently competing in the UFC's Light Heavyweight Division2001, Chris Carr, football defensive back, played for Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers & New Orleans Saints before retiring in March 20142002, Jeff Rowe, football quarterback, played for Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks & New England Patriots2002, Ryan Thomas (fighter), wrestler; current professional mixed martial arts fighter for American Top Team2003, Clint Stitser, football kicker, played for New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals & Washington Redskins in the NFL; played for the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League (2009–2012)2007, Chikezie Okorie, singer/songwriter2009, Kyle Van Noy, football linebacker, currently with the Detroit Lions
