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El Modena High School
Address
3920 Spring St Orange, California 92869
Information
Type	Public
Established	Opened September 1966, Graduated first class June 1968
School district	Orange Unified School District
Principal	Sandra Preciado
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1,914 (2023-2024)
Student to teacher ratio	22.48
Color(s)	Cardinal, Gold, and White
Mascot	The Vanguard
Newspaper	Frontline
Yearbook	Escena
Feeder schools	Santiago Charter Middle School McPherson Magnet Middle School
Website	elmodenahs.org

El Modena High School, colloquially called El Mo or ElMo, is a traditional four-year public high school located in the El Modena neighborhood of the City of Orange in Orange County, California. It is one of four high schools in the Orange Unified School District, along with Villa Park High School, Orange High School, and Canyon High School.

Founded in 1966, its first class graduated in June 1968, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary during the 2016–17 school year. In 2019 construction began after district voters approved Measure S in November 2016.

History

Nature Center

In 1972 El Modena chemistry teacher Jeanne Carter established the school's Nature Center. It is dedicated to teaching water conservation, ecological principles and research techniques to students and community members. On February 2, 2023, the Orange Unified School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to rename the center the "Jeanne Carter Nature Center" in honor of its founder.

Gender-Sexuality Alliance

In August 1999, Anthony Colin ("Colin") decided to form a "Gay-Straight Alliance" (now Gay–straight alliance) after Matthew Shepard, a young man from Wyoming, died after being brutally assaulted due to his homosexuality. Colin wanted to form the club to promote acceptance among and for gay and straight students at the school. Colin asked Mrs. Maryina Herde, a drama and English teacher at the school, to serve as the faculty advisor and she accepted.

Public schools have an obligation to provide an equal opportunity for all students to receive an education in a safe, nonhostile, nondiscriminatory environment. Our goal in this organization is to raise public awareness and promote tolerance by providing a safe forum for discussion of issues related to sexual orientation and homophobia. We wish to stress the need for people to put aside their personal prejudice and agree to treat everyone with respect when the situation calls for it. We invite ALL students, gay or straight, to join us in discussions, field trips, lectures, and social activities that will counterattack unfair treatment and prejudice. We respect privacy and require NO one to make disclosures regarding his or her own sexual orientation. This is not a sexual issue, it is about gaining support and promoting tolerance and respect for all students.

— Shannon MacMillan, Colin's friend, The club's submitted mission statement

The Orange Unified School District board refused permission for students to form the club. Students in the club sued the school board, claiming that their rights under the First Amendment and the 1984 Equal Access Act had been violated.

In the first ruling of its kind, Judge David O. Carter of the United States District Court for the Central District of California issued a preliminary injunction ordering the school to allow the GSA to meet.

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

A vanguard, used as the school's mascot, is a soldier in the foremost division or the front part of an army. Vanguards are the troops assembled in the front line when going into battle, which is why the school newspaper is titled The Frontline. The school contains a variety of sports, including but not limited to : Tennis, Basketball, Football, Volleyball, Sprints, Hurdles, Distance Running, Cross Country, Pole Vault, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put, Discus, Water Polo, Swim, Soccer, Lacrosse, Baseball, Wrestling, Dance, Cheer, Pom, and Softball.

• Wrestling: CIF champions in 2000, 2003, and 2014.
• Softball: CIF champions in 2008
• Football: CIF champions in 1978, 1983,1984 and 2017
• Volleyball: CIF and State champions in 2019

Notable alumni

• Ronnie Creager – skateboarder
• Mikey Day (1998) – actor, comedian, Saturday Night Live
• Freddie Freeman (2007) – MLB first baseman for Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves
• Robby Gordon – race car driver
• Brittany Ishibashi (1998)– actress
• Michael Pitre – American football coach for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons
• Jeff Spek – NFL and USFL tight end
• Michael Terry (athlete) (1991) – Olympic and NCAA athlete, track and field
• Milo Ventimiglia (1995) – film and television actor, Gilmore Girls and This Is Us
• Haylie Wagner (2011) – softball player

References

1. ^ "El Modena High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
2. "History - El Modena High School". www.elmodenahs.org. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
3. "Press Release - Orange Unified School District". www.orangeusd.org. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
4. Sentry, Foothills. "Nature Center to be renamedin honor of founder". Foothills Sentry. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
5. "Jeanne Carter Nature Center - El Modena High School". www.elmodenahs.org. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
6. Colin Ex Rel. Colin v. Orange Unified School Dist., vol. 83, February 4, 2000, p. 1135, retrieved 2022-05-15
7. "Frontline".
8. Whitehead, Brian (January 30, 2013). "Skateboarder rides into business world". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
9. Leal, Fermin (November 20, 2013). "ElMo High grad's words are live on Saturday night". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
10. "Writer gives 'SNL' some Orange flavor". April 1, 2014.
11. Bowman, Mark (March 30, 2011). "Divergent paths bring pals together for opener". MLB.com. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
12. Fryer, Steve (June 11, 2007). "Freeman a shot in the arm". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
13. Glick, Shav (January 20, 1990). "Gordon Opens Busy Year With New Ride". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
14. "TV's 'Political Animals' has O.C. connection". The Orange County Register. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
15. "Jeff Spek Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
16. "Michael Terry Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". April 18, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-04-18.
17. "Tom Hansen Medal Winners". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014.
18. "Milo Ventimiglia". Wizard World. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.

External links

• Official school website

33°47′23″N 117°48′44″W / 33.789634°N 117.812115°W / 33.789634; -117.812115

• El Modena High School Alumni Association
• El Modena Frontline

• Educational institutions established in 1966
• 1966 establishments in California
• Education in Orange, California
• High schools in Orange County, California
• Public high schools in California
• El Modena, Orange, California