Dos Pueblos High School, ("DP" or "DPHS"), is a National Blue Ribbon School. Dos Pueblos' school mascot is the "Charger" as well as Charlie the Charger Horse. The school has undergone recent renovations including finishing of the football stadium, as well as the building of a Broadway-sized theater, an Olympic size pool, and a 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) engineering facility.
In 2012, Newsweek ranked Dos Pueblos High School as 597 within the top 1000 high schools in America, and 127 in the state of California. Newsweek based its ranking on several criteria, including its graduation rate (93%), percentage of graduates attending college (95%), number of AP/IB tests per student (0.5), average AP test score (3.4), average SAT score (1690), average ACT score (26.5), and the percentage of students receiving subsidized lunches (28%).[2] Dos Pueblos is considered the best high school in the Santa Barbara area by a wide margin. [citation needed]
Dos Pueblos is home to the Engineering Academy; the majority of students participate in a curriculum that includes vocational, college preparation, and Advanced Placement courses.[4][5]
Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy
The Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy is a four-year program at Dos Pueblos High School, founded by MacArthur Fellowship winner Amir Abo-Shaeer. The Engineering Academy offers classes in machining, physics, industrial design, programming, and CAD.[6] The Engineering Academy follows a philosophy of project-based learning; over the course of four years, students complete many projects including a mobile, a light sculpture, and a Kinetic Sculpture. During their senior year, students design a mechatronics art installation for display in the Bay Area Maker Faire. In the past, the seniors built a robot to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition. The (now retired) FIRST team, the D'Penguineers, won several regional competitions and was a regional division finalist in 2008.[7] The Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy's robotics program was the subject of the book The New Cool by Neal Bascomb.[8] In 2010, construction began on a $6 million, 12,000 sq ft building to house the DPEA.[9] Previously, the DPEA had been housed in a small classroom and only accepted 30 students. In 2011, the new building was completed and the DPEA now accepts 104 incoming freshmen.[10]
International Baccalaureate Programme
DPHS students can participate in the International Baccalaureate Programme, a program that provides students with an opportunity to pursue liberal arts curriculum that is recognized by many colleges and universities. The IB program (as it is commonly known) is particularly popular with those with more general academic interests than the Engineering Academy or other programs can provide.[4][5]
Dos Pueblos mock trial program
The Dos Pueblos mock trial program gained prominence in 1984, winning the California state championship in that year and again in 1987. Under the coaching of teacher Ken Larson and attorney coach Chris Kroes, the Dos Pueblos team won several county championships in the 1980s and 1990s with second-place state finishes in 1993, 1994 and 1996. Under coach Bill Woodard (2008–2014), Dos Pueblos won Santa Barbara County titles in 2009, '10, '11 (tied with San Marcos High School), '12, and '13 and finished 13th, 5th, 8th, 2nd, and 9th at state respectively. DP finished second at the 2012 Empire World Invitational—losing in the championship round by a single ballot. A return trip to Empire in 2013 ended with a 4th place world ranking.[11][12] In 2015, DP's Mock Trial program won first place in the World Championships at Empire.[13]
In 2016, the team took home the state championship title, for the first time in 29 years. In 2022, the team placed third at Empire's "Camden Yards Classic" competition in Baltimore, then later in that season they placed second at the California state finals before winning the inaugural Empire Spring Premier League tournament in May and June of 2023. The following year, in 2024, they placed seventh in the California state finals, and then placed second in the same Empire Spring Premier League. The next school year, in Fall 2024, they won first place at the Empire Constitution Classic in Philadelphia, PA.
Science Bowl
In April 2010, Dos Pueblos finished 13th in the nation after making it into the "Sweet 16" in the U.S. Department of Energy's National Science Bowl competition in Washington, D.C. United States Secretary of Energy Steven Chu presented the award of a $1,000 check to the Dos Pueblos High School team, including captain Ilan Goodman, Nicholas Su, Sean Risser, Felix Li, Anjian Wu and Coach Chris Jones. In 2008, Dos Pueblos School's Science Bowl was founded and run by John J. Kim for 2 years. Dos Pueblos team took top honors in regional competition in 2008 and 2009, and advanced to the national finals in 2009. On their first appearance in 2008, the DP team took 2nd place in the Kern County Regional Science Bowl. In 2009, the team placed first out of 32 teams in the U.S. Department of Energy's regional Science Bowl competition in Kern County.[14]
Economics Challenge and Capital Markets Contest
Dos Pueblos High School had a successful run in the 2009 Capital Markets contests. One team went to the Los Angeles County competition on Wednesday and another team to the Orange County competition yesterday. The Los Angeles team took third in a close contest, and the Orange County team took first place against a very tough field. Our Orange County champions (all juniors) are, Philip A. Bildner (Cal-Berkeley), Da-bin Ryu (Harvard), Nick Su (Stanford), and Anjian Wu (Caltech).[15]
The Dos Pueblos team also won the 2010 Los Angeles Capital Markets Contest. The team consisted of Haley Araki, Owen Chen, Richard Cheng, and Peter Shao for the Los Angeles Capital Markets Contest on May 27 at the Federal Reserve Bank in Los Angeles. Roland Lewin is the students’ coach/economics teacher. The contest enables students to learn basic economic principles through stock trading and financial analysis, and challenges them to draw conclusions and provide recommendations for addressing national economic issues.[16]
Media programs
The Image
The Image Yearbook Staff is a program on campus. The Image has been awarded and recognized nationally: 2008-2013 Look Book Feature, 2012 CSPA Gold Crown Award, 2012 NSPA Best of Show San Antonio, 2012-2013 Book Look Highlighted Book, 2013 CSPA Silver Crown Award, 2013 Design of the Year-Jostens Design Contest, 2013 NSPA First Place; with four marks of Distinction, 2014 NSPA Best of Show San Diego, 2015 NSPA Best of Show Denver. Students work as staff members and editors to produce an annual yearbook on Jostens, an online publication platform. The Image boasts a social media following of over one-third of the school's population.[17]
Performing arts
Dos Pueblos Theatre Company
The Dos Pueblos Theatre Company, formerly[18] run by Emily Libera,[19] challenges its participants and audiences to think, dream and live creatively through visionary programming, collaboration with leading resident theater companies and colleges, ongoing community outreach, interaction with professional artists and unique performance opportunities for all levels and interests. Students can participate directly in creating brand-new work, gaining invaluable insights into writing, rewriting, professional theater rehearsal processes, and character interpretation. The classes are Theatre 1 and 2, Advanced Theatre, Musical Theatre, and Play Production.[20]
A democratically elected student leadership council leads the Dos Pueblos Theater Company. The DPTC Student Officers are elected by their classmates to assist in company decisions, outreach, budget, etc. These students help manage theatrical events. Of particular note is Holiday Package, an annual show written, directed, and produced by students in a format similar to Saturday Night Live. Most sketches satirize Dos Pueblos, the holiday season, or popular culture. The show is also famous for its Jingle Bell Jocks, where upper-class students dance in humorous attire to popular Christmas music. In the 2017-2018 school year, a large fire canceled Holiday Package but Jingle Bell Jocks was showcased in the Talent Show that same year. Every year DPTC hosts a student-run themed Haunted House in October. As well as the Holiday Package, an "Open Mic Night" is hosted on stage about once or twice a semester, featuring student performances of skits or songs and dance.
The construction of a new 749-seat theater was completed in September 2007 and named The Elings Performing Arts Center in 2011 after donor Dr. Virgil Elings.[21] In the Spring of 2008, the DP Theater produced Beauty and the Beast,[22] the first musical in the new theater. They are one of the 5 high schools in the country to pilot Disney Shows such as Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Peter and the Star Catcher, and most recently Newsies. Opening Night was sold out for the production of Tarzan and Newsies. Shows not produced as Disney pilots include Alice in Wonderland, Legally Blonde, In the Heights, Hello, Dolly!, Annie, The Addams Family, The Music Man, and Anything Goes.
Dos Pueblos Instrumental Music Program
Marching/concert band
The Dos Pueblos High School Marching Band is the biggest group in the Instrumental Music Program at Dos Pueblos. It comprises a drumline, color guard, and horn line, all of whom compete and perform as one group. The Marching Chargers perform at football games as half time entertainment, in parades such as the Santa Barbara Downtown Holiday Parade, and competes against other marching bands within SCSBOA. For one week preceding the beginning of the school year, the band meets every day for band camp. After school starts, the band meets daily to practice music and drill for their field show. Aimee Ware is the head of the program.
During their "Flight" show in their 2006 season, at the Battle of the Bands competition at Moorpark High School, the band got first place for the first time in more than five years. In 2007 the Dos Pueblos Marching Chargers also won sweepstakes with their show "An American Portrait", beating 17 other bands at the Royal Competition in October. This is the first time band has won this award in more than 15 years and was a great honor to them. The Drumline also got the first place and high Percussion award at the Royal Competition. In 2008, the band received sweepstakes again and high music awards at the Royal Competition.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Marching Season was cancelled due to health concerns and stay-at-home orders. However, in 2021, students were able to return to in-person school, which lead to the marching band to work on their show entitled "Heroes of a Forgotten Fall", written by Lozell Henderson. As the school year only had 2 months until the end of the school year, only music was worked on for this show, being performed for parents at the end of the school year.
During second semester, the band splits into smaller groups. The Horn Line becomes a performing concert band, the Color Guard becomes Winter Guard, and the Drumline becomes their own performing group.[25]
Dance Guard/Winter Guard
Dos Pueblos Dance Guard teach students at DP the fine arts of the competitive sport, Dance Guard (Color/Winter Guard or Tall Flags). Participants spin rifles, sabers and flags with the Dos Pueblos Marching Band in the fall. The Color Guard compete with other schools in the Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC) in the winter/ spring in the Scholastic AAA division. Past shows include: 2015-“My Sweetest Friend”, 2016-“Letters Across The Sea”, 2017-“Where I Started” including the song “Down In The Valley” by The Head and The Heart, and 2018-“Pure Imagination” including a mix up of “Pure Imagination” by Adam Levine. At their prelims competition in April 2019, the team scored a 78.23 placing 3rd place with their show “Flicker”.
Jazz ensemble
The Dos Pueblos HS Jazz Ensemble is the reigning Reno Jazz Festival champion. These young men and women perform at a variety of venues in the Santa Barbara area, as well as the Reno Jazz Festival, and other Community College and High School jazz festivals on the central coast. A few students in this band even take on the responsibility of producing the annual Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Festival, which will be in its 40th year in March 2009. The 39th Festival featured thirteen competing bands from Southern California and was followed by a benefit concert for the new theatre, which all the local district high school and Santa Barbara City College bands participated in.[26]
As well as participating at jazz festivals, the Advanced Jazz Ensemble occasionally plays at local events. The Ensemble is available for hire in the Santa Barbara area.
There is also a smaller jazz combo. It is partially student run and emphasis is placed more on individual improvisation and expression, rather than ensemble playing.
Orchestra
The Dos Pueblos High School Orchestra gives the opportunity for high school string and wind players in 9-12 grades to learn and rehearse a variety of music as a group. Dos Pueblos is the only high school in the Santa Barbara Unified School District with an Orchestra, and the number of members have been growing each new school year. The orchestra performs at their Winter and Spring Music Concerts onstage at Elings Performing Arts Center. Some years, the group also performs at Disneyland during Disney Magic Music Days. "The class emphasizes the fundamentals of orchestral playing and all around musicianship, including proper tone production, knowledge of key signatures and their scales, technique, sight reading, and the performance of intermediate and advanced level high school orchestral literature." For more information, visit the Dos Pueblos Instrumental Music Program's website.
Dos Pueblos Vocal Music Department
A capella and mixed chorus
A beginner and an intermediate choir, open to 9-12 grades, that works on performance and vocal technique. Sight-reading, vocal techniques such as proper breathing, diction, tone quality, blend and pitch will be skills gained and honed. Both the Dos Pueblos A Capella Choir and The Dos Pueblos Mixed Chorus join the Madrigals and The DP Jazz Choir and Combo for a Winter and Spring Concert. The Concerts are held at the Elings Performing Arts Center.
Jazz choir and combo
The Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir and Combo is an honor performing group of singers and instrumentalists from 9th-12th grades, who with instructor approval, perform both in conjunction with the Madrigals 2 and on their own as an instrumental ensemble. They not only perform in the Winter and Spring Vocal Music Concerts but have also been asked to record songs at a professional studio in Santa Barbara. The Jazz Choir and Combo is the ensemble that competes at the Reno Jazz Festival and also at Cuesta College's Vocal Jazz Competition each year. They also sang onstage with Foreigner, recorded 5 songs sold on iTunes, and met and sang for Katy Perry, who attended Dos Pueblos as a ninth grader.
Athletics
School teams play in the Channel League, and thus are eligible for a California Interscholastic Federation championship. Dos Pueblos is probably best known for their excellent Girls Water Polo Program, which has won 5 CIF titles in the past 15 years and produced three Olympic Gold Medalists.
Football
The furthest Dos Pueblos has reached in CIF playoffs was in 1996, Division 3, 2001 Division 4, and 2017 Division 10. The 1996 Team was defeated in the first round against St Francis but were Channel League City Champions. 2001 team were CIF Division 4 runners-up and finished with an 11 - 3 record. The 2017 Charger football team managed to make it to the CIF Southern Section Division 10 Finals, losing to Quartz Hill and finishing with a record 12-2 season. That proved to be Dos Pueblos’ best playoff run in the history of the school and successfully surpassed the 2001 team's season success.[27][28][29]
Boys' soccer
The 1983 boys' soccer team won the CIF Championship. Although the championship game with Camarillo HS ended with the score knotted at 3-3, the match was officially declared over after two overtime periods. Oddly, that year there was no method for ending a tie such as with penalty kicks. Therefore, co-champions were officially declared. This was the first CIF 4-A Championship ever won by a Dos Pueblos HS athletic team.[30]
Girls' volleyball
The girls' volleyball team won the CIF title in 2009 as Channel League Champions.
Boys' volleyball
The boys' volleyball team won Division II CIF in 1998 under legendary coach Mike Beresford, who has accrued more than 500 career wins as a girls and boys varsity head coach in Santa Barbara and Goleta. In 2003 Beresford left the program in excellent hands with Chris Hughes assuming the role as head coach. Coach Hughes led the Chargers to back to back Division II semifinals in 2007 & 2008, as well as a Channel League title in 2010. Coach Hughes handed over the reins to one of his and Beresfords former players Ehren Hug in 2014. Coach Hug lead the Chargers to a Channel League title in 2016 behind the left arm of Eli Wopat, who played at Stanford University on the men's volleyball team. In the 2018 season, Hug lead the Chargers to another Channel League title with league MVP setter Parker Crossland[31] and Outside Hitter Curren Malholtra, who is attending a Division 1 volleyball team (UCSD) in the fall.
Boys' cross country
In the 2012 season the Boys' Cross Country team finished 4th at the Division 2 State Championships.
[32][33] In 2021-22, both the boys and girls teams qualified for the state tournament, cementing their status as the best cross-country programs in the Santa Barbara area.
Boys' baseball
2016 was the fifth consecutive season that the Chargers earned a Channel League Championship. The team defied the odds and advanced to the CIF Division 2 Semi-Finals.
In 2013, four-year varsity ace, Gabe Speier was drafted in the 18th round by the Boston Red Sox, passing on his full-time offer to nationally ranked UCSB. Speier is currently playing in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, having left the Detroit Tigers, the organization for which 2008 Graduate, James McCann, plays.
Notable alumni
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations.(September 2017)
Howard McGillin — two-time Tony Award-nominated stage actor and singer and three-time Drama Desk nominee; holds record for portraying "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway more than 2,500 times; also performed on London's West End, in films and TV
^CIF Southern Section Record Book. "Archived copy"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2012-09-15. Retrieved 2011-12-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"Dos Pueblos High School Grad/Cal Scholar Receives National Professor of the Year Award." December 1, 2006. Santa Barbara School Districts News Archive. Available here "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-12-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link).
