# Theodore Roosevelt High School (Fresno, California)

Theodore Roosevelt High School (RHS), is located in southeast Fresno, California. It is a high school established within the Fresno Unified School District. The high school mascot is the Rough Rider (in physical form it is a horse) named after the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Theodore Roosevelt organized and helped command during the Spanish–American War. The high school's colors are green and gold.
The school was opened in 1928, and was both a junior and senior high school. It now serves grades 9-12. During the 2011–2012 school year 2,184 students attended RHS.
The school received publicity in 2014 with the movie documentary Try which focused on Roosevelt's rugby program and the positive effect it has had on the high school students who began playing.

## Theodore Roosevelt High School Auditorium

The Roosevelt Auditorium was Dedicated on Wednesday, September 22, 1958 at 10 A.M. Open House was from 7:30 - 10:00 P.M. by The Fresno City Board of Education, The Superintendent of Schools and the Administrative Staff, The Architects, Lake and DI Luck, The Builders, Harris Construction Company, The Principle and Faculty Members of Roosevelt Student Body, and the Roosevelt Parent Teacher Association and the Roosevelt Dad's Club.
When the auditorium was built it included the main auditorium with seating capacity of 2,153 and a smaller theater seating 200. Allied classrooms included a music room, two regular class rooms, a stagecraft, electrical and radio shop, a radio studio class room with recording and control room equipment as well as dressing rooms and make-up rooms.
The stage was 40 by 80 feet (12 by 24 m) with curtains that include an asbestos velvet front curtain, with velvet contour, speakers curtain and back drop and wings, a full-sized movie screen, an electronic controlled reactor type dimmer system, remote control for sound, P.A. or control room from lighting console or at rear of auditorium, blower fans and hot water heater, emergency building lights in case of power failure and theater type cushioned seats.
"We thank Mrs. Elizabeth Kircher for organizing the ceremonies, the Harris Construction Company for supplying the programs, and the San Francisco Floral Company for supplying the flowers. The school is especially thankful to the Board of Education, the City School Administrative Staff and the people of Fresno. The long patient waiting is over; the dream of an auditorium has become a glorious reality."
Program: Roosevelt Alma Mater by the Roosevelt Choir, Student Body; March by the Roosevelt Band and Director Robert Arnold; Presentation of Colors by the Color Guard (Sgt. David Dague, Sgt. James Windsor, Sgt. David Nattenberg, and Sgt. Joe Anderton); Flag Salute led by Lt. Gilbert Bertoldi; America the Beautiful sung by members of the Roosevelt Choir with Jay Condit, Director; Presentation of Mr. Edwin C. Kratt by Mr. Robert Miner, Superintendent of Fresno City Unified School District Principle of Roosevelt High School); Presentation of Members of Board of Education by Mr. Kratt (Mrs. Margaret Robinson, President; Mr. Arthur L. Selland, Vice-President; Dean James M. Mallock; Mr. George W. Turner and Mrs. Geraldine Wheeler; Presentation of Assistant Superintendents by Mr. Kratt (Mr. Erwin A Dann, Assistant Superintendent in Charge of Secondary Schools; Mr. Lawrence Todhunter, Assistant Superintendent in charge of Elementary Education; Mr. J. C. Trombetta, Assistant Superintendent in charge of Business Services; Presentation of Platform Guests by Mr. Dann (Mr. Elso Di Luck, Representative of Architects; Mr. Clarence Harris, Representative of Harris Construction Co.; Mr. Robert Hampton, Fresno City Schools Building Inspector; Mr. Marvin Abrahamson, Supt. of Building, Grounds and Maintenance, Fresno City Schools; Mr. James B. Dinsdale, Fresno Junior College, Electrical Inspector; Mrs. Nat Leas, President Roosevelt Parent Teacher Association; and Mr. Michael Sohigian, President Roosevelt Dad's Club; Introduction of Mrs. Margaret Robinson by Mr. Kratt; Dedication Address by Mrs. Robinson; Response for Roosevelt High School by Mr. Miner; Response for Roosevelt Student Body by Jerry Fitzmaurice, Student Body Pres.; Prayer by Dean James Malloch; The Lords Prayer by Roosevelt High School Band.

## Roosevelt School of the Arts

The Roosevelt School of the Arts is a district-wide magnet school program established in 1984. The program offers students in-depth specialized training in performing, visual, and media arts. The Roosevelt School of the Arts program was recognized as a winner of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education "Creative Ticket National School of Distinction Award", one of five schools to receive this award for outstanding achievement in Arts Education. On May 26, 2018, the Roosevelt Auditorium was named in honor of 1988 RSA alumna Audra McDonald, a six-time Tony Award winner.

## Awards and recognition

RHS was recognized by the California State Board of Education in 1996 California Distinguished School Award. The school has also won two Golden Bell Awards. RHS renewed their WASC accreditation in 2017.

## Demographics

Many of its students are immigrants from Mexico and Southeast Asia. 51.8% of the student population are English learners. Below are rough figures of the student population.
| Ethnicity | Population | Percentage of total population |
| Asian | 454 | 11.9% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.1% |
| Latino | 2078 | 78.2% |
| African American | 123 | 4.6% |
| White | 183 | 4.6% |
RHS has many programs to serve its students, including an extensive After School Program, Migrant Education tutoring, and academies and pathways, including Health, Business, Public Service, and Education.

## Athletics

The School competes in the North Yosemite League (NYL)
The Varsity Boys Basketball Program has won three sections titles in 1978, 2016 and 2021.
The varsity Boys soccer program has won six out of the last eight central section championships, in 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2013

## Notable alumni

* Chris Gorham, actor
* Wade Blasingame, Major League Baseball pitcher
* Randy Scarbery, Major League Baseball pitcher
* Mike Dupree, Major League Baseball pitcher
* Jack Shepard, Major League Baseball catcher
* Johnny Estrada, Major League Baseball catcher
* Sharon Leal, actress
* Audra McDonald, actress and singer
* Gary Soto, author
* Heidi Blickenstaff, actress
* Mick Wingert, voice actor
* Virak Ou, human rights activist
* Taku Hirano, percussionist
* Miranda Rae Mayo, actress
* Gary Alcorn, NBA
* Louis Jackson, NFL player
* Safiya Noble, professor
* Bryson Williams, Basketball Player

## Notable faculty

* Dale Doig, politician and educator