Montgomery High School (San Diego)

Public school in San Diego, California, California, United States

Montgomery High School

Address

3250 Palm Avenue

San Diego, California

California

92154

United States

Coordinates| 32°35′05.47″N 117°03′52.03″W﻿ / ﻿32.5848528°N 117.0644528°W﻿ / 32.5848528; -117.0644528
Information
Type| Public
Motto| "We Are Aztecs”
Established| 1970
School district| Sweetwater Union High School District
Superintendent| Moisés G. Aguirre
Principal| Louie Zumstein
Teaching staff| 95.53 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades| 9-12
Enrollment| 2,341 (2022–23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio| 24.51[1]
Campus| Suburban
Color(s)|  White  Blue  Red
Fight song| SDSU fight song
Athletics conference| Metropolitan - Mesa League
Mascot| Monty the Aztec
Nickname| Aztecs
Newspaper| La Voz Azteca (Spanish), Moctezuma (English)
TV Channel| KMMI [2]
Social Media| ASB [3]
Website| http://moh.sweetwaterschools.org/

Montgomery High School (MOH) is a four-year (grade levels 9–12) public high school in San Diego, California, United States. It opened in 1970 in the Otay Mesa neighborhood.[4] The school serves more than 2,500 students. It is named after pioneer aviator John Joseph Montgomery, who made the first manned glider flight in U.S. history from a hill where the school is located.[5]

## History

[edit]

In 1971, there was a proposed establishment of an organic garden at the school. The garden was implemented in 1975 as part of an experimental course called Ecology, which involved 16 students. The course aimed to provide hands-on environmental education outside the traditional classroom setting. Seeds were funded through the gifted program or purchased by students. In later years the garden would be featured in an episode hosted by Huell Howser.(Chula Vista Star-News, March 23, 1975).[6] This class is no longer taught at the school.

Montgomery High underwent extensive renovations, with classrooms being gutted and renovated in 2006 by Turner Construction. In 2009-2010 more construction work began.[7] As such, the creation of a new synthetic field turf was installed at the school's stadium, along with new concrete work. On August 31, 2012, a formal ceremony was held to dedicate Montgomery High School's stadium in honor of Al Prazak, a former employee in the Athletics department.[8] On the original gym there is a plaque that reads the following: "In Honor Al Prazak, for his Loyalty and Dedication. 1970-1986." of In 2011, a new office, classrooms, and library were constructed all in one two-story building in front of campus. Other work was performed from 2011 to early 2012 under Prop-O.[9] The new library, named for founding principal Joseph C Torres, was opened on February, 10th 2012,[10] and a new landscaping and quad area in front of the library and other buildings were added for the adult school on the same campus.[11] In 2014 an approximately 15,800 sq. ft. custom gym floor was installed.[12] Basketball court at this school has a checkerboard style floor pattern.

The original basketball gym of the school, the school has two.

In 2009, Montgomery High School in San Diego faced challenges with low test scores, prompting concern from the Sweetwater Union High School District. The District replaced the principal, implemented new schedules, and increased accountability measures. The new principal at that time Lee Romero; took significant action to improve student performance as part of the state system; that "parallels No Child Left Behind, which pushes school to raise test scores." However, this did spark debate among teachers and the union, who were concerned about the process.[13] As of 2022, the changes were successful.[14][15]

In 2018, San Diego law enforcement proposed to conduct an active school shooter drill and use it as cover for the arrests of four students. On Halloween, officials at Montgomery High School carried out this plan. This tactic, seen as a new and untested law enforcement strategy, was defended by Sweetwater Union High School District officials as a measure to ensure safety. However, juvenile justice advocates criticized it as violating students' rights and a misleading use of the drill.[16]

## Athletics

[edit]

MOH offers a full range of athletic teams. These teams compete under the Aztec team name against other schools in the district and the surrounding area.

The varsity baseball field. Fall | Winter | Spring

|
|

Fall

Football[17]

Girls Field hockey

Girls Flag Football

Girls & Boys Cross Country

Girls Volleyball

Girls Golf[18]

Girls Tennis

Boys Water Polo

| Girls & Boys Basketball[19]

Girls Water Polo

Soccer

Wrestling

Cheer

| Boys Tennis

Football

Boys Volleyball

Girls & Boys Swimming

Boys Golf

Boys Baseball[20]

Girls Softball

Track & Field

Beach Volleyball

## Notable alumni

[edit]

Name  | Grad Class  | Category  | Best Known For

|
|
|

Tony Walker | 1977 | Athlete | Professional baseball player
William McLeroy | 1978 | Other | Firefighter
Nora Vargas | 1990 | Politician | American politician[21]
Wuv Bernardo | 1991 | Musician | Drummer for P.O.D.[22]
Sonny Sandoval | 1991 | Musician | Singer for P.O.D.[22]
Rey Mysterio | 1993 | Athlete | Professional wrestler[23]
Óscar Robles | 1994 | Athlete | Professional baseball player[24]
Sergio Mitre | 1999 | Athlete | Professional baseball player[25]
Thunder Rosa | 2006 | Athlete | Professional wrestler
Alfredo Gutiérrez | 2015 | Athlete | Professional football player[26]

## Notable faculty

[edit]

DeMarco Sampson

## See also

[edit]

* Sweetwater Union High School District

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Montgomery High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
2. ^ "KMMI Academy YouTube Channel". YouTube. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
3. ^ "ASBMoh Instagram Profile". Instagram. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
4. ^ "Montgomery High School 1968-1972 - South Bay Historical Society". sunnycv.com. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
5. ^ "New School Named After Pioneer Flyer". cdnc.ucr.edu. Chula Vista Star-News. April 21, 1968. p. A4. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
6. ^ "Chula Vista Star-News 22 March 1973 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
7. ^ District, Sweetwater Union High School (September 30, 2008). "Montgomery High School New Two Story Building And Modernization Of Building 102, 1200 And Synthetic Track and Turf Field Project". ceqanet.opr.ca.gov. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
8. ^ Čada, Glenn (September 5, 2014). "A Most Unforgettable Character — Uncle Elden". clarksonhistory. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
9. ^ BuildingPropO (July 20, 2010). Montgomery High School - Proposition O. Retrieved August 28, 2024 - via YouTube.
10. ^ "Montgomery High School". Swinerton. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
11. ^ Salomino Jr (February 10, 2012). Montgomery High School - Joseph C Torres Library & Media Center - 02.10.12. Retrieved August 27, 2024 - via YouTube.
12. ^ "Montgomery High School Project". Geary Floors Inc. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
13. ^ Diego, Voice of San (August 30, 2009). "The Battle for Montgomery High". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
14. ^ "San Diego students earn full-ride scholarships to Ivy League schools". FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. May 31, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
15. ^ Diego, Debbie L. Sklar • Times of San (May 25, 2022). "First Gen Scholars Program Helps Local Students Earn Scholarships to Ivy League". Times of San Diego. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
16. ^ Huntsberry, Will (November 30, 2018). "Police Arrested Montgomery High Students in Operation Disguised as Active Shooter Drill". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
17. ^ Brand, Steve (September 26, 2019). "Montgomery football coaches go 'New School'". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
18. ^ Brents, Phillip (September 25, 2024). "Fall sports preview: Girls golf at Sweetwater High School". www.thestarnews.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
19. ^ "Twin basketball players are 'double trouble' for Montgomery High School". FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. February 1, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
20. ^ "Montgomery's Manny Hermosillo highlights Hall of Fame Coaching Legends class". San Diego Union-Tribune. August 28, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
21. ^ Stories, Local (March 2, 2020). "Meet Nora Vargas". SDVoyager - San Diego. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
22. ^ a b "Hall of Fame inductees named (II)". The Star-News. November 4, 2005. p. 5. Retrieved October 19, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
23. ^ Howard, Eric (June 29, 2007). "Lucha libre to rock SWC on June 30". The Star-News. p. 22. Retrieved October 19, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
24. ^ Brents, Phillip (October 22, 1994). "Local hero giving it back". The Star-News. p. 17. Retrieved October 19, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
25. ^ Wilson, Bernie (July 3, 2007). "Giles, Wells team to top Marlins". The Desert Sun. p. 25. Retrieved October 19, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
26. ^ Krasovic, Tom (June 4, 2021). "Tijuana and San Diego's Alfredo Gutierrez Joins the NFL Fast Lane with 49ers". Retrieved October 19, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

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* Bonita Vista Middle School
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