Welcome to the Ranch

Principal’s Message
 
Welcome to Rancho Alamitos High School! We are proud of Rancho and the accomplishments of the students and staff, and are pleased to be able to share information about the school via this website. We encourage you to explore the different links, so that you may learn about our wonderful school. Rancho provides a student-centered environment dedicated to developing confident students who can meet the intellectual, social, and technological challenges of the twenty-first century. Our students are diverse, hard working, spirited, creative, and epitomize what high school students should be. We have a talented teaching staff that shows their commitment to teaching through effective methodologies, professional development, and infusion of technology. Our school is award winning and has been recognized for the Title I Academic Achievement Award. We continue to educate students who are ready for the 21st century and able to make positive contributions to society as leaders. We welcome your participation and support during the school year. We invite you to visit our campus and meet our staff and students to have a first hand experience of "Vaquero Pride."

Principal
Ms. Mary Jane Hibbard
 
 
Assistant Principals
Ms. Julie Garcia
Mr. Eric Hansen
Mrs. Orsi Justice
 
 
Mrs. Liz Stimmler, Principal's Secretary
Ms. Michelle Honda, Receptionist


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History of the School
 
Rancho Alamitos High School opened its doors in 1957. Its name means ranch of the little cottonwoods and is an acknowledgement of the Hispanic heritage of this area. The forty acres of the Rancho Alamitos High School campus was part of the original Rancho Los Nietos (grandchildren), circa 1784. Later, the land was divided among many family members into smaller Ranchos. In the 1950’s, the Garden Grove Union High School District purchased the land from the Evans family. Construction of Rancho Alamitos High School began in 1956 and was nearly complete by 1957. There were two homes on the property facing Dale Street. The homes belonged to the Evans and Miller families and were located just north of the faculty parking lot. The homes were used as classrooms until construction was completed in 1959. Rancho Alamitos first opened for grades nine through eleven on the Garden Grove High School campus during the fall of 1956. In the spring of 1957, the Rancho Alamitos campus officially opened under the direction of the first principal, Mr. Don Kennedy. The first senior class graduated in the spring of 1958 under the principalship of Mr. Richard Bivin. In 1960, Mr. Sam Chicas was principal and was succeeded by Mr. Vic McClain (1961). Rancho’s next principal was Mr. William Zogg (1964), followed by Mr. Tracy Strong (1966), Mr. Ron Forsyth (1976), Mr. Jim DeLong (1982), Mr. Bob Mesa (1985), Mr. Tom Robins (1991), Mr. Gene Campbell (2000), Mr. Frank Mackay (2006) and the current principal Ms. Mary Jane Hibbard.
 
 
We are proud of our heritage and proud to be Vaqueros!