Early History Highlights
Scotts Valley High School opened its doors to 135 freshmen students on September 8, 1999. It took nearly ten years, incredible dedication and significant effort to achieve this milestone - truly a labor of love. In 1990, the first ballot measure, Measure R, resulted in 71% of Scotts Valley voters saying yes to approving a high school in Scotts Valley. Additional approvals were needed by the Scotts Valley City Council led by SV Mayor Peggy Lopez (1992), the Santa Cruz County Board of Education (1993) and the State Board of Education (1994) as well as by voters to approve a bond (1994). The “Citizens for a High School in Scotts Valley,” chaired by Mike Smith, led this visionary initiative to help expand the Scotts Valley Unified School District to K-12 and positively impact the city with a local high school.


From the beginning, there were challenges including budget and location as SVHS was originally planned to open September 1998. The initial plan called for donated land owned by Kaiser Sand & Gravel Co. on the south side of Mount Hermon Road, west of the intersection with Lockhart Gulch. As concerns arose regarding environmental impact and traffic, additional sites were considered including Valley Gardens Golf Course, 35 acres near the southeast corner of Lockwood Lane & Graham Hill Road, Geyer Road quarry at the end of Geyer road off Lockhart Gulch Road, the Polo Ranch east of Borland International headquarters on Hwy 17, and a 50 acre parcel on the west side of Glenwood Drive (the district owned 20 acres which were earmarked for a new middle school). After multiple open forums, negotiations, lawsuits and an opening date delay, the Glenwood property was selected.
The original estimated construction cost of $24M soared to over $30M. Initial bids were declined, and the project was re-bid with a successful outcome. There were delays so in April of 1999 eight factory built classrooms and a physical ed exercise room were purchased. In August of that year, the portable classrooms arrived.
Established in February of 1999, the SVHS Parent Club was instrumental in holding fundraisers for SVHS as well as purchasing needed equipment and supplies. Michele Smith served as the first SVHS Parent Club President. She and her team organized get-to-know you events to help create a strong SVHS community.
A ninth grade orientation was held on September 1st, and the SVHS Parent Club, which was established in February of 1999, held a welcome BBQ on September 7th. The first day of school took place on September 8th, 1999, and classes were held in the parking lot while construction continued.
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From the beginning, SVHS was envisioned as an academically focused high school. The school board implemented seven periods of classes as opposed to the traditional six at the time. In November of 1999, an open forum was held about the International Baccalaureate program to educate students, parents and the community about this unique and rigorous program. The IB Diploma Program is a challenging pre-university course of study for juniors and seniors that can result in college credit. SVHS began offering IB Certificate programs to students in 2003 and granted the first full IB Diplomas in 2004. For many years, SVHS was the only high school in the area to offer full IB Diplomas.
SVHS established a strong community early on and started important traditions that first year, many of which continue to this day. The first ASB (Student Government) led these events, and Justin Mackiewicz served as the first ASB president. The first fall rally was held on September 22, 1999, and Pioneer Week (the precursor to Homecoming) was celebrated November 1-5 of that year. During that spirited week, Monday was Halloween Day, Tuesday was PJ Day, Wednesday was Clash Day, Thursday was Backwards Day and Friday was Crazy Spirit Day. The first dance took place on November 6th, and winter ball happened on February 18, 2000. An improv troupe performed at the Drama Showcase. SVHS participated in Mock Trial from year one, and the first yearbook was published in spring of 2000.
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In terms of sports programs, SVHS competed at the JV level and under for the first year. Initial SVHS teams included football, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, cross country, baseball, volleyball, basketball, softball, wrestling, swimming and diving. A cheerleading squad was part of SVHS from the beginning, and at points a jv squad and dance team were added. Victories came quickly for many of the sports programs. This was the only beginning of an incredible athletics program at SVHS which at points included hockey, water polo, and sailing in addition to adding lacrosse, which remains to this day. SVHS athletics has featured national, state and local individual champions as well as division and league champions in nearly every sport.
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