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Sequoia High in Redwood City and Carlmont High in Belmont were getting close to capacity in the late 50s. As a result, the Sequoia Union High School District moved forward with plans to provide relief by opening a new high school in San Carlos.
Thus, a 41-acre site was developed in the western hills of San Carlos on land that formerly belonged to John Brittan.
The campus was designed by Delp Johnson, an architect and resident of San Carlos. He devised a unique radial design with wings spread out from a central assembly area. The school had a capacity of 3,500.
Classes began in 1960. During the first semester, students had to decide on a team name. The entrees included Hurricanes, Comets, Falcons, Cardinals and Dons. The final tally went to Dons by eight votes.
The 1960s was a turbulent time, and like many schools, things became rather tense at San Carlos High during the latter part of said decade and into the 1970s.
One of the divisive issues was the Vietnam War. For example, during the 1969-1970 school year, students voted to stay home on the 15th of each month as a protest against the war.
Another divisive issue arose: integration.
In 1970, 125 black students from East Palo Alto began getting bussed to San Carlos High. The number increased in subsequent years.
By the mid-1970s, the school district enrollment was declining. As a result, a difficult decision was made to close Ravenswood High in East Palo Alto, which was heavily populated by black students. The district decided to bus 300 students from Ravenswood to San Carlos. Due to the distance from East Palo Alto to San Carlos High, busses departed East Palo Alto at 6 a.m. so students could be on time for classes.
As the demographics of San Carlos began to change, the community faced growing tensions amid the integration of a diverse student population. As a result, numerous racially based fights broke out on campus in 1976 and 1977, requiring police presence.
Parents and community members volunteered to patrol the campus to reduce tensions and violence. This proved helpful, and it allowed San Carlos to focus on other fun events, such as Nude Relays, which took place in the undeveloped areas of San Carlos hills and other locations.
However, even though Ravenswood was closed, student enrollment in the district continued to decline. In the case of San Carlos High, enrollment tumbled by 40%. Thus, in late 1981, the district concluded the school needed to close.
The community reaction was predictably negative, however, the decision was final. Classes ended in 1982. The campus was bulldozed in 1988.
El Don was gone….
Notable alums include: Kathleen Bigelow, Academy Award-winning Director of The Hurt Locker; Keith Comstock former MLB player; Jennifer Granholm, former Governor of Michigan; Mike McCurry, former Press Secretary in the Clinton administration; John Radetich, former world record high jumper.
Everything else is just history
The photos used in this blog are courtesy of the Local History Room, Redwood City's best-kept secret. The Local History Collection covers all aspects of Redwood City's development, from the 1850s to the present day, with particular emphases on businesses, public schools, civic organizations, city agencies, and early family histories. The Local History Room is not affiliated with the Redwood City Public Library, but it is inside it.
