Ferndale High School (California)
| Ferndale High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| , United States 40°35′05″N 124°15′37″W / 40.58467802107674°N 124.26016789272919°W | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
Principal | Jeremy Griffith |
| Enrollment | 145 (2025–2026)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 11:1[2] |
| Colors | Red and white[3] |
| Nickname | Wildcats[3] |
| Website | fhs |
Ferndale High School is a four-year public high school in Ferndale, California, United States, serving ninth through twelfth grade. The school's enrollment area comprises Ferndale and part of the Wildcat Hills in Humboldt County, California.[4]
History
Ferndale High School was established in 1904, created from the unification of smaller school districts across the Eel River Valley. This included Port Kenyon, Island School, Grant School, Salt River School, Coffee Creek School, Grizzly Bluff School, and Pleasant Point School.[5]: 209 The original building was in use from 1907 to 1951. In 1952, the building was replaced by what is now the present high school facility.[5] The original main building built in 1952 contained offices, the school library, and 11 classrooms. Other buildings include the gymnasium (built in 1974), and a building containing the woodshop and mechanics shop.[6]
Demographics
As of 2026, Ferndale High School has a student population of 145 that is 0.7% black, 2.1% Native American, 4.1% multiracial, 22.1% Hispanic, and 71% white.[1] The school's graduation rate is 90%.[7]
Academics
According to the U.S. News & World Report, the AP participation rate at Ferndale High School is 60%.[8]
Extracurriculars
Ferndale High School's sports program offers softball, volleyball, wrestling, baseball, tennis, basketball, track and field, golf, soccer, and football.[9] Ferndale won its 14th California football sectional title and the California Interscholastic Federation Division 7-AA football championship in 2023.[10][11] The girls' soccer team won the California North Coast Section championship in 2023.[11]
The school has a long-time sports rivalry with neighboring Fortuna Union High School. The first Ferndale Wildcat versus Fortuna Huskies "Milk Can" football game was played in 1945. Excluding a 20 year hiatus, the Milk Can football game has been played each year since.[12][13] In 2011, the Milk Can was stolen from Ferndale High School during a break-in by three Fortuna High School students, thrown over a bluff, and later recovered by police.[14]
Notable alumni
- Len Casanova, American football player and coach[16]
- Donald H. Clausen, politician[17][18]
- Sam Dungan, baseball player[19]
- Frank Ferguson, actor[20]
- Guy Fieri, chef [21]
- Thomas E. Leavey, businessman[22]
- Joe Oeschger, baseball player[15]
References
- 1 2 "Student Population at Ferndale High School". Niche.
- ↑ "Ferndale High School Teachers". Niche.
- 1 2 "Ferndale High School (CA) Varsity Football". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- ↑ "Welcome to HCOE!". Humboldt County Office of Education. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- 1 2 Carlson, Beverly (2011) [1976]. Lestina, Wendy; Boynton, Mary Ellen (eds.). Where the Ferns Grew Tall (2nd ed.). Ferndale, California: The Ferndale Museum. ISBN 978-0-9839019-0-7.
- ↑ Ferndale High School SARC Archived 2013-11-02 at the Wayback Machine, 2008-2009 School Accountability Report Card (SARC), California Department of Education (CDE) SARC, 2009-2010
- ↑ "Academics at Ferndale Academy". Niche.
- ↑ "Ferndale High School". U.S. News & World Report.
- ↑ "Ferndale High School Athletics Schedules". Ferndale High School.
- ↑ Mintz, Daniel (December 21, 2023). Greenson, Thadeus (ed.). "Supes Honor Historic Wildcats' championship". The Ferndale Enterprise. Eureka, California: North Coast Journal Incorporated. pp. 1, 2.
- 1 2 Pence, Steven (December 21, 2023). Greenson, Thadeus (ed.). "Ferndale School Board Meeting: A Celebration, Then Back to Work". The Ferndale Enterprise. Eureka, California: North Coast Journal, Incorporated. pp. 1, 3.
- ↑ Tarpey, Neil (September 20, 2013). "Huskies host Wildcats in 48th Milk Can Game tonight". Eureka Times-Standard. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- ↑ Tarpey, Neil (September 21, 2013). "Dug down deep: Huskies win battle of the trenches for Milk Can victory". Eureka Times-Standard. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Prized Ferndale and Fortuna Milk Can recovered". Eureka Times-Standard. November 9, 2011. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- 1 2 Jerome Holtzman (November 2000). Marathon Games for Starting Hurlers Are Ancient History. Baseball Digest. pp. 78–80. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
- ↑ Scott, Jeremiah R Jr (May 2002). "Len Casanova, A West Coast Football Legend" (PDF). College Football Historical Society Newsletter. 15 (3): 1–9. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
- ↑ Andrew R. Dodge; Betty K. Koed, eds. (2005). Biographical directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005: the Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788, and the Congress of the United States, from the First through the One Hundred Eighth Congresses, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 2005, inclusive. United States Congress. pp. 832–. ISBN 978-0-16-073176-1.
- ↑ Retired congressman from Ferndale to celebrate 90th birthday April 27, The Ferndale Enterprise, April 18, 2013
- ↑ "MLB Stats for Sam Dungan". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
- ↑ Ferndale Union High School Yearbook "Tomahawk"
- ↑ McNeill, Dylan (December 14, 2023). "From Flavortown with love: Guy Fieri covers travel costs for Ferndale football team". The Eureka Times-Standard. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
- ↑ Michaelson, Judith (October 30, 1994). "The Sunday Profile : A Quiet Force: Dorothy E. Leavey loves sharing her millions with the needy and the deserving--especially children. But much of it is done anonymously. She doesn't like the fuss". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 5, 2014.