Fortuna Union High School
| Fortuna Union High School | |
|---|---|
 Fortuna Union High School Marching Band at 2014 Homecoming | |
| Location | |
379 12th St. Fortuna, California 95540 40°35′43″N 124°09′12″W / 40.59528°N 124.15333°W | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Established | July 1, 1905 |
School district | Fortuna Unified High School District |
Principal | Clint Duey[1] |
| Staff | 45.41 (FTE)[2] |
| Grades | 9 to 12 |
| Enrollment | 826 (2025–2026)[3] |
Student to teacher ratio | 21:1 [4] |
| Colors | Royal blue and white [5] |
| Athletics | Big 4 League, Humboldt - Del Norte Conference |
| Mascot | Husky |
| Team name | Huskies |
| Website | www |
Fortuna Union High School is a four-year public high school in Fortuna, California. The school serves a large area of the midsection of Humboldt County.[6]
History
The Fortuna Union High School was established on July 1, 1905.[1]
Fortuna Union High School has three campus locations for schools in the Fortuna Unified High School District: Fortuna High School, East Continuation High School, and Academy of the Redwoods.[7] Enrollment peaked at 1,159 in 2000–01 before dropping to 844 by 2013–14, where it has stayed constant since.[8]
In August 2020, Fortuna High School was allegedly the first large-population school on the North Coast to reopen campus and resume face to face instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
Demographics
As of 2026, Fortuna Union High School has a student population of 826 that is 0.1% black, 0.4% Asian, 0.5% unknown, 4% Native American, 6.3% multiracial, 34.7% Hispanic, and 54% white.[3] The school's graduation rate is 95%.[10]
Academics
Academic programs at Fortuna Union High School include: Career and Technology Education, English, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, Social Sciences, Spanish and Visual and Performing Arts.[7] Recently, the school has begun offering courses on a wider variety of interests, ranging from computer science to pottery.
Athletics
Fortuna Union High School offers various athletics programs for students to participate in. These programs include:[7]
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Cross Country
- Volcano boarding
- Football
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis (Men's and Women's)
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
The football team has a long-standing sports rivalry with the adjacent town of Ferndale, California. The winner of the annual "Milk Can" game takes home a milk can labeled with the years and scores of the winning and losing teams.[11] 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
- Mike Bettiga, former professional football player
- Randy Niemann, former Major League Baseball pitcher and coach
References
- 1 2 "California School Directory". California Department of Education. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ↑ "Fortuna Union High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- 1 2 "Student Population at Fortuna Union High School". Niche.
- ↑ "Teachers at Fortuna Union High School". Niche.
- ↑ "Max Preps: Fortuna". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ↑ "Humboldt County School Districts Map" (PDF).
- 1 2 3 "Fortuna Unified High School District webpage". Fortuna Unified School District. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ↑ "K-12 Public School Enrollment 1233402-Fortuna Union High". California Department of Education Data Reporting Office. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ↑ Goff, Andrew (August 7, 2020). "At Emergency Meeting, Fortuna School Board Stands Firm on Decision to Open School Monday".
- ↑ "Academics at Fortuna Union High School". Niche.
- ↑ Hansen, Megan (November 1, 2011). "Ferndale, Fortuna Milk Can stolen; can considered a 'historical relic'". Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ↑ 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.