Coronado High School (Arizona)
Coronado High School is a public high school located in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. The school enrolled 1,044 students in the 2016-2017 school year[2], who primarily come from feeder schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District.
Coronado High School | |
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Address | |
7501 East Virginia Avenue , 85257 United States | |
Coordinates | 33°28′32″N 111°55′13″W |
Information | |
Type | Secondary public school |
Established | 1961 |
School district | Scottsdale Unified School District |
Principal | Amy Palatucci |
Faculty | 51.84 (FTE)[1] |
Grades | 9–12 |
Enrollment | 896 (2018-19)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 17.28[1] |
Color(s) | Scarlet red and navy blue |
Mascot | Don |
Website |
History
Coronado High School, named for the Spanish conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, opened in fall 1961 as a public comprehensive high school, grades 9-12, with emphasis on college preparatory and vocational/technical curriculum. The school mascot is the Coronado Don, don being the name for a Spanish nobleman.
Architecture
Ralph Haver, the noted Phoenix mid-century architect, designed the original school, mostly made of pre-cast concrete.[3] Haver also designed numerous public and commercial buildings, as well as tract homes and private residences in Phoenix and Scottsdale, during the 1950s and 1960s. The neighboring residential community of Town and Country, also featuring classic contemporary ranch style tract homes designed by Haver, was designated as historic by the City of Scottsdale in 2005.
Coronado High was overhauled by DLR Group for the 2008-09 school year, though the white folded plate motif was kept in the new structures as a nod to the former appearance.
Athletics
The Coronado baseball team has been one of the school's most successful programs for over 50 years. The program won four baseball championships, three Class 5A state titles led by coach Roy Coppinger (1961–88) in 1966, 1969, 1979; and runners-up in 1974, 1978, and 1986. The fourth state title was in 4A Division II led by coach Buck Holmes (1989–present) in 2007; and runners-up in Class 4A 1999 and 2003. The Dons baseball program has only been led by two head coaches since 1961.
The Coronado football program has been known for its small but powerful players. In 1976, head coach Ed Anderson led the program to a perfect season and its only 5A state championship.
The Coronado girls' basketball program led by head coach Jerry Smith won state titles in Class 5A in 1979 and 1981; and Runner-up in 1980. In Class 4A (Spring season) led by head coach Jim Ferrando won state titles in 1990, 1991, 1992; and Runner-up in 1993.
The Coronado boys' soccer program led by head coach Mike Tsorin appeared in back-to-back Division III state finals as runners-up in 2012 and 2013. On February 14, 2014, the boys' soccer team led by head coach Nick Barker won their first state title in Division III by defeating Northwest Christian, 3-1.
Shield

The Coronado Shield has been a symbol of the school for many years. It was originally designed by Joe Gatti, who also created another symbol of the school, the Seven Arts mosaic on the auditorium. Gatti was an art teacher at Coronado from its opening in 1961 until 1984. He felt that this shield design fit the idea of Coronado's namesake.[4]
Fine arts programs
Coronado's art classes include photography and 3D art.
The school's most well-known work of art, the Seven Arts mural that hangs above the school auditorium, was pieced together by some of the school's first art students and completed in 1964-1965. Recently, Coronado art students made a mosaic that stands between two of the art classes.
Theater
Shortly after the school opened in 1961, Coronado developed a thriving theater program under Jim Newcomer.
Show | Director | Performed |
---|---|---|
Bells are Ringing | N/A | Summer of 1963 |
Mouse that Roared | N/A | December 5-6, 1963 |
King and I | N/A | February 28-29, 1964 |
Gramercy Ghost | N/A | October 18-19, 1964 |
Mikado | N/A | 1964-65 |
Madwoman of Chaillot | N/A | 1964-65 |
Winnie The Pooh | N/A | 1964-65 |
Rebel without A Cause | N/A | 1964-65 |
The Music Man | N/A | 1965 |
Harvey | N/A | October 11-12, 1965 |
The Miracle Worker | N/A | 1965-66 |
The Rainmaker | N/A | October 20-22, 1966 |
Sound of Music | N/A | December 2-3, 1966 |
Taming of the Shrew | N/A | 1967 |
Our Town | N/A | January 26 & 28, 1967 |
Diary of Anne Frank | N/A | October 19-21, 1967 |
The Pirates of Penzance | N/A | December 1-2, 1967 |
Inherit the Wind | N/A | February 2-3, 1968 |
Romeo and Juliet | N/A | March 22-23, 1968 |
Of Mice and Men | Judie Carroll | 1970-71 |
Teahouse of the August Moon | N/A | 1970-71 |
My Fair Lady | N/A | 1970-71 |
Hamlet | Jim Newcomer | 1971-72 |
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | Gerald Carey | 1971-72 |
You're a Good Man Charlie Brown | Janie Jones & Hope Silvestri | 1971-72 |
Fiddler on the Rood | Jim Newcomer | 1971-72 |
The Crucible | N/A | Summer 1972 |
A Midsummer Night's Dream | N/A | Summer 1972 |
Oklahoma! | N/A | 1972-73 |
The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail | N/A | 1972-73 |
We Bombed in New Haven | Gerry Carey | 1972-73 |
The Miracle Worker | Judie Carroll | 1972-73 |
The Trojan Women | N/A | 1972-73 |
The Odd Couple | N/A | 1973-74 |
Lil' Abner | Janie Jones | 1973-14 |
West Side Story | Jim Newcomer & Judie Carroll | 1973-74 |
Our Town | N/A | 1973-74 |
By the Skin of Our Teeth | Ralph Bradshaw | 1973-74 |
The Matchmaker | Judie Carroll | 1973-74 |
Midsummer Night's Dream | N/A | 1973-74 |
Twelfth Night | N/A | 1973-74 |
You Can't Take it with You | N/A | Summer 1974 |
Man of La Mancha | Judie Carroll Pickrell | 1974-75 |
Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The Moon Marigolds | Judie Carroll Pickrell | 1974-75 |
The Man Who Came To Dinner | Jim Swan and Ralph Bradshaw | 1975-76 |
Life With Father | N/A | 1975-76 |
The Music Man | N/A | 1975-76 |
Little Foxes | Judie Carroll Pickrell | 1975-76 |
The Fantastiks | Deborah Carrick | 1976-77 |
Romeo and Juliet | Dr. Glorianne Engle | 1976-77 |
Barefoot in the Park | N/A | 1976-77 |
Merchant of Venice | N/A | 1977-78 |
The King & I | N/A | 1977-78 |
Story Theater | Deborah Carrick | 1978-79 |
Damn Yankees | N/A | 1978-79 |
The Crucible | N/A | 1978-79 |
The Importance of Being Earnest | N/A | 1978-79 |
Twelve Angry Jurors | Pam High | 1978-79 |
Rebecca | Deborah Carrick | 1978-79 |
Kiss Me, Kate | John Waits | 1978-79 |
The Music Man | N/A | Summer of '79 |
Shakespearean Greens Show | N/A | 1979-80 |
My Three Angels | N/A | 1979-80 |
Fiddler on the Roof | N/A | 1979-80 |
The Madwoman of Chaillot | N/A | 1979-80 |
Stage Door | N/A | 1979-80 |
Scapino | N/A | 1979-80 |
Oklahoma! | N/A | Summer '80 |
Guys and Dolls | N/A | 1980-81 |
Clarissa's Closet | Deborah Carrick | 1980-81 |
Up The Down Staircase | N/A | 1980-81 |
The Water Engine | N/A | 1980-81 |
Facades | Lon Boothe | 1980-81 |
The Ups and Downs of Love | Jim Gates | 1980-81 |
The Good Doctor | N/A | 1980-81 |
Pirates of Penzance | N/A | Summer '81 |
The Passion of Dracula | Deborah Carrick | 1981-82 |
Sound of Music | N/A | 1981-82 |
South Pacific | N/A | 1981-82 |
Comedy of Errors | N/A | 1981-82 |
West Side Story | N/A | Summer '82 |
Skin of Our Teeth | N/A | 1982-83 |
You Can't Take It With You | N/A | 1982-83 |
110 in the Shade | N/A | Summer '83 |
Arsenic and Old Lace | N/A | 1983-84 |
Carousel | N/A | Summer '84 |
Barefoot in the Park | Irma Griffin | 1984-85 |
The Boyfriend | Irma Griffin | 1984-85 |
Li'l Abner | Irma Griffin | 1984-85 |
Once Upon A Mattress | Irma Griffin | 1985-86 |
David and Lisa | Irma Griffin | 1985-86 |
Hayfever | N/A | 1987-88 |
Androcles and the Lion | Gerry Carey | 2000-2001 |
Revival
Coronado High School's theater program had a revival in the 2008-09 school year with its first production to have all fine art departments collaborating in 20 years with the show Once Upon a Mattress. The show was a joint effort between all the fine arts departments, with the show directed by theater teacher Gerry Carrey, choreographed by dance teacher Irma Griffin, pit orchestra provided by band director, Dr. Schultz Bennet, and vocal direction provided by choir director Dr. Sammy Jo Brauer.
In the following years, there would be at least one major performance a year, predominantly helmed by Choir and Orchestra teacher Dr. Sammy Brauer and Coronado alumni Paul Townsend.
Show | Directed by | Choreographed by | Music by | Produced by | Performed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Once Upon A Mattress | Gerry Carey | Irma Griffin | Sammy Brauer & Bennett Schultz | Coronado Performing Arts Departments | February 5-7, 2009 |
Grease | Paul Townsend | N/A | Sammy Brauer | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | November 19-21, 2009 |
The Madrigal: The Changing of the Guard | Sammy Brauer | N/A | Sammy Brauer | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | December 3 & 4, 2010 |
The Music Man | Gerry Carey | Irma Griffin | Sammy Brauer & Bennett Schultz | Coronado Performing Arts Departments | February 3-5, 2011 |
The Madrigal: The Peasant, The Prince, The Boot & the Mirror | Sammy Brauer | N/A | Linda Prideaux | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | December 2011 |
The Pirates of Penzance | Paul Townsend | N/A | Sammy Brauer | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | May 3-5, 2012 |
The Madrigal: Sleepless in the Castle | Sammy Brauer | N/A | Sammy Brauer & Linda Prideaux | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | December 6 & 7, 2012 |
The Possibilities are Endless! | Sammy Brauer | N/A | Linda Prideaux | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | April 24-26, 2013 |
The Madrigal: Jester “The Body” Ventures Forth | Sammy Brauer | N/A | Sammy Brauer & Linda Prideaux | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | December 12 & 13, 2013 |
Cinderella | Paul Townsend | Mary Townsend | Sammy Brauer | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | March 26-28, 2015 |
The Madrigal: The Changing of the Guard | Sammy Brauer | Peter Townsend | Sammy Brauer & Linda Prideaux | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | December 10 & 11, 2015 |
The Good Doctor | Paul Townsend | N/A | N/A | DEAL DramaDons Theater Club | February 4 & 5, 2016 |
G.I. Jive | Sammy Brauer | N/A | Linda Prideux | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | March 17, 2016 |
Guys and Dolls | Paul Townsend | Katie Hudnall | Sammy Brauer | Coronado Choir/Orchestra | March 29-31, 2017 |
The Madrigal: The Peasant, The Prince, The Boot & the Mirror | Peter Townsend | N/A | Jennifer McDaniel | Coronado Choir & Theater | December 7 & 8, 2017 |
You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown | Laney Townsend | N/A | Sam Brasen | Coronado Choir & Theater | April 5 & 6, 2018 |
Coffee House
In the 2015-16 school year, Dr. Brauer revitalized the Coffee House program and updated it to include students from both Coronado and its feeder schools, teachers, and alumni. The first year of this newly re-branded Coffee House ran November 4–6, 2015.
The 2016 Coffee House ran October 26-28, 2016 and continue to include Coronado students, alumni, faculty, community members, and students from various feeder schools in the district.
Thespians
Coronado High School is home to Thespians Troupe #1557.
Choir
Coronado's choir program is currently under the direction of Mr. Sam Brasen since 2018.
The Varsity Choir has participated in a number of heritage festivals in California
Festival | Award | Year | Director |
---|---|---|---|
Forum Festival | Silver | 2007 | Sallie Hyland |
Anaheim Heritage Festival | Silver | 2008 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Forum Festival | Silver | 2009 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Anaheim Heritage Festival | Silver | 2010 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
In addition, both choirs have performed all over the country.
- In 2012 the Choirs and Orchestra traveled to New York City to perform in the Lincoln Memorial center.
- In 2013 the Choirs and Orchestra traveled to Anaheim
- In 2014 the Choirs and Orchestra traveled to Seattle
- In 2016 the Choirs and Orchestra traveled to Chicago
- In 2017 the Choirs and Orchestra traveled to Anaheim
Advanced Choral Ensemble
The Advanced Choral Ensemble (ACE) is a smaller choral ensemble of 14-15 members chosen by audition. Members must maintain high grade point averages, and display leadership qualities.
The ensemble has competed in the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Jazz and Madrigal Festival every year since 2010 where they receive ratings of Participant, Fair, Good, Excellent, or Superior for performances of Jazz and/or Madrigal pieces with "Superior" being the highest and "Participant" being the lowest.
Here are their scores for each category for every year they've competed:
Award | Category | Year | Director |
---|---|---|---|
Excellent | Madrigal | 2008 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Excellent | Jazz | 2010 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Madrigal | 2010 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Jazz | 2011 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Madrigal | 2011 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Excellent | Jazz | 2012 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Madrigal | 2012 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Excellent | Jazz | 2013 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Madrigal | 2013 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Jazz | 2014 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Excellent | Madrigal | 2014 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Jazz | 2015 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Madrigal | 2015 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Jazz | 2016 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Madrigal | 2016 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Superior | Jazz | 2017 | Dr. Sammy Brauer |
Excellent | Jazz | 2018 | Sam Brasen |
Band
The Coronado Dons band program, currently under the direction of Bret Lee since 2017, has continued a longstanding tradition of excellence that includes symphonic band, marching band, and jazz band. During the 2009-10 marching season, the band was a Division II with almost 75 members and continued to be as successful, if not more so, than it was in previous years in Division III. At the ABODA[5] State Marching Festival on November 7, 2009, it was one of three bands to receive a rating of Superior with Distinction as well as four of five captions. At the 2010 ABODA State Marching Festival at Hamilton High School, the Dons Marching Band received a rating of Superior with 3 of 5 captions, and it qualified for the state championships on November 13, where it reached 2nd place for Division II with a score of 71.30. The band also received 3rd place for Division III in 2013 and 2014 and 8th for Division II in 2015.
Past Band Directors:
- Dr. Schultz Bennett
- Leslie Rich
- Kerwin Forest
- Chris Reidy
- Jon Gomez
- Ed Meier
- Eugene L. Hanson
Clubs
Coronado has a variety of clubs and organizations, which, in cooperation with student government, sponsor dances and other activities. Except for their sizes and specific requirements, all clubs and organizations are open to all students as per board policy. These organizations are under the authority and approval of the school administration and student government.
Listed below are the clubs and student organizations that are active at the school:
- A.C.E. (Achieving a College Education)
- Advance Choral Ensemble (ACE)
- Anime Club
- AVID Club
- B.A.C.H. (Bands at Coronado High)
- Ballet Folkorico
- Best Buddies
- C.A.S.E.
- C.H.A.N.T.
- Chess Clubs
- Children 1st
- CHSazz
- CORE Club
- DonX
- DramaDons
- Explorer (newspaper)
- FCA
- FIDM[6] Fashion Club
- Future Educators of America
- Computer Gaming Club
- Global Citizens Club
- Hackey Sack Club
- HOSA club
- International Club
- J.A.G.
- Key Club
- Kawaii Club
- Library Club
- Lookout Club
- National Honor Society
- Pride Club (Unitown)
- Robotics Club
- Rap Club
- Science Club
- Service Learning
- SOHA (Fine Arts)
- Student Government
- Thespians
- Trail (yearbook)
- VISIONS
- Voice of *Seniors*
- Voice of *Juniors*
- Voice of *Sophomores*
- Voice of *Freshmen*
- Women's rights club
- Young Life
Coronado hymn
All hail to Coronado scarlet and navy blue
We pledge to you allegiance,
we Dons forever true
May each year bring more glory,
hold your banner high
Thy praise we sing and vict'ries bring to
Coronado High
Fight song
Coronado Dons go marching on,
Go marching on,
To this, their song.
Ever faithful, loyal, valiant be
Bring victory,
We proclaim it proudly!
Coronado win this game,
Fight on to fame,
Uphold the name.
Take it on the chin and never give in
Coronado Dons fight on!!!
Notable alumni
- J. D. Durbin, minor league baseball pitcher
- Hugh Hallman, former mayor of Tempe, Arizona
- Beth Maitland, actress, The Young and the Restless
- Lou Marson, Major League Baseball catcher with the Cleveland Indians
- Jesse Valenzuela, lead guitar player and vocalist of The Gin Blossoms
- Kia Zolgharnain, former indoor soccer player
Filming location
In the late 1980s, Coronado was used as a film location as a less-expensive alternative to filming in California. It was used as the high school that Bill and Ted attended in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, although the high school in the movie was named San Dimas High School (San Dimas was actually the site of the Bill & Ted sequel). The movie finale (Bill and Ted's final on-stage report with historical figures) was filmed in Coronado's auditorium which was torn down for remodeling in 2006.
Disney used the school twice, as Coronado was the site of filming for ABC's Not Quite Human, a film featuring Jay Underwood, Robyn Lively and Alan Thicke. Another movie, Just Perfect (featuring Jennie Garth), was filmed for the Mickey Mouse Club in 1989. The final football game shown in the movie was actually between Coronado's varsity and junior varsity teams.
The 1985 movie Just One of the Guys, starring Joyce Hyser, was filmed at the now-demolished Scottsdale High School as well as at Coronado High School.
Scenes for the made-for-TV movie "Down Will Come Baby" starring Meredith Baxter was filmed on the campus in 1998.
References
- "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Coronado High School". nces.ed.gov.
- "Coronado High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2011/09/20/20110920scottsdale-coronado-high-school-50th-anniversary-quiz-prog.html
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2017-04-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "ABODA".
- Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising