Thomas Downey High School
| Thomas Downey High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
|
1000 Coffee Rd. Modesto California United States |
|
| Coordinates | 37°39′26″N 120°58′30″W / 37.657138°N 120.974922°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public |
| Opened | September, 1951 |
| School district | Modesto City Schools |
| Principal | Richard Baum |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 2,000 |
| Hours in school day | 6-8 |
| Campus type | suburban |
| School colour(s) | Navy Blue, White, Light Blue |
| Song | Downey Hymn, Downey Fight Song |
| Athletics | Football, Volleyball, Golf, Cross Country, Soccer, Waterpolo, Tennis, Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball, Softball, Track, Swimming |
| Mascot | Knight |
| Newspaper | Knight's Realm |
| Yearbook | Shield |
| Feeder schools | La Loma Jr. High, Roosevelt Jr. High, Hanshaw Middle School |
| Website | http://downey.monet.k12.ca.us/ |
Thomas Downey High School (TDHS) is a High School in Modesto, California. It is one of the seven high schools in Modesto. George Lucas, Joe Rudi, Tony Graziani, Olympian American Discus Record Holder Suzy Powell, Doug Burke, former water polo player who won a silver medal for the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, are some of its notable graduates.
Thomas Downey High is the second oldest high school in the city of Modesto and its doors opened to students in the Fall of 1951. Its mascot is the Knight, but they are sometimes humorously referred to as the "Downey Ducks." The school's current student population is approximately 2,000 in Grades 9 through 12.
The movie American Graffiti, written and directed by Downey graduate George Lucas, is based in Modesto but filmed in Petaluma, California. The school that students in the film attend is called "Dewey High", but is actually Petaluma High School, the architecutral twin to Downey High. "Dewey High" is a reference to Downey. The Block "D" Athletic Jackets and school colors in the movie are Royal Blue and White, identical to Downey's school colors.
Downey's yearbook and newspaper have received awards. Yearbook adviser John Scott was one of three finalists for the Stanislaus County Teacher of the Year award in 2007.
The Agriculture Department at Thomas Downey was first created to work the school's early orchards. The orchards have been since cut down, with the department serving as the main welding area for the students of TDHS. Proficient students in welding go on to competitions for the National FFA Organization. If students win competitions, they have a chance to be recognized by superiors in the welding industry. Companies include West-Mark, Caterpillar, and others. Students also raise animals for the Stanislaus County Fair, hoping to gain a profit. The projects range from 3 to 7 months and focus on gardening, animals, and home improvement. Students also have the opportunity to take a floral design class in which students design and sell arrangements.
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