Granite Hills High School (El Cajon, California)
| Granite Hills High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Map | |
1719 East Madison Avenue , 92019 United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Established | 1960 |
School district | Grossmont Union High School District |
Principal | Eric Jesperson |
Teaching staff | 17.12 (FTE)[1] |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 2,414 (2023-2024)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 141.00[1] |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Navy blue and Columbia blue |
| Rival | Valhalla High School |
| Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) |
| Newspaper | The Clarion |
| Yearbook | Pageant |
| Nickname | Eagles |
| Website | granite |
Granite Hills High School is a public comprehensive high school in El Cajon, California. It serves students in grades nine through twelve. Opened in 1960, Granite Hills is one of 13 high schools in the Grossmont Union High School District. GHHS is the home of the Eagles. Granite Hills High School has been an IB World School since July 2001; it is a California Distinguished School.
History
[edit ]In the late 2000s, the school undertook campus construction projects, including renovations to the football field.[citation needed ] In 2009, soil testing identified the presence of carcinogenic contaminants on campus; the source was not immediately determined, and similar conditions were reported at other district schools.[2]
In January 2009, the school’s eagle statue was vandalized and destroyed.[3]
Shooting
[edit ]Just minutes after lunch ended and fifth period began on March 22, 2001, an 18-year-old former student, Jason Hoffman, arrived on campus with a 12-gauge Mossberg pump-action shotgun (with size 7 or 8 birdshot) and a .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol,[4] opening fire outside the attendance office which also houses the principal and vice principals' offices.[5] Five people were injured by shrapnel or suffered severe symptoms from the traumatic experience, but few victims incurred bullet wounds. Hoffman was shot in the buttocks and jaw. Hoffman was arrested by police officer Rich Agundez,[6] who had been on campus during school hours since the shooting two weeks earlier at Santana High School.[7] Hoffman would later commit suicide by hanging himself from bedsheets in his prison cell on October 29, 2001.[8]
Athletics
[edit ]Granite Hills offers every California Interscholastic Federation sanctioned sport.[citation needed ]
On December 10, 2022, the Granite Hills would defeat San Ramon Valley 31-24 OT for the California State 2-A football title at Saddleback College.
Notable alumni
[edit ]- Joe Cardona, 2010, NFL, Miami Dolphins long snapper, Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl LIII Champion with the New England Patriots[9]
- Brian Giles, 1989, Major League Baseball right fielder for the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Diego Padres
- Marcus Giles, 1996, Major League Baseball second baseman, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves
- Duncan D. Hunter, 1994, Republican former U.S. Representative of California's 50th congressional district
- Jimmie Johnson, 1993, NASCAR; 7-time (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016) NASCAR Cup Series champion (tied for most all-time with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt); 2-time Daytona 500 champion (2006 & 2013); Elected to NASCAR Hall of Fame Class 2024.
- David Lee, 1999, U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team, 2008 and 2012
- John H. Ritter, 1969, award-winning author of young adult novels
- Joe Roth, 1973, former All-American quarterback at the University of California, Berkeley
- Julia Schultz, 1997, model and actress
- Shane Spencer, 1990, Major League Baseball player[10]
- Travis Taijeron, MLB player for the New York Mets
- Tommy Vardell, 1987, NFL San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions
See also
[edit ]References
[edit ]- 1 2 3 "Granite Hills High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ↑ ''Carcinogen discovered in soil at 5 schools''[link removed ] by Leonel Sanchez, San Diego Union-Tribune January 16, 2009
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 16, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ "Guilty Plea in School Shooting". LA Times . Retrieved September 14, 2001.
- ↑ Martelle, Scott (March 23, 2001). "5 Hurt in Gunfire at High School Near San Diego; Student Is Held". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ↑ Ojeda • •, Artie (March 28, 2018). "Officer Who Stopped Granite Hills High Gunman in 2001 Recounts His Actions 17 Years later". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ↑ "The San Diego Union-Tribune - San Diego, California & National News".
- ↑ "Photo: Alleged school shooter Jason Hoffman commits suicide -". UPI. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ↑ By; Williams, Charean; By; Williams, Charean (May 9, 2025). "Dolphins sign LS Joe Cardona". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
- ↑ "To Tribe of, Shane's Success No Surprise". New York Daily News . October 6, 1998.
External links
[edit ]- Granite Hills High School website
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Directory of Accredited Schools 2005-2006 (PDF)
