Abraham Lincoln High School

San Francisco

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Introduction

Abraham Lincoln High School (ALHS) is a California Distinguished public high school located in the Sunset District of San Francisco, California. In 2018, ALHS was ranked #499 and earned a gold medal by U.S. News & World Report, placing it in the top 2% of public high schools nationally.

ALHS offers honors and college prep programs and students have the opportunity to specialize in one of four academic areas: the Business Academy, the Digital Media Design Academy, the Teacher Academy, and the Green Academy.

ALHS provides services and special education for severely and non-severely impaired students; a comprehensive English Language Learner (ELL) program; a Mandarin Secondary Dual Language Pathway; 4 years of Spanish, Mandarin, and Japanese instruction; a GATE pathway for gifted and talented students; a Wellness Center; Peer Resource Program; AVID; Step-to-College; clubs, athletics, and extracurricular activities.

History / Location / Facilities

Abraham Lincoln High School was established on Tuesday, August 27, 1940, accepting approximately 950 students under principal Clyde W. White. Its opening and dedication ceremony was held on September 22, 1940. ALHS is a "westside" school along with Lowell High School and George Washington High School.

In the center of the Sunset District, ALHS occupies four city blocks demarcated by the intersections of Quintara Street and Santiago Street and 22nd Avenue and 24th Avenue. The school is located near the Sunset Reservoir, which supplies water for the Sunset district and serves as a rectangular, city-block track for physical education, and directly north of McCoppin Square, the Taraval Police Station, and the Parkside branch of the San Francisco Public Library.

A 1938 bond issue, approved by San Francisco voters to address the increasing population in the Western San Francisco area, financed the incorporation of ALHS with a three-story building of 50 classrooms, library, and cafeteria as well as a football field, costing over $750,000 in 1940 (adjusted for 2005 dollars, over $10 million). Additions such as the North and South Gymnasiums, the auditorium, and the "New Building" expansion were completed later.

ALHS has been the beneficiary of the Prop A Bond work for remodeling and renovation. The site has been fully updated for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In 2020 the San Francisco School Renaming Panel argued that Abraham Lincoln, the school's namesake, had treated Native Americans poorly, and therefore, the school should no longer have his name. Mayor of San Francisco London Breed criticized the renaming proposal, arguing that there were more important tasks to focus on during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] A video recording of the meeting does not show that the committee discussed the proposal to rename Lincoln. The school board dropped the plan to rename the school.

Academics & Admissions

Abraham Lincoln High School is a comprehensive school that does not require special applications, testing, or auditions for admission. As with all SFUSD schools, Lincoln's admissions are affected by the "diversity index", which considers factors such as socioeconomic status, academic achievement, parents' educational background, and the API score of the sending school.

For the 2017–2018 school year, ALHS was the second most requested high school in the district, after Lowell. 34% (1,548) of all applicants requested Lowell as a 1st choice, and 19% (868) requested Lincoln.

Traditions

The school colors are red and gold, and the school mascot is the Mustang.

The school hymn, titled "High on a Hilltop", was written by Lincoln graduate Patricia Cutler Aversano in 1943.

"High on a hilltop, 'mid sand and sea,"

"Abraham Lincoln, we will honor thee forever."

"Thy sons and daughters, however long the trail,"

"Always will remember thee. Hail! Hail! Hail!"

The Bell Game is a 70-year old football tradition between Lincoln and rival Washington High School.[11] The winning school receives the prized bell. Spirit week takes place the week of the Bell Game.

The annual Brotherhood Sisterhood Assembly (BSA) is one of the largest events at ALHS. Various clubs perform to celebrate the school's diversity. BSA began to understand other cultures after a near-fatal school-related shooting, which resulted in a paralyzed teenager over ten years ago. The BSA is a two-hour assembly presented by extracurricular clubs that promote tolerance and awareness (Polynesian Dance Club, Middle-Eastern Club, Munocka Performing Arts, Koinonia Club, Japanese Culture Club, Korean Club, Vietnamese Club, and Fellowship Club), diversity (Gay-Straight Alliance, Peer Resources, Black Student Union), and student interests (Hip Hop Club, Break-Dancing Club, Drama Club, Varsity Gold Show Choir and Cheerleading Team).

Lincoln hosts two seasonal festivals each year: Fall Fest and Spring Fest. During these Fests, clubs hold fundraising activities in the open courtyard.

The Turkey Day game is the city championship football game held annually on Thanksgiving.

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