Will C. Crawford High School

It is part of San Diego Unified School District. Erected in 1957 and dedicated in 1958, it is a comprehensive school serving 1,500 students in grades 9–12.

• Name — Crawford High School • Motto — Excellence is our goal, failure is not an option! • Established — September 10, 1957; re-established 2004 • Type — Public • Ratio — 24.82 • Teaching Staff — 51.41 (FTE) • Enrollment — 1,276 (2023-2024) • Grades — 9–12 • Address — 4191 Colts Way • City — San Diego • State — California • Country — USA • District — San Diego City Schools • Colors — Red, white, and blue white blue • Mascot — Colt • Free Label — Emblem • Yearbook — The Centaur • Website — http: www.sandi.net/crawford

The school was named after Will C. Crawford, Superintendent of the San Diego Unified Schools from 1934 to 1954. It was officially opened during a dedication ceremony on April 27, 1958.

In 1957, the incoming Horace Mann Junior High School graduating 9th grade class and transfer students from Hoover High School formed the 10th and 11th grade classes (at the time, the school was 10th through 12th grade). There was no 12th grade the first year. The entire student body of Crawford High School decided on the school colors and mascot. Crimson, white and blue were chosen. The mascot was chosen in line with Dr. Crawford's other career as an Air Force pilot; the student body voted for it to be some kind of aircraft or bird. To keep with the rivalry with Hoover High School (whose mascot was the Cardinal), and because the yearbook was named Centaur, it was decided that the mascot would be the Colt. The alma mater was later written, and the Pacer newspaper was founded.

Crawford High School reopened in 2004 as the Crawford Educational Complex through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It consisted of four schools within a school: the School of Law and Business (LAB), Multimedia and Visual Arts School (MVAS), Invention and Design Educational Academy (IDEA) and the School of Community Health and Medical Practices (CHAMPs). The small schools were closed due to district budget cuts, and the school returned to a comprehensive campus in the fall of 2012.

In the 2007–2008 school year, Crawford celebrated its 50th anniversary. The campus was repainted blue and crimson by the end of the school year. The automotive department was reopened and rededicated by State Superintendent of Instruction Jack O'Connell. The department achieved NATEF (National Automotive Technician Education Foundation) certification on the one-year anniversary of its opening.

The school established a "restorative justice" program in 2014.

Public feeder schools include two middle schools and ten elementary schools. Middle schools: • Horace Mann Middle School • Monroe Clark Middle School Elementary schools: • Andrew Jackson Elementary School • Carver Elementary School • Euclid Elementary School • Hardy Elementary School • Henry Clay Elementary School • Herbert Ibarra Elementary School • John Marshall Elementary School • Mary Lanyon Fay Elementary School • Oak Park Elementary School • Rolando Park Elementary School

Crawford High consists of a 4x4 block schedule, which means that students are able to complete four full classes a semester (fall term and spring term) totaling eight full classes a year, rather than the traditional six year-long courses. This enables students to complete a full year's curriculum in a more condensed term, allowing them to enroll in additional electives or ROP courses.

Centaur is Crawford's award-winning, nationally recognized yearbook. It consistently takes best of class and places in the top two at the San Diego County Fair and other contests. A centaur is a Greek mythological creature that is half human and half horse. San Diego County Fair awards • Year — Place — Best of Class • 2002 — 2nd place • 2003 — 1st place • 2004 — 1st place • 2005 — 1st place • 2006 — 1st place • 2007 — 2nd place • 2008 — 2nd place • 2009 — 2nd place • 2010 — 1st place • 2011 — 1st place • 2012 — 1st place

• Sport — Title(s) won • Badminton — 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 • Baseball — 1962, 1964, 1965 • Boys' basketball — 1963, 2006 • Girls' basketball • Boys' cross country — 1973, 1974, 2019 • Girls' cross country • Football — 1961 • Boys' golf — 1965, 1967, 2010 • Girls' golf • Boys' gymnastics — 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968 • Girls' gymnastics • Boys' soccer — 2002, 2003 • Girls' soccer • Softball — 1985 • Swimming — 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 • Boys' tennis — 1969, 2002, 2003 • Girls' tennis • Boys' track and field — 1974 • Girls' track and field — 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981 • Boys' volleyball • Girls' volleyball • Boys' water polo — 1970, 1971 • Girls' water polo • Wrestling — 2003

• Carlos Amezcua, TV news anchor • Stephen Bishop, singer, songwriter • Nathan East (musician), bass player (Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, George Harrison...) • Tim Blackwell, former professional baseball player (Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs) • Bob Boone, former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball, four-time All-Star • Salvatore Joseph Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco, former Bishop of Oakland • Dave Duncan, Major League Baseball player (Kansas City Athletics, Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles) • Joan Embery, wildlife and environment preservationist • Dave Engle, former professional baseball player (Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Montreal Expos, Milwaukee Brewers) • Ed Herrmann, former professional baseball player (Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, California Angels, Houston Astros, Montreal Expos) • Sherri Lightner, San Diego City council member • Kathy Najimy, actress • Kadir Nelson, artist, author, and illustrator • Jim Nettles, former professional baseball player (Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics) • Sandi Patty, Gospel singer • Jim Peterson, professional player, National Football League • Chuck Rainey, former professional baseball player (Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics) • Mike Stamm, Olympic swimmer, gold and silver medalist • Yale Strom, musician, filmmaker, and writer • Brian Teacher, professional top-10 tennis player and coach • Jack Tempchin, songwriter, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Eagles • Malcolm Thomas, professional basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv • Warren Wiebe, singer, songwriter (Celine Dion, David Foster) • Dick Woodson, former professional baseball player (Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees) • Valerie Ziegenfuss, top-ranked WTA tennis player • Illustration — The Alma Mater as seen on the wall of CIF Championships