Liberty High School (Bakersfield, California)

Liberty High School is a public co-educational high school located in Bakersfield, California. Its athletics teams are known as the Liberty Patriots and the school colors are navy, red, and silver. Liberty High School opened its doors in 1999. Liberty High School is currently the most populated high school in the Kern High School District with a student body of 2,801.

Liberty High School
Address
925 Jewetta Avenue

Bakersfield
,
California
93312

United States
Coordinates35°22′00″N 119°07′51″W
Information
School typePublic
OpenedAugust 30, 1999
School districtKern High School District
PrincipalLibby Wyatt
Staff79.96 (FTE)[1]
Grades9th through 12th
Enrollment2,114 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio26.44[1]
Campus typeSuburban
Colour(s)    Navy, Red, and Silver
SloganPatriot Pride and Excellence
Athletics conferenceSouthwest Yosemite League
MascotPatriot
RivalCentennial, Stockdale, Frontier
YearbookLegacy
Website

Academics

All students enrolled at Liberty High School must meet the following criteria before graduation:

  • 4 years of English (40 credits)
  • 3 years of Social Studies (30 credits)
    • 1 year of World or European History
    • 1 year of U.S. History
    • 1 year of U.S. Government/Economics
  • 3 years of Math (30 credits)
    • Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra, Analysis or Statistics, and Calculus.
  • 2 years of Science. (20 credits)
    • Integrated, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science
  • 2 years of P.E. (20 credits)
  • 1 year of Foreign Language/Fine Arts (10 credits)
  • 1 semester of Health (5 credits)
  • Choice of Electives (65 credits)

TOTAL = 220 credits

Liberty High School offers AP, GATE, and Honor's courses, which students can take to earn college credit:

Notable Music Department

The Liberty High School Marching Patriots

Founded by band director Jason Kuyper, the 120 member group has won many sweepstakes and 1st place awards in band competitions throughout California since its beginning in 1999. In 2002, the band competed in the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) State Championships receiving 4th place overall in Division 4A. In 2004, the band competed in the Western Band Association (WBA) State Championships receiving 4th place overall in the 1A/2A/3A Division Finals with the colorguard claiming the High Sweepstakes award in Auxiliary. It received the highest member count of 150 members in 2003. The Marching Patriots continues to receive high scores and 1st place awards today. They also have a wind symphony, symphonic band, concert band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, and winterguard. The Percussion Ensemble caused a huge upset in 2008 when they defeated the 5-time champion Bakersfield High School winter percussion for the gold medal at the 2008 PPAACC Championships. The winterguard won 3rd place at the WGI Las Vegas Regional in 2003 in the Scholastic A Division, but in 2014, the guard began to progress in the WGI circuit, winning 3rd place in the Bakersfield Regional, and 2nd place in the Riverside Regional. The group currently hosts a Winter Guard International (WGI) regional championship in February, featuring many winterguard units from around the state of California. In 2011 the Marching Patriots swept the entire Sweepstakes category at the Stockdale Band Spectacular, winning High Music, High Woodwinds, High Brass, High Colorguard, High Percussion, and High Band (91.4). The Marching Patriots were unable to compete in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The group is now under the direction of Jason Armistead, after being under the direction of Mark McGuire.

Field Shows
  • 1999 - Sweet Land of Liberty
  • 2000 - James Bond
  • 2001 - Bohemian Rhapsody
  • 2002 - Hotel California
  • 2003 - Class Act
  • 2004 - The Bullfighter
  • 2005 - Circuitry
  • 2006 - Tutenkamen
  • 2007 - Quidam
  • 2008 - Locomotion
  • 2009 - Through the Eyes of a Child
  • 2010 - Perpetual Rhythms
  • 2011 - Spanish Conquest
  • 2012 - Beyond the Blue
  • 2013 - Le Tour
  • 2014 - A Day at the Park
  • 2015 - Let There Be Light
  • 2016 - A Pirate's Adventure
  • 2017 - Scheherazade
  • 2018 - Dystopia
  • 2019 - Another Brick in the Wall
  • 2020 - Season cancelled due to COVID-19

Liberty Choral Program

The program contains Liberty Women's Chorale and Men's Chorale, Chamber Choir, and the school's major performing ensemble, Liberty Chorale. The group operated under the guidance of Michael "Mac" McQuerrey from 1999 until his retirement in 2009.

In September 2004, the Chorale joined with the Bakersfield Symphonic Orchestra to present the Concert of America tribute to the victims and survivors of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

In May 2007, the Liberty Chorale was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The Chorale, along with other choruses from around the world, formed a symphonic choir accompanied by the New England Symphonic Ensemble and conducted by composer and arranger Mark Hayes. The performance included the New York premiere of Mr. Hayes' "Te Deum" and a medley of his spirituals.

The group is currently under the direction of Timothy Williams. Since 2011, the Chamber Choir has performed operas on a biennial basis (The Mikado in 2011 and 2017, Pirates of Penzance in 2013, and The Merry Widow in 2015). However, following a three-year annual opera performance schedule (The Mikado in 2017, an original opera arranged by Williams in 2018, and The Gypsy Baron in 2019), the choir has chosen not to perform an opera in 2020.

Other Programs

Liberty High School is also noted to have many exceptional programs in Academic Decathlon, Forensics, We the People, Mock Trial, and Virtual Enterprise. Their drama department is also one of the best in Kern County, with Perry Ware as their head of department.

Liberty P.A.T.S.

The Liberty P.A.T.S. (Parents-Alumni-Teachers-Support) is the schools Parent Booster group that supports the educational, athletic, and extra-curricular endeavors of Liberty High School Students. Membership is open to all Liberty High School faculty and staff, parents and guardians of students currently enrolled and of alumni, and other members of the general public wishing to assist in the charitable and educational activities and function of the corporation.

Booster Groups
  • Band
  • Baseball
  • Cheer
  • Choir
  • Executive Board
  • Football
  • Men's Basketball
  • Women's Basketball
  • Women's Soccer
  • Wrestling
  • Men's Soccer

Athletics

Liberty's sports teams are known as the Patriots. Liberty competed in the South Sequoia League in the CIF Central Section from August 1999 to June 2002. In August 2002 the school was promoted to compete in the Southeast Yosemite League in the CIF Central Section, then in August 2010 moved to the Southwest Yosemite League. Centennial High School, Stockdale High School, and Bakersfield High School are Liberty's main city rivals. The school's athletic program is considered one of the best in Kern County and the state of California.

Football

Led by head coach Rick Van Horne and having seniors for the first time in the 2001 season, the team won its first League and Valley Championship in the program's short history. The Valley championship victory caused one of the biggest upsets in Central California football by beating Clovis East High School for the title. The 2015 Liberty Patriots, led by head coach Bryan Nixon, won the program's second Valley Championship by beating Clovis High School (California) 56–21. The 2015 Patriots made their first state appearance in program history, losing to Del Oro High School 28–24.

The program participates in annual bowl games with rivals Centennial High School (Bakersfield, California) and Frontier High School (Bakersfield, California). The winner of the game keeps the bowl trophy at the school for an entire year until the next game the following season. Since its inception in the 2004 season, the Patriots are 10–3 in Freedom Bowl games against Centennial, having won the last 7 years. Since its inception in 2010, the Patriots are 6–1 in Black and Blue games against Frontier, having won the last 4 years.

Volleyball

The 2002 Girls' Volleyball Team won the CIF Division II Women's Volleyball State Championships.

Basketball

The 2008-09 Boys' Basketball Team won their first South East Yosemite League Championship against the Garces Rams. In addition the team made it to the CIF Division II Central Section Championship. Under the leadership of point guard, Sam Marcus, they were considered to be the best team in Kern County that season, and the second best team in the Central Section behind Clovis East High School. The program has continued to improve under the coaching of Andy Hicks and Andrew Shearon.

In the 2009–2010 season, the Boys' Varsity Basketball team won their first valley championship in school history. The boy's made school history, defeating the No. 1 ranked San Joaquin Memorial HS at Selland Arena in Fresno, CA. To reach the valley championship, Liberty defeated West High School (Bakersfield) and Tulare Union High School, two very highly ranked basketball teams. Liberty also made a rally in the CIF State playoffs by defeating Mark Keppel HS (Alhambra) by over 20 points, making it Liberty's first State Playoff win in school history. Liberty was defeated by Eisenhower HS (one of the top basketball programs in the state).

Liberty has continued to withhold a strong program in Bakersfield. In the 2010–2011 season, the Liberty HS Varsity boys team tied for the SEYL League champions with Bakersfield HS. In the following season (2011-2012), the LHS Basketball team won the outright SEYL championship.

Tennis

The Boys Tennis team won League titles in the SEYL in the 2009 and 2010 season, and recently took the title in 2011 in the newly formed and much more competitive SWYL league. The boys team also made it to the Division I Championship in 2011 where it faced Clovis West in an away game. The final score was 3 - 6 resulting in a Liberty loss, however the singles were tied at 3 - 3 in the first round.

Boys' Soccer

The Boys Soccer team won League titles in the SEYL in 2004 and 2006 seasons, and recently took the title in 2011 and 2016 in the newly formed and much more competitive SWYL league. The boys made it to the Division I Championship in 2015 where they faced #10 in the nation Buchanan-Clovis in an away game. The final score was 0–1 at the end of 2OT resulting in a Liberty loss.

Commencement Ceremony

The Commencement Ceremony or Graduation is held each year in late May or early June at Liberty Stadium on campus. The LHSMP play Pomp and Circumstance live during the commencement. The school's first graduating class was the class of 2002. The school's largest graduating class was the class of 2008.

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Liberty High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  2. Liberty graduate makes most of opportunity at UCLA, Bakersfield.com
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