William Howard Taft Charter High School is a public school located on the corner of

Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east–west thoroughfares in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California. Ventura Boulevard is one of the oldest routes in the San Fernando Valley as it was originally a part ...

and Winnetka Avenue in the Woodland Hills district of the

San Fernando Valley The San Fernando Valley, known locally as the Valley, is an urbanized valley in Los Angeles County, California. Located to the north of the Los Angeles Basin, it contains a large portion of the City of Los Angeles, as well as unincorporated ar ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

, California, within the

Los Angeles Unified School District Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is a public school district in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is the largest public school system in California in terms of number of students and the 2nd largest public school district in ...

. The school gained affiliated charter status beginning with the 2013–2014 school year.

History

Named after former U.S. president

William Howard Taft William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected pr ...

, the school first opened in 1960. It was in the

Los Angeles City High School District Los Angeles City High School District (known in its last year as West County Union High School District) was a school district that served high school-aged residents of western Los Angeles County, California from 1890 to 1962. At times the distr ...

until 1961, when it merged into LAUSD. In the 2013–2014 school year, Taft High School became a Charter School.

Notable alumni

Jeshua Anderson Jeshua Anderson (born June 22, 1989) is a retired American sprinter, who specializes in the 400 meter hurdles. He is a 3 time NCAA champion in the 400m hurdles and was the second freshman from Washington State University to ever win the NCAA titl ...

– track and field sprinter * Rick Auerbach – MLB

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1971–1981 *

Steve Bartek Steve Bartek (born January 30, 1952, in Garfield Heights, Ohio) is an American guitarist, film composer, conductor, and orchestrator. He is best known as the lead guitarist in the band Oingo Boingo and for his orchestration work with composer Da ...

– musician, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Oingo Boingo * Matteo Barzini – Italian filmmaker *

Justine Bateman Justine Tanya Bateman (born February 19, 1966) is an American writer, director and producer. Her former acting work includes ''Family Ties'', '' Satisfaction'', '' Men Behaving Badly'', ''The TV Set'', ''Desperate Housewives'', and '' Californ ...

– actress, TV series ''

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'' *

Mike Bercovici Michael Bercovici (born February 9, 1993) is an American football coach and former quarterback who currently serves as an offensive assistant for the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at Arizona State. He signed with the San Diego Ch ...

– college and pro football quarterback * Scott Bloch – Office of Special Counsel * Mike Borzello – 5-time World Series champion. Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees *

Craig Buck Craig Werner Buck (born August 24, 1958 in Los Angeles, California) is a former volleyball player (position middle blocker) from the United States, who was a member of the American men's national team that won the gold medal at the Volleyball at ...

– Olympic volleyball player * Phil Buckman – musician, actor, and voiceover artist, bass player for Filter * Kihei Clark – NCAA champion basketball player at

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* DeAndre Daniels – professional basketball player, college player at

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Bryce Dejean-Jones Bryce Alexander Dejean-Jones (August 21, 1992 – May 28, 2016) was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Iowa State University after stints with USC and UNLV, and played professionally for the New Orleans P ...

– basketball

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Larry Dierker Lawrence Edward Dierker (born September 22, 1946) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, manager, and broadcaster. During a 14-year baseball career as a pitcher, he pitched from 1964 to 1977 for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros and the St. Loui ...

– MLB pitcher, manager, broadcaster * Spencer Dinwiddie – NBA point guard for the Dallas Mavericks * Larry Drew II – basketball

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– rapper,

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– rapper/singer

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* Jordan Farmar – basketball

, 2-time NBA champion *

William Finnegan William Finnegan is a staff writer at ''The New Yorker'' and author of works of international journalism. He has specially addressed issues of racism and conflict in Southern Africa and politics in Mexico and South America, as well as poverty ...

– Pulitzer Prize winning writer surfing essayist * Jeff Fisher – Former NFL player and Titans coach from 1995 to 2010, as well as Rams from 2012 to 2016 * Char Fontane – actress and singer * Barry Green – orchestral and solo double bass player and teacher * Guy Hansen – professional baseball pitcher and coach *

Steve Hartman Stephen Robert Hartman (born April 14, 1963) is an American broadcast journalist. Hartman earned a degree in broadcast journalism at Bowling Green State University, graduating in 1985. Hartman lives with his wife, Andrea, and their three chil ...

– sportscaster *

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– rapper, actor, director, producer, ''

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'', '' Are We There Yet?'', ''

Straight Outta Compton ''Straight Outta Compton'' is the debut studio album by rap group N.W.A, which, led by Eazy-E, formed in Los Angeles County's City of Compton in early 1987. Released by his label, Ruthless Records, on August 8, 1988, the album was produced ...

'' * Airabin Justin – NFL and

CFL The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

defensive back *

Gabe Kapler Gabriel Stefan Kapler (born July 31, 1975), nicknamed "Kap", is an American former professional baseball outfielder, and current manager of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). Kapler was a 57th-round draft pick (1,487th ove ...

– Former MLB

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and current

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manager, 2021 National League Manager of the Year * Brad Kearns – professional triathlete, Guinness world record speedgolfer, ''The New York Times'' bestselling author * Kevin Kennedy – MLB manager and radio-TV baseball commentator *

Dave Koz David Stephen Koz (born March 27, 1963) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, record producer, and radio personality based in California. Early life Dave Koz was born in Encino, California, to Jewish parents: Norman, a dermatologis ...

– smooth jazz saxophonist, radio personality *

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– actress, TV series ''

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'' *

Pete LaCock Ralph Pierre "Pete" LaCock Jr. (born January 17, 1952) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman/ outfielder. He batted and threw left-handed. In 1975, LaCock hit the only grand slam of his career in the final appearance of St. Louis Car ...

– MLB

first baseman A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...

and coach *

Dale Launer Dale Launer (born May 19, 1952) is an American screenwriter, film director and producer, best known for his work in comedy films. His films include '' Ruthless People'', ''Blind Date'', '' Dirty Rotten Scoundrels'' and ''My Cousin Vinny''. Biograp ...

– comedy screenwriter *

Epic Mazur Bret Hadley "Epic" Mazur (born August 31, 1970) is an American vocalist, rapper, and record producer. He is best known as a founder and former frontman of the rap rock band Crazy Town. Early life Bret Mazur grew up in Brooklyn, New York before h ...

– vocalist, rapper, and record producer *

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– actress, TV series ''

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'' * Danny Boy O’Connor – rapper,

* Susan Olsen – actress, TV series ''

'' *

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– MLB

third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the scoring system us ...

Dana Plato Dana Michelle Plato (née Strain; November 7, 1964 – May 8, 1999) was an American actress. An influential " teen idol" of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Plato was recognized for her television work, for which she was included on VH1's list ...

– actress, TV series ''

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'' *

DaShon Polk DaShon Lamor Polk (born March 13, 1977) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played professionally for the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans. Early life Polk was born in Pacoima, California and atten ...

– NFL linebacker *

Paul Pratt Paul Pratt (25 November 1894 – 8 May 1967) was a Canadian clarinetist, pianist, conductor, music educator, composer, and public administrator. His compositional output includes marches, waltzes, a ''Fantaisie-Impromptu'' for band, and ...

– NFL defensive back for

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* Malcolm Smith – Super Bowl XLVIII champion and MVP *

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– NFL wide receiver, Super Bowl XLII champion *

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– actress, TV series ''

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'' *

Jeff Stork Jeffrey Malcolm Stork (born July 8, 1960 in Longview, Washington) is an American former volleyball player. He was a member of the US national team that won the gold medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics and the bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympi ...

– volleyball Hall of Famer, member of

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gold-medal U.S. men's team * Kathryn Dwyer Sullivan –

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Michael Thomas Michael or Mike Thomas may refer to: Entertainment * Michael M. Thomas (born 1936), American novelist of financial thrillers * Michael Tilson Thomas (born 1944), American conductor, pianist, and composer * Michael Thomas (actor) (1952–2019), Bri ...

– NFL

Pro Bowl The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (starting in 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's star players. The format has changed thro ...

wide receiver,

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– NFL

cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such offensive running plays as sweeps and reverses. They create tur ...

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– musician, founding member of

The Electric Prunes The Electric Prunes are an American psychedelic rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. Much of the band's music was, as music historian Richie Unterberger described it, possessed of "an eerie and sometimes anguished ambiance." T ...

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– actor, TV series ''

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'' * Holly Beth Vincent – musician, member of Holly and the Italians * Duffy Waldorf – professional golfer, member of

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

Sports Hall of Fame *

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– athlete, winner of two gold medals at

1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...

Darrion Weems Darrion Anthony Weems (born September 4, 1988) is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League turned Investor and TV producer. Darrion played for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He played college football at ...

– NFL offensive tackle *

Jane Wiedlin Jane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin (born May 20, 1958) is an American musician and singer, best known as the co-founder, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist of the new wave band The Go-Go's. She has also had a successful solo career. The Go-Go's w ...

– musician, singer and original member of band

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Brad Wilk Brad Wilk (born September 5, 1968) is an American drummer. He is best known as a member of the rock bands Rage Against the Machine (1991–2000, 2007–2011, 2019–present), Audioslave (2001–2007, 2017), and Prophets of Rage (2016–2019 ...

– drummer for

Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (often abbreviated as RATM or shortened to simply Rage) is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commer ...

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Antwaun Woods Antwaun Woods (born January 3, 1993) is an American football nose tackle for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC. He has played for the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys. Early life a ...

–

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for the

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, college Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2016 *

Robin Wright Robin Gayle Wright (born April 8, 1966) is an American actress. She has won a Golden Globe Award and a Satellite Award, and has received eleven Emmy Award nominations for her work in television. Wright first gained attention for her role in t ...

– actress, ''

The Princess Bride The Princess Bride may refer to: * ''The Princess Bride'' (novel), 1973 fantasy romance novel by American writer William Goldman William Goldman (August 12, 1931 – November 16, 2018) was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He ...

'', '' Forrest Gump'', ''

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'', ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...

'' *

Larry Yount Lawrence King Yount (born February 15, 1950) is a former professional baseball player. Yount (whose younger brother is Hall of Famer Robin Yount) shares the unique distinction of being one of two pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB) history t ...

– MLB

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

Robin Yount Robin R. Yount (; born September 16, 1955), nicknamed "the Kid", and "Rockin' Robin", is an American former professional baseball player. He spent his entire 20-year career in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and center fielder for the Milwau ...

–

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...

player, 19 seasons with Milwaukee Brewers of MLB

References

External links

Official William Howard Taft Charter High School website

Great Schools Inc.org: "Taft Senior High School"

U.S.News.com: "Taft High School"

LAschoolboard.org: Taft High School 2013-2018 Charter Term
– '
Archive
''.
{{authority control Taft Taft Taft Taft Taft Educational institutions established in 1960 1960 establishments in California Taft Taft