During this time of national health concerns and school shut down, Desert Sands Unified School District students and staff are focused on staying safe. The articles that will appear in this column over the next several weeks have been taken from the archives. For the next several weeks, we will reintroduce you to the seven high schools of Desert Sands Unified School District. They all provide an outstanding education and offer many extra-curricular activities. But each is unique, offering traditional and non-traditional means of providing students with a path to high school graduation, college preparation, and workplace success.

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As the oldest high school in the Desert Sands Unified School District, Indio High School proudly serves as a hallmark of tradition and celebration of a legacy of pride in our community.

The school opened its doors in 1958 and, now in our 62nd year serving our community, the school proudly showcases a beautiful reconstruction and modernization project that gives the campus a collegiate feel. As a graduate myself, class of 1980, I could not be prouder to tell you a little more about one of the City of Indio’s finest points of pride and heritage.

Indio High School Teems With Rajah Spirit

The Quad

This year the modern campus welcomed over 2,050 Rajah scholars and champions. The redesigned campus provides a 21st century library/media center with a growing collection of books in print, e-version editions, periodicals for research, and remote learning design support. The “mock trial” courtroom provides our law pathway students with an opportunity to learn about and practice their legal skills. A Career Technical Education Science Innovation Center provides the facilities for students pursuing engineering, robotics, agricultural and animal sciences, environmental science learning, and A+ network certification.

We take pride in promoting a rigorous learning environment for our students and prepare them to compete and succeed in a global economy and ever changing world. This year, our networking systems students, engineering students, Veterinary science students, and Media Arts students all competed and are moving to the California State level championships as a part of Skills USA. Our mock trial team continued to dominate our desert schools in the county level competitions. Our IMPACT students (Institute of Media Production Arts and Creative Technology) career pathway were sought out across the valley to develop and provide production resources and live streamed all our DSUSD graduations as well as producing Not So Undercover Sup videos for our DSUSD superintendent as he showcases various programs and departments within the school district. Their instructor, Thomas Buck went on to be selected as one of Riverside County High School Teachers of the Year. Mr. James Adkins in our Social Studies department was the Regional Teacher of the Year for the California League of High Schools. HANS, our health and nutritional sciences pathway, expanded into multiple internship opportunities with support from Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Loma Linda hospitals. Many medical professionals have lent their support as we are now working to launch the first campus based Wellness Center on site!

Indio High School Teems With Rajah Spirit

IHS campus

Indio High School provides a warm, stimulating environment where students are actively involved in learning academics as well as positive values. Students receive a challenging standards-based curriculum from dedicated professional staff based on their individual needs. Our visual and performing arts department continues the legacy of success with programs in ceramics, photography, and the Circle Theatre Acting Company, each producing renowned artists, actors, and photographers. Our unique fashion design program was supported with an innovation grant this year and is partnering with two of our former graduates, both highly successful in the fashion design world.

Our athletics teams are back on the rise as we have multiple teams this year winning league titles and moving to CIF competition and State Finals in Cross Country and Wrestling.

But what sets Indio High School apart from the other schools is the strong sense of family, tradition, and community that is pervasive the moment you step onto the campus. Our students participate in countless hours of volunteer service projects across the city and community. Two of our students even received the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the Prudential Spirit of Community award this Winter. Countless alumni support students in a variety of ways and many students are now the third generation Rajahs. There are more than 43 staff members including the principal. Our students grandparents and parents are Indio High School alums and all say…Rajah Pride Can’t be Denied!

Information on student meal service and distance learning during school closures can be found by clicking here.

 

Image Sources

  • The Quad: DSUSD
  • IHS campus: DSUSD
  • Link crew: DSUSD