John F. Kennedy High School (La Palma, California)

John F. Kennedy High School is a public, four-year high school and International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in the city of La Palma, California. Kennedy gets most of its students from the junior high school across the street, Walker Junior High School.

History
John F. Kennedy High School opened to 1,488 students in the 10th and 11th grades on September 14, 1964. For its first year of operation, there was no senior class. Kenneth MacPherson was Kennedy's first principal. Most buildings were ready except the dressing rooms, the gym, and playing fields. The school was to be named Centralia, in keeping with Board policy to name high schools after an elementary school district in the area; however, the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 prompted a group of patrons to have the school (then under construction) renamed in his honor.

In the fall of 2011, the administration of Kennedy High School was criticized for its "Gold Card Program," in which students who performed well on the California Standardized Tests the previous year were given special recognition through special planners and ID cards, along with perks and bonuses at local businesses and throughout the school. Nearby Cypress High School had also implemented a similar program, but it did not receive as much media attention. Both schools have since removed or altered the program.

Currently, Kennedy serves around 2,400 students in the 9th through 12th grades. Recent construction has added a quad area, a second practice gym, renovated classrooms, a new library and counseling center, a modular "4th court," as well as an extensive music building, which includes an auditorium, two band rooms, two choir rooms, practice rooms, and a new pool.

Sports
Kennedy's sports teams are known as the Fighting Irish (the senior circle looks like a three leaf clover from above). They are a member of the Empire League in CIF's Southern Section. The school's main rival is Cypress High School. The Fighting Irish football team won the CIF-SS Southern Division Championship in 2006, adding to the AAA championship they had won in 1971. In 2017, the boys volleyball team captured their first CIF-SS Div IV championship in program history. It marked the first time in CIF Southern Section history a wild card team successfully captured the CIF title.

Complete list of Kennedy team CIF SS Championships

 * 1971 - Football - Div. 3A CIF Champion
 * 1980 - Boys Soccer - Div. 3A CIF Champion
 * 1984 - Girls Softball - Div. 4A CIF Champion
 * 1988 - Girls Softball - Div. 3A CIF Champion
 * 1988 - Boys Basketball - Div. 3A CIF Champion
 * 1989 - Boys Baseball - Div. 3A CIF Champion
 * 2003 - Boys Soccer - Div. 3 CIF Champion
 * 2004 - Boys Soccer - Div. 3 CIF Champion
 * 2006 - Football - CIF Southern Division Champion
 * 2017 - Boys Volleyball - Div. 4 CIF Champion
 * 2019 - Boys Baseball - Div. 4 CIF Champion

Band and Color Guard
The John F. Kennedy High School's marching band and color guard is known as the "Shamrock Regiment," who had their first Ireland performance in the 1974 Saint Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, continuing to perform in Dublin every 4 years, and had its 50th Anniversary trip in 2024. In 2000, the marching band and two other Orange County high schools were invited and performed in the 2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Sydney, Australia. The Shamrock Regiment has close connections with the Green Band Association from Japan, providing their auditorium for the band's concerts.

Choir
The high school currently has five show choirs: "Executive Order," "First Ladies," "Secret Service," "Central Intelligence," and "Jackie."

Theatre
The high school's theatre program was re-established in 2021 and is known as "The Blarney Stone Theatre".

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a prestigious and rigorous course of education that prepares students for study in the most elite colleges and universities worldwide. Kennedy High School has been authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme since July 1999, and the programme is taught in English. Upon successful completion of all IB requirements and exams, students are awarded a second diploma (separate from their Kennedy diploma) that will grant one to two years of college credits. The University of California accepts IB Diploma holders as incoming sophomores.

Notable alumni

 * Brandon Baker, actor in films such as Johnny Tsunami, Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board
 * Alan Bannister, former Major League Baseball player
 * Ami Bera, Congressman, CA District #7
 * Casey Ellison, former child actor who appeared in TV sitcom Punky Brewster
 * Casey Fien, Major League Baseball pitcher in the Seattle Mariners' Organization
 * Greg Hansell, former major league baseball player
 * Debra Jensen, former Coppertone model, Miss January, 1978 Playboy magazine
 * Rhema McKnight, wide receiver for the University of Notre Dame, New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers
 * Eddie Pleasant, outside line backer for the University of Oregon, strong safety for the Houston Texans
 * John Stamos, actor
 * Vince Staples, rapper, singer, songwriter, actor
 * Lisa Tucker, former American Idol contestant, singer, songwriter, actress