John H. Pitman High School, colloquially Pitman High School (PHS), is the second comprehensive high school located in Turlock, in the heart of the northern San Joaquin Valley in the U.S. state of California. It is situated in a transitional agrarian/suburban community and serves most of the northern part of Turlock, as well as the nearby CDP of Keyes. John H. Pitman consists of a 45 acre campus built alongside a suburban housing, placed between W Christoffersen Pkwy and N Kilroy Rd. John H. Pitman is ranked #4,120 in the country and #618 in the state ^[3]

History

The establishment of a new high school in Turlock, California, took shape in 1979 in response to projections of significant development and population growth, which highlighted the urgent need to address the mounting issue of overcrowding within the existing educational infrastructure.

As the 1990s unfolded, the Turlock High School system grappled with the ever-increasing problem of overcrowding. Recognizing the pressing need for a solution, efforts were expedited to establish a new high school that could accommodate the growing population of students. Consequently, in 1998, the Turlock community rallied together and voted in favor of a crucial bond measure, paving the way for the development and construction of a brand-new educational facility. The chosen site was set to become the home of the new high school, and in honor of John H. Pitman, an esteemed and influential teacher and principal from Turlock High School, the school was named after him.

In late 1997, ground was officially broken for the construction project. The construction process unfolded meticulously, with careful attention paid to every detail, ensuring that the new high school would not only address the overcrowding issues, but also provide a conducive learning environment for students. The arduous endeavor persisted, and after several years of dedicated work and meticulous planning, the construction project was successfully completed in April 2002.^[4] The architecture of John H. Pitman Highschool was designed by Fresno-based Darden Architects, a company that designed James C. Enochs High School, Joseph Gregori High School, and the Turlock High School Science building.

The significance of the completion was celebrated during the dedication ceremony held on Saturday, August 10, 2002, which witnessed the presence of over 1,000 students, eager to embark on their educational journey at John H. Pitman High School. The ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Superintendent William H. Gibson and Principal Rod Hollars, who warmly greeted and welcomed each new student individually as they arrived on campus. Superintendent Gibson, in his address, expressed his pride in the fact that the construction of the facility had been managed efficiently within the allocated budget and completed well ahead of the scheduled school opening.^[4]

Expansion and renovations

• In 2019 the school remodeled the football and track and field field with artificial turf and all-surface material; later two new softball fields and a soccer field were added.^[5]

• In 2020, Pitman High School renovated their Culinary Arts class kitchen to a state of the art culinary kitchen.^[6]

• In late 2021, plans for a replacement scoreboard for the Pride's Baseball team started with affiliation and partnership with the Pitman Pride Booster Club. The cost of the scoreboard was in total $32,000 with a 10 percent contingency while the Pitman Pride Booster Club would donate $25,000 to the school's athletic department. The building of the new scoreboard finished in January, 2022 while being in time for the Pride's 2022 Baseball season. ^[7]

• During the latter part of 2021 and early 2022, TUSD high schools experienced several changes with the goal of enhancing and expanding their facilities. These updates included the introduction of electronic whiteboards, improvements to electrical systems, the implementation of new fire alarms, roof replacements, and enhanced lighting. Additionally, to accommodate the increasing number of students, the campus welcomed the "I" building, which added six new classrooms.^[8]

• Early 2022, TUSD & the John H. Pitman High School announced plans for an expansion of their Child Nutrition Annex Buildings. This plan would introduce a new option for students to receive lunch. The building was placed in the middle of the campus and costed $2,453,828.00, with a 5% contingency. ^[9]

• On June 20, 2023, TUSD partnered with TID (Turlock Irrigation District) to fund $56,300 towards the erection of lights for the Football & Track Field. Construction of the project was completed on August 12, 2023.^[10] Further work to the field was proposed, with PDF (Pitman Foundation Development) starting a fund to construct a snack bar.

• On August 4th, 2023, John H. Pitman High School was funded $35,000 by the Turlock Lions Club to create plans and sponsor a scoreboard for Pitman Track and field and Football. ^[11]

Athletics

Pitman High School provides a diverse range of seasonal sports opportunities such as :

• Soccer
• Football
• Water polo
• Cross Country running
• Golf
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Cheerleading
• Basketball
• Wrestling
• Baseball
• Swimming
• Track and field
• Softball

Pitman High School is a member of the Central California Athletic League, which includes schools across the Modesto Metropolitan Area such as James C. Enochs High School, Joseph Gregori High School, Thomas Downey High School, Modesto High School, and Turlock High School.

Notable alumni

• Colin Kaepernick - NFL quarterback and civil rights activist (Class of 2006)^[12]
• Bradin Hagens - Former-MLB RHP (Class of 2007)
• Kade Morris - MLB Pitcher (Class of 2020)^[13]

References

37°31′50″N 120°52′43″W / 37.5305°N 120.8785°W / 37.5305; -120.8785