Taft Union High School History
Taft Union High School District is located in the southwest corner of Kern County in the southern portion of the San Joaquin Valley and encompasses an area of approximately 368 squares miles.The school serves the City of Taft and the immediate surrounding rural area, a population of 20,000.The Westside is an oil producing region which forms the primary tax base for funding school operations.
Taft Union High School is a four year comprehensive secondary school that has been in operation since the fall of 1911.The district also maintains a small continuation and adult education program – Buena Vista High School, an independent study program – Westside Independent Study High School, an opportunity program – Opportunity School.The Taft Union High School is a member of the Westside Regional Occupational Program (WSROP).
Taft Union High School receives students from the elementary school districts of Taft City, Midway , Elk Hills, Belridge, and McKittrick.
Early History
This short history of the first seven years of Taft Union High School was taken from the first yearbook ever published.The location of the school at time of publication was at the present location of 7th and San Emidio Street.
The school was originally named Conley High School and was located at Rose Avenue and South Street in Taft Heights, the present location of Conley School.
“As a result of the foresight of Superintendent J. E. Hamilton, Conley High was originated in 1911-12 as a branch of Kern County High School, with Mrs. Lavilla H. Campbell as teacher,in a two-room building in South Taft, enrollment was 10.
“The next term, Miss Hanie C. Michaels, joined the teaching force, and enrollment was 18.In 1913-14, Miss Michaels became principal, and the enrollment increased to 27.In the fall of 1914 science was added to the curriculum under the charge of Edith Garner. Another room was added to the school building, the basement of which was fitted up as a science laboratory. From an enrollment of 44, two seniors graduated at Bakersfield from the Kern County High School. In the fall of 1915 Conley became a separate school, and as such was inspected by the University of California and placed on the accredited list where it has since remained.The faculty was increased by four young women teachers, and domestic science and the commercial course were added to the course of study.The enrollment was 69, and a class of four graduated in the Conley Grammar School auditorium”
“In 1916-17 four new young men teachers were added to the faculty; manual training and mechanical drawing were added to the course of study. Interest was aroused in debating and athletics.One hundred and five students were enrolled that term, and 12 graduated. A physics laboratory was placed in a separate building, and the auditorium of the grammar school was taken as the study hall, and many grammar school classrooms were used to accommodate the rapidly increasing classes.”
“In the fall of 1917-18, students and faculty entered their new $60,000 home in North Taft (the present location.)Miles E. Valentine, formerly an instructor in the Kern County High in Bakersfield, became the principal of Conley High. A new member was added to the faculty. Music, debating, freehand drawing, and physical training became a reality, with a splendid building and equipment. General science was also added to the science department.The enrollment numbered 162 this year, 11 of whom graduated in the new auditorium June 6.”
“On the evening of February 22, 1917, the buildings of Conley High were dedicated in the high school auditorium with appropriate ceremony.”
“This briefly, is the history of Conley High to date.In the seven years of her existence she has accomplished wonders and has made rapid strides in all directions, and we, her children, have the greatest confidence in the glory of her future.”
The Taft Union High School District was organized in the 1920-21 school year, including the following elementary schools:Elk Hills, Midway, Citric, and the Taft City Schools.
During the 1917-18 school year students organized the student body into a “self government”, student body officers were elected, and a football team fielded to represent the school in interscholastic athletics.The team nickname was “Gaugers.”According to the 1929 Derrick the Gauger heavyweight football team of 1928-29 was captained by Jack Grady, a guard who was responsible for the Taft team becoming the “Wildcats.”“Few opponents,” the book stated, “could claim the honor of going around, over, or under him.He was a good leader and fully deserved the title “The Wildcats’ fighting Captain.”