ABOUT GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

Garfield High School is one of the best high schools in America, public or private.

An historic school in the heart of one of Seattle's original urban neighborhoods, Garfield has earned its stellar national reputation for excellence in academics, performing arts and athletics.

Garfield's diverse and eclectic student body is drawn from neighborhoods throughout the city of Seattle. The school is a magnet for students interested in Advance Placement studies, classical music, jazz, marine science, African-American studies, technology and journalism, among others. Garfield's faculty includes several leading teachers, and are well-known for their creativity and enthusiasm.

Garfield's music program is internationally renowned. Its alumni include producer/composer/musician Quincy Jones, rock superstar Jimi Hendrix, vocal jazz diva Ernestine Anderson and jazz musicians Dave Holden and Anne Drummond. More recently, Garfield student Leah Labelle (class of 2005) earned a measure of fame as a finalist on the television program American Idol. Downbeat magazine named Garfield's symphony orchestra, under the direction of Marcus Tsutakawa, the very best among all high schools in America for two years running. Garfield's unparalleled Jazz program, under the direction of Clarence Acox, has earned national and international accolades too numerous to list and is unequivocally the top high school jazz band anywhere.

Between 1997 and 2007, an astonishing 243 Garfield scholars have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, including recent volleyball players Noelle Jung (class of 2008), Alix Toothman (2004) and Zoe Marks (2003). Almost every top college and universitiy in America includes Garfield graduates.

The Garfield volleyball team shares in the school's tradition of excellence. Many Volleydogs are also musicians, actors, singers, writers, journalists and--in particular--scholars. The Garfield varsity has the highest combined grade point average over the past five years of any 4A or 3A volleyball team in Washington. For the past six years in a row, the team has won the prestigious academic achievement awarded given by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The Seattle School District opened East High School on the corner of 23rd and Alder in 1920; it was a twelve-room wooden building with 282 students. Three years later, Garfield's famous brick-and-mortar building was complete, designed in the Jacobean style by Floyd Naramore, one of the founders of the international architecture firm NBBJ. The school was renamed after U.S. President James A. Garfield.

In 2006, Garfield's historic campus closed for a major rennovation, sending the student body to a temporary location in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. Reopening in 2008, the school's historic facade has been maintained, but the rest of the site is brand-new. A centerpiece of the new campus, is a spacious gymnasium and adjacent performing arts center. The very first public athletic event in the new gymnasium is Garfield vs. Franklin volleyball!