La Quinta High School
“From Learners to Leaders”
Denise Halstead, Principal
Beth Fisher, Assistant Principal
Loan Sriruksa, Assistant Principal
Ron Zajec, Assistant Principal
Message from the Principal, Denise Halstead
La Quinta High School is one of seven public comprehensive high schools in the Garden Grove
Unified School District (GGUSD), serving grades 9 through 12. La Quinta opened its doors in
September of 1963. Since then, the La Quinta Aztecs has built a proud tradition of academic success
within the district and the surrounding community. La Quinta (LQ) has been named a "California
Distinguished School," a five-time “Title I Academic Achievement Award” winner, and most recently
was named a “Gold Ribbon School” by the California Department of Education. Based on student
achievement results, La Quinta has become a highly desired school of choice, and inter and intra
district transfer requests are met only as space permits.
La Quinta's attendance area is drawn from several cities in Orange County, including Garden
Grove, Westminster, Santa Ana, and Fountain Valley. A dedicated staff is proud to serve an
economically and culturally diverse community with a student population consisting of approximately
76% Asian, 18% Hispanic, 5% White (not of Hispanic origin), and 1% other. La Quinta is a schoolwide Title I program school and hosts one of the district’s Moderate and Severe Disability programs.
Socio-economically disadvantaged students comprise 75.8% of the student population and
approximately 18% of students are classified as English Language Learners (ELL). At La Quinta the
staff strives to provide all students with personal support and opportunities for success. The average
daily rate of attendance is 97.79% and the truancy rate is very low at 0.04%, evidence of the strong
connection students have to their school. LQHS maintains the highest cumulative actual attendance
rate across all schools in GGUSD.
The faculty and staff have worked to create a challenging academic environment to meet the needs
of its diverse population. La Quinta currently offers 20 advanced placement courses as well as an
award-winning elective program focused on business and the visual and performing arts. In 2015,
547 students took 1,471 AP tests and the pass rate was 80.3%. The A-G completion rate for students
enrolled in the district for the past 4 years has risen from 57.9% in 2010 to 78% in 2014.
In 2014, the Aztec Community celebrated its 50-year anniversary which highlighted not only a
proud academic history but also decades of athletic accomplishment. There has been a change of
demographics that has occurred in the community since the school's opening; however, there is a
legacy of family generations that have graduated from and remain connected to La Quinta. Our
athletic and activities/extra-curricular programs provide students and alumni with opportunities to
compete and come together in celebrating excellence outside the classroom.
Generating pride and excitement amongst the current community, the school has just begun the
first phase of a 3-year project to rebuild and modernize the entire facility and will include the
addition of a performing arts center and high tech library media center. Our main office and 400
building were completed over the summer and currently our men’s and women’s locker rooms are
being modernized.
Staff and parents at La Quinta High School are committed to support all students in reaching
their hightest potential before graduating. The vision statement "From Learners to Leaders"
succinctly describes the expectation for all students and provides the impetus for college and career
readiness.
10372 McFadden, Westminster California 92683 Telephone 714-663-6315 Fax 714-663-6046
www.laquintahs.org
GARDEN GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT - Gabriela Mafi, Ed.D., Superintendent