Students

The Academic Decathlon is a national competition that tests students’ expertise in seven objective and three subjective areas. Each year, a new theme provides a focus for the study of math, literature, art, music, economics, history, and science. Additionally, students deliver prepared and improvised speeches, appear for an interview, and compose an essay.

The nine member team, comprised of A, B, and C students, works tirelessly to achieve mastery in all ten subjects. Work starts in the summer and increases in intensity throughout the school year. Students build on their strengths and address their weaknesses, whether that means more math practice or overcoming their fear of public speaking. A successful Decathlete epitomizes the idea of a Renaissance scholar. By the end of the season, Decathletes develop the study skills and intellectual stamina that lead to tangible results in both the competition as well as college.  After a year of Decathlon, most former participants find college to be significantly easier.

This kind of hard work means that GHCHS’s Academic Decathlon team annually ranks among the top teams at both the state and national level.

You may also check out the websites below for information on competition dates and curriculum.

United States Academic Decathlon

California Academic Decathlon

Granada Hills Charter provides and maintains a quality music program. Our Instrumental Music Department offers Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Instruments (beginning band), Concert Orchestra, Intermediate Orchestra, Jazz Band, Winter Percussion, Color Guard, and Winter Guard. The GHC Band has traveled throughout the United States, performing at a number of venues and events, such as the Portland Rose Festival, Universal Studios, Disneyland, Paramount Studios, and Warner Bros. Studios. The GHC Band also has a history on screen, performing live for television shows (ABC, FOX, MTV, and PBS), for major motion pictures (Dodgeball), and for advertising campaigns (7UP, Kellogg’s, Round Table Pizza). All performing ensembles participate in various competitions throughout the country and have consistently been recognized for high achievement and excellence in performance.

Welcome to the home of the G-Notes Show Choir, Advanced Chamber Singers, the Highlander Honors Choir, & Concert Choir, and extra-curricular A Cappella groups Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After. The GHC choir department is made up of groups that regularly work with groups such as the Los Angeles Master Chorale, earn Superior festival ratings, and recognition at various events and competitions throughout the year. Performance opportunities abound throughout the year both on campus and off.

The GHC Choir Program is dedicated to providing professional performing arts training for our students. With emphasis on music literacy, as well as vocal technique and performing skills, our choirs develop even the most novice student into a bona fide musician. It is our philosophy that by giving students the opportunity to express themselves and achieve high levels of excellence in the performing arts, students can and will endeavor to reach greater heights in other subject matters.

The GHC Choir Program has four curricular choirs as well as four extra-curricular A Cappella ensembles, with over 200 students participating. Performance opportunities abound throughout the year both on campus and off.

All students grades 9-12 are welcome to join the choir family and may audition for Honors, Chamber, and/or G-Notes Show Choir. Auditions formally take place in early May, please contact Dr. Balfour at desireebalfour@ghctk12.com for more information.

The GHC Dance Team is comprised of nineteen students who perform at football games, pep rallies, fundraisers, concerts, and competitions. We excel in a variety of dance styles including hip hop, contemporary, pom, jazz and lyrical.

Every year we host two school involved fundraisers: Dancing With The Staff (DWS) involving GHC faculty, and Granada’s Best Dance Crew (GBDC) involving the student body. These shows have been very successful at bringing the community of the school together.

During our competitive season, we attend regional, state, and national competitions held by West Coast Elite (WCE) and California Association of Dance/Drill Team Directors (CADTD).

For the last two years we have held national titles at WCE Nationals. This past competition season we were awarded first place in Medium Jazz and seventh place overall in the division, first in the Duet/Trio improv, and had our first qualifications for the solo improv finals. In 2018, we won Best in the Hip Hop category and first place in the Medium Hip Hop Division. In 2010, we took second place in the small hip hop division and third place in the large lyrical division at USA Dance Nationals in Anaheim, California.

We conclude the year with our annual dance program spring show, highlighting the routines of the dance team and all dance classes (intro, intermediate, IB).

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in the fields of marketing, finance, business administration, and hospitality. The GHC DECA Team promotes initiative and innovation in students. Its members develop an entrepreneurial awareness that opens their eyes to the possibility of becoming job makers, not just job takers. In short, students envision pathways for controlling their career destinies. Members will join nearly 220,000 high school members in 5,500 classrooms in 3,700 schools across the world who are preparing for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, management and entrepreneurship. GHC students have the opportunity to become an academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leader through participation in DECA activities. From community service projects, competitive events, educational conferences, leadership positions, networking and social media, students attain the knowledge and skills needed to be college and career ready.

Please contact whagan@ghctk12.com

The GHC Math Team is a group of people with an interest and prowess in math. We collaborate to solve difficult and unconventional problems, utilizing and combining various aspects of math. In the process, we exchange possible solving methods and push each other to take a new approach to a problem. These discussions foster ingenuity among teammates and broaden their perspectives. Each month, the team is given the chance to apply their knowledge in state and national competitions. These competitions challenge the Math Team in ways unseen in most math classes and encourage a great deal of out-of-the-box thinking. Overall, the Math Team aims to leave each member with the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with others, with greater skill and knowledge in math, and with the ability to use their wisdom to benefit the lives of themselves and those around them.

For more information contact:

• Mr. Atay - ahmetatay@ghctk12.com

The Granada Hills Charter High School Robodox is a high school robotics team that implements competition and sportsmanship to create tomorrow's leaders and problem solvers.

GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM: Known throughout the FIRST community for their respect of individuals and the community, the Robodox currently holds 15 Gracious Professionalism awards, an inspiring accomplishment.

INITIATIVE: The Robodox is run on student leadership. Students take charge of administrative duties, the design and manufacturing of the robots, and their own education.

TEAM IDEALS: Students learn and implement the FIRST Ideals and are given a comfortable learning environment where they can grow as individuals and as a team.

COMMITMENT: Students dedicate large portions of their time to the success of the team, staying long hours and contributing weekends, especially during the six weeks of build season.

The purpose of our team is to further the education of team members in STEM subjects, to represent Granada Hills Charter High School in the National Science Competitions and to instill an enthusiasm for learning. We cultivate a disciplined work ethic and forge a strong team effort, where members learn to communicate effectively, work to achieve a common goal and form lifelong friendships. We want to use science and engineering to engage students in helping their community. We have several programs within science team and we are continuously looking for new members throughout the year. For more information, contact jechipps@ghctk12.com

Coming soon. Please contact rphipps@ghctk12.com.

California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and National Honor Society (NHS)

Both of these honors societies promote scholarship and service among high school students and each has specific application requirements detailed on the attached applications; only 10th, 11th and 12th grade students are eligible for admission. In addition to maintaining a high academic record, students are expected to perform community service projects both in school and outside of school.

Students should download and complete the application for the honor society they wish to join (students may join either or both honor societies). Turn in the completed application(s) to Ms. Foster in B-13 during lunch by the last Friday of the first month of each semester (August and January). No late applications may be accepted; students who miss the deadline will need to wait until the next semester to apply. Attach a copy of the previous semester's report card to the application.

Each club has a $5.00 dues per semester which will be collected by the treasurer during the first month of each semester.

Officers are voted on by the members by the third meeting of the fall semester. Officer responsibilities will be explained by the faculty sponsor at the first meeting of the school year.

A list of eligible classes for the CSF applications, as well as the applications for both CSF and NHS, may be found below.

CSF/NHS Standardized Course List

CSF/NHS Membership Application 

CSF Volunteer Opportunities

CSF Point Verification Worksheet

NHS Point Sheet