Sherman E. Burroughs High School is a public high school located in Ridgecrest, California. Established in 1945, the school is located in the upper Mojave Desert and is adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. It derives its name from U.S. Navy officer Admiral Sherman E. Burroughs, who served as the first commanding officer of the base at China Lake (then known as the Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake). The school's mascot, the Burro, is taken from the animal which was imported to the area.
Burroughs was originally housed at what is now called Murray Middle School aboard the base, but moved to its current site in the Fall of 1959.
History
The Secretary of the Navy created the Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake on Nov. 8, 1943, and the need for an educational system for the families stationed at the base was included in the plans. Working with the California Department of Education and the legislature, the China Lake School District was established on May 22, 1944.
After additional meetings and planning, construction began in May 1945 and was completed in November of that same year. F. R. Wegner was the first principal and Earl Murray was Vice Principal.
The buildings and Quonset huts that made up the original campus of Burroughs High School later became Murray Middle School as Burroughs moved to where it is today.
Academics
Recognition & Awards
Burroughs was honored as a California Distinguished School in 2005 & 2011.
Principals
1947–1960 – Earl Murray
1961–1969 – Kenneth Westcott
1970–1973 – John Cissne
1974–1979 – Hal Reid
1980–1990 – Michael McGrath
1991–1993 – Joseph C. Carlson
1994–1996 – Jim Roulsten
1997–1998 – Ken Bergevin
1999–2008 – Ernie Bell
2008–2014 – Dave Ostash
2014–2019 – Bryan Auld
2019–Present – Carrie Cope
Athletics
During its history, Burroughs High School has accumulated seven California Interscholastic Federation championships. Boys' Basketball (1958, Northern Region) Boys' Basketball (1982, Southern Section 2A) Boys' Swimming (1994, Southern Section Division III) Boys' Swimming (1995, Southern Section Division III) Boys' Swimming (1996, Southern Section Division III) Girls' Swimming (2003, Southern Section Division III) Boys' Football (2005, Southern Section Division VIII)
Successful athletic teams at Burroughs have always had the ability to play well on the road, with its nearest competitor typically 2–3 hours away. It was a member of the Desert Sky League, but has joined the Mojave River League.
1958 Boys' Basketball Championship
It marked the first major championship in any sport for the green and white and the boys varsity basketball team, known then as the 'A' squad, ran off a 21-3 record on their way to the section championship. In the 4-team Desert Inyo League, the Burros went a perfect 12-0 over Palmdale, Victor Valley and Barstow.Center Jay Carty led the team and was the first athlete from the Indian Wells Valley to play professional sports. After playing at Oregon State University. He was selected by the St. Louis Hawks in the 6th round (48th pick overall) of the 1962 NBA draft and later played for the Los Angeles Lakers (1968–69) in the NBA for 28 games.Burroughs defeated San Luis Obispo in the opening round 51-35 before advancing to the semifinals where they beat St. Agnes 65-52. In the finals the Burros had to hold off a strong Bell Gardens team in a squeaker, 41-40. First-year head coach Jim Nau led the squad to the title, and would be the only year he would coach the locals. Members of the team included: Gary Maxwell, Stuart Young, Larry Fletcher, Joel Adams, Jay Carty, Bill Wilde, Ron Thimsen, John Dragovich, Dennis Henden, Doug Brewer, Gary Koehler, Ray Wilson, Rad Bushnell and Phil Donnell.
1982 Boys' Basketball Championship
Under head Coach Larry Bird, the Burros (24-6, 10-0) claimed their fourth consecutive Golden League Championship as they headed into the playoffs. The league streak would eventually extend to 11 ('78/'79 to '88/'89), ranking third all-time in the CIF Southern Section. Burroughs entered the post season ranked a school best #4 in the polls and defeated Victor Valley, San Bernardino, and Righetti to reach the semifinals at the Long Beach Sports Arena. The Burros matched up with #1 ranked La Serna in the semifinals and advanced with a 66-55 victory. The Burros then faced Capistrano Valley in the finals and won 66-55. An estimated 5,000 people made the more than 3-hour trek to witness the game.