Española was founded with the arrival of the railroad in 1880, which spurred population growth in the region. Private education existed until 1905, when the demand for public schooling led to the establishment of two high schools. Santa Cruz High School, located just outside of Española, opened in 1908, while Española High School was founded in downtown Española in 1920. The schools were situated on opposite sides of the Rio Grande River.
Although the schools were operated by separate districts, administrators recognized the benefits of merging them to reduce costs and resolve a longstanding rivalry. Construction of Española Valley High School began shortly thereafter, with the new campus located on El Llano Mesa on the eastern side of Española. The school opened its doors in the fall of 1975, initially serving grades 10 through 12 with over 950 students. The first graduating class was in 1976, and Merce Villarreal served as the first principal.[6]
During the construction of the new campus, sporting events were held at the old Española High School due to budget constraints. In 1979, the new sports complex was completed at the EVHS campus, including the large gymnasium now known as Edward Medina Gymnasium. This gymnasium remains the largest high school gymnasium in New Mexico.[7]
Since 2011, a student is required 24 credit hours to graduate.
Torch award
EVHS Students who have earned a 3.5 GPA yearly and involved in extracurricular activities (including athletics), are awarded the Torch Award. The award is the most honorary award of its kind at EVHS. It was created by then Principal Bruce Hopmeier in 2005.[12]
Administration and student body
Principals
List of EVHS principals
Name
Years served
Kelly Miller
2023–Present
Michael Chavez
2022-2023
Jeffrey B. Sagor
2021–2022
Victoria Gonzales
2019–2021
Robert Archuleta
2016–2019
Leslie Romero Kilmer
2015–2016
Elizabeth Lucero, Ed.S
2014–2016
Hoyt Mutz
2012–2014
Theresa Flores
2011–2012
Arthur G. Salazar, Ed.S
2010–2011
W. Bruce Hopmeier, Ed.D.
2003–2010
Ralph Chacon
2002–2003
Andrew Rendon
2000–2002
Beverly Averitt
1998–2000
Ted Salazar
1995–1997
Henry Andaloza
1993–1994
George Gonzales
1990–1992
Arthur G. Salazar, Ed.S
1985–1989
Gilbert Vigil
1982–1985
Jose Benito Chavez
1978–1981
Merce Villareal
1975–1977
Student statistics
Ethnicity
This school
State average
White (not hispanic)
2.8%
29%
Hispanic (of any race)
85.7%
56%
American Indian/Alaskan Native
8.7%
11%
African American
0.7%
3%
Asian
1.5%
1%
Extracurricular activities
Athletics program
Edward Medina gymnasium; the largest high school basketball facility in the state of New Mexico.[7]2010 State Basketball Championship game, #2 Española vs. #1 Roswell, in front of a sold-out crowd at The Pit.
The school has won six state championships in various sports and produced 13 individual state champions. In 2007, Española Valley set a New Mexico high school record with 10 graduating seniors receiving major NCAA scholarships.[14][15] Additionally, the school was honored with the Sportsmanship Award by the NMAA in both 1989 and 2002.
Boys basketball
The Sundevils captured the state title in the 2011 season as the #2 seed, defeating Goddard High School (55–52).[16]
In 2016, EVHS won its second basketball title, defeating then rival Capital High School (36–34) as the #4 seed.[17]
The Sundevils have appeared in the State Final Four in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2016 seasons, and appeared in the Championship Game in 2010, 2011, and 2016 seasons.
Española Valley High School's band, Sound of Northern New Mexico, under the direction of Robert Felix, gained national recognition. Throughout the 1980s, the band participated in numerous competitions, including several college bowl games.[23][24] In 1984, the band received an invitation from the Tournament of Roses Committee to perform in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, marking a historic first for the event.[25] EVHS is one of only four schools in New Mexico to have participated and marched in the Rose Parade.[26]
Mariachi
In the late 1990s, the marching band at Española Valley High School was discontinued. In response, music teacher Alfonso Trujillo established a small mariachiband as an elective class. The group, Mariachi Sol del Valle, performed at local events for several years. In 2008, the band performed at a campaign rally for presidential candidate Barack Obama in Española.[27] Several months later, the school's band received an invitation to participate in the 2009 presidential inaugural parade in Washington, D.C., selected from over 1,400 schools nationwide.[28][29][30]
Student organizations
EVHS offers more than 45 clubs, organizations and extracurricular activities. Among the most notable are the Supercomputing Challenge,[31] the Television Production program,[32]M.E.S.A, the Sundevil Torch (the school's official student-run newspaper),[33]El Diablo del Sol (the school yearbook), the Student School Improvement Team, and the Student Council.
In both the 2013–14 and 2015–16 school years, EVHS students were elected as State President. Additionally, an EVHS student served as State Secretary for the NMASC from 2011–12 school year.[34] In the fall of 2011, the EVHS Student Council was selected to host the NMASC annual conference, and in 2014, it hosted the NMASC State Conference, where the school was honored with the Gold Council Award.[35]
The District 2AAAAA includes schools in the North Central Part of New Mexico, They compete in 14 Sport Activities. In order to participate in AAAAA, a school must have at least 900 students.
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