School Profile
The Lake Elsinore Unified School District covers a 140 square mile area with a population of approximately 95,000 In one of the fastest growing communities In Riverside County. Picturesque mountains, Southern California's largest natural lake and a strategic location along the booming 1-15 corridor make the area unique. The District Is composed of 26 schools: Twelve elementary schools
(K-5), one K-6 school, one K-8 school, four middle schools (6-8), three comprehensive high schools (9-12), a continuation school, an alternative education center, an on line academy, an adult placement program, and an independent study school. The District also provides School Readiness programs of Head Start, state-funded preschool programs and First 5 programs at eight school sites.
Student enrollment in grades K-12 Is approximately 22,000 with 9,700 elementary students (K-5), 5,166 middle school students (6-8) and 6,816 high school students (9-12). Lake Elsinore Unified Is the largest employer In the Lake Elsinore Valley with more than 2,188 full- and part-time employees.
Temescal Canyon High School is one of three high schools In the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, which covers 140 square miles. It is located off Interstate 15 at Central Avenue/Highway 74 exit, in the northern portion of the district's attendance area. The surrounding community is a semi-rural/suburban area of southwestern Riverside County. The student population is diverse in terms of demographics and socio-economic backgrounds. Students come from the cities of Lake Elsinore, Horse Thief Canyon in Corona and the gated community of Canyon Lake.
Temescal Canyon High School opened In September 1991 with an enrollment of seven hundred students in grades nine and ten. It is now a comprehensive high school with an enrollment of over 2150 students in grades nine through twelve. The student population reached its maximum In 2004/2005, at 2,777, and then dipped to 2,212 when Lakeside High School (LHS) opened. The population continued to fall due to students lost to LHS, and due to the falling economy. This year it is showing an upward trend with the current student population at 2,150. The facility that opened in 1991 represented Phase 1 of the projected construction project and was built to house 600 students. As enrollment soared, Temescal Canyon found it necessary to bring in more than 50 portable classrooms to accommodate the burgeoning student population, until the last stage of permanent construction was completed in 1999. Today, Temescal Canyon offers academic facilities including two computer labs for general class use, and two designated course computer labs, 11 fully equipped science laboratories, a performing arts theatre, and library/media center. The existing well-equipped CTE classrooms will be improved with the Influx of Career Technical Education (CTE) funds resulting in two sophisticated computer labs with Industry standard software for engineering. In addition, the Fashion and, Design classes use Industry standard software, as well as computerized sewing and embroidery machines. Athletic facilities at Temescal Canyon Include: two gyms, two weight rooms, one dance room, a regulation swimming pool for both water polo and swim teams, six athletic fields and a new football stadium complete with artificial turf, upgraded sound systems and new scoreboard. A new team room has been recently added as well.
Temescal Canyon's student population of approximately 2,250 students contains 43% Caucasian, 46% Hispanic, 7% African American, 4% Asian/Filipino/Pacific Islander. English Learner students make up approximately 19% of the student population. About 240 students receive special education services, or 12% of the student population.
Temescal Canyon High School has the Temescal Alternative Program (TAP) for students Identified as Emotionally Disturbed, and who have had difficulty maintaining appropriate behavior in mainstream classes. This program is staffed by one teacher, one paraeducator, and one Behavior Specialist. The TCHS staff is a mix of relatively young and experienced teachers.
The Temescal Canyon facility is twenty-two years old. There are many classroom buildings and portables making up the school; one building houses math, another building health and science, and another building houses English, another building houses social science, and another building houses business, and art. The performing arts building Includes a 505-seat theatre, choir room, band room, drama room, The athletic facility Includes a 2,000-seat competition gym, wrestling room, dance room, boys and girls PE locker rooms, boys and girls athletic team rooms, weight room, equipment room, training room, laundry room, and a second, auxiliary smaller gymnasium. Outdoor athletic facilities include a stadium with artificial turf, 8 tennis courts, 1 baseball and 1 softball field, 2 soccer fields, practice fields, and a pool.
Temescal Canyon High School exceeds the number of Instructional minutes required by the state. Students attend a traditional, 58- minute, 6-period a day schedule. Seventh period and zero period also meets for 58 minutes, 5 days a week.
Thirty-six late start days are scheduled for students. Six days are scheduled to take mid-term and final exams In December and May. Every Wednesday is a contracted late start for PLCs.
Temescal Canyon offers students a variety of educational opportunities such as Advance Placement (AP) courses, a Heath Academy program, AVID, ASB, Career Technical courses Including Fashion, Design, and Manufacturing and Engineering, and International Baccalaureate (I B) courses and Diploma program are also available to students of Temescal Canyon High School.
