Needles High School is a small public high school in Needles

Needles, California

Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...

, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

. It is part of the Needles Unified School District

Needles Unified School District

Needles is part of San Bernardino County in California, but is on the borders of the states of Arizona and Nevada. Needles has been a regular stop for the Santa Fe railway since the 19th century. Route 66 also runs through the town. Schools in the Needles, California area are part of the Needles...

. The school mascot is the mustang, and the school colors are royal blue and white. The current alma mater, "All Hail to Thee," was written by members of the Class of 1959 as their gift to NHS as outgoing seniors. The school offers many extracurricular activities, including athletics, ASB (Associated Student Body), the Mock National Security Workshop, amongst others. Needles High School was featured on a School Pride

School Pride

School Pride is an American reality television series which airs on NBC, from executive producers Cheryl Hines and Denise Cramsey. The 7-episode series follows the renovation of a different public school each week. The aired from October 15, 2010 to November 26, 2010...

 television episode November 12, 2010.

Needles High is one of five California high schools that is a member of the governing body for high school athletics in Nevada

Nevada

Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...

, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association

Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association is the governing body of athletic programs for high schools in the state of Nevada...

, instead of the California Interscholastic Federation

California Interscholastic Federation

The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...

. All five of these schools are close to a large number of Nevada schools and relatively isolated from other California schools. Needles' football team competes in the NIAA AA Football Division. On November 17, 2007, the Mustangs won the 2A State Championship game, played at Damonte Ranch High Stadium in Reno, Nevada, defeating the Yerington High School

Yerington, Nevada

Yerington is a city in Lyon County, located in western Nevada, USA. The population was 2,883 at the 2000 census. It is named after Henry M. Yerington, Superintendent of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad from 1868 to 1910. It is the county seat of Lyon County....

Lions by the score of 18 to 14. Needles High School Lady 'Stangs also took the Nevada 2A State Championship in Basketball.

Traditions

"Senior Appreciation Day," otherwise known as "Slave Day," is an annual event where Senior students buy Freshmen students for one day (although to be a Senior "slave master," you must have been a Freshman "slave"). The Freshmen push, pull or carry their owner from class to class, much to the delight and astonishment of other classmen. The day's event is highlighted by a huge picnic on the football field and races or other activities around the track. NHS has had this tradition around for quite some time. The origin of it is unknown.

"The Underpass" Incoming seniors from NHS buy specific spots auctioned near the end of the school year and paint it. The underpass is on K Street (owned by then Santa Fe Railway Company, who has now donated it for such purpose). The painting occurs in mid-August; the members of the incoming Senior class decorate their space with artwork of their choice. The "artwork" is then displayed until the following August, when the walls are whitewashed, and the decorations begin anew.

Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association State Championships

• Baseball - 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009
• Basketball (Boys) -1988, 1991, 2002, 2009
• Basketball (Girls) - 2008, 2009
• Football - 2007
• Softball - 1989, 1990, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009

2010