Alumni Foundation History

History of Washington High School

1891 – Washington High School established under California’s Union High School Law; first classes held in Masonic Hall on Peralta Blvd.; twenty two students enrolled.
1892 – First graduate: May Burdick.
1893 – Students move into a new three-story building on Peralta Blvd.
1898 – First major school play: As You Like It performed in Patterson Ranch Woods.
1907 – Boys’ and girls’ basketball teams formed.
1910 – First track built in front of the school.
1914 – School name changed to Washington High School District.
1916 – School newspaper The Hatchet begins publication.
1923 – 20 acres purchased for $20,000 at current Fremont Blvd location.
1924 – New classically designed building dedicated.
1932 – Memorial Grove planted to honor George Washington’s bicentennial.
1941 – Official name becomes Washington High School.
1958 – Enrollment reaches 2,900 students; triple staggered schedule implemented.
1959–1961 – Logan, Irvington, and Newark High Schools open, reducing WHS enrollment.
1972 – Original main building closed for earthquake safety; Tak Fudenna Memorial Stadium dedicated; American High School opens.
1981 – Original building added to National Register of Historic Places.
1990 – Washington High School Alumni Foundation formed to preserve history and support programs.
Today – WHS serves nearly 1,900 students and remains a cornerstone of Fremont education.

From the first graduate in 1892 through the class of 2026, an estimated 42,000 students have earned their diploma. Washington High has grown with the community, reflecting its transformation from a rural, farming and ranching town to a diverse tech hub. From its founding, it has been a community anchor.