Education, public and private, has long been important in the life of King City. As early as 1887, a small public school was housed in a storehouse at the corner of North Second and Broadway. Among the first pupils were Cecelia Eade and Dave Harbolt. The school's first teacher was Pearl Brown, niece of Charles King. Other early teachers were Rosalie Branstetter and Olive Hamilton. King City High School has had a long and proud history. Fred Vivian, founder of The Rustler, led the campaign for a local high school. He editorialized for its establishment in King City as early as 1906. In 1911 the schol was established. His daughters were among the first students. Classes were initially held in the Talbot building while the school was Classes were initially held in the Talbot building while the school was being constructed. The new school opened its doors in 1913, with Charles Booth
as the first principal. He deserves credit for establishing a solid academic program and a fine tradition of athletic excellence. Mary McCormick was the first and only graduate in 1913. Walter Norris, Florence Dudley, and Bill Brinan graduated in 1914. Among the 10 graduates in 1915 was Mr. Vivian's daughter, Ruth. Students from outlying towns rode the train to school. In 1918 the worldwide flu epidemic struck King City and all of the town's schools were closed. The high school building was pressed into service as an emergency hospital.Recovering
from this crisis, the town and the school grew steadily through the 1920's and 1930's. In 1937 construction was begun on the high school auditorium. It was to cost $179,000. Designed in a classic Greek rotunda rather than a
traditional shape by famed architect Robert Stanton, it was completed in March of 1939. In 1968, again due to earthquake hazards, the old school buildings were torn down. The gleaming new building did not dilute the sad affection town citizens felt as the historic classrooms collapsed into rubble. All of the schools in King City continue to provide education of a high order and serve as the focus of community activities. King City High School, which opened in 1911, is of two comprehensive high schools in the King City Joint Union High School District. KCHS serves the city of King City and the
surrounding rural areas of southern Monterey County-an attendance area of approximately 1875 square miles. The district also operates two continuation high schools, one adjacent to each of the comprehensive campus. The second high school opened in 1999 in a community about 10 miles north of King City and halved the
student population of KCHS which now educated approximately 950 students on a campus in the center of King City. The bond election, which raised the funds for the construction of the second high school, also included resources to refurbish the KCHS facility. The school had qualified for facilities modernization funds and is in onsiderable student accessible technology. A fairly wide range of agribusiness and public sector employment form the economic base of the KCHS community. The students at KCHS are reflective of this community. Students of Latino heritage comprise 71% of the population, 26% are identified as white with the
remaining 3% divided among various other ethnicities. Limited English Proficient students comprise 7% of the student population and about 25% of students qualify for migrant education funding. The King City community,

business, and civic orginazation have consistently supported their school, its students, and programs.