Galileo Academy of Science and Technology,
formerly known as Galileo High School, is
a public high school located between the Russian
Hill and Marina District neighborhoods of
San Francisco, CA. The school is a part of
the San Francisco Unified School District.
== About Galileo ==
Galileo Academy is located in the historic
north end of San Francisco, and was originally
built in 1921. As of May 2015, Galileo has
more than 150 faculties & staff members and
serves more than 1,800 students. It is one
of two Bay Area schools with an observatory.
The observatory at Galileo is not in use at
this time, plans for restoration are in progress..
(The other school with an observatory is Prospect
High School in Saratoga, part of the Campbell
Union High School District.) Galileo received
the 2005 California Distinguished School Award
along with the 2005 CTE Award - one of the
very few schools that were awarded this.The
lion is the official mascot of Galileo. In
Latin, Galileo means "Gallic Lion". Thus,
in sports and other inter-school activities
the team members are known as the Galileo
Lions. The official school colors are purple
and orange. The school is commonly known as
"Gal" or "G-House". Galileo has an internal
television network, G-House TV, which is broadcast
by students of the Media Arts Pathway. The
Media Arts Pathway (MAP) works on all media-related
works while AoIT concentrates on computer
science related works. The school motto is
Eppure si muove (Italian: And yet it moves).
As the story goes, Galileo was told to deny
his scientific findings that the earth moved,
or be punished - so he did as he was ordered.
But on his way out he mumbled to himself,
"And yet it moves."
== 
Mission Statement ==
Galileo Academy of Science and Technology's
mission is to provide equal access to all
educational programs and ensure success for
all students. The programs offered to students
both challenge and support students to achieve
high levels of academic achievement while
preparing each graduate to be successful in
college, work, and life.
== History ==
On December 10, 1920, Major Joseph P. Nourse,
who had been actively engaged in educational
work in the city for many years, became the
first principal of Galileo High School. Throughout
the summer, carpenters were busy converting
the Red Cross Building, located on Fulton
Street near the Civic Center. On August 1,
1921, Galileo High School welcomed its student
body into the remodeled facilities. The ceremony
of "breaking ground" for the new building
was on November 4, 1921, and the dedication
of the Van Ness Building on March 30, 1924.
At the same time, plans were underway for
a new wing which would double the school's
capacity.
In the 1920s, the Galileo High School building
was considered an outstanding example of modern
architecture. Planned with the intention of
housing one of the best educational institutions
in the country, it was equipped to offer the
highest type of academic curriculum in addition
to training in commercial and technical branches.During
the 1970s, Galileo went through an extensive
refit where most, if not all, student facilities
were moved across the street onto Fort Mason.
Before this, there were rumors that the Galileo
campus would be permanently moved onto the
Fort Mason site. Though the student population,
then, did not indicate whether the move and
larger facilities would be justified, the
land that Galileo sits on was quite valuable,
which could have made the move plausible.
Since the 1995-96 school year, Galileo has
transformed itself to the Galileo Academy
of Science and Technology. The new program
provides students with career pathways and
academies. These include the Galileo Health
Academy, the Academy of Information Technology
(AoIT), Biotechnology Pathway and the Environmental
Science Pathway. In 2006-2007, the Publications
Pathway was introduced and, in 2007-2008,
the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AoHT)
and Digital Photography Pathway.
On September 25, 2007, while some construction
workers were digging the courtyard, they found
a time capsule which was thought to be lost
forever by the Class of 1982. It was uncovered
that day, but was filled with water, as well
as a yearbook, a frisbee, a Rubik's Cube and
a Mighty Lion T-shirt. It was buried shortly
after the class of '82 graduated, but, in
1997, a search for the time capsule over every
square foot of the courtyard turned up nothing.
The time capsule is now stored in one of the
closets in the building.
On October 31, 2007, the courtyard partially
reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by
the ASB officers, followed by a celebration
and a contest. The courtyard did not fully
open until November, as there was still more
maintenance work required.
== Statistics ==
=== 
Demographics ===
2017-2018
According to US News and World Report, 96%
of Galileo's student body is "of color," with
73% of the student body coming from an economically
disadvantaged household, determined by student
eligibility for California's Reduced-price
meal program.
=== Standardized Testing ===
== 
Academies and Pathways ==
Students in their sophomore, junior and senior
years can participate in one of the five career
pathways or academies. In small learning communities,
students choose to take a particular elective
class that is paired with one or two core
academic classes. Biotechnology is paired
with English; Health with English; AOIT with
English and Social Studies; and AOHT with
Math. In addition to the academies and pathways,
students can choose to be in the Chinese Immersion
program or in the Advancement Via Individual
Determination (AVID) program. Both programs
are integrated into their school day, and
are 4-year long programs.
== Schedule ==
Galileo has two regular hour schedules with
5-minute passing period (Monday, Tuesdays,
and Fridays at 3:05PM), two early-leave days
with 5-minute passing period (Wednesdays and
Thursdays at 2:10PM, staff until 3:10PM),
and two block period days with homeroom and
5-minute passing periods (Wednesdays with
1st, 3rd, and 5th periods; Thursday with 2nd,
4th, and 6th periods and dismiss at 2:10PM).
== Location ==
The school is located at 1150 Francisco Street,
San Francisco, CA
(Aerial View)
Galileo is located in the Marina district
with nearby bus stops including the 19, 28,
30, 47, 49, and more. Less than half of the
students reside near the school, but school
buses and special 30-Stockton and the 47-Van
Ness buses are provided by the district for
transportation and the Municipal Railway.
The 19-Polk also serves nearby, but has no
special runs.
=== Facility ===
==== 
Internal features ====
4-story Western Wing
5-story Eastern Wing
Observatory (Closed)
4 computer laboratories
An in-house TV studio
3 gymnasiums
A dance studio
A fitness lab
A TRX Training Station
Schoolwide surveillance
Schoolwide Wi-Fi Coverage
==== External features ====
Courtyard
1 basketball courts
Football field
Roof garden
Underground Bay Street Tunnel (Connecting
the main and Bay Street Gymnasium buildings)
Parking Lot
== 
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program
==
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
(JROTC) battalion at Galileo is an Honor Unit
with Distinction, the highest designation
a unit may have. Its afterschool teams associated
with JROTC are very competitive, often highly
placed in the annual fall and spring competitions.
Fall teams consist of the Guidon, Squad Drill,
Color Guard and Drill Platoon while Spring
teams include Drum Corps, Silent Drill Team
(SDT) and Exhibition Drill Team(GDT).Other
competitions occur during the last week of
school at Camp Parks. This consists of cadet
challenge and various other sporting events.
== American football ==
Largely due to the fame of the former football
player, and actor O.J. Simpson, Galileo was
well known for its American football team.
Galileo's arch enemy is reputed to be the
Eagles of George Washington High School, though
the Cardinals of Lowell High School have been
a rising challenge.
The football field that dominates the second
block of Galileo was formerly named in honor
of O.J. Simpson. However, after Simpson's
trial for murder in 1995, the football field
was renamed George White Field. The two twin
apartment buildings that face the northern
side of the football field are the Fontana
buildings. The design of the twin buildings
was actually built to echo and magnify the
sounds of the football games.Galileo's football
team has been undefeated three times in the
school's history. In 1988, the Lions defeated
McAteer High School becoming the first football
team in San Francisco history to go 12 - 0.
The second undefeated season was in 1990 and
the third was in 2002 when the Lions defeated
the Washington Eagles.From the end of the
2006 season through the first game of the
2009 season, Galileo had an 18-game losing
streak, going winless in both 2007 (0-7) and
2008 (0-9). After losing the first game of
the 2009 season, the Lions won 9 out of their
final 11 games, punctuated by a 35-0 win over
the Lincoln High School Mustangs in the San
Francisco AAA Turkey Bowl, capturing their
16th city championship. Lincoln had won 4
consecutive AAA championships in a row prior
to the 2009 season from 2005-2008. It was
Galileo's 16th San Francisco AAA championship
overall.
Four years later in 2013, the Lions (led by
quarterback Kyle Nelson and running back Ronzel
Fox) prevailed once again over the Lincoln
High Mustangs in the AAA-Turkey Bowl by a
score of 34-30. It was Galileo's record 17th
city championship.
In 2017, Galileo won the schools 18th city
championship and advanced to the state playoffs.
The Lions beat the Rio Vista High Rams in
the Northern California championship and the
Vincent Memorial Scots in the State championship.
It was the first state football championship
for any San Francisco AAA school.
== Reputation ==
Galileo previously had a bad reputation for
low test scores and criminal events occurring
in school, but in more recent years it has
become one of the most improved schools in
San Francisco (see Academic Performance Index
below). Since the installation of surveillance
cameras in 2005, criminal acts at Galileo
have declined as a serious issue. Math scores
remain one of Galileo's best academic strengths.
In 2008, Gerald Courtney, the Assistant Principal
at the time, was charged in a prostitution
ring. Courtney was accused of helping operate
two brothels in San Jose. No minors, school
officials or students from the San Francisco
Unified School District were involved in the
operation, police said. Police also believe
Courtney posted advertisements for the prostitution
business on online forums.
== Galileo Songs ==
Hail, Galileo, Hail is the Hymn of Galileo
Academy of Science & Technology.Other songs
include The Galileo Fight Song, The Big G,
and The Lion's Whisper. They are usually performed
by the Galileo Cheerleaders or “Lioness”.
The songs are also performed at Song and Yell,
the annual rally that takes place near the
beginning of the school year.
== Notable alumni ==
Johnny Aguirre, Canadian football player
Joe Angel, '65 sports commentator
Tom Anti '51 Soccer/Baseball
Peter Arnautoff, soccer player.
Paul Avedano '77 Football
Howard Bach, '96 badminton player
Italo Baioni '50 Basketball
Rich Barni '57 Baseball/Football
Roy Barni, football player
Fred Basconcillo '52 Activist Workers Rights
(International Hotel)
Ed Belasco Youth Theater Founder/Producer/Director
Wallace Benard '78 Track
Dennis Bernstine '07 Baseball/Basketball/Football
Roger Boas, politician, class of 1938
James Bolden '83 Football
Barbara Bouchet, actress, class of 1962
London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco, class
of 1992
Pedro M. Brito '76 Baseball/Basketball
Bobby Brown, baseball player, American League
President, class of 1942
Dr. Harrison Brown Nuclear Physicist/Geochemist
Frank Brucia Dental Pioneer
Stan Buchanan '60-65 Basketball Coach
Robert Bury '37 Mayor Redwood City
Willie Cage '81 Track
Gwen Chan Superintendent SFUSD
Italo Chelini, baseball player
Margaret Chiu Galileo Principal 2002-2006
Raymond Chow, mobster
Gino Cimoli, baseball player, class of 1947
Sheire Coleman '96 Softball/Basketball/Track
& Field
Leonard Compagno International Shark Authority
Theodore J. Conway, United States Army four-star
general, class of 1927
Al Cowlings, football player, class of 1965
Curt Decker '55-'65 Coach Baseball/Soccer
Dom DiMaggio, baseball player
Joe DiMaggio, baseball player, dropped out
Vince DiMaggio, baseball player, dropped out
Oscar Donahue, football player
Arthur Dong, filmmaker, class of 1971
Dexter Doss '91 Baseball/Basketball/Football/Track
Joe Drake, football player
Mike Dunne '63 Baseball/Basketball
Patricia Elsener, Olympic diver
Danielle Fong '07 Basketball/Softball
Norman Fong Community Development
Maurice Forte '87 Football
Art Garibaldi, baseball player
Tommy Garrett '71 Football/Track/Basketball
Giovanna Gaskell '51 (Woeber) Opera Singer/Teacher
Theodore Geballe, physicist, class of 1937
Gus Geraldi '62 Baseball
Richard Goldman, co-owner of San Francisco
Giants, co-founder of Goldman Prize, class
of 1937
Vince Gomez '52 Musician/Conductor/Teacher
Peter E. Haas, owner Levi Strauss & Co, class
of 1935
Walter A. Haas, Jr., owner Levi Strauss & Co.
and owner Oakland Athletics, class of 1932
Bruce Hale, basketball player
Keith Hazell '78 Basketball/Track
Ruth Heller, author
Edwin Hersh '51 Track
Maceo Houston '91 Football/Baseball/Basketball
Chester Hunter '79 Football/Track
Mark Huynh '90 Football (player & Coach)
Stan Johnson, baseball player, class of 1956
Richard Johnston '43 Ornithologist
Nicol Juratovac '86 Softball/Baseball
Mikka Kelly '96 Softball/Track & Field/Volleyball/Soccer
Dr. Harry Kitano Professor of Social Welfare
Grover Klemmer, USA National Champion and
NFL official, class of 1939
Him Mark Lai, internationally renowned archivist
and historian of Chinese America, class of
1943
Paul Lamphere '51 Cheer
Fred H. Lau, former chief of police for San
Francisco
Tony Lazzeri, baseball player, dropped out
Bill Lee, author, class of 1972
Jason Lee '90 Basketball/Track & Field/ Coach
Reggie Leipsic '58 Baseball/Basketball/Football
Alexandra Liang '08 Golf
Lawson Little, golfer
Dario Lodigiani, baseball player, class of
1934
Frank Lucchesi, former Major League Baseball
manager, class of 1944
Hank Luisetti, basketball player, class of
1934
Linda Ma '92 Tennis
Will Marchetti '52 Actor
Milton Marks,Sr. state senator, class of 1937
Tyrone McCall '80 Football/Track/Basketball
Nolan McCoy '78 Baseball/Basketball/Football/Soccer/Track/Wrestling/ROTC
rifle team
Gilbert Milam Jr, rapper, dropped out
Kevin Mooney '71 Basketball/Baseball
Steve Moresi '64 Baseball/Soccer
Hudari Murray '90 Football/Basketball
Dino Natale '52 Basketball/Football/Baseball/Track
& Field
Dylan Nelson '10 Baseball/Football
Gon Yee Ng ''97 Tennis
Michelle Ng '97 Tennis
Andre Nickatina, rapper, dropped out
Bryan Oliver '85 Football/Track
David Oliver '79 Football/Track
John Orofino '41 World War II Hero - 3rd Army,
U.S. Cavalry - Operation Overlord
Marty Passaglia, basketball player, class
of 1937
Brice Peoples '88 Football/Track & Field/Baseball
Sam People '89 Football/Baseball/Basketball
Ray Piccinini Charitable Performer
Marino Pieretti, baseball player
George Puccinelli, baseball player
Ronald Quan '72 Inventor HDTV
Nicholas Quirarte '33 WWII Hero
Dino Restelli, baseball player
John Santos, musician, bandleader, class of
1973
Fred Scolari, basketball player
Bobby Shaw, football player, class of 1993
Pat Sheehan, actress and Playboy Playmate
of October 1958, class of 1949
O. J. Simpson, football player, class of 1965
Michael Smuin Dancer Choreographer Smuin Ballet
Margaret Creer-Solon '99 Softball/Volleyball/Basketball/Track
& Field
Gary Spires '86 Football/Track
Karl Stewart '86 Track/Football
Bessie Tam '92 Tennis/Badminton
Norm Thompson, football player
Richard Thompson '64 Baseball/Track
Dave Toschi, police detective, known for his
role as a chief investigator in the Zodiac
Killer case
Obinna (Obi) Uwakah '05 Basketball
Uzoma Uwakah '06 Basketball
Johnny Walkjer '79 Football
Kenny Walls '98 Basketball/Football
Lenny Walls, '97 Basketball/Football
Jimmy Walton '82 Football/Track
Michael Ward '83 Football/Track/Basketball
Joan Weldon, actress, class of 1947
Gene Williams, basketball player
Walt Williams, baseball player, class of 1963
Arthur Woo Technology Pioneer
Leland Wong '72 Artist
Norman Yee S.F. Supervisor
Harry Du Young Filmmaker
Zaytoven, music producer
== 
Academic Performance Index (API) ==
This system has discontinued and is now being
replaced by the School Quality Improvement
Index (SQII)
=== Comparison by years (Galileo) ===
=== Comparison with other San Francisco high
schools (2013) ===
== See also ==
San Francisco County high schools
