Burbank High School: A Burbank, CA

Burbank High School (BHS) sits at 902 North Third Street in Burbank, CA, and is one of two comprehensive high schools in the Burbank Unified School District, alongside John Burroughs High School. Families searching for “Burbank High School Burbank CA” or “public high school in Burbank” are looking at one of the older public high schools in the San Fernando Valley area, established in 1908 and still serving grades 9 through 12 as an active, traditional-program school on the California Department of Education’s registry. Students and alumni are known as the Bulldogs, competing in royal blue and white.

This profile draws directly from the official BHS website (bhs.burbankusd.org) — its Administration, New Enrollments, and NAF Academies pages — along with the school’s exact CDE School Directory record. That means the real current principal and four assistant principals, the specific, named career academy pathways (Business, Engineering, and Medical, run through the National Academy Foundation), and the school’s actual, detailed enrollment document checklist, rather than generic filler that could describe any high school.

We also cover what parents and prospective students commonly search before enrolling: what documents BHS actually requires for new student enrollment, how inter-district and intra-district transfers work between BHS and John Burroughs, what the NAF Academy programs offer, and how the school is recognized for programs like its nationally ranked speech and debate team. If you’re weighing a move into Burbank Unified or comparing Burbank-area high schools, this guide consolidates the verified facts the school itself publishes.

Basic Info

Burbank High School is registered with the California Department of Education as an active, traditional-program public high school under CDS Code 19643371931187, serving grades 9 through 12 within Burbank Unified School District. Historical and school-district sources place its establishment in 1908, with the current campus opening in 1914 to an inaugural class of 334 students, making it one of the older continuously operating public high schools in the San Fernando Valley. The school’s identity centers on its Bulldog mascot and royal blue and white school colors, and its student newspaper (The Burbank Bulldog) and yearbook (Ceralbus) reflect a long-running campus publication tradition.

Contact & Location

BHS sits at 902 North Third Street in Burbank, CA 91502. The school’s main phone line is shared across departments, with the principal’s office reachable at extension 51901, and the school maintains active Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts for its Associated Student Body specifically. New enrollment communications run through a dedicated set of three named attendance-staff email addresses rather than a single general office inbox, and families are instructed to email all three simultaneously for the fastest response on enrollment matters.

Academics/Curriculum

Burbank High School’s signature academic differentiator is its NAF Academies program, run through the National Academy Foundation and shared with John Burroughs High School: students choose from a Business Academy, Engineering Academy, or Medical Academy, each built around industry-aligned coursework, required work experience or internships, and a senior digital portfolio requirement. The school also maintains a UC-approved A-G course list, Career Technical Education (CTE) offerings through a shared district CTE site, and a College and Career Center offering SAT/ACT/PSAT prep resources, FAFSA support, and direct information on UC, CSU, community college, and private university pathways. Outside the NAF structure, BHS has built a nationally recognized speech and debate program and a drama program whose students have traveled internationally to compete.

Admissions & Fees

As a public high school, BHS charges no tuition, and new student enrollment is handled directly by the school rather than through a district-wide portal alone. The school’s own site lays out an unusually specific document checklist for new enrollees: legal proof of birth, two separate proofs of residency (a Burbank Water and Power bill plus a SoCal Gas bill, or a landline phone bill in the parent’s name), immunization records, a parent photo ID, prior transcripts or a final 8th-grade report card for incoming freshmen, and a physically signed (not digitally generated) signature page. Families living in the John Burroughs attendance area who want to attend BHS instead must first apply at JBHS and then request an Intra-District Permit through Student Services; families from outside Burbank entirely must start the permit process with Student Services before completing the standard online enrollment.

Facilities

BHS is in the midst of a notable capital project: a new BHS Aquatics Center, with the school’s site publishing dedicated pages covering two separate levels of the facility and a “Proposed Improvements and Additions” section along with a public Q&A addressing project questions. Beyond the aquatics project, the campus supports a wide performing and visual arts program, including dedicated tracks for Animation, Film & TV Production, Digital Photography, Drawing & Painting, and Sculpture under its Visual Arts & Media Arts umbrella, plus separate facilities supporting its Vocal Music Association and Instrumental Music Association. The school also maintains the Dave Thomson Library as a named on-campus resource, referenced directly in the site’s news and announcements section.

Staff/Leadership

Burbank High School’s administrative team is led by Principal Steven Hubbell, confirmed as the school’s official administrator by both the CDE School Directory and the school’s own Administration page, supported by four assistant principals: Michael Farber, Jennifer Freemon, James Tarouilly, and Natalie Setaghian. The school publishes a detailed administrative responsibilities flowchart as a downloadable PDF directly from its Administration page, breaking down which assistant principal handles which academic or operational area — a level of transparency that helps families route questions to the right administrator without guessing. The staff directory is further organized into separate pages for Administration, Counseling, Office Staff, Teaching Staff, and Support Staff.

Community/Events

Student life at BHS runs through a wide slate of clubs, performing arts groups, and 18 interscholastic sports spanning fall, winter, and spring seasons, from football and water polo to wrestling, swimming, and track and field. The school’s Parents and Community section highlights a Hall of Fame recognizing distinguished alumni and community members, an active PTSA, and a dedicated Reunions page supporting alumni class gatherings. Grad Nite, held annually at Disneyland, has its own dedicated page with forms, park maps, and rules, reflecting how established this senior tradition is at BHS. The drama program’s recent international recognition, winning Best Ensemble Work at Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a production of Hippolytus, was featured directly on the school’s homepage.

Accreditation

Burbank High School’s accreditation record is documented directly on its official site through a dedicated WASC Report page, linked prominently from both the School Info navigation menu and the homepage’s “Helpful Links” section, confirming ongoing accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. As a public school within Burbank Unified, BHS is also subject to the district’s standard public accountability structure, including its published School Plans and Reports section. Families wanting the school’s current WASC accreditation term or most recent self-study documentation should review the linked WASC Report directly or contact the school office, since a specific renewal date isn’t stated on the general navigation page.

Conclusion

Burbank High School combines more than a century of continuous operation with a genuinely distinctive academic structure — three named NAF career academies in Business, Engineering, and Medical fields — plus standout programs in speech and debate and drama that have earned national and international recognition. It’s a strong match for the search intent behind “Burbank High School Burbank CA” and “NAF academy high school Los Angeles” alike, though as a residency-zoned public school, families outside the standard BHS boundary should start with Student Services before assuming they can enroll directly. Families already living in the John Burroughs attendance area who prefer BHS should also budget time for the Intra-District Permit process described on the school’s enrollment page.

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FAQ

Is Burbank High School a good school?

By most published measures, yes: BHS carries an overall “A” grade on Niche with roughly 560 reviews averaging around 3.8 stars, and an 8/10 GreatSchools rating. The school’s speech and debate program has been ranked among the top 40 in the nation by the National Speech & Debate Association, and its drama program recently won an international award at Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

How do I enroll my child at Burbank High School?

New enrollment is completed online through the district’s Aeries portal, followed by emailing all three named attendance staff addresses with your legal proof of birth, two proofs of residency, immunization records, a parent photo ID, prior transcripts (or final 8th-grade report card for incoming freshmen), and a physically signed signature page.

What are the NAF Academies at Burbank High School?

NAF Academies are career-themed academic pathways run through the National Academy Foundation: BHS offers a Business Academy, an Engineering Academy, and a Medical Academy, each requiring a work experience/internship component and a senior digital portfolio, shared across BHS and John Burroughs High School.

Can I transfer to Burbank High School from John Burroughs High School?

Yes, but there’s a specific process: students in the JBHS attendance area must first apply at JBHS, then request an Intra-District Permit through Student Services to attend BHS instead.

Is Burbank High School WASC accredited?

Yes. The school publishes a dedicated WASC Report directly on its official website, confirming accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

What is Burbank High School’s mascot and colors?

The mascot is the Bulldog, and the school colors are royal blue and white.

Where is Burbank High School located?

The campus is at 902 North Third Street, Burbank, CA 91502, one of two comprehensive high schools (alongside John Burroughs High School) in Burbank Unified School District.