Editing Ferndale, California (section)

==Education==
[[File:Ferndale CA Elementary.jpg|thumb|Ferndale Elementary]]
The [[Ferndale Unified School District]] has two schools, the Ferndale Elementary School with grades K–8 and the Ferndale High School.

The elementary school is older; it dates back to the 1860s with school rooms and houses in various locations.<ref name ="Carlson" />{{rp|212}} In 1890, school trustees started a new building, but it—and the old building—were completely destroyed in an arson fire before it was finished.<ref name ="Carlson" />{{rp|215}} A replacement three-story, redwood [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]] building was built after the September fire and in time to open in February 1891.<ref name ="Carlson" /> The stucco one-story building which currently houses the Ferndale Elementary School was built in 1924.<ref name ="Carlson" />{{rp|215}} The baby-boom of the 1960s resulted in classes at the Fairgrounds as well as the addition of four modular classrooms (since removed), and the construction of a gymnasium in 1967.<ref name ="Carlson" />{{rp|215}} The following year, the closure of the Assumption Catholic School (1915–1968) rapidly increased enrollment as 117 students transferred and the rising enrollment resulted in the addition of five primary classrooms and a playground.<ref name ="Carlson" />{{rp|215}} In 1976 the building was earthquake retrofitted.<ref name ="Carlson" />{{rp|215}}

The high school was founded in 1904 by the unification of smaller school districts across the Eel River Valley, including Port Kenyon, Island School, Grant School, Salt River School, Coffee Creek School, [[Grizzly Bluff School]] and Pleasant Point School.<ref name ="Carlson" />{{rp|209}} The original building was in use from 1907 to 1951 when it was replaced by the present high school facility.<ref name ="Carlson" /> Enrollment in 2004–2005 was 175 students in grades 9 to 12.<ref>{{cite web  | title =Ferndale Wildcats 2012 Football Schedule  | publisher = Oregon Prep Sports | year = 2013  | url =http://www.oregonprepsports.net/football/2013/schedules/California/494-Ferndale  | access-date =  October 4, 2013}}</ref>

Ferndale has an active sports program with junior varsity and varsity softball, volleyball, basketball, soccer and football. Ferndale won its 14th California football sectional title and the California Interscholastic Federation Division 7-AA football championship in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mintz |first=Daniel |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Supes Honor Historic Wildcats' championship |language=en-us |pages=1, 2 |work=The Ferndale Enterprise |publisher=North Coast Journal Incorporated |location=Eureka, California |editor-last=Greenson |editor-first=Thadeus}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Pence |first=Steven |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Ferndale School Board Meeting: A Celebration, Then Back to Work |language=en-us |pages=1, 3 |work=The Ferndale Enterprise |publisher=North Coast Journal, Incorporated |location=Eureka, California |editor-last=Greenson |editor-first=Thadeus}}</ref> The girls' soccer team won the California North Coast Section championship in 2023.<ref name=":4" />

The school has a long-time sports rivalry with neighboring [[Fortuna, California|Fortuna]] Union High School. The first Ferndale Wildcat versus Fortuna Huskies "Milk Can" football game was played in 1945 and each year since with approximately 20 years hiatus. Fortuna had won more games than Ferndale, as of 2013, the record was 27–20–1.<ref>{{cite news  | last =Tarpey  | first =Neil  | title =Huskies host Wildcats in 48th Milk Can Game tonight  | publisher =Eureka Times-Standard  | date =September 20, 2013 | url =http://www.times-standard.com/prepsports/ci_24138131/huskies-host-wildcats-48th-milk-can-game-tonight  | access-date =October 4, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131005223515/http://www.times-standard.com/prepsports/ci_24138131/huskies-host-wildcats-48th-milk-can-game-tonight  | archive-date =October 5, 2013  | url-status =dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news  | last =Tarpey  | first =Neil  | title =Dug down deep: Huskies win battle of the trenches for Milk Can victory  | publisher =Eureka Times-Standard  | date =September 21, 2013 | url =http://www.times-standard.com/prepsports/ci_24146407/dug-down-deep-huskies-win-battle-trenches-milk  | access-date =October 4, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131005125341/http://www.times-standard.com/prepsports/ci_24146407/dug-down-deep-huskies-win-battle-trenches-milk  | archive-date =October 5, 2013  | url-status =dead}}</ref> In 2011, the Milk Can was stolen from Ferndale High School during a break-in by three Fortuna High School students, thrown over a bluff, and later recovered by police.<ref>{{cite news  | title =Prized Ferndale and Fortuna Milk Can recovered  | publisher =Eureka Times-Standard  | date =November 9, 2011 | url =http://www.times-standard.com/ci_19299699  | access-date =October 4, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131005163957/http://www.times-standard.com/ci_19299699  | archive-date =October 5, 2013  | url-status =dead}}</ref>

Since 1998, the Ferndale Repertory Theatre has offered The Marilyn McCormick Performing Arts Scholarship to local high school seniors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weekly |first=Tri-City |date=2012-04-03 |title=40 years of crying, laughter and entertainment Ferndale Repertory Theatre celebrates four decades |url=https://www.times-standard.com/2012/04/03/40-years-of-crying-laughter-and-entertainment-ferndale-repertory-theatre-celebrates-four-decades/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Times-Standard |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Sara Bareilles]] was the first recipient of the scholarship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Savage |first=Dillon |title=Scholarship Application |url=https://www.ferndalerep.org/for-youth/scholarship/#:~:text=The%20Marilyn%20McCormick%20Performing%20Arts,theatre%20involvement%20or%20similar%20activities |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Ferndale Repertory Theatre |language=en-US}}</ref>