Damonte Ranch High School was opened in August of 2003 as a 7th-12th grade campus. The School mascot is the Mustang and our colors are Navy Blue & Forest Green. Upon the opening of Depoali Middle School in the fall of 2007 Damonte Ranch became a true high school, housing only 9th-12th grade students.
The school gets it’s name from the Ranch that was once on this land, named after the Damonte family. The Ranch encompassed approximately 629 acres in the suter Truckee meadows at the north end of the Steam Boat valley. Irrigation was important throughout the ranch’s history for razing of wheat, oats, barley, corn and hay, and grazing cattle. Getting the wetlands delineations and permits from the Army Corps of Engineers took four years, a lot of time and money. While one of the neighboring developments to the north is involved in a lawsuit regarding the wetlands, The Tri Partners opted to work through the process. In fact, company executives made the decision not to start until they had addressed the technical aspects of development — hydrology and flood control studies, biological studies, anthropological as well as historical studies. The end result was a very well constructed and planned school and campus.
The Band started in 2003 with an enrollment in grades 7-12 of less than 75 students. It was not uncommon for 8th grade students to be members of the high school band. DRHS Band Directors also taught Choir and Guitar until 2008.
Twelve years later the Damonte Ranch Band program has grown to well over 130 students, with nearly 300 students in band programs at Depoali Middle School, our feeder program. What was once a single band has become 8 ensembles. The school now has dedicated Choir and Orchestra teachers for 4 Choir, 4 Orchestra, Beginning & Intermediate Guitar and AP Music Theory classes. In addition to the Band Director, we now have a full-time percussion instructor and 15 adjunct staff members. Additionally, in 2014 Damonte Ranch High School was named the Performing Arts Center Signature Academy for all of Washoe County School District.
Some recent accomplishments of the DRHS Band program? In the Fall of 2015, the DRHS Marching Band won their fourth consecutive Nevada State Marching Band Championship. The Percussion Ensemble and Winter Drumline are 2014-15 NNIA Champions. The DRHS Winter Guard made the 2015 Winter Guard International Western Championship Finals in Fresno, CA… the first group from Nevada to EVER do so! The Jazz Ensemble program debuted their 2nd jazz band this spring as well as three combos. The Blue Jazz Band was a 2015 & 2016 award winner at the Folsom Jazz Festival and garnered the highest score at the 2015 WCSD Jazz Festival. The DRHS Symphonic Band was the highest scoring group in their division at the 2015 WCSD Band Festival. Not to be outdone, the Wind Ensemble received Superior ratings at the WCSD Band Festival in 2013, 2014 & 2015.
