The KYDS are alright: El Camino High School student radio station elevates kids' voices

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If you’ve lived in Sacramento for a while, you might know about this one radio station. And no, I’m not talking about CapRadio! This one’s a little further up the dial.

Migrate to 91.5 FM in Sacramento and you get KYDS. It’s all music, all the time, with no ads (which we can get behind). It’s pronounced like “kids,” and that’s exactly what you’ll get. 

KYDS is produced by students at El Camino Fundamental High School. It’s the only high school radio station in Sacramento, and one of about a dozen in the state.

Among the students you’ll hear are Elizabeth Ramirez (The Lizard) and Will Tomlin (DJ Frostee). The Lizard knows the stories behind many of the nick-nacks in the radio room and she painted the giant Eagle that all outgoing DJs sign.

“It says hello from DJ Machine,” she says, reading a note suspended above the audio board. “He graduated about two, maybe three years ago now.”

(left) KYDS student DJ Elizabeth "The Lizard" Ramirez points out messages written by prior student DJs inside the radio room at El Camino Fundamental High School in Sacramento on February 5, 2024. (Right) An eagle painted by Ramizrez that outgoing DJs sign.Kate Wolffe/CapRadio

It’s tough to imagine The Lizard not seeming at home in the radio booth, but she had an unceremonious start at KYDS. It was her freshman year (2021 — if you can believe that). Luckily she had a DJ partner, DJ T, aka Tori Norlie.

“I didn't even know her before and then we met on the day that hybrid school started and Mr. Sumpter threw us in here and he's like, ‘okay, here's how these buttons work,’” Ramirez  said. “‘Have fun!’”

The Mr Sumpter that threw them in the studio together and created radio magic? That’s Matt Sumpter, who’s been leading the program since 2018 and brought it into the streaming age. 

When it started in 1979, KYDS originally broadcast only to the cafeteria. Now, the signal reaches past the Golden One center and up to Cameron Park. As the signal reached further, the station’s listenership expanded. 

“If kids are wearing a KYDS shirt they can tell you — you walk around Sacramento with a KYDS shirt on, it's not long before somebody says, ‘aw KYDS, I love them!’”

KYDS student DJ Will Tomlin (DJ Frostee) cues up a song to play in the radio booth at El Camino Fundamental High School in Sacramento on February 5, 2024.Kate Wolffe/CapRadio

The Lizard plays everything, including an EDM song she found playing PlayStation. DJ T cues up indie pop like Snail Mail and Beach Bunny. DJ Frostee, who will be a junior this coming school year, has been sticking to classic rock and blues, the stuff his dad played growing up.

The Lizard and DJ T say they’re not sure if they’ll pursue radio at college, or beyond. But they’ll definitely come back to visit the El Camino media center. Sumpter says that always happens.

“I think it's less about the radio and it's more about the connections they have with each other,” he said.

You can listen to KYDS on the radio at 91.5 FM, or at their appropriately named website, kyds.rocks. They also take requests — you can submit one during school hours by calling them at (916) 971-7453.