Washington Preparatory High School
| George Washington Preparatory High School | |
|---|---|
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| Location | |
| 10860 South Denker Ave Los Angeles, California 90047 |
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| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1926 |
| School district | Los Angeles Unified School District |
| Principal | Dr. Athaur R. Ullah |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 3000 |
| Color(s) | red & blue |
| Athletics | CIF Los Angeles City Section |
| Athletics conference | Marine League |
| Mascot | Generals |
| Website | [1] |
George Washington Preparatory High School is a secondary school in the Westmont section of unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States that is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, (LAUSD).
It was founded in 1926. The school has a Los Angeles address but is not located in the city limits of Los Angeles.
The mascot is the General, a reference to the school's namesake George Washington. The school colors are red and blue.
The school serves many areas in South Los Angeles and unincorporated areas around South Los Angeles, including Athens, West Athens and Westmont. In addition it serves the LAUSD section of Hawthorne.
It was the location for a 1986 TV movie entitled Hard Lessons depicting Denzel Washington as the new principal, who sets out to rid the school of gang violence and drugs and restore educational values to the school.
The current principal is Dr. Athaur R. Ullah. Two famous former principals are Dr. George McKenna, whom Denzel Washington portrayed in the movie Hard Lessons; and LAUSD Board Member Marguerite LaMotte.
Contents |
[edit] History
George Washington Preparatory High School was founded in 1927 as a six-year high school that slowly developed into a four-year school. In 1935 Washington High began accepting 11th and 12th graders only, and by the early 1960s, Washington Senior High School had expanded to include grades 10 through 12.
In the early 1980s, a new founder, the famed Dr. George McKenna, redefined Washington High School as a college preparatory school, and George Washington Preparatory High School, "The Prep," became an academic institution for grades 9-12. During subsequent years, Washington added Performing Arts, Math/Science, and Communication Arts Magnets and achieved honors in scholastic, athletic and extra-curricular competition.
The reorganization of Washington Preparatory High School into Small Learning Communities (SLCs) began in 2006. The purpose of the SLC is to develop a sense of unity and cohesiveness and to foster the individual needs of students. The SLCs that were established as a result of this effort are: Etech (Engineering and Technology); ELMS (Ethics, Leadership, and Mediation Scholars); S.T.A.R.S (Visual and Performing Arts); BIZ (Business); SHAPE (Health and Fitness); and Law and Justice. The three Magnet programs have remained intact.
In 2009, in order to graduate and participate in senior activities such as prom, senior picnic, and grad night seniors must earn 230 credits, pass the California High School Exit Exam, and maintain 95% attendance. [1]
[edit] Happenings
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This article or section may be slanted towards recent events. Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective. (January 2012) |
Washington Prep opened in 1927.[2]
In February 23, 2007, Alex Contreras-Rodriguez, 17, a Latino youth, was stabbed by a classmate on the campus of Washington Preparatory High School in Westmont and died at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center at 3:40 p.m. Friday, March 23.
On September 19, 2008, a 12-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man received gunshot wounds at the campus. Two other individuals may have been shot.[3]
The student population at Washington Prep will be lessened, hopefully improving various measures of academic performance, now that South Region High School 6 has opened (in 2011).[4]
On September 30, 2011, a 16-year-old girl, Angela Gettis, a cheerleader for Washington Prep, collapsed on the sideline during a football game between Washington Prep and John C. Fremont High Schools (rivals in the Los Angeles district). Bystanders soon started CPR. She was briefly revived at some point, and was immediately taken by paramedics from Fremont High School to the hospital, but unfortunately was pronounced dead there about three hours later from cardiac arrest. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the underlying cause of death.[5]
[edit] Demographics
As of the school year 2008-09, there were a total of 2,440 students attending the high school.[6]
- 46.7% Hispanic (1,140)
- 0.2% White (5)
- 52.4% Black (1,279)
- 0.2% Native American (5)
- 0.1% Asian (3)
- 0.3% Pacific Islander (8)
[edit] Notable alumni
- Larry Elder, attended Washington Prep freshman year, talk show host
- Hugh McElhenny, class of 1947, former NFL All-Pro running back. 1952 NFL Rookie of the year
- Eva Marcille, class of 2002, model and actress
- Mark Fields, former NFL linebacker
- James Lofton, former wideout for the Green Bay Packers; Member Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Dennis Northcutt, wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Esther Williams class of 1939, retired American competitive swimmer, film star with many roles as swimmer and diver.
- Ernie Shelton, NCAA champion high jumper, 1955–56
- Joel Wachs class of 1957, Los Angeles Councilman, 2nd District, 1971-2000. Currently president of the Andy Warhol Foundation in New York City.
- Kori Dickerson, tight end for the Canadian Football League Hamilton Tiger-Cats and previously played with the NFL Europe Hamburg Sea Devils and the National Football League Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles
- Barbara Billingsley, actress
- Robin Russell, drummer - member of New Birth/Nite-Liters (band) - attended Washington Prep during freshman year
[edit] References
- ^ "HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL." Washingtonprep.org.
- ^ School profile
- ^ "2 shot at Athens area high school." ABC 7.
- ^ LAUSD Proposed building work
- ^ "Washington Prep cheerleader, 16, collapses at game, dies hours later." ABC 7.
- ^ profile as (1) above
[edit] External links
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