John H. Francis Polytechnic High School

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John H. Francis Polytechnic High School
Address
John H. Francis Polytechnic High School

, ,
91352

United States
Coordinates 34°13′22″N118°24′24″W / 34.2227818°N 118.4067144°W / 34.2227818; -118.4067144
Information
School type Public, comprehensive high school
MottoVictory with Honor
Established1897;127 years ago (1897)
Status🟩 Opened
School district Los Angeles Unified School District
NCES District ID 062271003020 [1]
PrincipalWalter Rich
Teaching staff122.83 (2018-19) [1]
Grades 9-12
Enrollment2,241 (202122) [1]
Student to teacher ratio21.48 (2018-19) [1]
Color(s)  Blue
  Gold
Athletics conferenceEast Valley League
CIF Los Angeles City Section
Mascot Parrot
NewspaperThe Poly Optimist
YearbookThe Polytechnic Student
Website www.polyhigh.org

John H. Francis Polytechnic High School is a secondary school located in the Sun Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. It serves grades 9 through 12 and is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Despite its name, Polytechnic is a comprehensive high school.

Contents

History

Polytechnic High School opened in 1897 as a "commercial branch" of the only high school at that time in the city, Los Angeles High School. As such, Polytechnic would be the third oldest high school in the city, after Abraham Lincoln High School in Lincoln Heights, (founded in 1878), and the fourth oldest in the LAUSD, after San Fernando High School., which was founded in 1896. The school's original campus was located in downtown Los Angeles on South Beaudry Avenue, the present location of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education headquarters.

Old, neoclassical campus of Metropolitan Polytechnic High near LA's historic core, 1905 Old LA Polytechnic High.jpeg
Old, neoclassical campus of Metropolitan Polytechnic High near LA's historic core, 1905

In 1905, Metropolitan Polytechnic moved to the south side of Washington Boulevard at the corner of Flower Street in downtown Los Angeles, across Washington from old St. Vincent's College. [2] [3] [4] Poly was the first school to offer studies in multiple class subjects, which is now modeled by many high schools, as “periods.” In 1935, its name was changed to “John H. Francis Polytechnic” to honor the founding principal.

In February 1957, Polytechnic moved to its present site in the San Fernando Valley and opened its doors to new students for the then fast growing suburb. Since Poly's relocation, the former site has been the campus of Los Angeles Trade–Technical College. The school mascot is a parrot named Joe Parrot, and he now has a female companion named Josie.

It was in the Los Angeles City High School District until 1961, when it merged into LAUSD. [5]

In 2006, the establishment of Arleta High School [6] and Panorama High School [7] relieved much of the overcrowding at Polytechnic. The 2009 opening of Sun Valley High School additionally relieved overcrowding. [8]

Poly's basketball gym is named for NBA Hall-of-Famer Gail Goodrich, a Poly alumnus. The Parrots have had a longtime rivalry with both Van Nuys High School and North Hollywood High School.

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

Notable administrators

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