John H. Francis Polytechnic High School
Encyclopedia
John H. Francis Polytechnic High School is a secondary school located in the Sun Valley
area of Los Angeles, California
. 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.
(LAUSD) Board of Education headquarters. In 1905, Polytechnic moved to the corner of Washington Boulevard and Flower Street, in what is now downtown Los Angeles. Polytechnic High School was the first school to offer studies in multiple class subjects, which is now modeled by many high schools, as "periods". Polytechnic High School was renamed in 1935, in favor of the school's founder and first principal John H. Francis.
In February 1957 Poly 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.
In 2006, the establishment of Arleta High School
and Panorama High School
relieved Poly of its overcrowding.
The 2009 opening of Sun Valley High School
relieved Poly.
Sun Valley, Los Angeles, California
Sun Valley is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California, about 15 miles away from Downtown Los Angeles....
area of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. It serves grades 9 through 12 and is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
. Despite its name, Polytechnic is a comprehensive high school.
History
Polytechnic High School opened in 1897 as a "commercial high school" at its original campus in downtown Los Angeles on South Beaudry Avenue, the present location of the Los Angeles Unified School DistrictLos Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
(LAUSD) Board of Education headquarters. In 1905, Polytechnic moved to the corner of Washington Boulevard and Flower Street, in what is now downtown Los Angeles. Polytechnic High School was the first school to offer studies in multiple class subjects, which is now modeled by many high schools, as "periods". Polytechnic High School was renamed in 1935, in favor of the school's founder and first principal John H. Francis.
In February 1957 Poly 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
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College is a public community college in Los Angeles, California. It offers academic courses towards 4-year colleges and numerous vocational training programs including associate degree and certificate programs in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Culinary Arts,...
. The school mascot is a parrot named Joe Parrot, and he now has a female companion named, Josie.
In 2006, the establishment of Arleta High School
Arleta High School
Arleta High School is a secondary school located on Van Nuys Boulevard in the Arleta section of Los Angeles, California in the San Fernando Valley....
and Panorama High School
Panorama High School
Panorama High School is a secondary school located on Van Nuys Boulevard in the Panorama City district of Los Angeles, California, United States. Designed by architect DLR Group WWCOT, Panorama High School opened its doors in 2006 welcoming grades 9, 10, and 11. It is a part of the Los Angeles...
relieved Poly of its overcrowding.
The 2009 opening of Sun Valley High School
Sun Valley High School (California)
Sun Valley High School is a high school in Sun Valley, Los Angeles, California. It is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The principal of the school is Paul Del Rosario.- History :...
relieved Poly.
Notable alumni
- Mayor Tom BradleyTom Bradley (politician)Thomas J. "Tom" Bradley was the 38th Mayor of Los Angeles, California, serving in that office from 1973 to 1993. He was the first and to date only African American mayor of Los Angeles...
, policeman, councilman, Mayor of Los Angeles - Harry DanningHarry DanningHarry Danning, nicknamed Harry the Horse was a professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the New York Giants, and was considered one of the top defensive catchers of his era. He batted and threw right-handed...
, 4-time All Star baseball catcher - Gail GoodrichGail GoodrichGail Charles Goodrich Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He is best-known for scoring a then record 42 points in the 1965 NCAA championship game vs. Michigan, and his part in the Los Angeles Lakers' 1971–72 season...
, former UCLAUCLA Bruins men's basketballThe UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
, NBA basketball player - Helen Gurley BrownHelen Gurley BrownHelen Gurley Brown , is an author, publisher, and businesswoman. She was editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine for 32 years.-Personal life and career:...
, author, publisher, and businesswoman - Fred HaneyFred HaneyFred Girard Haney was an American third baseman, manager, coach and executive in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he won two pennants and a world championship with the Milwaukee Braves and, as an executive, he was the first general manager of the expansion Los Angeles Angels of the American...
, major league baseball player - Marcellite GarnerMarcellite GarnerMarcellite Wall was an American artist and voice actress. She is most remembered as the first regular voice of Minnie Mouse during her time working at Walt Disney Productions and has been partially credited with defining Minnie's personality.-Early life:Garner was born in Redlands, California in...
, voice of Minnie Mouse - Danny TrejoDanny TrejoDan "Danny" Trejo is an American actor who has appeared in numerous Hollywood films, most notably in roles as an antagonist, or anti-hero.-Early life:...
, actor - William HungWilliam HungWilliam James Hung Hing Cheong , commonly known as William Hung, is an American singer who gained fame in early 2004 as a result of his off-key audition performance of Ricky Martin's hit song "She Bangs" on the third season of the television series...
,singer
Notable faculty
- Arthur E. BriggsArthur E. BriggsDr. Arthur Elbert Briggs was a teacher and law school dean who was a Los Angeles, California, City Council member from 1939 to 1941 and the leader of the Ethical Society of Los Angeles in 1953.-Biography:...
, Los Angeles City Council member, 1939–41, taught law at night