King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science facts for kids

King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science is a special kind of high school. It is located in Willowbrook, near Los Angeles, California. This school is called a "magnet" school because it focuses on specific subjects. King/Drew specializes in medicine and science.

The school works closely with two important places. These are the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.

School History and Achievements

King/Drew High School first opened its doors in 1982. At that time, it was in temporary buildings. These buildings were across the street from the Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center. They were also next to the Charles R. Drew University.

In 1999, the school moved to its own campus. This new campus was much bigger. Moving was a dream of Dr. Ernie Roy, who was a principal in the mid-1990s. He wanted a school that truly honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. Charles R. Drew. Dr. Roy also played a big part in starting the school.

In 2005, the principal, J. Michelle Woods, spoke about the school's image. She said that problems at the nearby hospital might affect how people saw the high school. However, school staff and students said these issues did not affect their daily school life.

Many important people have visited King/Drew High School. On September 14, 2007, Hillary Clinton came to the school.

King/Drew has received national recognition. In both 2008 and 2009, U.S. News & World Report ranked it highly. The magazine called King/Drew a "silver medal winner" among America's best high schools. In 2017, the school was also named a California Gold Ribbon School.

Student Voice and Safety Concerns

In April 2023, students at King/Drew High School felt worried about safety. An incident happened near the school. Students felt that the school did not communicate enough about what happened. Many students felt that school safety and communication needed to improve.

Principal Reginald Brookens said there was a specific plan to follow. However, some students felt unsafe. They worried about potential dangers. Students then used social media, like Instagram, to organize. They announced a walkout to bring attention to their safety concerns.

The walkout happened on May 9. Many staff members were there, and the local police were on site. The walkout was short. Afterward, students moved to the school's lecture hall. There, they shared their concerns about school safety. They also talked about the leadership of the principal and other school leaders.

Academic Programs

King/Drew High School has strong academic requirements. All students must take specific courses. These include four years of math and two years of a foreign language. Students also need two years of science. These courses help students meet the requirements for universities like the University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Los Angeles.

In 2015, many King/Drew students did very well on their tests. Seventy-two percent of students met or went beyond the Smarter Balanced standards in English language arts.

Student Body and Demographics

As of 2005, King/Drew High School had almost 1,700 students. At that time, there were about twice as many female students as male students. School leaders explained why this might be. They said that because the school does not offer American football, more girls tend to apply to the school.

Student Success and University Admissions

King/Drew students have a strong record of getting into top universities. In 2005, Richard "Richie" Black, an admissions leader at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), shared some impressive facts. He said that King/Drew had the second-highest number of Black and Latino/Chicano students accepted by UC Berkeley.

The school also sends many students to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As of 2005, King/Drew consistently had the highest number of Black students going to UCLA compared to other high schools in the United States. That year, five different University of California campuses accepted King/Drew students.

Beyond the UC system, students from King/Drew have been accepted to many other well-known universities. These include Cornell University, Duke University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Case Western Reserve University, and Stanford University. In 2005, 20 King/Drew students were accepted to UCLA. Of those, twelve were Latino and eight were Black.

Sports and Athletics

King/Drew High School offers a variety of sports for students to join:

• Basketball
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Baseball
• Softball
• Cross country
• Football
• Track and field
• Golf
• Sideline Cheer
• Competitive Cheer

The school is also home to the Drew League. This is a famous basketball league where both professional and amateur players compete.