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 called a magnet school. It's part of the Los Angeles Unified School District and is located in Willowbrook, California.

This school works closely with the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. This connection helps students learn a lot about medicine and science.

History of King/Drew High School

How King/Drew School Started

King/Drew Magnet High School first opened its doors in 1982. At that time, it was in small buildings across the street from the Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center. It was also next to the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.

In 1999, the school moved to its own bigger campus. This new campus was right next to the original buildings. Dr. Ernie Roy, who was the principal in the mid-1990s, had a big dream for this move. He wanted a larger school that truly honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. Charles R. Drew. Dr. Roy was very important in starting King/Drew Medical Magnet High School.

Awards and Recognition

King/Drew Magnet High School has received many awards for being a great school. In 2008 and 2009, U.S. News & World Report named King/Drew a "silver medal winner." This award recognized it as one of America's best high schools.

In 2017, the school was also honored as a California Gold Ribbon School. This award celebrates schools that show great progress and success in their programs.

Student Voices and Safety Concerns

The 2023 Student Walkout

On April 25, 2023, there was a serious situation near the school. Students felt that the school did not communicate well about what happened. Many students felt unsafe because of this lack of information.

Students used social media, like Instagram, to share their concerns. They organized a walkout for May 9, 2023. The walkout was a way for students to speak up about safety issues and communication at the school. Many staff members and the local police were present during the walkout.

The walkout later moved indoors to the school's lecture hall. There, students openly shared their worries about school safety. They also talked about the leadership of the principal and other school leaders.

Academics at King/Drew

Learning for College Success

King/Drew High School prepares its students for college. All students must take specific classes. These include four years of math, two years of a foreign language, and two years of science. These courses meet the requirements for colleges like the University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Los Angeles.

In 2015, many King/Drew students did very well on their English language arts tests. About 72% of students met or went beyond the standards set by the Smarter Balanced tests.

Student Life and Achievements

Student Demographics

In 2005, King/Drew High School had almost 1,700 students. At that time, there were about twice as many female students as male students. The school's leaders believed this was because King/Drew did not offer American football. This might have made more girls interested in applying to the school.

College Acceptances

King/Drew students are very successful in getting into top universities. In 2005, the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) said that King/Drew had one of the highest numbers of Black and Latino students accepted.

The school also consistently sends many Black students to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 2005, five different University of California campuses accepted King/Drew students.

Many other famous universities have also accepted King/Drew students. 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. Twelve of these students were Latino, and eight were Black.

Notable Alumni

• Issa Rae (born 1985), an actress known for her roles in Barbie and Insecure.

Sports at King/Drew

King/Drew High School offers many different sports for students to join:

• Basketball
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Baseball
• Softball
• Cross country
• Football
• Track and field
• Tennis
• 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.