University High School (Los Angeles) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids University High School Charter |
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| Address | |
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11800 Texas Avenue
, 90025
United States
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| Coordinates | 34°02′44″N 118°27′40″W / 34.0456°N 118.461°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Established | 1924 |
| School district | Los Angeles Unified School District (1961-) Los Angeles City High School District (1924-1961) |
| Principal | Claudia Middleton |
| Teaching staff | 67.50 (FTE) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 1,511 (2018–19) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 22.39:1 |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Color(s) | Blue and persimmon |
| Athletics conference | CIF Los Angeles City Section Western League |
| Nickname | Wildcats |
University High School Charter, often called "Uni", is a public high school in West Los Angeles, California. It was built in 1923–1924 and opened in 1924. The school is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The campus is also home to Indian Springs Continuation High School. Uni High is special because it has the Serra Springs, a very important place for the Tongva–Gabrieleño native people. It is also a registered California Historical Landmark.
Contents
School History
When the school was being built, it was called Sawtelle High School. It opened in 1924 as Warren G. Harding High School. This name honored Warren G. Harding, who was the 29th President and had recently passed away.
In 1929, the school's name changed to University High School. This happened after the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) moved its campus nearby. Also, President Harding's reputation had faced problems after a big event called the Teapot Dome scandal. The name University came about because teachers-in-training from UCLA would come to Uni High to work as assistant teachers.
The main administration building was designed in 1923. Its style looks like old Roman buildings from Northern Italy and Spanish Mission buildings. The building once had a cool octagonal tower, but it was damaged in the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Even after three major earthquakes, the school's original main building from 1924 is still used today!
Campus Life and Changes
Music classes at Uni High have moved to a different room. A new gym was built in 2010 where a student parking lot used to be. The current football stadium is named after Jackie Robinson. He was a famous baseball player and the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. He also went to UCLA, which is nearby.
Uni High is one of the few older high schools in Los Angeles whose buildings have survived many earthquakes. The main building looks very traditional with its old bricks and arched doorways. This makes the campus a popular spot for filming movies and TV shows.
In 2007, some students who were supposed to go to Hamilton High School were instead sent to University High. In 2009, the school started an Academy of Engineering. This was part of a special program to help the school improve. For 88 years, the football field did not have lights. But in 2012, stadium lights were finally installed!
Native American Heritage
On Uni's campus, you can find the Tongva Sacred Springs. These springs are a California Historical Landmark called #522. The native Gabrieleno Tongva people called the springs "Kuruvungna." They have used this natural fresh water source since 400 BC. Even today, the springs produce a lot of water every day.
The main spring area is now closed off from the rest of the campus. It is cared for by the Gabrielino/Tongva Springs Foundation. Before it was fenced, students often met and relaxed around the springs.
In 1769, the Portolá Expedition, which helped found Los Angeles, camped at the Kuruvunga village. This was along the path that became El Camino Real. The name Serra comes from Junípero Serra, who started many missions in California. He is said to have held a Mass here. In the 1800s, the spring provided water for the city of Santa Monica.
When construction happened at the school in 1925, people found signs of an old Native American village. In 1975, a burial site was discovered.
In 1992, people from the Tongva tribe, community members, and teachers and students from the school started the Gabrielino/Tongva Springs Foundation. This group works to protect the springs. They stopped a building project that would have cut off the springs' water.
Every year, the Foundation holds an event called "Life Before Columbus Day." It celebrates the history of the land and the Tongva people. Many people attend, including Native Americans, local leaders, and students. The event includes tours of the Kuruvunga Village, dances by Tongva and Aztec performers, and stories from the Chumash tribe.
School Newspapers
Wildcat
The Wildcat is the school's weekly student newspaper. Old copies from when the school was Harding High are kept in the journalism archives.
The Worrier
The Worrier was a student newspaper that started in 1966. It was not officially approved by the school. Some students who worked on The Worrier were moved to other schools or suspended.
Red Tide
The Red Tide was another unofficial campus newspaper. It shared strong opinions about the Vietnam War, racism, and women's rights. Its first issue came out in November 1971. After two students were suspended for handing out Red Tide, many Uni students protested.
The Red Tide also argued that the school's "Warrior" mascot was racist. Many years later, in 1997, the LAUSD Board of Education voted to remove the mascot. This was part of a ban on using Native American symbols.
School Information
- University High School offers tours for interested students and parents.
- The school provides transportation for some students.
- Three languages are taught at Uni: French, Spanish, and Mandarin.
- There are many extracurricular activities for both boys and girls.
Student Population
The school has a diverse student body. Here's a look at the student population over some years:
- In 2008-09, about 61.5% of students were Latino or Hispanic, and 17% were African-American.
- In 2018-19, about 53% of students were Latino or Hispanic, 25% African-American, 12.8% White, 6.8% Asian, and 1.9% Filipino.
School Area
University High serves students from parts of West Los Angeles. This includes areas like Brentwood, Westwood, and Bel-Air. Uni High also welcomes students from other parts of Los Angeles, like Koreatown and South Los Angeles.
Name Change to Charter School
Starting in the 2018-2019 school year, University High became an affiliated charter school. Its name changed to University High School Charter. This means the school has more freedom in how it uses money and how it teaches. It is still a community school that welcomes students from all over Los Angeles.
Protecting the Ficus Trees
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Underground water from the Kuruvungna springs helps seven large Indian Laurel Ficus trees grow on campus. These trees line a walkway. In 2002, the school district planned to remove these trees. Their roots were growing into the concrete and causing problems.
Many students and community members protested this decision. A student petition gathered 1,200 signatures! The city of Santa Monica and local neighborhood groups also got involved.
The school district decided not to remove the trees. Instead, they installed special "Rubbersidewalks." These sidewalks can be easily lifted to trim the tree roots. University High was the first high school in the United States to use these special sidewalks to save its trees. The installation was even featured on a TV show called California's Gold.
Filming at Uni High
University High is a popular place for filming movies, TV shows, and commercials. This is because it has kept much of its original architecture. Its old brick buildings and wide hallways give it a "unique east coast look." The school allows filming during school hours. This brings in money for the school.
However, filming can sometimes cause problems. Classes might be moved, and walkways can be blocked. The school sometimes changes its appearance for filming, like painting walls or removing furniture. Students and teachers have sometimes complained about these disruptions.
The money earned from filming is shared. A part goes to FilmL.A., a company that helps connect the school district with the entertainment industry. Most of the money (75%) goes directly to the schools that host the filming. The rest (25%) goes into a district fund to help other schools.
Uni High is one of the most popular schools for filming in Los Angeles. Between 2001 and 2003, 38 movies, TV shows, and commercials were filmed there. In 2006, the movie Drillbit Taylor, starring Owen Wilson, filmed at Uni. The school made $90,000 from this one movie! For Drillbit Taylor, the school's main building was painted and retiled. Its facade was even changed to look like "McKinley High School."
Below is a list of some productions that have filmed at University High:
Movies Filmed at Uni High
- Billie, 1965
- Pretty Maids All in a Row, 1971
- Fatal Games, 1984
- Rock ‘n’ Roll High School Forever, 1991
- Jawbreaker, 1999
- Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth, 2000
- Bruce Almighty, 2003
- Raise Your Voice, 2004
- Surviving Christmas, 2004
- Freedom Writers, 2007
- Drillbit Taylor, 2008
- Pineapple Express, 2008
- Superhero Movie, 2008
- Starstruck 2010
- Valentine's Day, 2010
- Detention, 2011
- Straight Outta Compton, 2015
- The Wedding Ringer, 2015
- The Fallout, 2021
Television Shows Filmed at Uni High
- My So-Called Life, 1994–1995
- 7th Heaven, 1996–2007 (Uni High was used as Kennedy High School)
- Even Stevens, 2000 - 2003
- Lizzie McGuire, 2001–2004
- Arrested Development, 2003–2006
- Joan of Arcadia, 2003–2005
- Oliver Beene, 2003–2004
- Parenthood, 2010
- Shameless (American TV series) 2011-2021
Individual TV Episodes
- Amazing Stories, "The Main Attraction", 1985
- Charmed, "A Paige From the Past", 2002
- JAG, 2004
- Day Break, 2007
- Privileged, 2008
- 90210, "The Dionysian Debacle", 2009
- Ghost Whisperer, 2009
- Lincoln Heights, 2009
- Modern Family, 2011
- The Mentalist, 2012
- Fresh Off the Boat, Season 4 Episode 9, 2017
- The Orville, Season 3 Episode 3, 2022
Music Videos and Other Filming
- The Crystal Method's music video "Name of the Game", 2002
- JoJo's music video "Leave (Get Out)", 2004
- Jordan Pruitt's music video "Outside Looking In", 2006
- Khalid's music video "Young Dumb & Broke", 2017
Notable Alumni
- List of University High School (Los Angeles) alumni
See also
In Spanish: Escuela Preparatoria University (Los Ángeles) para niños
