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Long Beach Polytechnic High School, founded in 1895 as '''Long Beach High School''', is a Secondary School located at 1600 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach , California , United States .

The school serves portions of Long Beach, including Bixby Knolls , and some parts of the city of Signal Hill .

Polytechnic, (or more commonly known as Poly), is the flagship high school of the Long Beach Unified School District and the most populous high school in California. It is a large urban high school with more than 5,000 students.

Polytechnic has long been distinguished in both academics and athletics. The PACE magnet program and the CIC magnet program boast more total University Of California admissions than any other high school in California. In 2005, Sports Illustrated Magazine named Polytechnic the "Sports School of the Century." Polytechnic has also received numerous prizes for its music program, including multiple Grammy Awards. Long Beach Poly has also sent more players to the NFL than any other high school in the country.


INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADORS

International Ambassadors have been a long tradition of Long Beach Poly High School since 1976. They replaced the traditional Homecoming King and Queen as a result of racial tensions during the 70's. They serve as representatives of Poly's diversity. Ambassadors have also left a legacy that has continued to improve Long Beach Poly. From recycle bins to painting murals, the Ambassadors do all they can to improve and promote the school.



POLY HIGH HISTORY TIMELINE

1895: Class begin in the fall at the Methodist Tabernacle Chapel, northeast of Third Street and Locust Avenue. Principal Walter S. Bailey and teacher Hattie Mason teach English, math, history, Latin, Greek and German to 28 students.


1897: On June 18, Ernest Shaul receives his diploma, the first graduate of the Long Beach schools and the sole member of the class of 1897. Classes moved to Chautauqua Hall at Fourth St. and Pine Avenue as work begins on a new Long Beach High School at Eighth Street at American Avenue (now Long Beach Blvd.)


1898: Long Beach High School dedicated on May 20. It is a mission-style building with a red tile roof, four classrooms and an assembly hall.


1899: The Long Beach High School Athletic Association is formed. A semi-pro baseball team donates uniforms to Poly which changed the school colors to match the uniforms – from red & white to green & gold.


1902: Courtney A. Teel graduates, the first student to go through every grade in the Long Beach Schools.


1903: The first Long Beach High school yearbook, “Caerulea,” is published.


1904: Football and basketball come to Poly.


1906: California’s First Student Government is formed.


1907: David “Daddy” Burcham becomes principal, a title he would hold until 1941. The girls’ basketball team wins the first of 3 consecutive state championships.


1909: Debate begins on a site for a new “polytechnic” high school with a curriculum pattered after the Los Angeles Schools. A fraternity called Comus, is started by ten Poly students.



1910: The corner of 16th Street and Atlantic Avenue is chosen as the school's new, larger, and permanent site.


1911: Long Beach High school graduates its final class. Poly High School opens with 31 teachers and 850 students. California’s first PTA is also formed this year.


1914: The California Interscholastic Federation forms, as does a girls’ athletic league.


1919: JROTC starts.


1917-1918: School life and sports are interrupted by an influenza epidemic and World War I. Inspired by the rabbits that roam the athletic field, the track team members decide to call themselves Jackrabbits. On Dec. 27, 1918, the old Long Beach High School burns down. It last served as an elementary school. 22 Students gave their lives in World War I.


1924: David Burcham Field, the Poly Athletic field, is dedicated on January 18.


1925: Woodrow Wilson High School opens in eastern Long Beach and quickly becomes Poly’s chief rival.


1931: New Auditorium built at a cost of $200,000.


1933: March 10, a 6.3 Earthquake hits the area and the school’s towering dome at the entrance collapses. Many buildings were ruined and the science building was burned down. School reopens the following week in 47 tents on Burcham Field. “Tent City” remained for 3 years.


1935: A new science building is constructed and the Poly auditorium is remodeled. Architect Hugh Davies authors the school motto “Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve.”


1936: A new administration building opens.


1937: 1,006 students graduate – The class of 1937 is the first class to graduate over 1,000 students


1941: “Daddy” Burcham retires as the United States enters World War II. Poly Students grow Victory Gardens, join bond and scrap drives. 4,000 Poly Students and Staff enlisted to fight in the war. 77 died. Many fought before they graduated. Many came back from the war, finished their credits and received their diplomas.


1944: The Hutch opens on Willow and Pine – where many off campus dances are held.


1945: Poly High celebrates its 50th Anniversary. “The Spirit of Poly,” a bomber plane built by Douglas Aircraft Co. was financed with war bonds sold by Poly students, flies over the campus. It reinforced the spirit and patriotism of the students. McDonnell-Douglas also made metal bracelets with the initials LBPHS.


1952: The old wooden bleachers at Burcham Field burn down. The new Veterans Memorial Stadium becomes Poly’s home field. Howard Hicks becomes principal. Poly is, at this point, the best-known institution in the nation through its leadership in sports and academics. The gyms and Student Store are built.


1953: The Library is built at a cost of $500,000.


1954: Basketball wins its fifth consecutive CIF title.


1957: “Home of Scholars and Champions” is coined by Principal Neil W. Philips as a second school motto.


1965: Poly has won 60 CIF Titles in various sports.


1966: A record number of 117 candidates running for office for Student Commission as the Student Body Bylaws are changed.


1969: On May 27, about 100 White and African-American students fight on campus in response to a racist leaflet. This leaves 24 students injured.


1970: Poly celebrates its 75th Anniversary.


1971: Homecoming King and Queen are ended due to racial tensions.


1973: JROTC program starts allowing females to participate. SEA (School of Educational Alternatives) Program is establilshed, based on Summerhill 'Learning without walls'.


1975: Poly North opens at Big Bear Lake as a weekend human relations camp.


1976: PACE (Program of Additional Curricular Experiences), the school’s oldest academy is first started by Nancy Gray, a Language Teacher. This programs brings in gifted students from around Long Beach for college-preparatory classes.


1977: Badminton comes to Poly.


1978: Girls Track team and Gymnastics Team are formed.


1982: CIC (Center for International Commerce) is co-founded by Greta McGree. This program brings in gifted students from throughout Long Beach for college-preparatory classes with an emphasis in international studies and commerce.


1984: USA Today recognizes Poly with the #1 Ranking in the Nation with titles from Moore League, CIF, and State.


1986: Poly High is one of 6 California schools that year to receive the Distinguished School
Recognition Award, the California Department of Education’s highest honor.


1988: Poly High has 6 National Merit Scholars, more than any other U.S high school.


1989: Poly becomes a 4-year high-school.


1993: New Science Building is built. Poly also becomes the first Long Beach school to have 2 principals.


1994: Tardy Sweep is implemented. Hong Tran Nguyen, a Poly teacher is named Teacher of the Year by the Walt Disney Co.


1995: Poly celebrates its centennial anniversary.


2000: Poly wins 5 CIF Championships—in Football, Girls Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Boys & Girls Track & Field. Poly's music program is recognized as a Grammy Signature School Gold, placing them among the top ten music programs in the country.


2003: A building-by-building campus modernization process begins. (As of Summer 2006, it remains in progress.)


2004: Poly's music program is again recognized as a Grammy Signature School Gold, placing them among the top seven music programs in the country. PACE Student Sumner Arano (Class of 2005) scores a perfect 1600 on the SAT I, and a perfect 36 on the ACT college entrance exams.


2005: Harvard University’s recognition of Poly as the Most Successful High School in California in the number of graduates. Sports Illustrated recognizes Poly High School as the #1 Sports High School in the nation. Poly administers 704 Advanced Placement tests and enjoys an overall pass rate of 81%.


2006: A new system requiring a school ID to be worn at all times is implemented at Poly, as well as the rest of the school district. PACE Student Samantha Larson has now climbed the Seven Summits, the tallest peaks on each continent. She is the youngest to do so. The music department adds a fifth jazz band: two advanced ensembles, two intermediate, and one beginning class of over 50, thus accommodating around 170 students in the jazz department alone. Also the graduating class of 2006 is required to pass The California High School Exit Exam after the test was rendered unconstitutional and then reinstated. Senior Siodhbhra Parkin on Poly's Speech and Debate team captures the State Championship in Student Congress competition.

2007: Beginning with the class of 2007 students need to complete 40 hours of community service as a new LBUSD graduation requirement. Poly Water Polo Wins Moore League for the first time in over 20 years. 1,010 students graduated from Poly, about 200 more than any other school in LBUSD


POLYTECHNIC FACTS

  • Poly’s school colors were originally red and white, but after a semi-pro baseball team donated uniforms the school changed colors to match the uniforms, which were green and gold.

  • There is a Federal Art Project (circa 1938) painted in a now-locked stairwell at the south end of the 400 building.

  • There is a tile mosaic at the corner of the campus.

  • The Science Building was paid for by the State of California to boost student interest in the Sciences. (All the Science buildings in all the schools of LBUSD were paid by the State and built around the same time. They are the newest buildings on these campuses).

  • The book "One Great Game" by Don Wallace (Poly alumni) is a biography on Poly's football team during the 2001 season, where the team played Concord De La Salle in the first ever game of the top two nationally ranked teams.



Polytechnic history



  • Long Beach’s first High School (1895) – It was first called Long Beach High School then it became Long Beach Polytechnic High School.

  • The 1909 Poly swim and water polo teams practiced in the ocean. There was no swimming pool at the school until the 1920’s.

  • A cornerstone beneath the flagpole at the center of the Poly campus was sealed in 1910. It was said to contain newspapers from Long Beach and Los Angeles, church circulars, bank statements, city documents, Chamber of Commerce pamphlets and school forms. It was opened at Poly’s Centennial Celebration.

  • In 1919, Poly’s football team would not accept defeat. It beat its opponents 549-21. It defeated the Phoenix team, the six-time Arizona state champion 102-0. And it won the state and Southwest championships also.

  • In the 1920’s, dancing was not permitted for students at school activities. Prom was over at 10p.m.

  • In 1924-25 school year, Poly enrollment reached 3,750. During most of the 1920’s, Poly High was the largest school west of the Mississippi.

  • Bricks from Poly High were sold as souvenirs after the Earthquake of 1933. The proceeds paid for a memorial flagpole that now stands at the center of the campus.

  • In 1929, Poly captured 5 CIF titles in one year; football, basketball, cross country, swimming, and water polo.

  • After the earthquake of 1933, classes were held in canvas buildings/tents.

  • Because of World War II, many students missed out on Senior Activities. Ditch Day at Catalina Island was closed for War Defense and even their Senior Prom. Many male teachers were drafted into the armed forces and had to be replaced by female teachers. Senior girls had a class called MWP, Mobilization of Woman Power, and they were assigned a very daring book (sex books) which were wrapped in brown paper.



Poly High firsts:

  • Poly High had California’s first interscholastic athletics league (1899)

  • Poly High had California’s first student council.

  • Poly High had California’s first PTA (1910)

  • Poly High had California’s first graduation in caps and gowns (1921)

  • Poly High was Long Beach’s first high school (1895)



Popular Filming Location:

Long Beach Poly has been a backdrop for many TV Commercials, Shows, and Motion Pictures. Some of the uses of the location include:




NOTABLE ALUMNI

Famous alumni include rappers Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg , singers Lupillo Rivera , tennis player Billie Jean King , actors John Wayne and Van Heflin , actress Cameron Diaz , opera singer Marilyn Horne , attorneys George E. Shibley and Mark S. Mayfield, comedian Ernan Patawaran, musicians Bill Lanham and Josh Schroeter, computer programmer David Cooper, noted wine expert Ron Striewig, politician Harlan Hagen , mountain climber Samantha Larson ('06), singer Lupillo Rivera Class of 1990 , musician Harold Brown Class of 1964, and singer/musician Charles Miller .

Famous baseball players from Poly include Chase Utley , Milton Bradley , Randy Moffitt , Tommie Sisk, Oscar and Ollie Brown and brothers Chris and 2007 Hall of Fame inductee Tony Gwynn .

Famous basketball players from Poly include Mack Calvin and Tyus Edney .

Famous football players from Poly include Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed from the "Rocky" movies), DeSean Jackson , Kareem Kelly , Mark Carrier , Darnell Bing , Marcedes Lewis , Manuel Wright , Winston Justice , Marques Anderson , Samie Parker , Willie McGinest , Omar Stoutmire , Gene Washington , Tony Hill , Stephone Paige , Leonard Russell , Marquez Pope , Brandon Whiting , Dennis Price , Chuckie Miller , Earl McCullouch , Hershel Dennis , Darrell Rideaux and Don Sasa .


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