Long Beach Polytechnic High School

History

Early years: 1895-1952

Long Beach Polytechnic High School began offering classes in 1895 in order to help educate the growing population of Long Beach. The first classes were at the Methodist Tabernacle Chapel, and the first principal was Walter S. Bailey. The first graduating class was in 1897 and only had one student. During this same year, classes were moved to Chautauqua Hall at Fourth Street and Pine Avenue as work began on the new Long Beach High School. Long Beach High School was completed in 1898 and featured four classrooms and an assembly hall.

The school's reputation continued to grow. In 1899, the Long Beach High School Athletic Association was formed. In 1903, the school yearbook, Caerulea, was first published. Football and basketball programs were added in 1904, its first student government was established in 1906, David Burcham became the school's long-term principal from 1907 to 1941, and the girls' basketball program won three consecutive state championships, from 1907 to 1909.

In 1911, a new 15 acre campus was constructed at 16th Street and Atlantic, Poly's present location, offering more space and amenities. The new campus was financed by a $240,000 city bond that passed in 1910. The previous campus became an elementary school. JROTC began in 1917, and an influenza epidemic swept through the school population. The following year, rabbits began invading the playing fields, inspiring the track team to call themselves the Jackrabbits; this eventually became the official school mascot. The athletic field was dedicated as "David Burcham Field" in 1924 to honor the long-serving principal.

During much of the 1920s, Poly was the largest high school west of the Mississippi River in terms of student population. A new Mediterranean Revival auditorium was designed by William Horace Austin in 1930, and constructed in 1931. The Long Beach earthquake severely damaged the school in 1933. Following the earthquake, bricks from the damage were sold in order to pay for a memorial flagpole which still stands. In 1935, a new science building was built and the auditorium was remodeled by architect Hugh Davies. The remodeling included PWA Moderne, Streamline Moderne, and Art Deco design. A new administration building was completed the following year.

1952–1982

Wooden bleachers that had lined the athletic fields burned down in 1952 and the new Veterans Memorial Stadium became the new home field for the Jackrabbits. The following year, the school's library was completed in 1953.

In 1969, a racist leaflet was published, prompting approximately 100 Euro-American and African-American students to fight, leaving 24 students injured. Homecoming titles (King and Queen) would ended two years later due to racial tensions. In 1975, the Program of Additional Curricular Experiences (PACE) began, one of the first high school programs to offer advanced college placement courses. Badminton began in 1977, and girls' track and gymnastics teams started the following year.

1982–present

The Center for International Commerce (CIC) began in 1982. In 1984, Poly was recognized by USA Today as the top ranked school nationally in terms of Moore League, CIF, and state titles. Poly received the Distinguished School Recognition Award in 1986, the California Department of Education's highest award. Poly became a four-year school in 1989, and a new science building was completed in 1993.

The Poly music program was recognized as a Grammy Signature School Gold in 2000, one of the top ten music programs in the country. Poly received this honor in 2003 as well. In 2005, Harvard recognized Poly as the most successful high school in the nation in terms of number of graduates. The same year, Sports Illustrated named the Poly as the #1 sports high school in the nation. In 2006, security was increased and school IDs were required to be worn at all times while on campus. In 2018, Poly dedicated its library to honor former principal Bob Ellis. In 2019, the auditorium was renamed the Andrew Osman Performing Arts Center to honor the school's music program director of 36 years.

Academics

In 2008, 1,573 AP exams were administered at Poly with over 75% of testers receiving a passing score of 3 or higher. The national pass rate in 2008 was slightly over 58%. Poly also has the highest academic performance index of any traditional high school in Long Beach with a 2009 score of 747. It consistently ranks a 9 out of 10 when compared to schools with similar demographics since 2007.

Pac Rim is a California magnet academy for students interested in business. Polytechnic High also includes the Beach, Justice, METS, and MEDS academies. Poly also hosts the PACE program (Program of Additional Curricular Experiences), a competitive college-preparatory magnet program. Entrance is predicated upon a combination of grade-point-average and standardized test scores.

Athletics

Long Beach Polytechnic offers a wide variety of sports and activities due to its large size and diverse student population. Athletic teams compete in Division I within the California Interscholastic Federation and are known as the Jackrabbits. Throughout the school's history, the Jackrabbits have won many state championships and have produced several collegiate and professional athletes. In 2005, Sports Illustrated magazine named Polytechnic the "Sports School of the Century," in recognition of the school's badminton, baseball, basketball, football, track, cross country, swimming, water polo, tennis, golf, and softball teams.

Football

Long Beach Poly has maintained a successful football program and has produced more NFL players than any other high school in the nation, over 60 throughout school history.

Poly played its first football game in 1908 and featured its first African-American player in 1934.

After losing their opener, the Jackrabbits won their first game 10–0 vs. Occidental Prep.

In 1917, head coach Eddie Kienholz left the team to fight in World War I.

The 1919 Poly team went 12–0 and won their first state championship over Berkeley High School by a score of 21–14. Following the state championship, Poly defeated Phoenix High School by a score of 102–0 in the Southwest Championship. Poly won additional CIF titles in 1923 and 1927.

Orian Landreth became the head coach in 1929 and won the CIF title vs. Santa Barbara High School.

Poly repeated as CIF champions in 1930, and also won titles in 1934 and 1936. From 1942 to 1956, the football program experienced down years, producing just four winning seasons. The 1959 and 1960 teams led by quarterback Bud Hollowell went 22–0–1 and claimed two CIF titles.

The 1959 team is best known for the "ICBM" backfield of Lonzo Irvin, Harvey Crow, Willie Brown and Willie Martin.

From 1965 to 1979, the Jackrabbits experienced a second drought of success, making the playoffs five times in 15 seasons. The 1973 team went winless and the 1979 team was forced to forfeit all of its wins due to ineligible players. Poly won the CIF title in 1980 and were runners-up in 1981 and 1982. The Jackrabbits shared a title with Edison High School in 1985 after a 14–14 tie.

Poly experienced increased success in the 1990s and 2000s, winning CIF titles in 1997, 1999 and 2000. The 2001 team featured Marcedes Lewis, Hershel Dennis, Winston Justice, and Darnell Bing. Despite the talent, the team finished runner-up to De La Salle High School. The Jackrabbits won the CIF title in 2004 behind DeSean Jackson and won additional titles in 2007, 2008 and 2012.

Filming location

Long Beach Poly has been the backdrop for many commercials, television shows, and films.

Notable alumni

Athletes

Charlie Williams, MLB umpire

Chase Utley

Chris Gwynn

Chuck Stevens

James McDonald

Jim Marshall, MLB player and manager

Milton Bradley

Ollie Brown

Oscar Brown

Randy Moffitt

Rocky Bridges

Tony Gwynn

Vern Stephens

Zeb Terry

April Phillips

Ben McDonald

Bobby Jones

Jordan Bell

Joshua Munzon

Kenny Booker

Mack Calvin

Michael Wiley

Morlon Wiley

Myles Johnson

Ozell Jones

Peyton Watson

Ryan Anderson

Tyus Edney

Brandon Whiting

Brian Banks

Entertainers

Barbara Britton, actress

Bobby Burgess, dancer and singer

Cameron Diaz, actress

Carl Weathers, actor

Crooked I, rapper

Edna Tichenor, actress

Giveon, singer

Gloria Dickson, actress

Harold Ray Brown, musician, (War)

Jenni Rivera, singer

Jo Stafford, singer

Laraine Day

Linda Chou, singer

Lita Ford, musician

Lupillo Rivera

Marilyn Horne, opera singer

Nate Dogg, rapper

Nick Wiger, writer/podcaster

Norma Tanega, musician and painter

Percy Daggs III, actor

Perry Mattfeld, actress

Samuel Grodin, pianist

Sherwood Bailey, child actor in The Little Rascals

Snoop Dogg, rapper

Spike Jones, musician

Thelma Houston, singer

Other alumni

Mildred Bryant Brooks, printmaker, muralist

Beverly O'Neill, three-term mayor of Long Beach

Chip Conley, businessman, author and speaker

Craig Hosmer, eleven-term member of the United States House of Representatives, from 1953 to 1974

Don Callender, co-founder of Marie Callender's restaurant chain

Dorothy Buffum Chandler, cultural leader and namesake of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, class of 1918

Edward W. Anderson, Air Force Major General

Eugene Stoner, firearms designer

Gerald Desmond, prominent Democratic politician and namesake of the Gerald Desmond Bridge

Harlan Hagen, seven-term member of the United States House of Representatives, from 1953 to 1967

Jane Anne Russell, endocrinologist

Keith Kellogg, acting National Security Advisor

Robert Dickinson, Emmy-award winning lighting designer

Samuel Grodin, pianist, lecturer and teacher

Thad Balkman, District Judge for the 21st judicial district, Cleveland County, Oklahoma

William Dannemeyer, seven-term member of United States House of Representatives, from 1979 to 1993