Compton High School is a high school in Compton, California, United States, part of the Compton Unified School District.

History

The school opened in 1896 as Compton Union High School and was later re-established as Compton Senior High School in the 1950s after Compton College separated from the high school district and opened its new campus at 1111 East Artesia Boulevard in 1953. During the 1960s, there was a dramatic transition from a white student body to one which was predominantly African-American. Contrary to popular belief, Compton High School is hardly a "black" high school today. After the 1992 Los Angeles Riots, many black people left South Los Angeles and moved to the Antelope Valley, the Inland Empire, or the San Joaquin Valley. Today, Compton High School is over eighty percent Latino as Mexican immigrants settled in South Los Angeles.

New campus

Ground broke on a new high school campus on May 7, 2022 and is expected to open in 2025. Designed by DLR Group, the facility will feature a new performing arts center, academic building, and athletic facilities. New classroom spaces will provide Compton’s 2,500 students the opportunity to participate in programs such as Construction Manufacturing, Graphic Arts, A/V Technology, Communications, Robotics, and Culinary Arts. Additionally, there will be a new football/soccer stadium and outdoor swimming pool.

Dr. Dre donation

On June 15, 2017, Dr. Dre pledged to donate $10 million to the school for a 1200-seat performing arts theater.

Mascot

Compton College's team nick-name is the Tartars, named after the Turkic Tatars, so the team nick-name for Compton High School became the "Tartar Babies". The mascot is "Baby Tartar", who wears a diaper and carries a big sword.

Notable alumni