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Venice High School (Los Angeles)
Encyclopedia
Venice High School is a public high school located in western Los Angeles, California
within the Los Angeles Unified School District
(LAUSD). The school contains a Foreign Language and International Studies Magnet
, Bilingual Business and Finance Academy(BBFA) and a New Media Academy. The school is known for offering a large number of Advanced Placement classes.
The school's English-language newspaper is The Oarsman and its Spanish-language newspaper is El Heraldo Latino. A bohemian
literary journal characteristic of the area, Written Voice, features students' poetry, short stories, and other work. An unofficial newsmagazine
, The Venice Independent, was formerly run by Venice students.
A famous statue modeled by movie legend Myrna Loy
when she was a student stood for 70 years at the front of the school. Due to vandalism a cage had to be erected, but ultimately the statue had to be taken down somewhere around 1997/1998. A bronze-cast replacement statue was mounted before 2000 onlookers in an April 2010 ceremony.
The school's current principal is Dr. Elsa H. Mendoza.
The vast majority of the students are Mexican American
, with small minorities of European American
s, African American
s and Asian American
s.
Despite the fact that the school is east of Walgrove Avenue, which forms the boundary with the adjacent neighborhood of Mar Vista
, the boundaries of the neighborhood of Venice actually extend east of Walgrove to encompass the campus.
Several neighborhoods, including Venice, Marina Del Rey, Mar Vista, and Del Rey
, feed into Venice High School.
Elementary schools in the Venice High district include Beethoven Elementary, Mar Vista Elementary, Playa del Rey Elementary, Braddock Drive Elementary, Stoner Avenue Elementary, Short Avenue Elementary, Westminster Avenue Elementary School and Coeur d'Alene Avenue Elementary School. Marina Del Rey Middle School, Daniel Webster Middle School, Mark Twain Middle School, and Palms Middle School feed into Venice. Until LAUSD established sufficient capacity in the area during the immediate post-World War II period, Culver City-based Betsy Ross Elementary, now closed, was actually the principal feeder to the then 7–12th grade high school.
bathhouse
. It moved to a new neo-romanesque structure at its present location a decade later.
On March 10, 1933, the school was seriously damaged by the Long Beach earthquake. As a result, classes were held in hastily constructed tents for two years until a replacement school was built. Art Deco
earthquake-resistant
buildings were built in 1935, and are still used by the school today.
On June 5, 2006 around 3:05 PM, 17-year old Augustin Contreras, an 11th grader at Venice, was fatally shot in the school's faculty parking lot. Contreras had intervened in a fight between his two younger brothers and a few other men who did not attend the school. The victim lived in Mar Vista, California
.
In fall 2007, some neighborhoods zoned to Hamilton High School were rezoned to Venice High School.
On May 15, 2009, students staged a walk out in response to LAUSD increasing class sizes and cutting teachers. Students who engaged in the walkout are receiving support by the ACLU
and the National Lawyers Guild
in clearing their truancies on that particular day. A similar walkout occurred in 1951 when school administration disqualified a candidate for student body office because of a questionable campaign speech. Administration retaliated by focusing on agitators within the heretofore self-selective service clubs, suspending the clubs and then reorganizing them later with a more pliant membership. Small protests (e.g. graffiti, lawn burnings, tree fellings) continued sporadically for a year.
starring Maxwell Caufield and Michelle Pfeiffer. It was also used in other movies such as A Nightmare on Elm Street
, American History X
, Matchstick Men
, and Heathers
, as well as in several music videos, including Britney Spears
' international hit ...Baby One More Time, Bowling for Soup
's "High School Never Ends
", and Young MC
's "Principal's Office". Venice is also in The Faders
"No Sleep Tonight". Additionally, aerial photographic images of the school were used to show the location of the high school in the 1987 movie Masters of the Universe
.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
within the Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
(LAUSD). The school contains a Foreign Language and International Studies Magnet
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
, Bilingual Business and Finance Academy(BBFA) and a New Media Academy. The school is known for offering a large number of Advanced Placement classes.
The school's English-language newspaper is The Oarsman and its Spanish-language newspaper is El Heraldo Latino. A bohemian
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
literary journal characteristic of the area, Written Voice, features students' poetry, short stories, and other work. An unofficial newsmagazine
Newsmagazine
A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published piece of paper, magazine or a radio or television program, usually weekly, featuring articles or segments on current events...
, The Venice Independent, was formerly run by Venice students.
A famous statue modeled by movie legend Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
when she was a student stood for 70 years at the front of the school. Due to vandalism a cage had to be erected, but ultimately the statue had to be taken down somewhere around 1997/1998. A bronze-cast replacement statue was mounted before 2000 onlookers in an April 2010 ceremony.
The school's current principal is Dr. Elsa H. Mendoza.
The vast majority of the students are Mexican American
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
, with small minorities of European American
European American
A European American is a citizen or resident of the United States who has origins in any of the original peoples of Europe...
s, African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s and Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
s.
Despite the fact that the school is east of Walgrove Avenue, which forms the boundary with the adjacent neighborhood of Mar Vista
Mar Vista, Los Angeles, California
Mar Vista is a district on the West Side of Los Angeles, California.-Geography and transportation:Mar Vista is near the center of LA's West Side. The city of Santa Monica lies to the northwest, West Los Angeles to the north, Palms to the northeast, Culver City to the east, Del Rey to the southwest,...
, the boundaries of the neighborhood of Venice actually extend east of Walgrove to encompass the campus.
Several neighborhoods, including Venice, Marina Del Rey, Mar Vista, and Del Rey
Del Rey, Los Angeles, California
Del Rey is a small district in the Westside of Los Angeles.-Geography and Transportation:Del Rey takes its name from the nearby Del Rey salt marshes, and sits on low ground on the banks of Ballona Creek...
, feed into Venice High School.
Elementary schools in the Venice High district include Beethoven Elementary, Mar Vista Elementary, Playa del Rey Elementary, Braddock Drive Elementary, Stoner Avenue Elementary, Short Avenue Elementary, Westminster Avenue Elementary School and Coeur d'Alene Avenue Elementary School. Marina Del Rey Middle School, Daniel Webster Middle School, Mark Twain Middle School, and Palms Middle School feed into Venice. Until LAUSD established sufficient capacity in the area during the immediate post-World War II period, Culver City-based Betsy Ross Elementary, now closed, was actually the principal feeder to the then 7–12th grade high school.
History
The school was first established in 1911 (then called "Venice Union Polytechnic High School") when classes were held in an old lagoonLagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
bathhouse
Public bathing
Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public may confuse some people, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing...
. It moved to a new neo-romanesque structure at its present location a decade later.
On March 10, 1933, the school was seriously damaged by the Long Beach earthquake. As a result, classes were held in hastily constructed tents for two years until a replacement school was built. Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
earthquake-resistant
Earthquake engineering
Earthquake engineering is the scientific field concerned with protecting society, the natural and the man-made environment from earthquakes by limiting the seismic risk to socio-economically acceptable levels...
buildings were built in 1935, and are still used by the school today.
On June 5, 2006 around 3:05 PM, 17-year old Augustin Contreras, an 11th grader at Venice, was fatally shot in the school's faculty parking lot. Contreras had intervened in a fight between his two younger brothers and a few other men who did not attend the school. The victim lived in Mar Vista, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
In fall 2007, some neighborhoods zoned to Hamilton High School were rezoned to Venice High School.
On May 15, 2009, students staged a walk out in response to LAUSD increasing class sizes and cutting teachers. Students who engaged in the walkout are receiving support by the ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
and the National Lawyers Guild
National Lawyers Guild
The National Lawyers Guild is an advocacy group in the United States "dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system . ....
in clearing their truancies on that particular day. A similar walkout occurred in 1951 when school administration disqualified a candidate for student body office because of a questionable campaign speech. Administration retaliated by focusing on agitators within the heretofore self-selective service clubs, suspending the clubs and then reorganizing them later with a more pliant membership. Small protests (e.g. graffiti, lawn burnings, tree fellings) continued sporadically for a year.
Filming location
Venice High School was used as the Rydell High School location for the 1978 movie Grease starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John and 1982 movie Grease 2Grease 2
Grease 2 is a 1982 American musical film and sequel to Grease, which is based upon the musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Grease 2 was produced by Allan Carr and Robert Stigwood, and directed and choreographed by Patricia Birch, who also choreographed the first film...
starring Maxwell Caufield and Michelle Pfeiffer. It was also used in other movies such as A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 1984 American slasher film directed and written by Wes Craven, and the first film of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. The film features Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Amanda Wyss, Jsu Garcia, Robert Englund, and Johnny Depp in his feature film...
, American History X
American History X
American History X is a 1998 American drama film directed by Tony Kaye and starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong. It was distributed by New Line Cinema....
, Matchstick Men
Matchstick Men (film)
Matchstick Men is a 2003 American drama film directed by Ridley Scott. Based on Eric Garcia's novel Matchstick Men: A Novel about Grifters with Issues , the motion picture stars Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Lohman.-Plot:...
, and Heathers
Heathers
Heathers is a 1989 black comedy film starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty. The film portrays four girls in a trend-setting clique at a fictional Ohio high school...
, as well as in several music videos, including Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
' international hit ...Baby One More Time, Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
's "High School Never Ends
High School Never Ends
"High School Never Ends" is a song by the Texas pop band Bowling for Soup. The song was the first single off their ninth album, The Great Burrito Extortion Case, and was released on September 19, 2006...
", and Young MC
Young MC
Marvin Young , better known by his stage name Young MC, is an English-born American singer and actor. He is best known for his 1989 hit "Bust a Move"...
's "Principal's Office". Venice is also in The Faders
The Faders
The Faders were a British female pop rock band, formed in January 2004 by Polydor Records. Bassist/keyboardist Toy Valentine and drummer Cherisse Osei were the first members to get through the first audition...
"No Sleep Tonight". Additionally, aerial photographic images of the school were used to show the location of the high school in the 1987 movie Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe (film)
Masters of the Universe is a 1987 science-fiction fantasy film based on the toy line by the same name. The movie stars Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor...
.
Neighborhoods zoned to Venice
Three University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) student housing facilities for families are zoned to Venice High School. They include Rose Avenue Apartments, University Village, and Venice-Barry Apartments. Rose Avenue had been rezoned from Hamilton High School to Venice in 2007.Notable alumni
Notable Venice High alumni and students include:- Larry AtkinsLarry AtkinsLarry Tabay Atkins III is a former American football linebacker. Atkins played in the National Football League from 1999 to 2003, spending four years with the Kansas City Chiefs and one year with the Oakland Raiders. In his five-year career, Atkins recorded nine tackles, one forced fumble, and one...
, NFL linebacker, Kansas City, Oakland 1999–2004 - David BluthenthalDavid BluthenthalDavid Blu is a 6' 7" American-Israeli professional basketball player who plays for the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball club.He was born as David Bluthenthal. In 2010 he changed his name to David Blu .-Early life:...
(now "Blu"), led Israeli team to 2004 Euroleague basketball championship - Cliff Bourland, 1948 Summer Olympics1948 Summer OlympicsThe 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
4X400 Gold medal; US 400m champion - Craig BreedloveCraig BreedloveCraig Breedlove is a five-time world land speed record holder. He was the first to reach , , and , using several turbojet-powered vehicles, all named Spirit of America.-Land vehicle speed records :...
, World land speed record holder - Beau BridgesBeau BridgesLloyd Vernet "Beau" Bridges III is an American actor and director.- Early life :Bridges was born in Los Angeles, the son of actor Lloyd Bridges and his college sweetheart, Dorothy Bridges . He was nicknamed "Beau" by his mother and father after Ashley Wilkes's son in Gone with the Wind, the book...
, Motion picture actor - John BromfieldJohn BromfieldJohn Bromfield was an American film and television actor.Bromfield was born in South Bend, Indiana. He played football and was a boxing champion in college. He served in the United States Navy. In 1948, he twice harpooned a whale in the documentary film Harpoon...
, Motion picture actor, television series lead - Les ClarkLes ClarkLes Clark was the first of Disney's Nine Old Men. Joining Disney in 1927, he was the only one to work on the origins of Mickey Mouse with Ub Iwerks.- The Disney Studio :...
, Legendary Disney animator and one of Disney's Nine Old Men - Leon Clarke, NFL end 1956–63. Twice Pro Bowl
- Gary CollinsGary Collins (actor)Gary Ennis Collins is an American film and television performer.-Early life and career:Collins was born in Venice, California, to a waitress/factory worker mother. After attending Santa Monica City College, he enlisted in the U.S...
, motion picture actor/tv actor-emcee - Walter CunninghamWalter CunninghamRonnie Walter Cunningham , known as Walt Cunningham, is a retired American astronaut. In 1968, he was the Lunar Module pilot on the Apollo 7 mission...
, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
AstronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
(Apollo 7Apollo 7Apollo 7 was the first manned mission in the American Apollo space program, and the first manned US space flight after a cabin fire killed the crew of what was to have been the first manned mission, AS-204 , during a launch pad test in 1967...
pilot) - Crispin GloverCrispin GloverCrispin Hellion Glover is an American film actor, director and screenwriter, recording artist, publisher, and author. Glover is known for portraying eccentric people on screen such as George McFly in Back to the Future, Layne in River's Edge, unfriendly recluse Rubin Farr in Rubin and Ed, the...
, Motion picture actor - Gogi GrantGogi GrantGogi Grant is an American popular singer.-Life and career:Grant was born Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the age of 12, she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she attended Venice High School. In California, she won a teenage singing contest and appeared on television...
(Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg), Singer - Barry Hirsch, Entertainment lawyer
- Don Kierbow,tennis: multiple USLTA senior championhsips, three small college national titles
- Marty KleinMarty KleinMarty Ralph Klein is an American sex therapist, author, educator and public policy analyst. Klein is critical of censorship, the concepts of "sex addiction" and "porn addiction," and the anti-pornography movement.-Life and career:...
, 2x Calif.state high school championship tennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
coach - Donna LorenDonna LorenDonna Loren is a singer and actress. A very prolific performer in the 1960s, commenciong while still attending Venice High School in western Los Angeles, she was the Dr Pepper spokesperson from 1963–1968, prolific vocalist on ABC-TV’s Shindig, and a cast member of the American International...
, Singer and actress; "Dr.Pepper girl" - J.P. LosmanJ.P. LosmanJonathan Paul "J. P." Losman is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills 22nd overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
, NFL quarterback, Buffalo, Oakland, 2004–09, Miami 2011 - Myrna LoyMyrna LoyMyrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
, (Myrna Williams) Motion picture actress, voted "Queen of Hollywood" in 1938 - Teena MarieTeena MarieMary Christine Brockert, better known by her stage name Teena Marie, was an American singer, songwriter and producer...
(Mary Christine Brockert), singer/songwriter/producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Dana McLemoreDana McLemoreDana McLemore is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints. He played his high school football at Venice High School and college football at the University of Hawaii....
, NFL defensive back New Orleans, San Francisco, 1982–87 - Stacy PeraltaStacy PeraltaStacy Peralta is an American director and entrepreneur. Peralta was previously a professional skateboarder and surfer with the professional skateboarding group, the Z-Boys.-Early life:...
, Skateboarder, surfer, documentary film director - Don PerryDon PerryDon Perry , is a former Canadian ice hockey player and coach. Perry was head coach of the Los Angeles Kings from 1981 to 1984...
, 6X AAU and NCAA champion in gymnastic rope climb, world record holder(1954) - Doug SlatenDoug SlatenDouglas Slaten , is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals. He attended Venice High School...
, Arizona,Washington Nationals pitcher - Harry SnyderHarry SnyderHarry Snyder along with his wife Esther Snyder were the founders of In-N-Out Burger. Snyder was one of the first people to develop the idea of a drive-thru hamburger restaurant, where customers would be able to order their food via an intercom....
, founder In-N-Out Burger chain - Joanie SommersJoanie SommersJoanie Sommers , is an American singer and actress with a long career of jazz, standards and popular material and extensive show-business credits...
(Joan Drost), singer, "Pepsi Girl" - Gerald SuttonGerald SuttonGerald Sutton was a Foreign Service and Civil Service officer in the United States Department of State from 1956 until his 1998 retirement.- Biography :...
, U.S. diplomat - Jerry TurnerJerry Turner (baseball)John Webber "Jerry" Turner is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played ten seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the San Diego Padres . He also played ten games for the Chicago White Sox in 1981 and 85 games for the Detroit Tigers in 1982...
, ML Baseball, 1974–83, San Diego, Detroit, White Sox - Terry Rangno, Singer and actor; "We Five"