| West Adams Preparatory High School | |
| Established: | 2007 |
| Type: | Public |
| District: | Los Angeles Unified School District |
| Grades: | 9-12 |
| Age Range: | 14-18 |
| Principal: | Erica Nava |
| Staff: | 67.51 (FTE) |
| Ratio: | 20.00 |
| Enrollment: | 1,350 (2018-19)[1] |
| Colors: | Black and Gray and Sky Blue |
| Mascot: | Panther |
| Location: | 1500 West Washington Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90007 |
| Coordinates: | 34.0398°N -118.2899°W |
| Website: | https://westadamsprep-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com/ |
West Adams Preparatory High School is a secondary school in Central Los Angeles, California.
The school is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District and is operated by a nonprofit organization working in conjunction with LAUSD. The organization, MLA Partner Schools (formerly called Mentor LA), also operates Manual Arts High School.
In 2004, homes were demolished and lots were cleared in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles for what was then referred to as "Central High School No. 2".[2] A century-old neighborhood of houses and businesses were demolished to make room for a new $130 million 15-acre high school.
The school was originally opened to relieve the LAUSD's Belmont High School, Dorsey High School, Los Angeles High School, and Manual Arts High School.[3] [4]
West Adams Preparatory High School opened in the fall semester of 2007. The final budget was $176 million.[5] The school features an all-weather football field, an all-weather track, a weight room, fitness center, swimming pool, two gymnasiums and lighted baseball and softball diamonds.
The school is divided into three smaller schools: Business, Arts (SOTA), and Invention, Design, Engineering & Architecture (IDEA).
Core programs include Advisory (a required course for every student, every year, learning about college and career opportunities) and "7 to 7" (an elongated school day offering enrichment opportunities for students and families before and after normal school hours).
Though West Adams is a LAUSD high school, it was designed in part by MLA Partner Schools, a nonprofit organization that now operates the school on a five-year performance contract with the LAUSD school board.
Several episodes of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution are centered on West Adams, with Oliver attempting to influence the food options available to the students.[6] [7]