List of closed secondary schools in California


This is a list of closed secondary schools in California.
There was a noticeable increase in closures of secondary schools starting about 1979, the year following the passage of Proposition 13. A change in funding changed the financial situation for these school districts. Schools were also closed for other reasons, including declining enrollments at the end of the Baby Boom, long term property ownership, population shift, and white flight. Each of these local decisions were taken by individual school boards ; many of those attributions are discussed in the linked articles.

School name discontinued

Certain events, such as closure, can result in the discontinuation of a school's name. In some cases, the same location has been reopened with a similar name.
SchoolLocationDate discontinuedCurrently at this location
Airport Junior High SchoolWestchester1975demolished
Anderson W. Clark Junior High SchoolGlendale1983reopened in 1998 as Anderson W. Clark Magnet High School
Apollo Junior High SchoolAnaheim1979demolished
Argyll AcademyLos Angeles1982all-girls school; evolved into co-ed Campbell Hall School under new name
Aviation High SchoolRedondo Beach1981Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
Bellarmine-Jefferson High School Burbank2018St. John Paul II STEM Academy at Bellarmine Jefferson
Birmingham High SchoolLos Angeles2009renamed Birmingham Community Charter High School
Blackford High SchoolSan Jose1991Boynton High School continuation school and Harker Middle School
Buchser High SchoolSanta Clara1981renamed Santa Clara High School
California Schools for the Deaf and BlindBerkeley1980reopened in 1986 as Clark Kerr Campus, University of California, Berkeley
Camden High SchoolSan Jose1980mostly torn down to make space for a shopping center; portions remain as Camden Community Center
Campbell High SchoolCampbell1980Campbell Community Center
Castro Middle SchoolSan Jose2006renamed Moreland Middle School
Chester F. Awalt High SchoolMountain View1980assumed the name of Mountain View High School when the Mountain View Union High School was closed
Citrus Union High SchoolGlendora1958Citrus College remains, high school students subsequently went to Azusa High School and Glendora High School
Cogswell CollegeSan Francisco1930converted to a technical college
Corvallis High SchoolStudio City1987Osaka Sangyo University of Los Angeles and Bridges Academy
Covington Junior High SchoolLos Altos1980demolished in 2001; rebuilt as Covington School
Crescent Junior High SchoolBuena Park1979demolished for housing
Crestmoor High SchoolSan Bruno1980Peninsula High School continuation school and a municipal courthouse
Ellwood P. Cubberley High SchoolPalo Alto1979Cubberley Community Center
Cypress Grove Charter High School for Arts and SciencesCarmel2006Marshall West Elementary School
Excelsior High SchoolNorwalk1981Norwalk Adult School
Fermin Lasuen High SchoolSan Pedro1971
Granada Hills High SchoolLos Angeles1994renamed Granada Hills Charter High School; now an LAUSD magnet school
Gladstone High SchoolCovina2023Gladstone Middle School
Warren G. Harding High SchoolLos Angeles1929Renamed University High School after University of California, Los Angeles moved to its current location.
Harry Ells High SchoolRichmond1985LoVonya Dejean Middle School
High School of CommerceSan Francisco1952demolished for the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall
Dr. James J. Hogan High SchoolVallejo2011first assigned to Springstowne Middle School; now called Dr. James J. Hogan Middle School
Holy Name AcademyPomona1949Pomona Catholic High School
J. Eugene McAteer High SchoolSan Francisco2002Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts
Jacob Riis High SchoolLos Angeles1965renamed Mary McLeod Bethune Junior High School
Kennedy High SchoolBarstow1977Barstow Junior High School
Kern County High School and Kern County Union High SchoolBakersfield1945renamed Bakersfield High School in the same location
La Palma Junior High SchoolBuena Park1979Hope School - AUHSD Special Needs
La Sierra High SchoolCarmichael1983La Sierra Community Center
Loretto High SchoolSacramento2009Aspire Alexander Twilight Secondary Academy
Los Angeles Baptist High SchoolNorth Hills, Los Angeles2012Heritage Christian School
Los Angeles Polytechnic High SchoolLos Angeles1935renamed John H. Francis Polytechnic High School
Los Nietos Valley Union High SchoolDowney1919renamed Downey High School
Lowell High SchoolWhittier1980Southern California University of Health Sciences
Marian High SchoolChula Vista2007campus shuttered across 18th Street from St. Charles Catholic Church; demolished for housing; students went to the new Mater Dei Catholic High School constructed across town.
Marina High SchoolSan Leandro1980converted into a continuation school which lasted until 1989; Stenzel Park now occupies part of the former campus
Marywood Central Catholic School for GirlsOrange1980Demolished for new housing – 2016
McNally IntermediateLa Mirada1979Property purchased by Biola College
Mercy High School, CarmichaelCarmichael1983all-girls school, demolished for medical offices and parking garage for adjacent Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center.
Metropolitan Arts and Technology High SchoolSan Francisco2013merged with Metropolitan Arts and Technology High School
Miraleste High School, Palos VerdesPalos Verdes1991renamed Miraleste Intermediate School
Montclair College Preparatory SchoolVan Nuys2012
Monte Vista High SchoolWhittier1979Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Training Center
[Mount Carmel-by-the-Sea, California|Carmel High School (Los Angeles)|Mount Carmel High School]Los Angeles1976formerly at 7011 South Hoover Street, Mt. Carmel Park; the actual demolition of the school was used in the movie Rock 'n' Roll High School which used the school as a location
Mountain View Union High SchoolMountain View1980closed and demolished for housing; portions of the campus remain as Eagle Park; Chester F. Awalt High School was then renamed Mountain View High School
Neff High SchoolLa Mirada1979Note cde.ca.gov incorrectly list closure date in 1989.. Final class to graduate was 1979
Norte Del Rio High SchoolSacramento1989In 2007, Grant Joint Union High School District merged into Twin Rivers Unified School District; campus is now Martin Luther King Jr. Technology Academy, a middle school.
Notre Dame High SchoolSan Francisco1981Notre Dame Senior Plaza
Oakland Aviation High SchoolOakland2011original location: abandoned; 2010 relocation: commercial office space
Pacific Christian on the HillHermon2004now the Los Angeles International Charter High School
Pacific High SchoolSan Leandro1983demolished; now Marina Square Center Outlet Mall
Palisades High SchoolLos Angeles1993renamed Palisades Charter High School
Peterson High SchoolSunnyvale1981became Marian A. Peterson Middle School
Pius X High SchoolDowneyphased out by 1998St. Matthias High School
Pleasant Hill High SchoolPleasant Hill1980reopened in 1997 as Pleasant Hill Middle School
Pomona Catholic Boys High SchoolPomona1967Damien High School
Ravenswood High SchoolEast Palo Alto1976demolished, now Gateway 101 Shopping Center
Red Hill Middle SchoolSan Anselmo1985Red Hill Community Park
Richard E. Byrd Middle SchoolSun Valley2008renamed Sun Valley High School after Byrd Relocates to a New Campus near John H. Francis Polytechnic High School.
Riverview Union High SchoolAntioch1931Antioch Historical Society Museum
Rolling Hills High SchoolRolling Hills Estates1991renamed Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in a consolidation of three high schools
Royal Oak High SchoolCovinanow Royal Oak Middle School
Samuel Ayer High SchoolMilpitas1980Milpitas Sports Center, Teen Center and Adult Education Center
Samuel Rogers Middle SchoolSan Jose2006Easterbrook Discovery School K-8
San Carlos High SchoolSan Carlos1988demolished for housing
San Francisco Polytechnic High SchoolSan Franciscomostly demolished for housing, the east gymnasium remains as the home for Acro Sports and the west gymnasium remains as the home for Circus Center
Santa Cruz Waldorf High SchoolSanta Cruz2009
Santa Rosa Christian SchoolSanta Rosa2011
Junipero Serra High SchoolSan Diego2020renamed Canyon Hills High School to avoid honoring Spanish colonialism
Serramonte High SchoolDaly City1981Jefferson Union High School District office, Serramonte Del Rey
Sierra High SchoolWhittier1979Whittier Adult School, Frontier Continuation High School, Sierra Vista Alternative High School
Sir Francis Drake High SchoolSan Anselmo2021renamed as Archie Williams High School
St. Elizabeth High SchoolOakland2017Reopened 2018 as Cristo Rey De La Salle East Bay High School
South Bay Lutheran High SchoolInglewoodPacific Lutheran High School split away in 2003
Southern California Christian High SchoolOrange2000Olive Elementary School
Sunnyvale High SchoolSunnyvale1981The King's Academy
Sunset High SchoolHayward1990Hayward Adult School
Trident Junior High SchoolAnaheim1979Gilbert South Continuation High School, Polaris Education Center, Anaheim Adult Education
University High SchoolOakland1948became first campus of Oakland City College, which moved in 1967, becoming Merritt College; housed Oakland Technical High School while the original location was retrofitted for earthquakes in the 1970s; now part of the Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland
University of San Diego High SchoolSan Diego2005campus was demolished; school moved to Del Mar and reopened as Cathedral Catholic High School
Ursuline High SchoolSanta Rosa2011students were absorbed by Cardinal Newman High School
Venice Union Polytechnic High SchoolLos Angeles1935renamed Venice High School
Visalia High School Visalia1955campus became Redwood High School, school mascot and colors went to the new Mt. Whitney High School
West Los Angeles Baptist High SchoolLos Angeles2008
William N. Neff High SchoolLa Mirada1981demolished; now industrial buildings at Alondra Blvd. and Trojan Way; operated as a continuation school until 1989
Wilmington High SchoolWilmington, Los Angelesrenamed Phineas Banning High School
Wilson High SchoolSan Francisco1996Phillip & Sala Burton High School and Leadership High School

Moved

This is a list of schools which have changed locations, resulting in closure or reuse of the old campus.
SchoolLocationDate movedCurrently at this location
Burroughs High SchoolRidgecrest1960Murray Middle School
Clovis High SchoolClovis1969in 1995 became San Joaquin College of Law
Hanford High SchoolHanford1964Main Hall on East Campus was Demolished in 1975.
John H. Francis Polytechnic High SchoolLos Angeles1957has moved three times and has changed name once since its creation in 1897; most recent move was from what has become Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
Live Oak High SchoolMorgan Hill1975Britton Middle School
Los Angeles High SchoolLos Angeles1917now covered by the Hollywood Freeway
Lynwood High SchoolLynwood1998on Bullis Road; now Lynwood Middle School
Moorpark High SchoolMoorpark1988Walnut Canyon Elementary School
Narbonne High SchoolHarbor City1957Alexander Fleming Middle School
Nordhoff High SchoolOjai1966Matilija Junior High School
Oxnard High SchoolOxnard1995demolished
Paso Robles High SchoolPaso Robles1981George H. Flamson Middle School
St. Matthias High SchoolDowney, formerly Huntington Park1995Aspire Public Schools
San Fernando High SchoolSan Fernando1952San Fernando Junior High School
Sanger Union High SchoolSanger2004Washington Academic Middle School
Santa Clara High SchoolSanta Clara1981original downtown location on Bellomy Street has been renamed Buchser Middle School; former Buchser High School on Benton Street has been renamed Santa Clara High School
Santa Maria High SchoolSanta Maria1920Ethel Pope Auditorium
Woodrow Wilson High SchoolLos Angeles1970El Soreno Middle School

Closed and reopened

SchoolLocationDate closedDate reopened
Branham High SchoolSan Jose1991reopened 1999
Edgewood High SchoolWest Covina1988reopened associated to Edgewood Middle School in 2010; first graduating class was in 2014
Juan Cabrillo Middle SchoolSanta Clara1982reopened 1992
Lawndale High SchoolLawndale1981reopened 1997
Palos Verdes High SchoolPalos Verdes1991reopened 2002