History
Polytechnic High School opened in 1897 as a "commercial high school" at its original campus in downtown Los Angeles on South Beaudry Avenue, the present location of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education headquarters. In 1905, Polytechnic moved to the corner of Washington Boulevard and Flower Street, in what is now downtown Los Angeles. Polytechnic High School was the first school to offer studies in multiple class subjects, which is now modeled by many high schools, as "periods". Polytechnic High School was renamed in 1935, in favor of the school's founder and first principal John H. Francis.
In February 1957 Poly moved to its present site in the San Fernando Valley and opened its doors to new students for the then fast growing suburb. Since Poly's relocation, the former site has been the campus of Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. The school mascot is a parrot named Joe Parrot, and he now has a female companion named, Josie.
In 2006, the establishment of Arleta High School and Panorama High School relieved Poly of its overcrowding.
The 2009 opening of Sun Valley High School relieved Poly.
In February 2012, a 27 year old athletic assistant was arrested for having a relationship with a 16-year-old student from another school.
Poly's football and track stadium is named for NBA Hall-of-Famer Gail Goodrich, a Poly alumnus. The Parrots have had a longtime rivalry with Van Nuys High School, which had been established in 1914.
Read more about this topic: John H. Francis Polytechnic High School
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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—Eric Hoffer (1902–1983)