Locke High School - History

History

Alain Leroy Locke Senior High School was opened in 1967 in response to the Watts’ riots. It was created to provide families in South Los Angeles a safe and secure school, one with a comprehensive program to guarantee the intellectual, moral, social, emotional and physical development of all students. Locke was established to transform students into critical thinkers, decision makers, effective leaders, academic achievers and responsible citizens in Los Angeles’ culturally diverse society. Forty years later, on September 11, 2007, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) made history when they voted to give operational control of Locke High School to Green Dot Public Schools. LAUSD made this decision in response to a conversion charter petition submitted by the teachers of Locke High School in support of the transition.

On September 8, 2008, Locke High School reopened as seven small college-prep schools, now known as the Locke Family of High Schools: Locke 1, Locke 2, Locke 3, Locke 4, Locke Tech, Animo Watts, and Ace Academy. These schools are committed to restore Locke to the foundation that the school was originally founded upon. The Locke Family of Schools aims to provide a safe, college-prep environment that prepares every student for college, leadership, and life.

On July 6, 2011 a great achievement of academic standards were made at the graduation ceremony for Locke High School. It was the first class to graduate since the new order came in to effect, therefore they call themselves "The Original Locke Saints". An unpredictable 256 students graduated out of 379 students in the senior class that year.