Garfield High School, high school in East Los Angeles, California, United States
Garfield High School is a public high school in East Los Angeles, drawing students from the surrounding neighborhoods. The campus spans multiple buildings with classrooms, a gymnasium, sports fields, and outdoor areas spread across a large city block.
The school opened in the early 20th century and grew alongside the surrounding neighborhood as East Los Angeles expanded. Over the following decades it became one of the largest public high schools in Los Angeles County.
The school is deeply tied to the Latino community of East Los Angeles, where many families have sent their children for generations. At public events on campus, that connection between the school and the neighborhood is easy to feel.
The campus is generally closed to visitors during school hours for safety reasons, so a walk around the perimeter gives the best outside view. Anyone hoping to attend an event or visit for a specific reason should reach out to the school in advance.
The 1988 film Stand and Deliver was based on math teacher Jaime Escalante, who taught at this school and led students from low-income backgrounds to pass the national AP Calculus exam. The story drew national attention because many initially doubted the results and the students had to retake the test to prove themselves.
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