• One of Inglewood's First Schools and Classes ca late 1800's - Inglewood Public Library Collection One of Inglewood's First Schools and Classes ca late 1800's - Inglewood Public Library Collection
  • Inglewood Union High School June 14, 1929 - Inglewood Public Library Collection Inglewood Union High School June 14, 1929 - Inglewood Public Library Collection
  • Inglewood High School, ca 1960 - Inglewood Public Library Collection Inglewood High School, ca 1960 - Inglewood Public Library Collection
  • Gladys Waddingham ca 1990 - Inglewood Public Library Collection Gladys Waddingham ca 1990 - Inglewood Public Library Collection
     
INGLEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL (1905)

 

The Inglewood Union High School District (IUSD) was created in 1905 and Inglewood High School was its primary location. As few students at the time continued to college, high school occupied an important position in civic and social life. Formal school districts, school boards, school taxes and high schools serving greater Los Angeles had started soon after California established statehood in 1850.

The Inglewood Union School District originally encompassed the Centinela Valley communities of Inglewood, Wiseburn, Hawthorne and Lennox.  This district was split twice and, in 1944, became the Inglewood Unified School District.

IUSD curriculum has changed to reflect the changing community’s educational needs. For instance, when Inglewood was agricultural, the High School maintained a teaching farm at Kelso and Inglewood Avenue.

Respected Inglewood teachers include Gladys Waddingham who taught Spanish. Assigned to Inglewood school district in 1922 she retired 45 years later after teaching over 10,000 students. The Inglewood Public Library Auditorium is named in her honor. Waddingham wrote several books including The History of Inglewood and My Memories of Inglewood High.

Teacher Mary Boykin came to Inglewood High School when it was ordered to desegregate in the early 70's. She taught English for 40 years and inspired her former students to film her speaking about the period. The videos are posted on YouTube.

Outstanding faculty continues to serve Inglewood High School today. Students may participate in academic decathalons, Give Back lessons or the AVID elective, which supports students as they challenge themselves by taking rigorous classes. Athletics figure prominently with afterschool teams in basketball, soccer, tennis, track and field and volleyball for boys and girls; and field hockey and softball for girls and baseball and wrestling for boys. School colors are green and white.