Beverly Hills High School

Beverly Hills High School. It is a comprehensive public high school located in Beverly Hills, California, operated by the Beverly Hills Unified School District. Founded in 1922, the school has gained national recognition for its academic rigor, affluent student body, and notable list of alumni from the entertainment industry. The campus is notable for its distinctive Streamline Moderne architecture and for housing a functioning oil well, the Beverly Hills Oil Field.

History

The institution opened its doors in 1922, initially serving students from the surrounding communities of Beverly Hills and parts of Los Angeles. The original campus buildings, designed by architects Robert D. Farquhar and John C. Austin, are celebrated examples of the Streamline Moderne style. A significant and unusual feature added in the 1960s was the installation of the Beverly Hills Oil Well on campus property, which has generated revenue for the district. Throughout its history, it has been at the center of notable legal battles, including the landmark 1975 case Crawford v. Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles, which addressed student integration. The school's centennial was celebrated in 2022, marking a century of education intertwined with the history of Southern California.

Campus

The 22-acre campus is located at the intersection of North Moreno Drive and South Elm Drive. Its architectural centerpiece is the historic Streamline Moderne main building, which includes the iconic clock tower. The campus facilities include the Salvatori Auditorium, the Goodson Theatre & Recital Hall, and the Allan L. Freed Fine Arts Center. Athletic facilities are extensive, featuring the recently renovated Snyder Diamond for baseball, the George C. Anderson Stadium for football and track, and multiple tennis courts. The unique oil well is discreetly enclosed within an artistic soundproof structure designed to resemble a modern art installation.

Academics

The school offers a comprehensive curriculum with a strong emphasis on college preparatory courses, including over 30 Advanced Placement offerings. It consistently ranks highly on lists such as those published by U.S. News & World Report and Niche. Specialized programs include the highly competitive Professional Actors Conservatory and an intensive International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Students regularly achieve recognition as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists and finalists. The performing arts department is particularly renowned, with many students participating in award-winning productions and competitions like the Jerry Herman Awards.

Notable alumni

Its alumni roster is heavily represented by prominent figures in entertainment, business, and public service. Notable entertainment figures include actors Angelina Jolie, Nicolas Cage, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Rob Reiner, as well as filmmakers Brett Ratner and Jon Favreau. In music, alumni range from Barbra Streisand and The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger to more recent artists like Evan Rachel Wood. Business leaders include Bloomberg L.P. founder Michael Bloomberg and Slack Technologies co-founder Stewart Butterfield. Other distinguished graduates include United States Secretary of Education Richard Riley, legal scholar Alan Dershowitz, and Olympic gold medalist swimmer Anthony Ervin.

In popular culture

The school's iconic status and location have made it a frequent filming location and subject in media. It served as the primary filming location for the beloved 1990s television series Beverly Hills, 90210 and its later reboot. The campus has appeared in numerous films, including *Clueless*, It's a Wonderful Life, and The Graduate. It is also famously referenced in the The Beatles song "Baby's in Black" and is the setting for the musical *Grease*. The school's culture and environment have been satirized and examined in projects like the documentary The Last Days of Beverly Hills High School? and the reality series The Hills.

Category:Educational institutions established in 1922 Category:Beverly Hills, California Category:Public high schools in Los Angeles County, California