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About Woodrow Wilson Classical High School

Wilson Classical High School first opened its doors in 1926 and will graduate its 81st senior class this coming June. A strong tradition of both academic and athletic excellence have inspired multiple generations to want their children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren to wear the cardinal and gold of a Wilson Bruin. The second oldest high school in a city of nearly half a million, Wilson has an alumni base of over 50,000 graduates who are proud to say “I graduated from Wilson High!” Wilson grads confidently pursue higher education at a variety of colleges, from our local community college to the most prestigious private colleges in the nation and pursue successful careers in every walk of life.

Located at 4400 East Tenth Street in Long Beach, California, Wilson Classical High School serves a highly diverse student population, in the most diverse neighborhood, in the city named by USA Today in 2001 from census data as the most diverse city in the entire United States of America! With a current student population of 4500, WCHS serves students in grades 9-12 on an attractive, recently remodeled urban campus originally built to house 3,000. Citywide growth has added nearly 1000 students to our total enrollment since 2001.

Both ethnically and economically diverse, WCHS students run the gamut from those who live in great affluence to those enduring financial hardship, and from those who suffer the most challenging physical and learning disabilities to the most athletically and academically gifted. Students from many backgrounds attend our school, bringing a wonderful atmosphere of cultural diversity. The demographic breakdown at WCHS includes 37% Hispanic, 33 % Anglo, 15 % African-American, 12% Asian, and 2% Filipino, American Indian, and other ethnicities. Over 17 primary languages are spoken in the homes of our students.

WCHS was redesigned as a college prep magnet school and renamed Wilson Classical High School in the middle 1990’s. Wilson High provides the Classical Curriculum for all students by enrolling each in four years of math, science, English and a world language. All students are also expected to complete seven classes each year versus the traditional six. Our school schedule includes an alternating even/odd block schedule of four 90 minute instructional blocks per day and our students are required to comply with the Wilson uniform dress code. (see: Policies and Procedures) Our dedicated staff, along with our Student/Parent Agreement, Code of Excellence, Code of Honor, strict uniform dress code, Distinguished Scholars Program, wide AP and Honors course offerings, demanding Classical Curriculum, AVID Program, interventions and resources for special needs populations, and 2.0 GPA requirement, all strongly support the Wilson Classical High School vision that every student can and will reach his or her fullest academic and personal potential. Our expected schoolwide learning results are that every single student will become a proficient communicator and critical thinker who possesses career awareness and strives to be a good citizen.

Wilson High boasts an exciting and varied co-curricular program and enjoys great parent and community support. Ranked by Newsweek among the top 4% of U.S. high schools for 2003, 2004, and 2005 and 2006, Wilson Classical High School was named a California Distinguished School in 2001 and 2004 and was also selected as the representative high school in earning our district the prestigious Broad Prize for Urban Education for 2003-2004.