South Gate Senior High School

I graduated from this school this year, and I thought my 4 years at South Gate were amazing. It's what you make of it. I am going to attend UCI, and from what a I know, a lot of students are going to UCs and Ivy Leagues as well. The valedictorian went to Brown University. I don't think bad schools produce students like this. The athletic department is lacking funding, but that's LAUSD's fault. Overall, definitely not a bad school. It just has a bad reputation.

I love this school, they do care about our students. They offered workshops on financial aid. colleges, etc. They call home or email us reminding us about an event, if our kids have been absent, or a call just telling us our kids did good in that class. I have two boys in this high school one is in honor classes and my oldest in ap classes. The school also take our children to different universities like USC, UCLA, etc. to motivate them. Love this school
—Submitted by a parent

this school was not for me...the kids are bad and druggies...i was even scared of going to schoool...and i wasnt even enrolled in that school..but i have visited and gone to the classes and its really bad..people were even eating and texting infront of the teachers..its like hello stop them whats going..well i dont know but dont take them here go to south east..im there now and its awsome trust me parents im in honors in all my classes and im in 9th grade

one of the best schools ever and the new principle is very good and the test scores have been improving year by year
—Submitted by a student

south gate is one of the worst schools i know. drug problems and bad behaviors al around the campus. it's a really bad high school to submit your child in.
—Submitted by a student

This is the best school in the whole LAUSD. Th Business and techonology academy is the best, no mention we have the best councelor and the best lead teacher. All teachers have prepared me for any challenge.
—Submitted by a student

South Gate High is a very good school that provides my child with the education he needs
—Submitted by a parent

A great set of honor's teachers who really care about their students!

I graduated in 04', back then the administration seemed to offer core quality academics, however, only to AP students. They offered us some of the best teachers, numerous clubs, even a college center with a wonderful attentive counselor. But most of all, they challenged us, they expected us to succeed. Unfortunately, they did not do the same for the 'average' kids. Now, it is extremely dissapointing to see that they are no longer offering these services to the AP kids as well. Even though they provide textbooks, they don't provide demanding/ excellent teachers. Nor challenging classes. The school seems to be worse, tagging, old infrastructre, and overcrowded!! Imagine what kind of environment are the kids surrounded by? If they no longer provide academic opportunities to AP kids, what can they provide to the so called average kids?

South Gate High School at one time used to be the best high school in the area. However, the decline in academics, spirit and organization is due to incompetent and uncaring administrators. The principal and several Assistant Principals are unreliable and seem to care little for the student body AND faculty. Nonetheless, despite the faults in the administration, the student body and the faculty make this school wonderful. Sure, there are a few teachers here and there who could care less, but the many other competent instructors are truly some of the best in the entire inner-city area. The problems of the school lie mostly on the administrators' lack of professionalism in areas such as scheduling, management and communication as well as very limited parent involvement. All in all, South Gate High School is a diamond in the rough, a sleeping giant waiting to make a comeback.
—Submitted by a student

The school's academic section is horrible. I, a current student, have not yet received a good lesson. The classes are just way too easy for a high school student. This school reminds me of elementary. Also, their overall organization skills are very... unorganized. I have gotten into the wrong elective and they sent me into a class I did not need. However, my counselor is great. She is supporting me with ideas about going into AP classes on the next semester. I am hoping that my opinion will change about South Gate High after the upcoming semester. But I do not recommend this high school.
—Submitted by a student

In all honesty as an former student, I have to say that this school is wonderful experience, even if racially un-diverse, but the AP course are incredible, the clubs dynamic and the students and staff are wonderful and very friendly. Yes, there is tagging, yes there are gangs, but what high schol doesn't? As for being over crowded, that is now a thing of the past. I loved this school despite and because of its shortcommings.
—Submitted by Bea, a former student

Well as a current student of south gate senior high I find that it is only a good school if you try your hardest. The counselors and teachers are great. As for the overcrowding it has gotten a lot better since they made the new high school named south east. Personally I feel that the school is one of the best in the near by cities. Last bit of advice if you do enroll be active in your child's education. Get the college class curriculum and make sure the counselors give your son/daughter the right classes. I am a sophomore at south gate high and proud to be a student :)
—Submitted by Ulysses Padilla, a student

I love this school. They have an amazing performing arts academy, and the scoccer team has been on of the best. There are many AP classes available to students including calculus, statistics, enviromental scince, english language and littiture, spanish language and littiture, government, economics and many more. I have had great succes with this school and its students they are willing to workhard and be leaders both in school and in the community.
—Submitted by Coral Castillo, a former student

The school was great when I attended but has now become overpowered by lots of tagging at the school and children have made it's beauty a very bad looking place. It is very dissapointing
—Submitted by marie, a former student

South Gate High School, once a great school, now just a slum. I am not a parent who has his child attending the school, I am a Student. I live through the horrible scenes. The old school buildings. The overcrowded halls. The careless students. If you are a parent looking at the page, you are a good parent. If you want to keep on being a good parent, please look for a better school to place your children.
—Submitted by Francisco Gomez, a student

I'm very concerned when so many students are failing classes and are taking intercession or summer school. 20 yrs ago we would not have seen so many students failing. My concerns are also on students who fail a subject and take another subject in its place. This is the fault of the parents, students and teachers together. Many parents are not working to know what their children are learning. There might also be a breakdown in parent/teacher communication. I'm also very concerned that there is a growning number of our graduates who are applying to universities at at great distance from South Gate, and they end up returning becaue they were not prepared for the distance, the culture shock not being i n a Latino area, or the work ethic. Are our teens each year visiting the College Office on campus? Again parents and school are failing.
—Submitted by Ms. Nelson, a former student

the school care alot about their students education. great soccer program and football.
—Submitted by a parent

Academic programs are excellent for those identified. Not all students have access to quality core curriculum. Music, Art, Sports and Other extracurricular activities are available. Parent participation is limited or non-existent.
—Submitted by Mike, a former student

My concern as a parent is that SGHS has an Administration Staff and clerical staff that lack customer service skills. Every time I have called SGHS to get information regarding school activities or attendance I either get disconnected or transferred to the wrong office and most of the time whoever answers the phone is not helpful and extremely rude. Office personnel never take time to answer questions mainly because they do not have the knowledge. The times I visited the attendance office never once did I feel welcome and no one greets you with a smile. Few staff members are professional and care for the kids and their job. But the majority are rude, dress unprofessional and appear to be lazy. I believe the Principal is responsible to lead and train these individuals that are being paid for doing nothing or simply replace them.
—Submitted by a parent