Miguel Contreras Learning Complex

Miguel Contreras Learning Complex
Location
322 Lucas Avenue
Los Angeles, California
 United States

Information
Type Public
Established September 5, 2006
School district LAUSD
Principal Heather Daims
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 2,500
Campus type Urban
Color(s) Teal, Black, & White
Athletics conference Southern League, Los Angeles City Section CIF
Mascot Cobras

Miguel Contreras Learning Complex (MCLC) is a high school in Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States.

The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school is located at 322 South Lucas Avenue, just down Third Street from the LAUSD Board of Education headquarters building. It houses three Small Learning Communities (SLCs): The Academic Leadership Community (ALC), Social Justice, and Business & Tourism (B&T) which is the largest academy.[1]

The complex also holds a separate school called the Los Angeles School Of Global Studies. The school is usually referred to as LASGS and is a new technology school. LASGS currently holds an API score of 591.[2] LASGS is known as a one of the first schools to be a part of the New Tech Foundation. The New Tech Foundation supports "Project Based Learning" (PBL).

Contreras was named after Miguel Contreras, a labor union organizer.[3]

History

MCLC opened its doors for the first time on September 5, 2006.[4] Prior to its opening, the school building project was known as Central Los Angeles Area New High School #10.

The school took many students who, unable to attend overcrowded local schools, had been bussed to nearby schools throughout their entire academic careers. The three SLCs were originally established at Belmont High School and essentially moved their entire community (teachers and students) to the new complex. This will be the protocol for other new schools in the area that will aim to relieve the overcrowding at Belmont as it transitions into a 6-12 school.

The total budget for this school was $161,276,500.[5]

President of the United States Barack Obama visited the school for a town hall on March 19, 2009, where a large crowd filled the gymnasium.[6]

The film "Never Backdown" was also filmed at the school campus. The show Glee was also filmed in the school's lunch cafeteria and football field, as well as Disney Channel star Zendaya's music video for "Dig Down Deeper."

Neighborhoods served by Contreras

Areas served by Contreras include portions of the Pico-Union and Westlake areas, Angelino Heights, Chinatown, Koreatown, Echo Park, and Little Tokyo.

MCLC & LASGS and Belmont share the same attendance boundary and are separate schools which are called pilot schools.

References