Polytechnic School, often referred to simply as Poly, is a
college preparatory private day school located in
Pasadena, California
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commerci ...
with approximately 850 students enrolled in grades Kindergarten through 12.
The school is a former member of the
G20 Schools group.
History
The school was founded in 1907 as the first
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
,
independent school
A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...
in
Southern California
Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...
. It descends from the Throop Polytechnic Institute founded by
Amos G. Throop, the same institution that grew into the present
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech) is a private research university in Pasadena, California, United States. The university is responsible for many modern scientific advancements and is among a small group of institutes ...
.
In the spring of 1907, the Institute decided to focus on the college level and closed the grammar school. Citrus tycoon and noted
eugenicist
Eugenics is a set of largely discredited beliefs and practices that aim to improve the genetics, genetic quality of a human population. Historically, eugenicists have attempted to alter the frequency of various human Phenotype, phenotypes by ...
Ezra S. Gosney donated $12,500, a sum matched by twelve other donors. This money allowed them to purchase the property at the present site, originally an orange grove. The school opened in October 1907 with 106 students. At the time, the school was named Polytechnic
Elementary School
A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...
. The school added a ninth grade in 1918 and expanded to high school in 1959. Polytechnic ended its
pre-kindergarten
Pre-kindergarten (also called pre-K or PK) is a voluntary classroom-based preschool program for children below the age of five in the United States, Canada, Turkey and Greece (when kindergarten starts). It may be delivered through a preschool ...
program in 2005.
Academics
Poly has a rigorous academic curriculum, which includes
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board. AP offers undergraduate university-level curricula and examinations to high school students. Colleges and universities in the US and elsewhere ...
and
Honors classes as well as arts and athletic programs. In 2006, Poly was named a world leader in student participation and performance on
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board. AP offers undergraduate university-level curricula and examinations to high school students. Colleges and universities in the US and elsewhere ...
exams by the
College Board
The College Board, styled as CollegeBoard, is an American not-for-profit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education. While the College Board is not an asso ...
. The school frequently had the highest percentage of its students receive a 3 or above on the
AP Calculus
Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus (also known as AP Calc, Calc AB / BC, AB / BC Calc or simply AB / BC) is a set of two distinct Advanced Placement calculus courses and exams offered by the American nonprofit organization College Board. AP Calculu ...
AB examination when compared to all other small schools administering the test across the globe, according to the College Board.
In recent years, the most popular college destination for Poly students was the
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...
.''
The Wall Street Journal
''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...
'' ranked Poly 4th in the world as a feeder school for "elite colleges," including
Harvard University
Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
,
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...
,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of moder ...
,
Williams College
Williams College is a Private college, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established as a men's college in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim ...
,
Pomona College
Pomona College ( ) is a private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. It was established in 1887 by a group of Congregationalism in the United States, Congregationalists ...
,
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the e ...
, the
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...
and
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...
. In the 2016-17 class, 35% of the class were
National Merit Semi-Finalists & Commended students and 80% of students were accepted to 'highly-selective' top tier universities (institutions with an admit rate of 30% or lower).
''Los Angeles Magazine'' has also consistently recognized Poly as one of the best high schools in Los Angeles. The September 2008 issue praised Poly for its "national reputation for producing scholars, artists and athletes." Using test score data, the September 2014 issue of ''
Los Angeles Magazine'' ranked Poly 2nd of 75 Los Angeles high schools. With an average score of 2150, Poly students had the highest average SAT score of any school included in the rankings. ''
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'' ranked Poly the 84th most challenging high school in the United States in 2017. In their 2022 evaluations,
Niche ranked Poly as the 3rd best private high school in Los Angeles, the 9th best private high school in California, and the 36th best private high school nationally.
Campus
Polytechnic School covers 15 acres and is divided by Cornell Road into two campuses, north (Lower and Middle School) and south (Upper School), and is adjacent to the
Caltech
The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech) is a private university, private research university in Pasadena, California, United States. The university is responsible for many modern scientific advancements and is among a small g ...
campus. Most of the North Campus buildings were designed by
Myron Hunt, who also designed the
Rose Bowl and
The Huntington, and Elmer Gray, who designed the
Beverly Hills Hotel and the
Pasadena Playhouse. Some of the classrooms on the lower campus were also done by
Gordon Kaufmann, and
Roland Coate. The Cornett Mansion (now called the Haaga House) in the south campus was designed in 1907 and serves as the administration building and houses several classrooms for the Upper School. Facilities include a Lower and Middle School Library, Upper School Library, Pool, Boys and Girls Gyms, Athletic field, Performing Arts Center, and historic as well as new classrooms.
Athletics
Poly's Athletic Department currently offers 25 Varsity sports in the three seasons of play and is a member of the
Prep League. Poly has been competing in the
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is the governing body for high school sports in the U.S. state of California. CIF membership includes both public and private high schools. Unlike most other state organizations, it does not have s ...
(CIF) since 1962. In 2016â17, 82% of the students in the Upper School participated in some type of sport.
The CIF Southern Section has recognized Poly for its commitment to sportsmanship and awarded Poly the CIF Southern Section Jim Staunton Champions of Character Award in 2012. Poly was named the ESPN Rise California/Cal-Hi Sport's Division 5 School of the Year in 2011.
CIF-SS Team Championships (38)
* Football (2) - 1999, 2002
* Baseball (2) - 2011, 2018
* Boys Basketball (5) - 1978, 1979, 1984, 1995, 2021
* Girls Basketball (2) - 1992, 2011
* Girls Cross Country (2) - 1994, 1997
* Boys Soccer (2) - 2000, 2025
* Girls Soccer (8) - 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2013*
* Girls Swimming (2) - 2015, 2016
* Boys Tennis (3) - 1989, 1991, 1992
* Girls Tennis (5) - 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2014
* Girls Track & Field (2) - 1999, 2001
* Girls Volleyball (2) - 1997, 1998
* Boys Water Polo (1) - 2012
* Girls Water Polo (2) - 2015, 2017
* CIF-State Southern California Regional Championship
CIF-SS Individual Championships (69)
* Boys Cross Country (2*)
* Girls Cross Country (1)
* Boys Swimming & Diving (23**)
* Girls Swimming & Diving (27**)
* Boys Track & Field (1)
* Girls Track & Field (15)
* CIF-SS & CIF-State Championships
* CIF-SS & CIF-Masters Championships
PolyFields Controversy
Polytechnic School made headlines for its controversial plans to build a large sports complex in the Altadena foothills. This proposal, led by John Bracker, has sparked a strong response from the local community. Many locals have accused the prestigious private school of prioritizing the athletic aspirations of its wealthy students over the community's well-being and environmental preservation. The project was seen as an overreach, threatening wildlife, increasing traffic, and encroaching on public land. Critics pointed out the school's lack of transparency and disregard for community input. Finally, the rising backlash and unexpected costs forced Poly to pull the plug on its plans. This situation has fueled a growing sentiment that the school, known for its exclusivity and privilege, is increasingly disconnected from the broader Pasadena and Altadena communities.
Notable alumni
*
Olugbenga Ajilore, economist
*
Ini Archibong, designer
*
Koko Archibong, former professional and Olympic basketball player
*
Sean Bailey
Sean Bailey is an American film and television producer. He served as president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production from 2010 to 2024.
Career Early career
As a co-founder and executive of LivePlanet, Bailey served as executive ...
, television and film producer
*
John Battelle, author, journalist, and co-founder of ''
Wired
Wired may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* ''Wired'' (Jeff Beck album), 1976
* ''Wired'' (Hugh Cornwell album), 1993
* ''Wired'' (Mallory Knox album), 2017
* "Wired", a song by Prism from their album '' Beat Street''
* "Wired ...
'' magazine
*
Alec Berg, screenwriter, actor, and film producer
*
Bruce Beutler, 2011 Nobel Laureate in Medicine
*
Otis Booth, billionaire investor and philanthropist
*
Stephen J. Cannell, television producer and creator of ''
21 Jump Street
''21 Jump Street'' is an American police procedural drama television series created by Patrick Hasburgh and Stephen J. Cannell for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It aired from April 12, 1987 to April 27, 1991, spanning 103 episodes over five s ...
'', ''
The A-Team
''The A-Team'' is an American Action television, action television series that ran on NBC from January 23, 1983, to March 8, 1987, about a fictional team of former United States Army Special Forces who work as mercenaries while on the run from ...
'', and ''
Silk Stalkings
''Silk Stalkings'' is an American crime drama television series that premiered on CBS on November 7, 1991, as part of the network's late-night '' Crimetime After Primetime'' programming package. Broadcast for two seasons until CBS ended the '' ...
''
*
Otis Chandler
Otis Chandler (November 23, 1927 – February 27, 2006) was the publisher of the ''Los Angeles Times'' between 1960 and 1980, leading a large expansion of the newspaper and its ambitions. He was the fourth and final member of the Chandler fami ...
, publisher, ''
The Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper in the U.S. and the larges ...
''
*
Julia Child, television chef and personality
*
Anna Christy, soprano opera singer
*
Steve Cohen, member of the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
representing
Tennessee's ninth district
*
Keegan de Lancie, actor
*
Harriet Huntington Doerr, author
*
Rebecca Eaton, television producer
*
David Ebershoff author of the international bestselling novels,
The 19th Wife,
The Danish Girl and ''Pasadena'', and Executive Editor at
Random House
Random House is an imprint and publishing group of Penguin Random House. Founded in 1927 by businessmen Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer as an imprint of Modern Library, it quickly overtook Modern Library as the parent imprint. Over the foll ...
*
Kevin Greutert, film director and editor of the
SAW
A saw is a tool consisting of a tough blade, Wire saw, wire, or Chainsaw, chain with a hard toothed edge used to cut through material. Various terms are used to describe toothed and abrasive saws.
Saws began as serrated materials, and when man ...
series
*
Spencer Grammer
Spencer Karen Grammer (born October 9, 1983) is an American actress best known for her roles as the voice of Summer Smith in the Adult Swim animated science-fiction series ''Rick and Morty'' and as Casey Cartwright in the Freeform (TV channel), A ...
, actress
*
Ted Griffin, screenwriter, actor, and film producer
*
Michael Grimes, managing director and Head of Global Technology Investment Banking at
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered at 1585 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. With offices in 42 countries and more than 80,000 employees, the firm's clients in ...
*
R. Stanton Hales, former president of the
College of Wooster
{{Infobox university
, image = College of Wooster seal.png
, image_upright = .6
, name = The College of Wooster
, former_names = University of Wooster (1866â1915)
, motto ...
*
Howard Hawks
Howard Winchester Hawks (May 30, 1896December 26, 1977) was an American film director, Film producer, producer, and screenwriter of the Classical Hollywood cinema, classic Hollywood era. Critic Leonard Maltin called him "the greatest American ...
, director
*
James C. Ho,
United States circuit judge of the
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (in case citations, 5th Cir.) is one of the 13 United States courts of appeals. It has appellate jurisdiction over the U.S. district courts in the following federal judicial districts:
...
*
Leondra Kruger, Supreme Court of California Associate Justice and potential Supreme Court pick by
President Joe Biden
*
Macky Makisumi,
speedcuber
*
F.O. Matthiessen, Harvard professor, literary critic and author of ''American Renaissance: Art and Expression in the Age of Emerson and Whitman''
*
Randall Miller
Randall Miller (born July 24, 1962) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, editor, and occasional actor.
At the American Film Institute (AFI), Miller received acclaim for his 1990 short film ''Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & ...
, director, screenwriter, producer, actor
*
Charlie Paddock, American athlete,
Olympic champion
*
Drew Pinsky, physician, radio and television personality
*
Rob Rasmussen, retired
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
pitcher
*
Arthur Emmons Raymond, Aeronautical Engineer
*
Kristina Reed, film producer for
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation LLC (DWA, also known as DreamWorks Animation Studios or simply DreamWorks) is an American animation studio, owned by Comcast's NBCUniversal as part of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios, Inc, Universal Stud ...
and
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS), sometimes shortened to Disney Animation, is an American animation studio that produces animated feature films and short films for the Walt Disney Company. The studio's current production logo features a s ...
*
George Reeves, actor, star of ''
Adventures of Superman''
*
Coleman Shelton, center for the Los Angeles Rams
*
Alison Sweeney, actress
*
Mike White, film director, screenwriter, and actor
*
David Wiseman, sculptor
*
Derek Yu, video game designer and artist
References
External links
*
{{LA County Private Schools
1907 establishments in California
Education in Pasadena, California
Educational institutions established in 1907
High schools in Los Angeles County, California
Myron Hunt buildings
Preparatory schools in California
Private Kâ12 schools in Los Angeles County, California