Torrance Unified School District

Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) is a school district in Los Angeles County, California, with its headquarters in Torrance.[1]

The district board of education has a president, a vice president, a clerk, and two members.[2] As of 2011, the District Superintendent is Dr. George Mannon.[3] The TUSD suburban schools generally rank high academically, and West High School has won several County Academic Decathlons.

History

The district opened in 1947. In 1948 Torrance's high schools and elementary schools unified into one district.[4] Previously, it had been administered by the Los Angeles School System. The city's oldest school is Torrance High School, founded in 1917. Forty new schools were built in a building boom following World War II, as the city grew from its pre-war 10,000 to more than 140,000. However declining enrollment later caused closing several schools.

In July 1985 talks between the City of Torrance and TUSD broke down over the purchase of the 3.4-acre (1.4 ha) Greenwood School site, a closed school site. The final offer from TUSD was $1.875 million ($4132309.72. The final offer from the city was $1.6 million ($3526237.62. Later in 1985, to avoid legal action, the city proposed that if the district gives the site to the city while negotiations over the sales price occurred, the city government would give the district $1.6 million when accounting for inflation) in a deposit and allow it to draw interest in that deposit. The city promised to pay the difference between the $1.6 million and the final purchase price in addition to the interest as long as the final purchase price did not exceed $1.875 million when accounting for inflation). TUSD had until November 1, 1985 to decide on whether to take the offer.[5]

Location

The district is in the South Bay region of southwestern Los Angeles County. The district's approximately 21 square miles (54 km2) of territory includes all of the City of Torrance.

Bordering areas include Gardena and Redondo Beach to the north and west, Carson to the east, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south.[4]

Curriculum and instruction

The district cut vocal musical instruction from the elementary school budget in the 1987-1988 school year to make up for a $1.4-million budget shortfall. For the 1988-1989 school year the district reinstated vocal musical instruction in elementary school.[6]

As of 1986 the school district has Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) courses. For grades 3 through 12 one has to be in the 98th percentile of intelligence tests in order to participate. For the 1986-1987 year the percentile changed to 98 from 96.[7]

Schools

Torrance High School

The district has 19 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 4 high schools, one continuation high school, one alternative high school, and two adult school campuses.[4]

Secondary schools

High schools

Middle schools

Primary schools

Former schools

Enrollment in the district dropped from more than 34,000 students in 1967 to a low of just under 19,000 in 1988 before beginning to rise again. Unlike neighboring districts, TUSD did not close any of its four high schools, but 12 elementary schools were shut between 1969 and 1984. Seven other elementary schools were repurposed into middle schools between 1970 and 1975 in an attempt to balance enrollments (Hull Middle School was purpose-built as a secondary facility in 1970, the last new campus to open in TUSD.)

References

  1. ↑ "Contact Us." Torrance Unified School District. Retrieved on April 14, 2011. "District Office 2335 Plaza Del Amo Torrance, CA 90509"
  2. ↑ "Board Member." Torrance Unified School District. Retrieved on April 14, 2011. "District Office 2335 Plaza Del Amo Torrance, CA 90509"
  3. ↑ "Superintendent." Torrance Unified School District. Retrieved on April 14, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "About Us." Torrance Unified School District. Retrieved on April 14, 2011.
  5. ↑ Moran, Julio. "Torrance Offers School District Unusual Deal: Interest on $1.6 Million Available While Negotiations for Campus Continue." (Info) Los Angeles Times. October 20, 1985. South Bay SB3 p. 1. Retrieved on April 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ Williams, Bob. "Torrance District Revives Vocal Music Programs in Elementary Schools." (Info page) Los Angeles Times. August 7, 1988. Start Page 7 Metro. Retrieved on April 3, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Torrance School District Adopts New Policy for Gifted Students." (Info) Los Angeles Times. September 11, 1986. South Bay Page 1. Retrieved on April 3, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Rae-Dupree, Janet. "Development Fears Raised by Torrance School Sale : Land Use: Neighbors of 6.2-acre campus of Lycee Francais de Los Angeles ask City Council to retain current zoning." (Archive). Los Angeles Times. February 16, 1990. Retrieved on June 29, 2015.
  9. ↑ Smith, Doug. "Former Torrance School to Be Used by Japanese." Los Angeles Times. August 12, 1979. Centinela-South Bay section p. CS1. Retrieved on May 10, 2013. "A Japanese expatriate concerned about a growing social problem in his country has found a solution for it in the vacant buildings of Parkway Elementary School, closed last year because of declining enrollment."


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