Santee Education Complex

Santee Education Complex is a secondary school located at 1921 South Maple Avenue in Los Angeles, California, United States.

Santee Education Complex
Location
1921 South Maple Avenue Los Angeles , California United States
Coordinates	34.02926°N 118.26327°W / 34.02926; -118.26327
Information
Type	Public
Founded	2005
School board	Los Angeles Unified School District
School district	Los Angeles Unified School District 5
CEEB code	053974
Principal	Violeta Ruiz
Staff	94.35 (FTE)[1]
Grades	9-12
Age range	13-18
Enrollment	1,902 (2018-19)[1]
Average class size	35 students
Language	English And Spanish
Colour(s)	Black And Gold
Team name	Falcons
Rival	West Adams
Website	santeefalcons.org/index.jsp?rn=6233192

Santee, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, and is located in the South Los Angeles area. The campus opened on July 5, 2005 with a three-track, year-round calendar to provide immediate relief for overcrowding at nearby Jefferson High School. It was the first new four-year high school to open in LAUSD in over 35 years. Funding came from a school construction bond issue passed by Los Angeles voters in 2000. Santee was initially under the auspices of Local District 5. Beginning with the 2008/2009 school year, Santee teachers and administrators voted to join the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools , a newly formed organization dedicated to bringing the best instructional and operational practices into the classrooms of inner-city schools.

Since its opening, Santee has enjoyed steady improvement in its API, CAHSEE scores and graduation rates.[2] Santee's academic progress was also confirmed by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) when it awarded the school a three-year accreditation beginning with the 2010/2011 school year. The administration and staff remain focused on providing students with a high-quality education in the core subjects combined with elective classes that prepare students for collegiate and career success.

In addition to academic success, Santee has developed a highly successful athletic program that includes league championships in both basketball and track. During the 2009/2010 season, the boys basketball team was undefeated in Southern League play: 13-0. The cross country and track team has consistently dominated meets for the last ten years. In the 2011 Los Angeles City Track Finals, Santee Falcons placed first in the boys 1600m and 3200m races. Falcon girls placed first and second in the 3200m race[3]

On June 24, 2011, Santee held its sixth graduation ceremony, featuring a commencement address by Mayor Antonio Villagairosa. It was the third commencement address delivered by Mayor Villaraigosa since the school came under the supervision of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools.

The Class of 2011 has more students getting more money for college than any previous Santee graduating class. Santee students were awarded approximately $275,000 in scholarship money this year. Members of the Santee Falcon Class of 2011 are heading to UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UC Riverside, UC Merced, Mount St. Mary's, Cal Poly Pomona, Long Beach State, Humboldt State, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and Cal State Los Angeles. Many of them will be attending those campuses because this year more Falcons are getting more money for college than any previous Santee graduating class. In addition to $275,000 in scholarship money awarded to graduating Falcons, over 400 Cal Grant applications were completed this year, which beats the school's previous record of 300.

Santee is composed of three SLCs "small learning communities:

• The Humanitas Academy which offers elective classes in Digital Media, Fashion Design, and music.
• The School of Business which offers elective classes in Culinary Arts and business.
• The School of Public Service & Social Justice which offers elective classes covering global issues.

For the 2010/2011 school year, Santee converted from a year-round, three track schedule to a traditional calendar. Classes now begin in September and end in June. The school day begins at 8:00AM and ends at 2:55PM and is divided into six periods plus an advisory period.