Summary
Susan Miller Dorsey High School is a high school located in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles, California. It is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school serves Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Jefferson Park, West Adams and a portion of Leimert Park.
| Susan Miller Dorsey High School | |
|---|---|
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| Address | |
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3537 Farmdale Avenue , 90016 United States | |
| Coordinates | 34°01′22″N 118°20′46″W / 34.0228°N 118.3462°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public High School |
| Established | 1937 |
| Principal | Reginald A. Sample |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Number of students | 802 (2022–23)[1] |
| Color(s) | Green and White |
| Athletics conference | Coliseum League CIF Los Angeles City Section |
| Mascot | Dons/Donnas |
| Website | Official Website |
History edit
The school opened in 1937 and currently enrolls an average of 2,400 students. Dorsey High is now one of the few predominantly African-American high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, with 55% of its students African American and 45% Latino. It is located at 3537 Farmdale Avenue and Obama Boulevard near Baldwin Village. The school colors are green and white, and its mascots are the Dons (male) and Donnas (female).
It was in the Los Angeles City High School District until 1961, when it merged into LAUSD.[2]
The school also served as the filming location for the high school scenes in Steven Spielberg's 2022 semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans.[3]
Namesake edit
The school was named after Susan Miller Dorsey, the first female superintendent of the Los Angeles public school system. Dorsey was born in 1857 in Penn Yan, New York. She graduated from Vassar College in 1877 and spent a year teaching at Wilson College in Pennsylvania, returning to Vassar to teach Greek and Latin. In 1881, she married Baptist minister Patrick William Dorsey. The same year, the couple came to Los Angeles, where he became pastor of First Baptist Church at 6th Street and Broadway (then known as Fort Street).
In the early 1890s, her husband abandoned her, taking their son with him. Dorsey returned to teaching in 1896 at Los Angeles High School, where she rose to vice principal. By 1913, she was assistant superintendent of schools. In 1920, she became superintendent. Dorsey remained superintendent for 9 years.[4]
Extracurricular activities edit
The school has several athletic teams, such as wrestling, football (Coliseum League Champions for the 2006 season), basketball, track & field, soccer, and Tennis (champions: Kenneth Ajeakwa, Valentine Uzoukwu, Moses Egwurube and Robert Troy) 2007–2010.
Rivals edit
Dorsey's main rival is Crenshaw High School.
Dorsey's football games are played in Jackie Robinson Stadium at the nearby Rancho Cienega Sports Complex. In 2006, Dorsey was the 2nd leading high school in the nation with sending student athletes to the NFL. Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL was 1st. Dorsey is also a 4-A champ in its conference, the most wins ever made in the Los Angeles history.
Dorsey High School California Academic Decathlon teams won Los Angeles City Super Quiz championships in 1981, 1982, 1984, and 1985.
Additionally, Dorsey High School has a Math Science Magnet Program, a Los Angeles Police Academy Magnet Program and a Law and Public Service Magnet Program. In 1989, the Dorsey High School Mock Trial Team earned 2nd Place in Los Angeles County and was the best team in the City of Los Angeles in the Constitutional Rights Foundation's Annual Mock Trial Competition. In 1990, the Dorsey High School Mock Trial Team won the Los Angeles County Championship and later competed in the State Mock Trial competition in Sacramento.
Football edit
Dorsey High School's football teams were Los Angeles City Football Champions in 1982,1989, 1991, 1995, and 2001. Susan Miller Dorsey has the distinction of sending the fifth most football players to the NFL in its entire history behind Long Beach Poly.[citation needed]
Basketball edit
In 1975, Dorsey's basketball team went undefeated until losing the Los Angeles city championship game to Fremont (whom they had beaten in two regular season games). They rebounded in 1976 to win the city championship over Crenshaw High School.
Notable alumni edit
- Franklin Ajaye (Class of 1967), stand-up comedian-actor[5]
- Billy Anderson, NFL player
- George "Sparky" Anderson (Class of Winter 1953), Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member, manager of World Champion Detroit Tigers and World Champion Cincinnati Reds, second baseman with the Philadelphia Phillies and broadcaster of the Anaheim Angels[6][7]
- James "Jimmy" Bridges, actor, director, producer
- Judge Joe Brown, judge and TV personality
- Kenji Brown, guitarist & vocals with Rose Royce, 1976–1979
- Keith Browner Jr. (Class of 2006), NFL defensive end
- Beno Bryant, football player
- Don Buford (Class of 1955), professional baseball player (Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles) and coach[8]
- Charles Bukowski, author
- John Casado, graphic designer[9]
- Antonio Chatman (Class of 1997), NFL wide receiver[10]
- Billy Consolo, professional baseball player (Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Athletics) and Detroit Tigers bench coach
- Aaron Cox, American football wide receiver[11]
- Chili Davis, professional baseball player (San Francisco Giants, California Angels, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees) and Oakland Athletics
- Willie Deckard Track and Field star
- Na'il Diggs (Class of 1996), NFL linebacker
- Julian Dixon, member of United States Congress[12]
- Eric Dolphy (Class of 1947),[13] jazz musician who influenced John Coltrane and many others
- Carl Douglas, lawyer (OJ Simpson case)
- Johnny Echols, guitarist and co-founder, with Dorsey schoolmate Arthur Lee, of the band Love
- Johnathan Franklin (Class of 2008), NFL running back
- Siedah Garrett (attended), vocalist and songwriter[14]
- Kyle Gibson (born 1987), basketball player for Hapoel Galil Elyon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Chris Green, professional baseball player (Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Jordan Hamilton (born 1990), basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League
- Earl Ofari Hutchinson, journalist, author and activist
- Robert Irwin, installation artist
- Hue Jackson, head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 2016 and the Oakland Raiders in 2011, offensive coordinator of Cincinnati Bengals
- Greg Jein, modelmaker nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects[15]
- Jeremiah Johnson (Class of 2005), NFL running back
- Jerome Johnson (Class of 2003), NFL fullback; city champs 2001-2002
- Keyshawn Johnson (Class of 1991), USC wide receiver, Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, NFL Super Bowl Champion 1996-2007
- Michael "Butch" McColly Johnson, wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys (1976–1983) and Denver Broncos (1984–1985)
- Kendall Jones, lead guitarist, founding member of rock band Fishbone
- Robert Kardashian, O.J. Simpson attorney, father of Robert, Khloe, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian[16]
- Marvin Hall (Class of 2011), NFL wide receiver for Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons
- Bill Lachemann, professional baseball player, coach[17]
- Marcel Lachemann, professional baseball player (Oakland Athletics) and former MLB manager (California Angels)
- Rene Lachemann, professional baseball player (Kansas City Athletics, Oakland Athletics), former MLB manager (Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, Florida Marlins)
- Arthur Lee, lead singer, co-founder and principal songwriter of the band Love
- Mike Love, lead singer and founding member of The Beach Boys[18]
- Chris Matthews, 2012 Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Rookie, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
- Marilyn McCoo, singer and founding member of The Fifth Dimension[19]
- Jaydon Mickens (Class of 2012), NFL wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars
- Chris Mims, NFL player (San Diego Chargers)
- Rahim Moore (Class of 2007), NFL safety
- DJ Mustard, record producer, songwriter, DJ
- Patrick Nagatani,[20] photographer
- Dennis Northcutt (Class of 1996), NFL wide receiver
- Paul Olden, New York Yankees public address announcer
- Chris "Peanut" Owens, NFL cornerback
- Judy Pace, 1970s actress
- Ed Palmquist, professional baseball player (Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins)
- Mike Patterson, professional baseball player (Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees)
- Carole Doyle Peel, artist
- Billy Preston, musician, singer, songwriter ("You Are So Beautiful")
- "Freeway" Rick Ross, drug trafficker in the 1980s, played for the Dorsey men's tennis team[21]
- Stella Rush, LGBT rights activist and journalist
- Michael Brian Schiffer, co-founder of behavioral archaeology, long-time anthropology professor at the University of Arizona, author of 15 books
- Edell Shepherd (Class of 1998), NFL wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Louil Silas Jr. (1956–2001), record executive who started an MCA Records imprint, Silas Records
- John Smith, actor, Laramie
- Brenda Sykes (Class of 1967), actress[22]
- Dick Teague, industrial designer in automotive industry, executive at American Motors Corporation (AMC).[23]
- Kayvon Thibodeaux, American football player[24]
- Derrel Thomas, professional baseball player (Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, California Angels, Philadelphia Phillies)
- Diane Watson, member of United States Congress
- Lamont Warren, NFL running back
- David Axelrod, American composer, arranger, and producer
- Jordan Simmons, NFL offensive tackle, Seattle Seahawks
- Kirby Wilson, NFL running backs coach, 2-time Super Bowl champion with Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2009)
- Jody Watley (Class of 1977),[25][26] singer, with Shalamar, solo artist
- James Wilkes, UCLA and Chicago Bulls basketball player
- William Boyett, born in 1927, actor best known for TV law enforcement series such as Adam-12 and Highway Patrol
References edit
- ^ "Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- ^ "Los Angeles City School District". Los Angeles Unified School District. Archived from the original on 1998-02-07. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
- ^ "How 5 Oscar-Nominated Movie Sets Were Made". 11 March 2023.
- ^ Rasmussen, Cecilia (May 13, 2007), "Dorsey devotee the picture of determination", Los Angeles Times, pp. B2
- ^ "Circle 1967 "Franklin Ajaye" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1967. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Circle 1953 "George Anderson" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1953. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Sparky Anderson Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Circle 1955 "Donald Buford" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1955. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Circle 61 "John Casado" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1961. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ "Antonio Chatman". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Aaron Cox". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Circle 1953 "Julian Dixon" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1953. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Circle 1947 "Eric Dolphy" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1947. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ "The Circle 1977 "Deborah Garrett" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1977. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ Mike Barnes (29 June 2022). "Gregory Jein, 'Star Trek' Model Maker and Two-Time Oscar Nominee, Dies at 76". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles.
Born in Los Angeles on Oct. 31, 1945, Jein spent most of his life in the Crenshaw district and attended Audubon Junior High, Dorsey High School and Cal State Los Angeles.
- ^ "Circle 61 "Robert Kardashian" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1961. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Bill Lachemann, 78, keeps Angels ahead of curve behind the plate". Los Angeles Times. 2013-03-19. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
- ^ "Circle 1959 "Michael Love" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1959. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ "Circle '60 "Marilyn McCoo" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1960. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Noted photographer/educator Patrick Nagatani passes at 72". Rafu Shimpo: Los Angeles Daily Japanese News. Los Angeles. 12 November 2017.
Patrick's art has been displayed internationally and documented in numerous publications and films.
- ^ "Dark Alliance: Library." () San Jose Mercury News. April 9, 1997. Retrieved on December 14, 2013. "A few years before Rick Ross got involved with cocaine, he wielded a racquet for his high school tennis team. A college scholarship fizzled when it was learned that he couldn't read."
- ^ "Circle 1967 "Brenda Sykes" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1967. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Richard (Dick) A. Teague 1923–1991". Coacbuilt. 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- ^ USA TODAY High School Sports (6 May 2017). "Kayvon Thibodeaux, No. 1 player in 2019, transfers to Oaks Christian (Calif.)". usatodayhss.com. Retrieved 25 August 2021 – via USA Today.
- ^ "1977 Dorsey High Yearbook". classmates.com. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
- ^ "The Circle 1977 "Jody Watley" (Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Los Angeles)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1977. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
External links edit
- Dorsey High School website
- Dorsey High Alumni Social Network
- Max Preps Athletic Site