Compton High School Unveils New Facilities

Los Angeles – August 2025: The new Compton High School has been completed on a 31-acre campus south of downtown Los Angeles. It is set to welcome 1,800 students at the start of the school year. The $232 million project replaces the city’s historic high school, originally built in 1896 and demolished in 2019.

Campus Features

The new facilities include:

140,639 sq ft academic building
36,534 sq ft gymnasium
Football stadium
Half-sized Olympic swimming pool
Fully digital library with no physical books

Exterior of the new Compton High School featuring a mural of Dr. Dre — The exterior of the new Compton High School showcases a large mural of musician Dr. Dre at the Performing Arts Center.

At the heart of the campus stands the Andre “Dr. Dre” Young Performing Arts Center, a 40,868 sq ft venue funded through a $10 million donation from the renowned musician and producer Dr. Dre.

Design and Construction

The campus was designed by DLR Group and managed by Cumming Group. It was built by Swinerton Builders. At the height of construction, nearly 200 workers were on site each day, highlighting the scale and ambition of the redevelopment.

Local Initiative and Vision

The project was carried out under the “Built by Compton” initiative, which prioritizes local hiring and the involvement of small businesses.

Aerial view of the new Compton High School campus and surrounding facilities — An aerial shot highlights the arrangement of academic and sports buildings across the 31-acre campus.

Speaking about the opening, principal Larry Natividad noted:

“For too long, perceptions of Compton have been shaped by outdated narratives that fail to reflect the strength, resilience and brilliance of our community. The new Compton High School stands as a bold statement: the future of Compton is bright, innovative and full of promise.”

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The article highlights the new Compton High School as a 31-acre educational campus. It combines an academic building, gymnasium, digital library, and a performing arts center supported by private funding. The imagery suggests expansive layouts defined by modern concrete structures and horizontal lines. This reinforces an institutional identity. Yet, questions arise regarding contextual relevance, as the architecture appears detached from Compton’s layered social and urban history. Nevertheless, the integration of technology and future-oriented infrastructure positions the project as a strong example of educational design strategies. It is aimed at long-term adaptability.

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