Washington Preparatory High School

May Cease to Exist

Town Hall Meeting Called to Rally Support for  

Washington Preparatory High School

Los Angeles, - Contrary to popular belief, all inner-city high schools are not battle grounds for gang turf and warfare.  Many are nurturing fields for some of the brightest minds of tomorrow, teenagers, who given the opportunity, do blossom; and caring teachers who take their responsibility for leading with decorum and seriousness.

Washington Preparatory High School, located at 10860 S. Denker in Los Angeles, CA is one such school, a symbolic flower, peeping between the sidewalk cracks and facing the sun in full glory. Recently acknowledged as an "Arts Banner High School" by  the district's Arts Program, the school was selected by the Los Angeles United School District and the Arts Education branch as the first high school to be named as such !

Yet the school has recently come under scrutiny and in is danger of being taken over by outside charter organizations. If this happens, Washington Preparatory High School would cease to exist!  The school is rallying the surrounding community for support in a Townhall meeting to be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 5:30 in the auditorium.  The meeting is free and open to the public.

Expresses Dr. Todd Ullah, principal of Washington Preparatory High School, "Washington Preparatory High holds a special place in our community.  In many instances, the parents of the students also attended the school.  The school holds a legacy for the community.  Many of the students and faculty alike are torn at the thought that the school may be transitioned into a charter facility.  The sense of loss is daunting.  The school has been identified as a 'low performance' school, but we are here to challenge that perception."

To that end,  Washington Preparatory High School has launched a new Arts program which will include classes for the non-music to the most advanced arts student. Some of the classes include: Guitar, Be-Bop to Hip Hop, Artist Development and Management, Stage Design (Set Building and Lighting), Sound Design and Recording, Video Game Design, Special Effects (3-D), Filmmaking (partnership with BAFTA), the Prestigious Music program (a partnership with Kevin Eubanks and the Thelonious Monk Foundation and Ricky Minor and the STT AF Foundation) and Pathways to other Arts curriculum.

In addition, the school's calendar of events for the year will feature several productions including "Phenomenal Woman" on February 25 for Black History Month, "Love in a Day" from March 25 to March 27, "Fame" May 6 through May 15 and "Romeo & Juliet" on May 29. 

To show your support for Washington Preparatory High School, plan to attend the town hall meeting and log on for more information about the school and events at www.washingtonprep.org.