History of Compton High

Compton High School began as a one room school house and graduated its first class in 1898. It was a time when ladies wore ankle skirts and young men wore suits and ties. The school mascot was a Lion, not the Tarbabe as we know it today. The mascot was changed Baby Tarters in 1927. The name was later shortened to Tarbabes. Over the years, the school has gone through significant changes.

The school was torn down in the summer of 2021, making way for a new school. This video gives a short history of Compton High and follows alumni as they take one last look at their Alma Mater.

Scroll down to see history and famous people from Compton

History Details

1896 - 1901

Student body grew to 153
Mascot was the Lion
Colors were Red and White
Women wore ankle length skirts and men wore suits and ties

1914 - 1927

Student body grew to 1000
Construction of 12 new buildings
Community college added so graduating seniors could pursue college
Mascot changed from Lions to Tartars (Mongolian Warrior)
College mascot was the adult Tartars and the high school were the "Baby Tartars"

1933 - 1953

Earthquake destroyed school
Reconstructed by 1953
School separated into high school and college in 1953
Colors changed to maroon and gray until 1954 when the college moved to the Greenleaf location
The Compton High School mascot became the "Baby Tartars"
The Los Angeles County gang, the "Spook Hunters" terrorized Black students in Southgate and eventually the Compton area

1954 - 1972

Members of the Class of 72 were born (1953/1954)
In 1954, the colors changed to blue and gray
In 1960, the colors were changed to Columbia blue and white
Between 1954 and 1964 demographics of the school changed dramatically
School became predominantly African American due to White flight
Class of 72 graduated in 1972 with over 800 students and $1M in scholarships

City of Compton Memories

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Compton High
Class of 72