1903

2021

History of Compton High

Compton Union High School opened on September 7, 1896, in two rooms of the Compton City Grammar School building located at Wilmington near Main Street. The first graduating class consisted of two students in 1898. In 1903, CUHS moved to its original high school building on the corner of Myrrh and Acacia, and the Masonic Lodge laid the cornerstone for the new high school Administration building. The original CUHS colors were red and white; the mascot, the Lion; the school newspaper, The Lion's Roar; and the school annual was named The Red and White until 1917, when the name was changed to Spectrum.

In 1927, the Compton Community College District was established as a component of the Compton Union High School District. In the fall of 1930, the high school adopted the college colors (Maroon and Gray), the mascot (the Tartar), and the high school annual merged with the college annual, Dar-U-Gar. The Underclassmen’s mascot evolved into Baby Tartars, Tartar Babes, Babes, and the Tarbabes. In 2000, the mascot was briefly changed to Tartar-Lions; however, Tarbabes has remained the dominant mascot name. (The Underclassmen athletes were referred to as "Tarbabes" in the 1939 Dar-U-Gar yearbook for the first time.)

1896-1930

1896

Compton Union High School was established in the Compton City Grammar School building.

1903

CUHS moved to its first building on the corner of Myrrh and Acacia; the Masonic Lodge laid the cornerstone for the new building.

1925

The CUHS Administration building was completed. Enrollment grew to approximately 1,100, and faculty, about 50. The Alumni Association was active.

1927

The Compton Community College District was established as a component of the Compton Union High School.

1930

The last high school annual, Spectrum, was published.

1931-1959

1931

The high school underclassmen activities were reported in the college annual, Dar-U-Gar, and the newspaper, the Tartar Shield. The high school adopted the college colors (maroon and gray), the college mascot (the Tartar). The high school (underclassmen) activities were reported in the college newspaper, the Tartar Shield and the college’s annual (yearbook), Dar-U-Gar.

1933

The 1933 Long Beach earthquake destroyed the campus buildings.

1935

The Administration building and other campus buildings were reconstructed.

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1953

Compton College moved to its new campus on Artesia Blvd., separating from the high school.

1954

Compton High school colors to changed to Blue and Grey; the school newspaper, The Chimes; and school yearbook, El Companile. The Alma Mater song, “All Hail to Thee” was chosen.