California's oldest high schools go back to Gold Rush. Find out where

While today’s California high schools boast cutting-edge technology and modern amenities, some of the state’s most iconic campuses date back to the 1800s. These historic institutions were founded in California’s early years of statehood, primarily in rapidly growing cities like San Francisco, Sacramento, and Los Angeles.

Unlike other parts of the U.S., where public high schools emerged in the 1820s with low enrollment, California’s expansion came later but faster. Between 1870 and 1900, the number of public high schools nationwide surged from 160 to 6,000—yet only 4% of teens aged 14–17 were enrolled.