Long Beach Polytechnic High School began offering classes in 1895 in order to help educate the growing population of Long Beach . The first classes were at the Methodist Tabernacle Chapel , and the first principal was Walter S. Bailey . The first graduating class was in 1897 and only had one student . During this same year , classes were moved to Chautauqua Hall at Fourth Street and Pine Avenue as work began on the new Long Beach High School . Long Beach High School was completed in 1898 and featured four classrooms and an assembly hall . The following year , the Long Beach High School Athletic Association was formed . In 1903 , the school yearbook , '' Caerulea '' , was first published . Football and basketball programs began in 1904 . The first student government was established in 1906 . David Burcham became school principal the following year , a position he would hold until 1941 . The girls ' basketball program won three consecutive state championships , from 1907 to 1909 . In 1911 , Long Beach Poly moved to the location at 16th Street and Atlantic , offering more space and amenities . JROTC began in 1917 , and an influenza epidemic swept through the school population . The following year , rabbits began invading the playing fields , inspiring the track team to call themselves the Jackrabbits ; this eventually became the official school mascot . The athletic field was dedicated as " David Burcham Field " in 1924 to honor the long-serving principal . During much of the 1920s , Poly was the largest high school west of the Mississippi River in terms of student population . A new auditorium was constructed in 1931 . The Long Beach earthquake damaged the school in 1933 . Following the earthquake , bricks from the damage were sold in order to pay for a memorial flagpole which still stands . A new science building was built and the auditorium was remodeled in 1935 . A new administration building was completed the following year . In 1937 , Poly graduated over 1,000 students for the first time . The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1945 . Wooden bleachers that had lined the athletic fields burned down in 1952 and the new Veteran 's Stadium became the new home field for the Jackrabbits . The library was completed in 1953 . In 1969 , a racist leaflet was published , prompting approximately 100 white and African-American students to fight , leaving 24 students injured . Homecoming titles ( King and Queen ) were ended in 1971 due to racial tensions . In 1976 , PACE ( Program of Additional Curricular Experiences ) , which included one of the first offerings of advanced college placement courses for high school students , began . Badminton began in 1977 , and girls ' track and gymnastics teams started the following year
Long Beach earthquake
1933 Long Beach earthquake
Long Beach Polytechnic High School