Originally published on 17 June 2015 in the Pasadena Independent, Arcadia Weekly, Monrovia Weekly, and Sierra Madre Weekly

Temple City, a mere four miles big, may be small in area but it lives large in the eyes of its proud residents. Known as the city of camellias, it is home to a number of independent businesses, and has become a destination for Asian, Eastern European and Latino immigrants looking to start new lives.

Its Unified School District was created in 1954 and has since established itself as “A District of Distinguished Schools”.  The California Department of Education has consistently named all the city’s public educational institutions in the top five percent of the state’s schools. In 1957, the first 12^th grade class in the district graduated from Temple City High School when its Associated Student Body adopted green and gold as its colors and the Ram its mascot.

An academically high-achieving school, Temple City High offers 20 Advanced Placement classes in Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Physics, Environmental Science, Calculus AB and BC, Statistics, Micro Economics, US History, US Government and Politics, World History, Language and Composition, Literature and Composition, Art History, Studio Art, Chinese,  French, German, and Spanish.  Students have nine Honors classes to choose from:  Algebra 2; Geometry; Pre-Calculus; Biology; Chemistry; English 1 and 2; Advanced Painting; and Orchestra.  In 2014, 522 juniors and seniors took the AP exams, 84.3% of whom scored above a 3, a full 20% more than California’s total.

Mary Jo Fosselman King, TCHS Principal, is extremely proud of the school’s student body.  About 80 percent of Temple City High students are engaged in various activities outside of academics. A staggering  number of clubs on campus – 68 of them, ranging from the American Cancer Society to Folding Papers for Life to World Wildlife Fund – compete for students’ attention and time. There are academic groups and organizations, performing arts clubs, athletic teams, and school publications. There is also a Peer Listener Program and direct student involvement in the city through a 100-hour Community Service graduation requirement.

This past year TCHS reached the state level in the Science Olympiad competition and participated in the JPL CAD (Computer-Aided Design) Challenge.

Temple City High School’s 40 athletic teams compete interscholastically in the Rio Hondo League in boys and girls basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo; boys baseball, basketball, football golf, and softball.

Likewise notable are the high school’s achievements in the Arts. Its Marching Band and Pageantry Corps has participated twice in the Tournament of Roses Parade, which led to an appearance and performance on The Ellen de Generes Show. The high school’s Symphony Orchestra has been invited to take part in the Youth Symphony Orchestra Competition in Carnegie Hall and was awarded the Gold Plaque Award for their performance. The school’s Honors Orchestra was invited to play in Disney’s Concert Hall in recognition of their cello player, Daniel Gee, for his arrangement of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”.

Kathryn Perini, TCUSD Superintendent, is very pleased with their career enrichment programs that offer opportunities for their graduates to move on to two or four-year colleges. She also says that through the district’s Career Pathways program, they are trying to do a better job of putting emphasis on mechanical and technological abilities – something we are losing as a culture. Their curriculum, emphasizing on STEM and STEAM offerings, prepares students from TK through 12^th grade, for post-secondary education and for future employment in various fields. They have a partnership with Pasadena City College (PCC), allowing dual enrollment for their students. Recognizing that today’s students are digital natives, the district put a big push on technology, providing them with the tools necessary to actively engage academically. But they did not stop at the technical aspect of their school offerings. They also have broadened their curriculum to give students various creative outlets. They have a hybrid module for multi-faceted individuals creating rich career pathways for students who don’t as yet know where their interests lie. 

Temple City High School has in place an aggressive program to ensure that its students’ accomplishments lead them to a bright future. The 82 teachers and team of six counselors are tasked with shepherding all 2,100 students from 9^th to 12^th grade to succeed during their years at the high school and then guiding them to admission to the college or university that is the right fit for them. According to Martinne Gonzalez, one of the six full-time counselors, and Amy Sisson, ROP/TCE Technician, their College and Career Planning begins as soon as students step into the campus as freshmen, as they are introduced to the College Admissions process. In their sophomore year, students learn to identify their interests and write their creative resumes. 

When they reach their third year, juniors begin their college search. A Junior Parents Night is held in the Spring to get parents acquainted with the process their children are going through.  Counselors explain how students and parents can utilize Naviance in helping them create their schools list, assess their strengths, evaluate their interests and choose their activities in relation to their college choice. Another Parents Night is held in the Fall of Senior year to connect their summer planning and research to the application process that would be in full swing. 

Recruiters from about 50 colleges and universities visit Temple City High School in the Fall. Seniors are encouraged to attend information sessions and speak to the college representatives who will also be the admissions officers reading their applications and essays.

Temple City High counselors hold workshops on completing the college application, writing resumes, crafting personal statements, and providing interview guidelines. Parents and students also attend financial aid and FAFSA application workshops.   

Students at TCHS are also very savvy about college applications. There is a student-run organization, the College and Career Club, which focuses on raising funds, researching grants and scholarships, and visiting various universities during the spring break. Debbie Singh, another school counselor, serves as Advisor to the club.

This year’s Temple City High School 530 seniors were accepted to close to 200 colleges and universities. These graduates will be attending such highly selective institutions including Art Center College of Design, CalTech, CalPoly San Luis Obispo, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Chicago, Cornell University, MIT, Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, USC, Stanford University, and Yale University.

Strong parent involvement, robust student engagement, solid support from the school’s administrators and teachers, make Temple City High an excellent institution of learning in the San Gabriel Valley. 

A large percentage of the district’s population originates from a foreign country, with over 38 languages other than English spoken. While this makes for a rich and diversity community, there is an ongoing challenge to assist families with understanding school life and culture. According to Perini, TCUSD is making a concerted effort to reach out to each family, especially the Asian and Hispanic populations. However, despite the varying backgrounds of families, there is tremendous  support from their PTA, which has a very active teacher component. There is a high level of parent interest in the schools and they commit time and effort in numerous school activities. Perini emphasizes parent involvement with their “shared” students. She firmly believes that parents are the children’s first educators and as such, are the district’s critical allies in a partnership that would produce not only academically successful graduates but also as future responsible members of society.  

Unlike other nearby cities with a large business base, Temple City only has local entrepreneurs financing their area; in fact, the Unified School District is the city’s largest employer. While this has been a drawback, it has also been a blessing as it has given them a home-town pride and independence. Indeed, all the ongoing developments spread throughout the city are proof positive that it’s a small town with big plans. And with its countless school accomplishments, Perini is convinced that Temple City is poised as one of the finest school districts in California.