- City:
- San Francisco, CA
- Site Type:
- Education and Health, Schools
- Site Survival:
- No Longer Extant
Description
Though the roots of this school go back to 1884, it opened at its Carl Street location in 1914. Unfortunately, after a sad and racialized history in the 60s, the school was closed in the early 70s. The buildings were demolished in the mid 80s.
During the 30s, New Deal agencies were involved in the construction of the girl's gym (1937) and the school auditorium.
Source notes
Need more information on which agencies were involved. For a concise but detailed history of the Polytechnic school see: The Rise and Fall of the Polytechnic School (https://www.perennialparrot.com/links/WEB%20Rise%20and%20Fall%20Part%201.pdf)Contribute to this Site
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Submit More Information or Photographs for this New Deal Site13 comments on “Polytechnic High School – San Francisco CA”
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Bob Larsen
Johnny L.
Shaina
Cathy P.
Wayne Barker
Emil
Lee DATRICE
Karen Carlson
Courtney
Johnny
Glenda
I went to Poly, my sophomore year, 1974-1975, so, someone has their history wrong – the school was still open.
Bob,
Then maybe you can tell us the exact location of the school. The history we used says it closed in the ‘early 1970s’ but it must be ‘mid-1970s’.
DW
Polytechnical High School officially closed in 1973. However, Mission High students were placed there from 73-77 while their school was renovated. Poly was unoccupied from 77 until its demolition in 1987 to make way for condominiums. The boys and girls gymnasiums are the only remaining structures
Johnny, thanks very much for clarifying this.
I graduated from Polytechnic in 1962. At the time, I did not experience any racial tension. It was a great school to attend and the teachers were excellent. I attended the the only reunion I knew about when the school was closing, and I received a brick from the building (I guess part of the building had been taken down in order to make these commemorative bricks) and the dates inscribed are 1914 – 1972.
The footprint of the school is easily seen in google maps – at the location
37.765438, -122.456349
– in satellite view.
The remaining structures (the two gymnasiums) are now Circus Center and Arco Sports, fronting Frederick Street, and between them and spilling up the hill to Carl street are the condominiums built after the rest of the school was demolished; easily identifiable by their homogenous roofing. So , the location of the school was in the middle of the block bordered by Willard street, Carl street, Arguello Blvd., and Frederick street.
Back in the days of racial unrest mid 70s the unrest came predominently from Hunters Point rowdies looking for trouble.The Poly students were together throughout the years leading to ’68 and were all (most)friends I and my caucasian friends were advised by our black brothers to beware as there were many rowdies from elsewhere that did not know us.So we did…safely, gratefully
Poly got soul!!!
Most of us came from the Fillmore
Looking to see if anyone knows how to find old year books
Interested in seeing friends from my theater class
And maybe some old photos.
Anyone remember Mr Campbell our theater teacher
Karen Carlson as Dee Jacobson
In ( no place to be someone)
Anyone know of a Joan O’Brien (Olah)? I believe she was a senior in 1959 at Poly. She’s my grandma and I’m trying to get more info.
Anyone out there from the classes 70-73 ? Any names or yearbooks
I was there 1973 not far from Haight Ashbury. The Golden Gate Park was a block away. It was awesome living in San Francisco 1973. I was 16 years old and there was so much to see and experience.