New Compton High School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

May 22, 2025 City Pride Magazine

Dr. Dre Joins Compton Community at New High School Celebration

by Charles Jackson

The Compton Unified School District held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 22, 2025, to officially open Compton High School, California’s newest state-of-the-art high school, which cost $200 million to build. Following the ceremony, attendees were given tours of the campus.

Rapper Dr. Dre, a notable figure in the community, spoke at the event, which marked the opening of the 40,868-square-foot Andre’s Dr. Dre Young Performing Arts Center. This center was partially funded by Dr. Dre’s generous $10 million donation. In his speech, Dr. Dre stated, “Compton is a breeding ground of talent. There is something in the soil here. There is something about growing up here. There is a certain kind of grit that gets cultivated navigating in the streets, and that grit carried me further than I could have ever imagined. I am also excited to see what kind of talent emerges when that grit is paired with a first-rate education. So dream big, I did. I am standing here as living proof that coming from Compton, nothing can stop me, and anything and everything is possible.”

Located at 601 S. Acacia Avenue, Compton, CA, the new Compton High School represents the most modern high school facility constructed in the greater Los Angeles area. The school is set to welcome its first class of students in August 2025 and will feature a 31-acre campus capable of accommodating more than 1,800 students. The new facilities include a 140,639-square-foot academic building, a 36,534-square-foot gymnasium, a half-size Olympic pool, and landscaping incorporating California native and adaptive plants.

This new campus replaces the previous Compton High School, which operated for nearly 120 years. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was a private, invite-only event attended by approximately 300 guests. Among those present with Dr. Dre were members of the Compton Unified School District Board, Compton Unified Superintendent Dr. Darin Brawley, CUSD Executive Cabinet Members, the Mayor of Compton, and city council members, as well as students, families, friends, residents, and members of the media.