Torrance High School

Those of you that personally know me already know I love writing reviews. However, I rarely write reviews on schools and universities. However, for many reading this have probably watched (let alone heard of) the hit FOX TV drama "Beverly Hills 90210" that aired from 1990-2000. This takes me to "Torrance High School"; you heard that right, the school grounds were actually filmed in Torrance and not in Beverly Hills. And for those wondering, this was also the filming location of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" amongst other various TV shows and movies due to its close proximity to Hollywood. Since I was in this area for a private family event, this was not out of the way for my lady and I. The actual location of this school is at 2200 W. Carson St. in Torrance that happens to be in a relatively quiet and less congested area. It is tucked in between Crenshaw Blvd. and Western Ave. while the major freeways (the 405 and 110) are about a 5-7 minute drive away. Since we visited the school campus in the summer (on Friday 7/26/2024) as well as after hours (at around 6:30pm), there were no classes in session. I must confess, after watching the show, the campus has not changed much over the years and am guessing that the entire structure of the buildings have remain intact ever since being constructed back in the mid-late 1940's. I also had the opportunity to peek through the windows of some of the classrooms and I can tell they've kept a lot of the same desks intact for several decades. Finally, the outside courtyard area looks exactly the same as where the kids from 90210 once stood during their recess. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised with checking out "Torrance High School". The layout of the entire campus is quite large as the school can accommodate an average of 2,000 students during a normal school year (grades 9-12). And to all of you Gen-X'ers that were obsessed with this show, you will definitely not be disappointed. Just don't visit during when school is in session. Otherwise, I highly recommend checking this place out. My rating, an above average four stars.

Horrible school, horrendous administration that will not allow Air Conditioning in their classrooms. As I write this in September 2024, my sister, an 11th Grade student at the school had to endure the excessive heat wave in the area and could not focus on her studies at all. Not to forget, Ms.Yun shouldn't be there as a Counselor for students there. She has stacks of El Camino Dual Enrollment applications on her desk, but displays a lack of consistency and delayed the registration process for my sister twice, both Fall 2023 and Fall 2024!! This is unacceptable, all of the classes she wants to take are full and professors will not issue her an enrollment permit until her college classes' start date, why?? Very incompetent to the extent that she should be replaced with someone else, Ms.Yun would look nice walking out the school gate because it will do wonders for students who don't want to waste precious time to advance and excel. Paul Walker, the well-known Fast and Furious actor, was a part of "She's All That" (1999)" that took place at this school. Nothing's more embarrassing than have a title like that, but have absolutely no empathy for students to succeed here. Don't send your children here, do yourself a favor and go to other Los Angeles County school districts.

Just love this school. Staff is very friendly and welcoming and the students are very polite.

kids are atrocious atleast the ones in this school, confusing layout, couple rude teachers especially mr.jimenez

Not good for the easily confused. Even the students cannot find their classrooms. And twice now the front desk has pointed in a direction. I flat out asked her to call an escort or for someone to come to me and she said no the first time i was here. This time was nothing in response until i called the district in front of her and said no one was helping me

Class of 2022. Not sure if its just arrogance but I've never been a fan of the students here at all. Questionable faculty, especially the P.E. teachers/security but COVID was actually dealt with pretty decently. Events are nice though they don't really pull of hocos and dances well. Most of my positive experience lies in my experience with the newer teachers like Ms. Roh and Ms. Pignotti. Clubs were fantastic too like the korean culture club though they can be more interactive and outgoing. Hard to survive here unless you know how to network lmao

Living in Torrance my whole life this is just another local high school to others this is an iconic TV show location. Well it's both I guess you can say. This is one of many high schools within the Torrance area. This is where they filmed the 90's show Beverly Hills 90210 I believe that's when it became more of a popular spot to check out. They have filmed many other things here as well like Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. One more interesting fact about this is in front of the school is a memorial of a Medal of Honor recipient Ted Tanouye. This is a nice high school and has been around in Torrance a long time. This would be one place to see when visiting Torrance if you're a fan of the show's mentioned.

Keep in mind, I graduated from THS in 2018.... But my four years at this school still traumatize me to this day. When my friends and I attempted to stage a walkout for the March for our Lives movements, students were punished for walking off campus and instead other students went to a school mandated protest in the gym in which students were laughing and screaming during moments of silence for victims of gun violence. When I silently protested Trump in the quad during lunch, the entire school surrounded us and threw trash at us while screaming we should "go back to China where we came from", while the admin watched and did absolutely nothing. Teachers play active favoritism to high performing students and publicly humiliate students who they dislike. Counselors (*cough cough Ms. Dillon) are absolutely useless and tell you blatant misinformation about the college admissions process and give you zero support during your time here unless you are a high performing student in ASB. Students here are either cutthroat competitive or do not care at ALL, the school is "diverse" but is super inequitable (most AP and honors are primarily white and Asian with better teachers + support, normal classes are mostly black and brown and have little support and resources). My friends and their FAMILT were actively abused my popular athletes to which the administration did nothing. Do NOT send your child to this school.

Teachers that can actually teach and want to help students are a hit or miss, most older teachers just do their job to do them and rather not help students succeed.

Oh Torrance. Although I dreaded dragging myself to your classes for four years of my life, looking back I suppose I was lucky. Certain parts of you were pretty and other parts of you were neat little pieces of history and other parts of you were on TV. I started school right as they ended 90210 and started filming Buffy, which might seem cool, but I always thought it was annoying. Being late to class because they were filming or not being able to eat lunch where I wanted to because equipment was everywhere... not cool when you're a kid. So, I forgot how cool it should have been until my lovely friend from Missouri was visiting. Megan, or as we call her, Missourah, had told me what a nut she was about Buffy. I mentioned that my high school was Sunnydale, but didn't think about it again until we were headed down the 405 after a visit to Santa Monica. On a whim, I pulled off at Crenshaw and whisked her away to Buffy fan heaven. It was a weekend, and the gates were open, so she got to check out the senior pond (where almost all the shows & movies filmed) and of course the famous front of the school. After seeing her enthusiasm, I thought about forgetting and forgiving all of my annoyers in my younger years, and so here is a much nicer yelp than what would have been ten years ago.

Okay. Class of 2014. I like it here but not like I want to come back and be a student here. After I graduated , i know there have been many changes and they have more new teachers/ faculty and staff. I did had nice teachers like Mrs. Siadek,Mrs. Clark, Mr. Yee, etc the list will go on hehe But some teenagers are pretty weird and mean. If you a student, surround yourself with those who want to succeed. Join nice clubs like kiwins,. I know it's hard to be a high school student, but just remmeber that those years go by fast and the nightmare it's gone! So just make yourself happy and work hard hehe I heard this school is not that good. Hasn't improve as much and teachers are lazy. oh God. God bless (:

By far the BEST education I've ever received was THS and the Torrance Unified School District. They hire the finest educators available and their longevity at THS are proof of their integrity in teaching. The school was diverse in students AND ANYONE SAYING OTHERWISE IS just not paying any attention or has an axe to grind. I highly recommend THS.

Best 4 years of my life I absolutely loved this school made so many great friends and memories Class of 2015

UPDATE! Thank you, Sock-san! Torrance High to star on TV again From news services Article Launched: 06/03/2008 11:47:43 PM PDT Campus scenes from The CW spin-off "90210" are to be filmed at Torrance High School, as they were for "Beverly Hills, 90210" in the early 1990s, the network confirmed Tuesday. The Torrance Unified School District Board of Education is scheduled to consider approval of the contract to permit filming on the campus at its June 16 meeting, a district official said. Shooting of the pilot will begin at the end of June, according to a representative for the show. Torrance High was chosen to portray the fictional West Beverly Hills High School by the director of the 1990 pilot of "Beverly Hills, 90210" because of its representation of a California high school. Filming continued there through 1993. **************************** Oh, perhaps I am feeling a bit melancholy.. bear with me as i reminisce about my High School Years.... Perhaps it's because I'm watching "Freaks and Geeks" on DVD. Perhaps it's because I'm finding that so many fellow yelpers are from Torrance, w00t w00t. Perhaps I'm just killing time before I have to pick up friends from the airport. Who knows. I would never re-live my high school years if you paid me a billion dollars, but it was a five star experience. My best friend from childhood and I are still in touch, and we went through our four years there. Summer photography classes are a fond memory. Summer tennis classes, maybe notsomuch. We were able to leave campus for lunch, which usually meant we would miss 4th or 5th period for an extended lunch. Back then, it wasn't academically cut-throat the way it is today, and volunteering was something we did because, well, we wanted to. Not just because we HAD to or else our spot for Cal would be taken by SOMEONE ELSE if we didn't. The campus looks like it needs some work... a far cry from its heyday as the campus from Beverly Hills, 90210 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Maybe they'll do a reunion show and feature our campus on the television once again. Josh Wheadon, what do you think? The Aaron Spelling estate, what do you think? ***************** OMG, i swear they read my review. THEY ARE DOING A 90210 SPINOFF! The Hollywood Reporter announced on March 13, 2008 that the CW network is developing a contemporary spinoff of Beverly Hills, 90210. According to Nellie Andreeva with The Hollywood Reporter, "Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas is in talks to pen the project, which has been put on the fast track by the network." The story also noted that original 90210 creator Darren Star is not involved with the project.[1] Kristin Dos Santos confirmed on her "Watch with Kristin" blog at E! Online that the show is indeed a spinoff with completely new characters, and not a remake.[2] While not officially linked to the project, Tori Spelling has publically expressed interest in possibly reprising her character of Donna Martin-Silver on the new version of the show.[3] Further casting details of the 2008 spinoff have emerged as The Hollywood Reporter announced on March 19, 2008 that the CW has begun casting even before a script has been completed. According to Nellie Andreeva with The Hollywood Reporter, the producing studio CBS Paramount Television (which absorbed original series production studio Spelling Television), is eying an April 3, 2008 production start date. Thomas also hopes to include the 50s style, Peach Pit, from the original series, in later episodes.[4] Ian Ziering has declined being on the show but expressed interest in a 90210 Cast Reunion with former castmates, Jason Priestley and Luke Perry to air on Sept. 2, 2010 (9.02.10).[5]

It was a cool experience to be driving through Torrance and spot the high school that was used in so many popular television series. Beautiful building. Snapping a picture out front is a must for any Buffy fan.

Cant wait to graduate and be done with this school its too old and has a lot of rules

Love you THS! I didn't appreciate you then but I sure do now! Thank you(: great teachers !

Torrance high school gave that home type feeling. Loved being a Tartar and like we always say "Once a Tartar Always a Tartar"wouldn't want to attend any other high school and extremely blessed to have graduated from there. Class of 2015 T-HOUSE

I went to Torrance High (graduated in the middle '50's). My dad was in the Class of 1927. Lots of tradition, nice people, many happy memories. Go Tartars! ! !