Chez Hadley

Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner, music producer and entrepreneur Jimmy Iovine and artist, producer, and entrepreneur Andre “Dr. Dre” Young announced a joint effort to launch a new high school in South Los Angeles building on USC Iovine and Young Academy’s groundbreaking approach combining design, business, and technology with hands-on, real-world learning to help develop young leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

The school, known as Regional High School #1 until the official naming process is completed, will be co-located on the Audubon Middle School campus and serve up to 124 students when it opens in fall 2022, with the ninth and 10th grades; adding the 11th and 12th grades the following year as the school’s capacity expands over time to accommodate 250 students.

“This new partnership with Jimmy, Dr. Dre and the USC Iovine and Young Academy will help open the doors of opportunity for students, in particular Black and Latino children, from communities which have been historically underserved,” Beutner said. “Much like the work of the Academy, this effort will help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.”

“I think it’s going to be something extremely different,” Dre said. “I’m still trying to learn myself and understand the politics and the hurdles that we have to get over to help. All we’re here to do is help the kids.” He added, “We’re here strictly for the kids and trying to give them a future and something promising that maybe wasn’t available before then, so that is our intent.”

“We want to give the next generation of students access to a proven, revolutionary learning experience that will not only prepare them for the jobs of today, but equip them to reimagine and shape the jobs, technologies and creative enterprises of the future,” Iovine said. “We’ve already succeeded in higher ed, now we’re bringing it to high school.”

In establishing what they hope to be “the coolest school in America”, the two hope to get students excited about attending school. They will be exposed to new career paths and opportunities as well as increased access to top college programs through a first-class college preparatory curriculum, and enhanced learning programs that focus on critical thinking and analysis.

“Generations of students will benefit from the extraordinary career opportunities this dynamic partnership will offer Los Angeles Unified students,” Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna III said. “These innovative academic programs are exactly what our students need to stay motivated and inspired to continue their educational journeys to college and beyond. Thank you for investing in our future.”

If all goes as planned, Iovine and Young may be looking to expand the high school program nationwide.