South High School

Posted: March 21, 2026

Posted: March 21, 2026

Posted: March 21, 2026

Posted: March 21, 2026

Posted: March 21, 2026

Posted: March 21, 2026

Posted: March 21, 2026

Posted: March 21, 2026

We transferred my children from Redondo Union to South High after we moved homes and we were so pleasantly surprised with the teachers and also the more diverse student body than RUHS. Students were more academically focused and driven.

Posted: July 3, 2024

Posted: July 3, 2024

Posted: July 3, 2024

Posted: July 3, 2024

Posted: July 3, 2024

Posted: July 3, 2024

Posted: July 3, 2024

Posted: July 3, 2024

Academically rigorous but prepared me well for college. I joke that high school was more challenging than college in terms of academics and I went to Berkeley. The pressure is there but for those students who are motivated, the faculty will help support your endeavors! Thank you to those amazing teachers! Student population lacks socioeconomic diversity given that it is the most affluent area of Torrance.

Posted: March 22, 2018

Posted: March 22, 2018

Drug use in class is prevalent; hard for non using/sensitive kids to concentrate

Posted: March 22, 2018

Posted: March 22, 2018

Posted: March 22, 2018

Posted: March 22, 2018

Better than many schools in CA but nowhere near my experience growing up.

Posted: March 22, 2018

Posted: March 4, 2015

I am a freshman at South, and no longer want to continue the rest of my three years here. I did not have bad friends, yet noticed the overwhelming amount of drugs at this school that goes unnoticed. So many students I knew always had something or was on something, and witnessed on multiple occasions students getting away with security simply because they "had no proof." On the other hand, teachers simply do not teach. One of them only shows YouTube videos and demands to print out excessive amounts of paper and creates ridiculously long tests on material we must learn entirely on our own. Another spends the entire period telling stories and almost everyone ends up with C's on test. Another teacher goes through material too quickly, and allows a single student to answer questions the entire period. My honors class is discriminating, clear favoritism is shown and have witnessed the intentional putting down of one of my friends several times. Gossip at South is ridiculous. My friend experienced slut shaming so bad, she left. So many racist people. Bullying is out of control. Yes, test scores might be "great", but I don't want to be in a miserable environment while trying to "learn."

Posted: January 1, 2015

There is absolutely no attention or repercussions for bullying. A very intelligent student who is tall, pretty, but quiet and reserved is living in hell at this school. I question the 4 and 5 star reviews. Perhaps made by the faculty to balance up the sad reality that I will be paying for an education for my children to avoid the senseless distractions of fitting the mold.

Posted: November 28, 2014

I just graduated and was apart of the Color Guard and several clubs. Joining and leading a volunteer club really helped me get involved while boosting my college application. Aside from extracurricular, the teachers really care and do try to help. The counsellors are great advisors and really put into perspective what colleges you can aim for. Yes they don't like to change schedules, but this is mostly because students want to change to an "easier" class with their friends instead of having real reasons for the counsellors. The AP program is amazing and gets students to not only pass for college credit, but to beat the national average. I've never had problems with teachers and the only complaints I hear are typical. I've been over-prepared for Math and English and it's helped me a lot my freshman year of college. I also never heard racial slurs like the other student, so that must've been rare or provoked. There's maybe one fight a year and they're broken up in seconds, which proves how safe the school is. There are no huge downsides to this school. People can complain about drama, but that's because a lot of people want attention. Just avoid it and you'll be fine.

Posted: August 23, 2014

Most of the teachers don't even teach, and when you want to get switched out of their classes to a better teacher, the counselor refuses. This is the whitest and most racist school I've attended. You get racial slurs thrown at you, and when you respond back you're the one that gets sent to the dean. Teachers here are very unfair.

Posted: October 23, 2013

South was pretty great for my son. The teachers were very caring and committed. The dean of students was amazing. The principal Scott McDowell was horrendous. He cares about the sports program and the honors program. He did not address parent concerns and was actually not even sympathetic.

Posted: January 15, 2013

south is a pretty good school i think we just need more indoor areas for lunch during the winter...its freezing

Posted: October 21, 2012

One of the problems with South High is that the school's policies on bullying are soft or not enforced. Our daughter attended high school here and had to switch schools mid year last semester because of bullying. The school only made the problem worse. Our daughter was bullied on line then attacked by a soccer teammate. Afterwards, the soccer coach actually took a player and team parent vote on who he should kick off the team, and kicked her off even after he was told that our daughter would not be kicked off. The other girl was kicked off and at the end of the year, the coach was told to not let her attend the year-end banquet. When she showed up, he let her attend and also sit right across from our daughter, which made her so upset she had to leave. We have since met other people who had bullying experiences this school that were not addressed.

Posted: August 12, 2012

I loved South. I thought classes were challenging, but not too hard. Some reviews say AP courses make South, but I disagree. I have met students at my Univ. who went to private schools from all over CA and OR, both college prep and religiously based, and I was better or equally prepared for college as they were. I was OVER prepared for English and writing, and thought I would struggle with math. However, I was well above average in math too. Other schools don't require 4 yrs of math, or calculus. South expected both. I had teachers I didn't care for, but I don't think any of my classes were a waste of time. The band program has flourished in recent years, and there are now multiple levels of band, a very competitive marching band, and multiple Jazz bands. I too was slightly annoyed w/ many changes in administration through my years, but saying the principal is not relevant is, in my opinion, wrong. There were a few fights and other behavioral issues, and all were handled with privacy and strict, reasonable punishments by the principal. I never felt that anyone questioned his authority. He is friendly, and remembered my name by my jr. yr., even though I had never been in trouble.

Posted: October 31, 2011

The principals only defend the horrible teachers and coaches at this school. They do nothing to improve the school. It's falling apart! Drugs galore here too! Beware! Go to Redondo where at least its been remodeled and you won't have to look at the roaches and spiders climbing the walls while you are sitting on the toilet!

Posted: July 4, 2011

great school. i went to a "high class educated" private school for two years and ended my high school yearrs at south high. better than a private school. great teachers and many extracurricular activities for the students. the teachers are very caring. highly recommended school.

Posted: January 5, 2011

South High is a really great school for the most part. The AP programs are definitely what makes it so. Regular classes were really easy for me, the kids that didn't understand often weren't listening in class (texting, talking, etc ) or didn't read the book. Not all the teachers were very good, but there were teachers (especially math teachers) that were outstanding. Some would help students from previous years with homework during lunch or during their grading period. There were students that would come visit even when they were in college to get help.The chemistry teacher and the physics teacher I had were also always willing to take time to help if a student needed it. As for students succeeding in college, AP courses are definitely going to prepare you better than regular courses no matter what school you are attending. Universities expect you to teach yourself to a large extent; you have to be motivated in order to do well. The reason regular classes don't prepare you for college is because the workload is too light.

Posted: June 21, 2010

South High seems to care more about the AP students at the expense of the regular students. The AP students don't need any help. They will succeed no matter what college they go to. It's the average students who need more help so they can go to college and succeed. As a full time nurse, I work at night so I can't help the kids with their homework, which are given by the mediocre teachers who don't explain them well.