Manuel Dominguez High School


Manuel Dominguez High School is a four-year public high school located in Compton, California. It is part of the Compton Unified School District.

Name

Dominguez High School is named after Don Manuel Dominguez, a California rancher. Dominguez inherited from his father Jose Cristobal Dominguez over 75,000 acres which was originally granted to his father's uncle Juan Jose Dominguez by the King of Spain in 1784. The land holding covered an area that ran from Redondo Beach into the west, to Compton in the east and the harbor in the south. The rancho spread across a territory that comprises neighborhoods that are now Compton, Gardena, Carson, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes Estates, Lomita, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City, and part of Long Beach.

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

Dominguez is known for having one of the most outstanding football teams in Southern California. Its main rival is Lynwood High School. The football team was led by coach Willie Donerson and his son Keith Donerson for over thirty years. It forms a part of the CIF Southern Section, and San Gabriel Valley League. The Dominguez Football team has produced many NCAA and NFL football players such as Greg Townsend, Richard Sherman, Jeron Johnson, Bruce Walker and Chilo Rachal. The Dominguez basketball team also has a strong tradition, having produced NBA players such as Cedric Ceballos, Tyson Chandler, Brandon Jennings, Dennis Johnson and Tayshaun Prince.

Marching Band History

The Dominguez High School Red & Gold Soul Marching Band is described as "The Best Band in the Land!!!" They have performed at the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards, Home Depot Battle of the Bands, Nike ads, Boost Mobile basketball tournaments, Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy games and L.A. Sparks Season Openers.

Theatre

In 2000, educators Catherine Borek, Karen Greene and an all-student cast produced the first theatrical production to take place at Dominguez in over two decades. Their process of mounting the production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town is the subject of a 2002 documentary by Scott Hamilton Kennedy entitled ..

Notable alumni