Downtown Magnets High School (also known as Downtown Business Magnet, DBM, or DMHS) is a magnet high school located in the downtown area of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
The school houses three magnets: Business (DBM), Fashion (FCC), and Electronic Information (EIM). The three magnets combined hold a total student population of approximately 1,000 students.
History
The school was founded in 1981 with a specialization in business training. The school was named Downtown Business Magnet High School. The school's first class consisted of 55 sophomores from different neighborhoods around LAUSD. By 1994, FCC & EIM were formed.
Downtown Business Magnet (DBM)
The Downtown Business Magnet (DBM) was the first magnet at Downtown and is the largest, with approximately 45% of the school's population. The curriculum includes Accounting, Business Organization, Corporate Management, Sales, Entrepreneurship, careers, international relations, and the use of technology in business.
The Business Magnet has been adopted by Citibank, CIT Group, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Fashion Careers Center (FCC)
The FCC magnet was established in 1991 to educate students on the design and fabrication of general clothing apparel.
The FCC Magnet has established partnerships with the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Woodbury University, L.A. Trade Tech, and the California Market Center.
Electronic Information Magnet (EIM)
EIM (est. 1994) has the second largest student population out of the three magnets and includes studies in Computer Science, Computer Programming and Web Design. This most recent addition to DMHS began in collaboration with several local business leaders, LAUSD Board Members, and the Los Angeles Central Library.
EIM is home to the Academy of Information Technology (AOIT), (similar to Business' Academy of Finance), which is also a part of the National Academy Organization.
Currently, EIM holds a constant collaboration with the Los Angeles Central Library. Both DMHS and the Central Library are used as instruction sites. In addition to the Central Library, EIM shares a partnership with Los Angeles City College (LACC).
Grings College Center
For over 23 years, Carol Grings devoted her efforts to the Downtown Magnets College Center and other school programs. When she died in 2005, the College Center was renamed the Grings College Center in her honor.
Academic Performance Index (API)
The Academic Performance Index (API) measures the academic progress of schools across the state of California. Since the 2007-2008 school year, Downtown Magnets has placed number one in Local District 4 thanks to the continual growth of its API. Its scores are as follows:
The aforementioned data is provided by the California Department of Education.
Curriculum
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
Downtown Magnets offers a variety of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. For the 2010-2011 school year, they include:
- Art History
- AP Biology
- Calculus AB/BC
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Environmental Science
- English Literature & Composition
- English Language & Composition
- Human Geography
- Psychology
- Spanish Language
- Spanish Literature
- Statistics
- U.S. Government & Politics
- U.S. History
International Baccalaureate
Since the 2014-15 academic year, Downtown Magnets has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Eleven subjects are offered.
Notable alumni
Joshua Ji-Soo Hong (Seventeen)
References
External links
- Official website
- LAUSD Main Web page
- LAUSD DBM INFO
- Detailed School Information
- School Demographics
- Los Angeles Central Library
- DMHS ASB Myspace Page