Written By: Isaac Julian, Staff Writer
EVOLUTION: Over the years, what we know as Poly has greatly evolved.
Polytechnic High School is a place that holds years of history of the city of Riverside. However, it was established decades ago, and was not always the same school. Older Poly alumni have very different stories at this school, and all have their own story to tell.
Poly, originally named ‘Riverside High School,’ was established in 1887 in response to the high demand for higher education in Riverside, which was founded a mere seven years prior. The first-ever class graduated in 1890, including only four girls and three boys. As time went on, the school harbored more students in following classes. In 1902, classes began to grow too large for the campus, leading to the addition of multiple new buildings. By 1910, the school had adopted upwards of five hundred students. This motivated a complete overhaul of the system in place at the time, creating a campus for boys named ‘Riverside Polytechnic High School’ on Terracina Ave, and one for girls on Ninth Street remaining unnamed.
Around the same time, the high school began a postgraduate education program, which would eventually outgrow the campus and evolve into what is known today as Riverside Community College. Soon after came World War I, which brought further change to the high school campuses. With the decrease in enrollment from boys due to some being drafted, the girls were moved from their location back to the main Terracina Ave campus. With this transfer, the School Board opted to use the remaining girls’ building for a newly established Junior High School. As Riverside entered the 1950s, its population continued to grow, forcing Poly to run double sessions until further high schools could be built. Following Polytechnic High School came Ramona and Rubidoux to accommodate for the increase in enrollment. In 1965, the school broke away from its former campus, building new establishments on Victoria and Third Street. Both schools opened in September of that same year, with the Third Street school becoming what is now known as North High School, and the Victoria campus being the Poly High School students and teachers know to this day.
As the location of Poly has stayed the same for nearly a decade, the campus has changed drastically. Chemistry teacher and club coach Mr. Schiller not only teaches at this school but attended it in the class of 1995. He asserted that the school looked quite a bit different when he was in high school. He noted that the 800s building is rather new, saying “this building that [he teaches] in was not here when [he] went to school.” When asked on an anonymous online forum, a 2005 Poly graduate could attest to this building’s removal, saying how she was sad because “when [her] sister went to Poly before [her] that piece of land was a large grassy hill where kids hung out…” Both Schiller and this user pointed out that other interior renovations happened periodically, such as “fresh coat[s] of paint and working bathrooms.” To this day, renovations continue to be made to improve the overall Poly experience. With the recent completion of the auxiliary gym, as well as the new mental health and wellness center found in the library, students have several options at their disposal.
This physical evolution is great to see, but what is a school without its culture? Even in the early days of Poly, there were traditions kept up by students and staff. For instance, in the 1940’s each class was given an unfavorable name that would stay with them until graduation. Or a more modern example, every year the different classes are put against each other during Homecoming week in the float-building competition. Sports are another large part of Poly culture, with water polo, swimming, and basketball being successful throughout the school’s lifetime. In addition, students have gone far in extracurriculars such as Mock Trial and National History Day. All of these aspects come together to make Poly one of the most unique schools in the city.
Poly heritage continues to be important, but what’s likely changed the most are the students themselves. AP Language and Composition teacher, Mrs. Yeyna, has been a member of Poly staff since 2002 and has clearly noticed the change in student characteristics. She explains how “kids are kids, but what you’re subjected to, and what music you listen to, and your belief system… it switches every year. [Her classes are] profoundly different than [they were] twenty-one years ago.” While this adjustment proves to be a challenge for her at times, it’s also inspiring to see the unique identity of each new group that enters her classroom. She describes how “that’s what makes the job even better because no two days are ever the same.”
Looking retrospectively at Poly High School, both continuity and change have taken place since its establishment. All of these changes have culminated into the school we attend today, educating thousands of students in the process. This school will continue to grow and evolve as it has already, and bring even more knowledge to the children of Riverside.