Choosing a high school involves much more than comparing test scores. Parents and students often want to understand the school’s academic pathways, campus environment, specialized programs, extracurricular opportunities, facilities, and enrollment options. This guide to Abraham Lincoln High School Los Angeles brings those major topics together in one place.

Abraham Lincoln Senior High School, commonly called Lincoln High School, is a public high school in the Lincoln Heights community of Los Angeles. The school serves grades 9–12 and is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Its campus combines a long local history with several academic pathways, including STEAM, health- and social-science-focused learning communities, and magnet programs. The official school website currently identifies four major learning communities: STEAM, Voice, MST, and SCM.

This page is designed as the main information hub for families researching Lincoln High School. It provides an overview of the school and links readers to more detailed articles about academics, rankings, demographics, athletics, specialized programs, facilities, and enrollment.

Abraham Lincoln High School at a Glance

Important enrollment note: Public enrollment figures can differ because education agencies update data on different schedules. The California Department of Education and federal school datasets may report different totals for different academic years. Families should check the most recent official school profile before using enrollment data for comparisons.

History of Abraham Lincoln High School

Abraham Lincoln High School is one of the oldest and most historically significant high school campuses in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school has long served students from Lincoln Heights and surrounding communities.

Lincoln’s history is closely connected to the development of public education in northeast Los Angeles. Over the decades, the school has educated students from many cultural and immigrant communities and has remained an important neighborhood institution.

One of the most influential figures in the school’s history was Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. She became principal of Lincoln High School in 1917 and served for approximately 28 years. The school’s official historical information describes her as the first woman to lead a major urban high school in California. During her leadership, Lincoln expanded programs related to vocational education, student leadership, community service, adult education, and other areas.

Dr. Andrus later became known nationally as the founder of the American Association of Retired Persons, commonly known as AARP. Her connection to Lincoln remains an important part of the school’s historical identity.

Lincoln also has a long-standing JROTC tradition. The school’s Tiger Battalion was officially established in 1919 and is described by the school as one of the earliest JROTC programs in the United States. Today, the program focuses on leadership, citizenship, teamwork, community involvement, and student development rather than military recruitment.

Location and Campus

Lincoln High School is located at 3501 North Broadway in Los Angeles, in the Lincoln Heights area northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The campus serves an urban community with strong historical and cultural ties.

The school’s location gives students access to educational, cultural, and career opportunities throughout Los Angeles. At the same time, Lincoln functions as a neighborhood school for many families living in and around Lincoln Heights.

The school has not published a clearly verified current campus acreage figure in the sources reviewed for this article. Therefore, the campus size is marked [VERIFY] until a current district facility record confirms the total acreage.

Lincoln’s campus includes academic buildings, arts spaces, athletic areas, student-support offices, and specialized learning environments. The school is also undergoing a major modernization effort intended to update facilities and create new instructional spaces.

Enrollment and Student-Teacher Ratio

Lincoln High School’s enrollment changes from year to year. Recent public datasets place enrollment in the general range of approximately 900 to 1,000 students.

The school’s current public information describes Lincoln as an urban high school serving a diverse student population. The school also receives Title I funding, and its official WASC information states that all students participate in the federal school meal program.

A recent federal dataset reported a student-teacher ratio of approximately 16 students per teacher, although the exact figure depends on the reporting year and the staff-count methodology used.

Parents should avoid treating one enrollment figure as permanent. Enrollment totals may change because of graduation, new student admissions, magnet participation, district enrollment trends, and changes in local population.

For a detailed year-by-year analysis, see the supporting article: Abraham Lincoln High School Demographics and Enrollment Trends.

Academics and AP Course Offerings

Academics at Lincoln High School are organized through several learning communities and specialized pathways. Students may study traditional college-preparatory subjects while also participating in programs connected to science, technology, engineering, arts, medicine, business, social science, and career exploration.

The school currently lists a broad selection of Advanced Placement courses. Public school information identifies AP opportunities in subjects such as biology, chemistry, calculus, computer science, English, government, physics, psychology, statistics, U.S. history, world history, world languages, and studio art. Course availability can change based on staffing, student demand, scheduling, and annual program decisions.

Lincoln’s Math, Science and Technology Magnet states that its curriculum meets or exceeds district graduation requirements and is designed to support preparation for California State University and University of California admission. The program also highlights STEM activities such as robotics, MESA, engineering, Science Bowl, Academic Decathlon, debate, and mathematics clubs.

The school’s academic structure may be a good fit for students who want both comprehensive high-school coursework and access to specialized pathways. However, families should confirm which courses are available for a student’s grade level during the enrollment and course-selection process.

Learn more: Read the complete guide to Abraham Lincoln High School AP Courses and Academics.

Abraham Lincoln High School Rankings and Ratings

School rankings can be useful, but they should not be treated as a complete measure of school quality. Different organizations use different formulas. Some emphasize state test performance, while others include college readiness, graduation outcomes, student and parent reviews, equity indicators, or school culture.

Lincoln High School may receive different ratings across platforms such as Niche, U.S. News & World Report, GreatSchools, and California’s accountability system. These ratings can change when new data becomes available.

Families should look beyond a single overall score and ask:

• How recent is the data?
• Does the ranking measure academics, college readiness, equity, or parent experience?
• Is the school being compared with all public high schools or only schools in a particular area?
• Does the ranking reflect the programs a specific student plans to join?

A school can have a modest overall ranking while offering a strong specialized pathway that fits a particular student very well. Conversely, a high ranking does not guarantee that every program or student experience will be equally strong.

Learn more: See the full analysis in Abraham Lincoln High School Rankings and Ratings Explained.

Demographics and Enrollment Trends

Lincoln High School serves a diverse student population. The school’s current WASC information identifies Hispanic/Latino and Asian students as major parts of the school community and describes the school as serving many families from low- and moderate-income backgrounds.

Demographic information should be interpreted carefully. Student demographics describe the composition of the school population; they do not measure academic ability, school quality, or an individual student’s experience.

Enrollment trends can also provide useful context. A growing enrollment may increase demand for classrooms and student services, while declining enrollment may affect staffing, course availability, and district planning. However, enrollment changes can result from many factors, including demographic shifts, school-choice programs, magnet enrollment, housing changes, and district-wide trends.

The detailed demographics article will compare available data across multiple years and explain changes without making unsupported assumptions.

Learn more: Visit Abraham Lincoln High School Demographics and Enrollment for year-by-year data and analysis.

Sports and Athletics

Athletics are an important part of student life at Lincoln High School. The school offers competitive sports opportunities and maintains athletics information through its official school resources.

Sports availability may vary by season, participation levels, coaching staff, and district scheduling. Families should verify current boys’ and girls’ teams, varsity and junior varsity levels, eligibility requirements, practice schedules, and transportation arrangements directly with the athletic department.

The school’s athletics environment is not limited to competition. Sports programs can provide students with opportunities to develop teamwork, leadership, time-management skills, physical fitness, and school involvement.

Lincoln’s campus modernization may also affect athletic spaces and facilities over time. Parents should check current construction updates because facility access and practice locations can change during major building projects.

Learn more: Read Abraham Lincoln High School Sports Teams, Facilities and Athletics for a season-by-season sports list and verified championship history.

Magnet and Specialized Academic Programs

Lincoln High School offers specialized learning opportunities in addition to its comprehensive high-school program.

The school’s Math, Science and Technology Magnet, commonly called the MST Magnet, focuses on scientific inquiry, logical reasoning, collaborative learning, mathematics, science, and technology. The program promotes STEM-related extracurricular opportunities, including robotics, MESA, engineering, Science Bowl, Academic Decathlon, debate, and mathematics activities.

The school also currently lists a Sports Careers Magnet, which is intended to connect academic learning with career exploration related to sports and associated industries. Families should verify the current curriculum, grade-level availability, and application requirements because specialized program details may change.

Lincoln’s learning communities also include:

• STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics
• Voice: A pathway connected to medicine, business, and social science
• MST: Math, Science and Technology Magnet
• SCM: Sports Careers Magnet

Magnet admission is generally separate from standard neighborhood enrollment and may involve district application procedures, deadlines, eligibility rules, or a selection process.

Learn more: Explore the full guide to the Abraham Lincoln High School Magnet Program.

Campus Facilities and Modernization

Lincoln High School is undergoing a major campus modernization project. The school’s Visual and Performing Arts information describes the project as a historic modernization effort with a reported budget of approximately $233 million.

The modernization is expected to provide updated educational facilities, including new visual-arts classrooms and a performing-arts center. The project may also include broader improvements to campus infrastructure, instructional spaces, technology, accessibility, safety, and student facilities. The exact scope and timeline should be confirmed through current LAUSD facilities records.

Large school construction projects can affect daily campus operations. During construction, students and families may experience changes to building access, parking, traffic patterns, classroom locations, athletic areas, or event spaces.

The modernization project is important because it may change the physical learning environment for current and future students. It also raises questions about how public funds are allocated and what improvements will directly benefit students.

Learn more: Read Abraham Lincoln High School Construction, Modernization and Facilities for a detailed project timeline and verified budget information.

Admissions and Enrollment

Students who live within Lincoln High School’s attendance area may generally be eligible to enroll as neighborhood students. Attendance boundaries are determined by LAUSD and can change, so families should confirm the current boundary using the district’s official school locator.

Students who live outside the attendance area may have other options, depending on district policies. These can include permits, school-choice programs, magnet applications, or other enrollment pathways.

Enrollment requirements may include:

• Proof of the student’s age
• Parent or guardian identification
• Proof of residence
• Immunization records
• Previous school records or transcripts
• Special education or language-support documentation when applicable

Requirements can differ depending on whether a student is entering ninth grade, transferring from another LAUSD school, moving from another district, applying to a magnet, or enrolling from outside California.

Because application deadlines and procedures change, families should use the current LAUSD enrollment information rather than relying on an old article or social-media post.

Learn more: Follow the complete Abraham Lincoln High School Enrollment Application Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Notable Alumni and Historical Figures

Lincoln High School has connections to several notable individuals. The school’s official historical information identifies the following people:

• Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus: Former Lincoln principal and founder of AARP
• James “Jimmy” Doolittle: Military aviation leader and World War II figure
• Robert Preston: Actor known for stage and film work
• Robert Young: Film and television actor

Additional alumni names should be included only when graduation or attendance can be verified through reliable school, university, archival, or biographical sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Abraham Lincoln High School a public school?

Yes. Abraham Lincoln Senior High School is a public high school serving grades 9–12 in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Where is Lincoln High School located?

The school is located at 3501 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90031, in the Lincoln Heights community.

Does Lincoln High School offer AP classes?

Yes. The school currently lists Advanced Placement opportunities in multiple subjects, including mathematics, science, English, history, government, psychology, computer science, world languages, and the arts. Specific course availability may change each year.

Does Abraham Lincoln High School have a magnet program?

Yes. The school offers the Math, Science and Technology Magnet and currently lists the Sports Careers Magnet. Magnet admission may involve a separate LAUSD application process.

Is Lincoln High School being modernized?

Yes. The school is undergoing a major modernization project. Public school information describes a project with an approximate $233 million budget and planned improvements that include visual-arts classrooms and a performing-arts center.

Why This School Matters

Abraham Lincoln High School is more than a collection of enrollment figures, rankings, or test results. It is a long-established Lincoln Heights institution with a strong historical identity, multiple academic pathways, specialized magnet opportunities, student-support programs, athletics, arts, and a major campus modernization effort.

For families, the most useful question is not simply, “What is Lincoln High School ranked?” A better question is: “Which opportunities at Lincoln match my student’s academic goals, interests, learning needs, and future plans?”

That answer may depend on whether a student is interested in STEM, health and social sciences, visual and performing arts, athletics, JROTC, college preparation, or a specialized magnet pathway. Reviewing the supporting articles in this content cluster can help families move from a general school overview to a more informed enrollment decision.