Compton, CA (The Bulletin) – Legendary music producer Andre “Dr. Dre” Young showed up for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Compton High School on May 22, 2025.
Young donated $10 million towards the erection of the Andre “Dr. Dre” Young Performing Arts Center, which includes a Green Room and a 900-seat auditorium.
“The new Compton High School Andre ‘Dr. Dre’ Young Performing Arts Center is a world-class venue and educational facility,” said Dr. Dre.
“The design fully brings to life our vision for the students and the community. From state-of-the-art music and recording studios to performance spaces that rival professional venues, students will have access to the tools, training, and inspiration they need to pursue their passions and build lasting careers in music, arts, media, and beyond,” he added.
Outside of Young, other dignitaries attending the event included members of the Compton Unified School District, Compton city council members and Compton High School alumni also made their way to the event. NBA star DeMar DeRozan, who was in attendance, is also a Compton High alum.
Building the new school didn’t come cheap. The price tag of the new-look Compton High School was $225 million for the 31-acre facility to be built.
Some of the pathways the school is expected to offer students beginning in the fall of 2025 are the Law and Civil Rights Academy, Early College Academy, Biomedical Innovation Academy powered by PLTW, and the Arts, Media, and Entertainment.
“This ribbon cutting marks far more than the opening of a new school—it marks the fulfillment of a sacred promise to our community,” said CUSD Board of Trustees President Micah Ali.
“The new Compton High School is not just a building—it is limitless student potential, it is frame-breaking and dream-making,” Ali continued. “It is a sanctuary of scholarship and a launchpad for opportunity, built by Compton, for Compton, and for generations yet to come. What began with a bold vote of confidence in 2015 has now become a living, thriving testament to what we can achieve when we dream, plan, and build together.”
Part of that vision coming into fruition is a 40,868-foot performing arts center. That’s just one part of the school. There’s a new football field with a spanking new all-weather track and a gigantic scoreboard.
The athletic facilities, which include a gymnasium, locker room, a soccer field and a baseball field with an outdoor swimming pool, only tell half of the story of how massive the school’s campus is. On the academic side of things, the main building for student learning is a two-level, state-of-the-art facility, equipped with the latest technology gadgets and whatnot.
For Compton High Principal Larry Natividad, the overall size of the campus is a sight to behold.
“It’s massive,” Natividad said. “The most impressive aspect of the school is the space. So, given our environment, given our change in our climate, for example, you will notice that this is a two-story building where almost all of the academic learning happens here. We want to make sure we protect our kids. We want to make sure that we’re contained. We want to make sure that they have a sense of ownership and space so that they could breathe while being inside the building.”
Natividad went on to say that the school’s partnership with Dr. Dre presents a lot of new doors to be opened for the school’s students.
“The partnership with Dr. Dre is not only a connection with a real, live human being that loves us, but also a person that knows how to navigate the system of entertainment and finance and art, that could also build bridges and open up opportunities for our scholars that’s going to be critical with our partnership with Dr. Dre.”
Natividad and his staff will welcome a new class of students to the campus in August. Myshay Causey won’t be part of that student body. The senior will be away studying at Cornell University. Causey, who spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, was taken aback by the breadth and scope of the school.
“My first impression, I said, Wow, this place is amazing,” Causey said. “We have state-of-the-art everything. There’s like two giant TV screens per classroom…It’s absolutely amazing. Once you see the inside, it has everything a student can ask for and more. It’s a place where students can go to have fun and actually build on their academic palace. It’s amazing. I’m so excited to be here and be involved in this school as we move forward.”
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