School's History

Long Beach is a diverse city along with its surrounding areas of Signal Hill, Avalon, and Lakewood. Over 562,000 people live in the city and neighboring communities. 115,000 of those people according to the American Community Survey (2020) lack a 9th grade or above education or high school diploma. 75,000 of those people according to the survey speak English “less than very well.” Historically we have enrolled over 1,200 students each year (COVID years aside) and typically maintain waitlists for most programs. Long Beach is not without a population of adults who could benefit from Long Beach School for Adults.

Adult Education in Long Beach has been in existence for over 100 years. School for Adults was first established as an adult education program, as a part of public education in Long Beach in 1913 “to prepare office help and carriage mechanics.” In 1933, a Long Beach evening high school was established on the Long Beach Unified School District high school campus of Woodrow Wilson Classical High School under the auspices of the Long Beach City College division of the LBUSD. In 1933, twenty-six adults received high school diplomas through the program. In 1970, the Long Beach Community College and the Long Beach Unified School District became separate entities, and the name Long Beach School for Adults, LBSA, was established. In 2004, at its height, LBSA enrolled over 15,000 students. 

Today, LBSA hosts over 1,200 students at any given time supporting adult learners in earning their High School Diploma, High School Equivalency Test, learning English through our multi-tiered English as a Second Language program (ESL), boosting basic skills to be successful in earning their diploma through ABE (Adult Basic Education), and providing CTE courses for employment opportunities via Animal Care, Custodial Services, Certified Nurse Assistant, Instructional Assistant, Commercial Driver's License, and Campus Staff Assistant offerings.