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Overview

This highly-rated medical magnet school was named for the celebreated pharmicist. physician and surgeon Francisco Bravo (1910-1990), who had a practice in the East Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. Bravo operated a clinic in this predominantly Hispanic neighborhood and established a scholarship fund for local students interested in the health science professions. Construction on the high school began in 1987 and was completed in 1990.

Building History

Francisco Bravo (born 04/02/1910 in CA-d. 05/03/1990 in Los Angeles County, CA) was born in Santa Paula, CA, the son of Jose L. Bravo (born 05/20/1888 in Mexico-d. 03/05/1964 in Ventura County, CA) and Clotilde Saldanos (born 06/04/1891 in Mexico-d. 01/09/1969 in Ventura County, CA). He went by "Frank" Bravo early in his life and graduated from Santa Paul High School. Subsequently, Bravo completed the course at the University of Southern California's School of Pharmacy. He went back to school to study at the Stanford University School of Medicine in San Francisco, becoming a certified physician and surgeon. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he started the Bravo Clinic in Boyle Heights and worked as a family doctor for many Eastside residents. He became a highly admired community leader and served as the President of the Pan American National Bank of East Los Angeles and donated his time to serve on the State of California's Board of Agriculture. He also became the landlord for various mobile home parks in Riverside County, accumulating income from this. He sold some of his land to the Del E. Webb Corporation for its Sun City retirement development. (See Los Angeles Unified School District.org, "Francisco Bravo Senior High Medical Magnet," accessed 01/16/2025.) This high school bearing his name opened just before his death on 05/03/1990.

Magnet schools were an educational experiment dating from the 1970s, when the Supreme Court mandated desegregated school systems. Specialized magnet schools were seen to draw together interested students from across a district, regardless of ethniciity. Criticism developed as time went on in Los Angeles, as some said the district's magnets were being located close to white students in comfortable suburban communities. Jean Merl, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times wrote in 1990: "Bravo's students, like those at the district's other magnets, are handpicked from applicants who believe the opportunity for a specialized education program is worth a bus ride that can last well over an hour each way. For years the district has been criticised for putting most of its magnet schools--started as a desegregation tool--in largely Anglo neighborhoods. In this case, it is the suburban students who have the longest bus rides. Slightly more than half of Bravo's 1,000 students come from surrounding communities. The rest are drawn from throughout the district, including many from South-Central Los Angeles, said Principal Rosa Hernandez. Saying that Latinos and blacks are seriously under-represented in health care fields, Hernandez said the school--whose enrollment can grow to 2,000--should help correct the shortage." (See Jean Merl, Los Angeles Times, "Medical Magnet School Opens Amid Fanfare, Hope," published 09/12/1990, accessed 01/16/2025. p. A1, A3.)

Bravo Magnet School was planned in close coordination with the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center located nearby. "The school's close association with USC will enable high school students to participate in university research projects, use medical libraries and accompany physicians on their rounds at the adjacent Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center complex. Marilyn Perron, one of 46 teachers chosen for Bravo, said she is excited about the opportunity to work with university and medical center staff in developing the high school's health sciences curriculum." (See Jean Merl, Los Angeles Times, "Medical Magnet School Opens Amid Fanfare, Hope," published 09/12/1990, accessed 01/16/2025. p. A1, A3.)

The school also was built using a novel financing plan, quite unlike that usually employed for high school construction in CA: "Because of a bank financing plan and a leasing arrangement with a private health services corporation, the $45-million school was built in 27 months instead of the four to five years required when using state school bond money. National Medical Enterprises built the facility, which is being leased to the school district for $4.7 million a year. The district, which obtained financing from two local banks, will own the school after 20 years." (See Jean Merl, Los Angeles Times, "Medical Magnet School Opens Amid Fanfare, Hope," published 09/12/1990, accessed 01/16/2025. p. A1, A3.)

PCAD id: 25611