Excelsior High School ihas a rich history dating back more than a century. Originally established as Excelsior Union High School in 1903, it was the first and only high school serving a large area that included present-day Norwalk, Artesia, Cerritos, and Bellflower.

The school’s iconic campus at Pioneer Boulevard and Alondra Boulevard was built in 1924 and became a landmark in the community. During the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, several campus buildings were severely damaged, and one student was tragically killed when part of the boys’ gymnasium collapsed.

Following World War II, the region’s rapid growth led to the creation of additional high schools, including Norwalk High School and other district schools. In the 1960s, district reorganization placed Excelsior within the Norwalk–La Mirada school system, and its name was shortened to Excelsior High School.

Known as the Pilots, students wore the school’s green and white colors. The mascot was originally “Peter Pilot,” although Snoopy became a popular mascot symbol in the late 1960s.

Excelsior graduated its final senior class in 1981. The campus still stands today and serves as the home of the Norwalk–La Mirada Adult School. It also gained fame as a filming location for movies and television shows, including the movie Grease 2 and the TV series Square Pegs.

For many Southern California residents, especially those who attended in the 1950s–1970s, Excelsior remains a cherished symbol of the area’s transition from rural farmland to the suburban communities we know today.