History of Verbum Dei Jesuit High School in South LA: An Unstoppable Force in Watts

Next to the Union Pacific railroad on South Central Avenue, Verbum Dei Jesuit High School has an incredible 60-year history serving the Watts community of South LA. In this brief history deep dive, we’ll explore how The Verb built a legacy in sports and academics in one of the country’s most prominent inner city neighborhoods—and how it has maintained this mission in the changing landscape of the region.

Relevant Links

Read about the nearby Jordan High School in Watts - https://www.latimes.com/california/st...

Read more about the Youth Education Fund - https://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/P...

More info on the Society of the Divine Word -https://www.divineword.org/about/

Report on Fr. Joseph Francis by the LA Times - https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-x...

The start of Verbum Dei's transition to being a Jesuit-led institution - https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-x...

Information on the Cristo Rey network - https://www.cristoreynetwork.org/schools

Verbum Dei's New Admission Policy - https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-x...

About Verbum Dei Jesuit High School - https://www.verbumdei.us/about-us-hom...

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:54 Building Verbum Dei
2:02 Opening Verbum Dei
6:00 The Verb's Sports Era
9:24 Verbum Dei in the 2000s
10:59 Corporate Work Study Program
13:33 Verbum Dei Today

Special thanks to Paul Hosch, Fr. Travis Russell, S.J., and Nick Spates for helping make this story come to life. Drone and work study footage is courtesy of Verbum Dei Jesuit High School.