Long Beach students returned to classrooms Tuesday as the Long Beach Unified School District opened the 2026-27 academic year — and at Wilson High School, the first day doubled as a centennial celebration that drew district officials, marching bands and long-standing community traditions.
Centennial spirit at Wilson High
Wilson High School, which first opened its doors in 1926, marked 100 years with a spirited welcome that included the school’s signature “gauntlet,” a first-day tradition in which students pass through a corridor of classmates, staff and alumni to begin the school year. The campus was decorated for the milestone and hosted events that recognized generations of families who have attended the school.
“Families say there's no other place for them than Wilson High School. And to have that trust of the families in this community means everything to me,”
The sentiment was shared by Principal Suzanne Caverly, who noted historical oddities — early photographs show dirt roads surrounding the school and a four-story bell tower, or campanile, that no longer stands. The yearbook retains the campanile name, she said, while other pieces of the campus history remain daily fixtures, like Woody, a taxidermy bear who greets students, and display cases filled with athletic trophies.
New facilities and legacy athletics
As part of the centennial observance, Wilson unveiled a new $41 million aquatics center on Tuesday. The district’s new superintendent, David Zaid, a 32-year district veteran and alumnus of rival Long Beach Poly High School, attended the ceremonies and pointed to the facility as a long-term investment in student opportunities.
- District campuses reopening: 83
- Projected student population for 2026-27: nearly 60,000
- Wilson’s new aquatics center: $41 million
Caverly also highlighted Wilson’s consistent production of elite athletes. She noted that the school has had an Olympian at every Summer Games since 1952, with exceptions only during the year of the U.S. boycott. Notable names connected to Wilson’s athletic legacy include diver Pat McCormick and water polo player Max Irving.
District priorities as classes resume
District leaders said the return to school emphasized academic goals alongside commemorations. Superintendent Zaid, speaking at Wilson and referenced in district communications, said the district remains focused on “academic excellence,” with attention to early literacy, college and career pathways, and supports aimed at creating strong conditions for teachers and students to thrive.
Long Beach Unified serves communities beyond the city proper, with campuses in Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill and Avalon. The district expects nearly 60,000 students across its campuses for the new school year and is balancing those instructional priorities with fiscal concerns that district administrators have acknowledged in public statements.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Number of LBUSD campuses | 83 |
| Projected students | Nearly 60,000 |
| Wilson aquatics center cost | $41 million |
Administrators at Wilson emphasized the role of tradition in drawing families back to the campus year after year. Caverly pointed to multi-generational ties: the first yearbook lists a football captain whose great-grandson now captains the team. Those connections were on full display Tuesday as alumni and current students converged to mark the century milestone.
As school systems nationwide confront shifting enrollment and budget pressures, Long Beach Unified’s opening day combined routine preparations — bus and drop-off logistics, teacher assignments and classroom readiness — with a celebratory note at one of its historic high schools. For Wilson, the anniversary provides a platform to showcase new facilities and reaffirm a community identity that district leaders said will remain central as they pursue academic goals for the year ahead.
District officials said they are watching both student outcomes and fiscal conditions closely in the coming months. For Wilson students and families, Tuesday’s ceremonies set a tone of continuity and optimism as the school begins its second century.
