Cerritos High School

Welcome to Cerritos High School, Home of the Dons! 

Dear Cerritos High School Community:

I am honored and thrilled to be the principal at Cerritos High School. With nearly two decades of experience within the ABC Unified School District, encompassing diverse roles such as assistant principal, principal at both middle and high school levels, and administrative positions at the district level, I bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our esteemed school. I am committed to upholding the DON way of high academic achievement and school culture where “All DONS Belong.”

Cerritos High School takes pride in educating the whole child. Beyond the stellar academic reputation (US News and World Report ranks CHS 85th of high schools in California, and 665th of high schools in the nation), CHS emphasizes another 3 Rs that form the foundation of The Cerritos Way. Students are READY (at school and on time every day with appropriate materials), RESPECTFUL (caring, cooperative, and compassionate), and REAL (honest in their personal and academic pursuits). At Cerritos High School, students who commit to our 3 Rs will become the best that they can be—academically, emotionally and socially. 

Cerritos High School is a public, comprehensive high school serving 1,995 students in grades 9-12 and is located in the large suburban community of Cerritos, CA, and is part of the ABC Unified School District. CHS has a diverse ethnic distribution with 34% Asian, 30% Hispanic/Latino, 14% Pacific Islander/Filipino, 7% White, 6%African American/Black, and 9% Multi-Ethnic. CHS’s student population includes 23% of families who qualify for the Free or Reduced-Price Lunch Program, 5% of students are English Language Learners, and 9% of students have disabilities.

Some of our additional awards and accomplishments are as follows:

• California Distinguished School
• California Gold Ribbon School
• California Honor Roll School
• Awarding Between 175 and 200 seniors the California State Seal of Biliteracy each year.
• Regiment of Gold Band won 4 straight State Band Championships 
• Model United Nations Program is recognized as a top 25 in North America, consistently earning the highest delegation awards at their conferences 
• 605 League Cup Champs as the Best Athletic Program, with 20 of 24 varsity teams capturing league titles. CHS’s exceptional teams include Girls Volleyball, Softball, and Soccer, each securing their 5th consecutive championships, while Boys Football triumphed with a CIF title. Additionally, we saw outstanding performances in Basketball, Wrestling, Tennis, Cross Country, Swim, Track, and Badminton, solidifying our status as a dominant force in athletics 
• Yearbook earned the Balfour Silver in Spread Creation and the Balfour Gold in School Spirit
• Cyberpatriot team won 1st in the Cypress College HS Team Cyberpatriot Competition and typically ranks in the top 3% nationally
• The drama program won the Childress Heart and Soul Macy’s Award for the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This award acknowledges musical theater in high schools across Southern California as part of the national awards program connected to the Kennedy Center and the Jimmy Awards
• Associated Student Body charters 43 campus clubs that focus on community service, various curricular fields, academics, cultures, and special interests 
• Career Tech Education (CTE) pathways in the following disciplines: Biotechnology, Engineering Design,Education, Production and Managerial Arts, Patient Care, Software and Systems Development, Design,Visual and Media Arts 

I embrace the opportunity to engage with our families and firmly believe that fostering robust family involvement is pivotal to enhancing student success. I am genuinely excited to meet each of my students and continue a school environment that best supports student aspirations. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for our school community. Let's work together to make this an unforgettable year filled with learning, growth, and joy. I am honored to serve as your principal and I look forward to connecting with each of you.

Best Wishes,

Dr. Crechena Wise

Proud Principal of Cerritos High School