Original Research by School Decision on Odyssey Continuation
Odyssey Continuation is a small alternative high school in South Gate, part of Los Angeles Unified School District. It serves grades nine through twelve and enrolls a small number of students. Virtually the entire enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the neighborhood. Nearly all students are Latino, with one student identifying as two or more races.
As an alternative school, Odyssey sits outside the conventional high school structure. These schools typically serve students who have struggled in traditional settings, face barriers to completion, or need a different pathway to graduation. The school's small size and specialized mission mean it does not operate like a comprehensive high school: it does not offer the same breadth of AP courses, dual-credit programs, or extracurricular activities that families might find at a large traditional campus. Instead, alternative schools are built to provide flexibility, personalized support, and a second chance for students whose needs were not met elsewhere.
State testing data are limited. English language proficiency results are available and low; no students met the state's proficiency benchmark in math or science in the most recent school year. A parent may want to ask the school directly about its graduation rate, whether it tracks completion by cohort, what pathway students follow after leaving, and how the school prepares students for work or further education. State assessment results alone do not tell the full story of an alternative school's mission or success. Graduation rates, completion of industry certifications, transitions to employment or college programs, attendance patterns, and student engagement are equally important measures, and they vary widely among schools of this type. These details require a conversation with school staff.
South Gate itself is a working-class, family-oriented city about seven miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, with a long history as a manufacturing and industrial hub. The neighborhood around the school is established residential, with older single-family homes and apartment complexes built largely in earlier decades. The main commercial spine, Tweedy Boulevard, runs through town with shops, markets, and restaurants; the area is fairly walkable near that corridor, though a car remains practical for many needs. The city has an extensive park system, including South Gate Park and regional parks along the Los Angeles River, plus the county library.
The broader South Gate area is on a development trajectory. The city is advancing transit-oriented development plans, including a planned light rail line that would serve the area, and major civic projects like the Frank Gehry-designed SELA Cultural Center are in the pipeline. Recent housing development includes new multifamily apartment complexes and affordable housing projects. The median home value and rents in the 90280 zip code are notably high relative to household income in the region, a pattern consistent across greater Los Angeles.
LAUSD, the district Odyssey belongs to, implemented a district-wide cellphone ban in February 2025 affecting all students during the entire school day, including lunch and breaks; students at most campuses store devices in lockable pouches. The district also recently approved a major school facilities bond, Measure US, which will fund repairs and upgrades to aging buildings but will raise property taxes for homeowners over a long repayment period. Those are two district-level changes any family would navigate.
For a family considering Odyssey Continuation, the essential questions are whether the school's alternative model and support structure fit a student's needs, what the graduation and completion outcomes actually are, and what students do after they leave. State test scores in this context reflect the population served and the school's mission, not a simple comparison to traditional high schools. Direct conversation with the school about student outcomes, staffing support, and pathways forward is the most grounded way to assess fit.
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