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Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA

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Quick Facts

Public community college
Type
22,731
Total Students
Associate's Colleges
Classification
President: Jose Fierro

Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education

About Cerritos College

Cerritos College: From humble beginnings to a thriving community hub, educating 22,000+.

Cerritos College stands as a vital public community college, dedicated to empowering a vast student body of over 22,731 individuals. Serving a wide and diverse district that includes cities like Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Norwalk, La Mirada, and Hawaiian Gardens, the college plays a foundational role in providing accessible higher education and career pathways to its community.

The college's roots run deep, beginning with its founding in 1955. It proudly carries the name of Rancho Los Cerritos, a significant local ranch from the 19th century, weaving its identity into the fabric of the region's history. Remarkably, Cerritos College even inspired the renaming of the neighboring city of Dairy Valley to Cerritos, a testament to its early influence. Its journey began humbly, with classrooms rented at the now-defunct Excelsior High School in September 1956, before a pivotal legal victory on July 24, 1957, secured the undeveloped land for its permanent educational site. By September 1959, the college proudly moved to its current, dedicated campus.

Today, under the leadership of President Jose Fierro, Cerritos College continues its legacy of growth and community engagement. While specific academic programs are not detailed, its impressive student enrollment and extensive district coverage underscore its commitment to offering broad educational opportunities. It remains a cornerstone for thousands of students seeking quality education, personal development, and a vibrant campus experience, embodying a spirit of opportunity and advancement.

Key Highlights

  • Serves over 22,731 students, making it a significant educational hub in Southern California.
  • Founded in 1955, with a history deeply intertwined with the development of its surrounding communities.
  • Its expansive district covers seven distinct cities: Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Norwalk, La Mirada, and Hawaiian Gardens.
  • Played a unique historical role by inspiring the renaming of Dairy Valley to the city of Cerritos.
  • Grew from initial rented classrooms to establishing its own dedicated campus following a legal victory in 1957.
  • Led by President Jose Fierro, guiding the institution's mission and growth.

Timeline

1955
Cerritos College was founded.
1956
Classrooms first rented at Excelsior High School (September).
1957
Won legal case against Dairy Valley to use undeveloped land as an educational site (July 24).
1959
College moved from Excelsior High School to its current campus site (September).

Leadership

Jose Fierro
President

Data from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

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