Torrance Adult School has offered career training and life enrichment for more than 100 years
Torrance Adult School has stood as a cornerstone of education for the city and its surrounding areas for generations of students. Originally known as Torrance Evening High School, it began offering classes in 1918 when it was part of the Los Angeles School District. Some of the courses offered during the early years were commercial career training, academic courses and citizenship preparation.
By the mid-1920s, enrollment increased to nearly 700 students. Additional courses were added including Spanish, math, art, English, and dressmaking. The school broke away from the Los Angeles School District in 1947 and simultaneously broadened its curriculum catalog to include nursing, business, and English as a second language classes. In the mid-1970s, student enrollment had skyrocketed to 5,000. By the beginning of the millennium, TAS became the fifth largest adult education program in California with more than 28,000 students enrolled, 600 courses offered, and 370 teachers.
Currently, TAS operates across three campuses in Torrance, including the Hamilton Adult Center, Griffith Adult Center and Levy Adult Center. The continuing expansion reflects the institution’s commitment to making adult education accessible and relevant to the public.
“We partner with major employers to not only provide hands-on training and job placement for students, but also to learn what roles need to be filled and where the school can help train locals to fill these positions.”
Wayne Diulio, Director of Torrance Adult School
“It’s definitely evolved over time,” explained Wayne Diulio, director of Torrance Adult School since 2008. “It was intended to be offered to the public as a convenient, affordable, or totally free option to earn an education for anyone in the community. It has been setup to support the community and support the parents of the children that are attending the school district.”
TAS can be a critical lifeline for the underserved and vulnerable populations within the community because of its low to no-cost tuition. It offers programs identical to those of regional competitors at a fraction of the cost. For example, training to become a pharmacy tech at a nearby private school can cost nearly $30,000 and requires a year to complete. At TAS, the same program costs students $1,000 and only requires four months to complete the program and be ready to work.
Many classes are open enrollment and free because of funding provided by the state of California. Students only need to pay for uniforms and textbooks. Once students are enrolled and taking classes, they have access to counseling, externships and job placement support.
“Torrance Adult School’s impact on the local economy is significant,” Diulio said. “We partner with major employers like Walgreens, CVS, local medical offices and other in-demand industries to not only provide hands-on training and job placement for students, but also to learn what roles need to be filled and where the school can help train locals to fill these positions.”
Diulio added that students can finish their courses debt free and many students secure employment through the companies they train with even before they complete the courses. In addition to being affordable, students can have peace of mind knowing classes meet state requirements, every instructor has required credentials, and the school maintains a high-tier accreditation as compared to other local schools.
Looking ahead, TAS plans to expand its offerings in the coming years that focus on local job market demands and integrating language education with career training through its Integrated Education and Training program. The program is in its fifth year and provides an additional teacher to assist ESL students. The objective is to ensure ESL students adequately learn industry terminology in English for jobs they are training to get into.
Conversely, Diulio noted there is a current shortage of teachers, which presents a challenge when it comes to the amount of courses the school can offer. Despite the challenges the school faces, administration and faculty continue to make efforts to improve, expand and enhance courses and benefits for the student body. This signals the institution is positioned to continue serving the community and remain an important anchor for affordable education for the next generation.
For more information on how Torrance Adult School can help you achieve your goals, visit www.tusd.org/tas or call 310-533-4689.
Written by Whip Villarreal
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | Variety of Classes |
