Truth conquers. That’s the motto of John Marshall High School.
Let’s explore this Los Angeles landmark. John Marshall High School opened its doors in 1931. It started with about 1,200 students. Forty-eight teachers were ready to guide them.
Joseph Sniffen was the first principal. The auditorium is named after him. Hugh Boyd and Geraldine Keith served as vice-principals. The football field honors Mr. Boyd. The library is named for Mrs. Keith.
The school is named after John Marshall. He was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He served from 1801 to 1835. He shaped American constitutional law. His legal interpretations are still relevant today.
The students and faculty chose the school motto together. They also picked the seal and colors. “Veritas Vincit” means “Truth Conquers”. It was a favorite saying of John Marshall. The school seal shows an open book. Behind it are the scales of justice. “Veritas Vincit” is emblazoned on the bar.
The school colors are two shades of blue. Midnight blue reflects moonlight. Sunlight blue mirrors dawn. Blue symbolizes truth. The colors align with the school’s motto.
John Montapert and Henry Suykida wrote the Alma Mater. They graduated in 1939. It is the school’s official song. The mascot is Johnny Barrister. John Marshall was a jurist. So, students are called Barristers. The service organization is the Continentals. A John Marshall statue stands in the Senior Court.
After the 1971 earthquake, some buildings were unsafe. The cafeteria was torn down. The Los Feliz community saved the Main Building. It has a unique Collegiate Gothic style. In 1975, the Main Building closed for repairs. Classes moved to temporary buildings. The refurbished Main Building reopened in 1981. A new building now houses the library and cafeteria. It also has science classrooms.
John Marshall High School’s Academic Decathlon team excels. They have won the LAUSD title five times. These wins were in 1985-1986, 1986-1987, 1994-1995, 2010, and 2014. Marshall won the USAD National Championship every time they qualified. They won state and national titles in 1987 and 1995.
David Ross Florey is a notable Academic Decathlon member. He was the top varsity scorer in 1987. He scored 8,936 points at nationals.
Many movies and TV shows have filmed at John Marshall High School. These include “Grease,” “La Bamba,” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. Van Halen filmed the “Hot for Teacher” video here.
Today, John Marshall High School has about 2,300 students. There are 106 teachers. The school is proud of its traditions. It values its alumni and academic achievements.