John F. Kennedy High School

John F. Kennedy High School John F. Kennedy High located in La Palma, CA was the first school in the U.S. to be named after John F. Kennedy. We are the home of the Fighting Irish!

Kennedy High School opened to 1,488 students in the 10th and 11th grades on September 14, 1964. For its first year of operation, there was no senior class. Kenneth MacPherson was Kennedy's first principal. Most buildings were ready except the dressing rooms, the gym, and playing fields. The school was to be named Centralia, in keeping with Board policy to name high schools after an elementary scho

ol district in the area; however, the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 prompted a group of patrons to have the school (then under construction) renamed in his honor. It was one of the first schools in the country to have been named after the assassinated president. Currently, Kennedy serves around 2,500 students in the 9th through 12th grades. Kennedy's sports teams are known as the Fighting Irish. We are a member of the Empire League in CIF's Southern Section. The school's main rival is Cypress High School. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a prestigious and rigorous course of education that prepares students for study in the most elite colleges and universities world-wide. Kennedy High School has been authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme since July 1999 and the programme is taught in English. Upon successful completion of all IB requirements and exams, students are awarded a second diploma (separate from their Kennedy diploma) that will grant one to two years of college credits. Kennedy High School's band and colorguard is called the Shamrock Regiment. The band was formerly known as "The Guards." The band is a division 6A and is part of the SCSBOA. Since 1974, the marching band has traveled every four years to perform in Dublin's St. Patrick's Day parade. They also took part in Sydney's 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremonies. The current director is Joshua Parsons. Bob Anthony was the regiment's former director from 1993 to July 2010. The choir is known as the Kennedy Singers. The different groups are as follows: Harmonic Fusion, Treble Effects, Lyrical Tones, Vocal Motion, and Concert Choir. Kennedy also has a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corp program. Teams such as Raiders, Exhibition, color guard, Drill Team, Academic Team, and PT Team are optional parts of the program.

08/28/2026

Hey, Irish!!

Need any resources? Come on by to Room 901 for anything you might need! We are here for you, Irish!
A huge thank you to our ASB for helping us put together this video 🍀

Hey, Irish!!Yesterday we had our Club Rush, where students could learn more about our different clubs and organizations ...
08/27/2026

Hey, Irish!!

Yesterday we had our Club Rush, where students could learn more about our different clubs and organizations on campus. Unfortunately, we had to cancel today’s club rush, but check out our highlights 🍀

Welcome to Kennedy Classroom Bingo lesson winner, Eric Alvarado-Franco, received a Kennedy water bottle from Mrs. Hill-B...
08/20/2026

Welcome to Kennedy Classroom Bingo lesson winner, Eric Alvarado-Franco, received a Kennedy water bottle from Mrs. Hill-Bonales!!! ☘️

Hey, Irish!!A friendly reminder that there is no late start tomorrow. Classes will begin at 8:30 as usual (and Zero Peri...
08/13/2026

Hey, Irish!!

A friendly reminder that there is no late start tomorrow. Classes will begin at 8:30 as usual (and Zero Period at normal time). Thank you for understanding.

Hey, Irish!!A friendly reminder that there is NO late start tomorrow. We will follow the normal bell schedule. Thank you...
08/13/2026

Hey, Irish!!

A friendly reminder that there is NO late start tomorrow. We will follow the normal bell schedule. Thank you!

Hey, Irish!!Today, our freshmen participated in the Freshman Experience! They learned our school chants, classroom locat...
08/12/2026

Hey, Irish!!

Today, our freshmen participated in the Freshman Experience! They learned our school chants, classroom locations, and how to have a successful 9th grade year. Welcome, new Fightjng Irish ☘️

Thank you to PTSA, KWKPO, and Parent Ambassadors for all your support and the delicious food for our KENNEDY teachers an...
08/12/2026

Thank you to PTSA, KWKPO, and Parent Ambassadors for all your support and the delicious food for our KENNEDY teachers and staff! ☘️

Don’t forget to become a member!!

For any new parents/guardians attending Kennedy, we are hosting an informational orientation. This is a great way to lea...
08/07/2026

For any new parents/guardians attending Kennedy, we are hosting an informational orientation. This is a great way to learn more about Kennedy and our staff that can assist you on campus.
We are excited to expand our Fighting Irish community!
Join us on August 10th, 2026 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Hey, Irish!We have some tips for Freshman who are starting their journey here at Kennedy from a Senior! We want all of y...
07/16/2026

Hey, Irish!

We have some tips for Freshman who are starting their journey here at Kennedy from a Senior! We want all of you to be successful here 🍀

Hey, Irish!!We are so excited to announce our registration dates for the upcoming school year. This is where you can get...
07/07/2026

Hey, Irish!!

We are so excited to announce our registration dates for the upcoming school year. This is where you can get your ID, school photo, class schedule, and so much more! Our registration dates are on Tuesday through Friday on July 28th - July 31st. Friday will be our makeup day for anyone who has missed their registration date.

Please make sure you complete data confirmation before Registration! This ensures you have a smooth check-in process.

We can't wait to see you!

Address

8281 Walker St
La Palma, CA
90623

Telephone

+17142204101

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when John F. Kennedy High School posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to John F. Kennedy High School:

Shortcuts

Share

Category