Thurgood Marshall Secondary School Celebrates Centennial Milestone

Thurgood Marshall Secondary School in Pasadena will host a Centennial Celebration on Friday, May 9, 2025, commemorating 100 years of academic achievement, community service, and artistic excellence. The free event, scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the historic Marshall Auditorium, invites students, alumni, families, and community members to participate in this significant milestone.

“We have rescheduled our second day of celebrating 100 Years of Athletics to Fall 2025 and eagerly anticipate another wonderful experience with our school community. We are excited to commemorate this significant milestone with you. Help us spread the word, show your school spirit, and be part of history as we celebrate 100 years!,” a PASADENA UNIFIED official said.

The evening’s program will feature addresses from Marshall alumni, former educators, and administrators, complemented by performances and shared recollections. Attendees will have the opportunity to reconnect with friends and faculty while celebrating the school’s rich history.

Originally established as Marshall Junior High School in 1925, the institution was rebuilt following damage from the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. The school transitioned to a “fundamental” K-12 model in 1973 before focusing on grades 6-1235.

The school recently underwent a name change from Marshall Fundamental Secondary School to Thurgood Marshall Secondary School, following a unanimous vote by the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education on April 18, 2025. This change better reflects the school’s evolution beyond its original “fundamental” focus on traditional subjects like agriculture, homemaking, and citizenship.

Today, Thurgood Marshall Secondary School is a public school in the Pasadena Unified School District that offers advanced programs, including Advanced Placement courses, creative arts, and championship-level athletics. School administrators and community members determined that the mission and values now align more closely with Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s legacy of commitment to racial equality and social justice.

Located at 990 North Allen Avenue in Pasadena, Thurgood Marshall Secondary School continues its tradition of providing a strong academic foundation, diverse arts programming, and commitment to values such as diversity, responsibility, and academic excellence.

For more information about the Centennial Celebration, contact Principal Lori Touloumian at Touloumian.Lori@pusd.us, visit www.pusd.us/Marshall, or call 626-396-5810.