Thomas Jefferson High School, widely referred to simply as Jefferson High School, is a public high school situated in South Los Angeles, California, United States. Established in the year 1916, the institution holds the distinction of being the fourth oldest public high school operating within its respective school district. The school traditionally utilizes kelly green and gold as its official colors, and its associated athletic and sports teams compete under the name of the Democrats, which is frequently shortened to the Demos.
In addition to its standard curriculum, the school's campus has served as the site for alternative educational programs. In 2006, a pilot initiative known as New Tech: Student Empowerment Academy was introduced in the northeastern section of the campus. This academy eventually evolved into an independent charter school housed directly inside the main Jefferson High School building. The New Tech program operated in this capacity until its closure in 2016. Following its shutdown, the vacated space was occupied by the Nava College Preparatory Academy, a separate school that had been established previously in 2014.
