High School

A class-action suit challenging that most fundamental of equal education rights--access--may well force the state's education establishment to examine its two-tier system of public education, one for the children of the reasonably well-to-do, the other for everybody else. The suit has been likened to the landmark 1971 Serrano vs. Priest, which forced the state to address "wealth-related disparities" in school funding. "Legally, it's not a hard case," said Mark D.

SAN DIEGO - The days when auto shop was a major part of the high school curriculum have long since been consigned to revivals and reruns of the musical "Grease. " But auto shop's long skid in the face of budget cuts and a shift toward college-prep classes may be reversing. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the San Diego Unified School District, where officials have built automotive program facilities at three high schools and hope to upgrade shops at two other schools if voters approve a bond issue next month.

Had she chosen the ordinary life of most of her classmates, it's doubtful anyone would remember much about the smiling blonde whose picture appears between Caroline Baeza and Bob Barker on Page 38 in the 1941 Van Nuys High School yearbook. After all, Norma Jeane Baker only attended the school for slightly more than half of her sophomore year--between fall 1941 and spring 1942.

Southland's top high school baseball players: Pitcher Solomon Bates; Gardena Serra; So. USC commit has bright future Phil Bickford; Oaks Christian; Sr. Cal State Fullerton signee throws in the 90s Marco Briones; Alhambra; Jr.; Went 10-1 with 1.22 ERA Scott Burke; Glendora; Sr. UCLA signee is ready to be one of the best Chris Castellanos; Long Beach Poly; Sr.; Stanford signee has shown he can be perfect Tyler Cohen; Agoura;...

Chuck Muncie, a star running back with the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers who overcame a cocaine habit that ended his career and then devoted his later life to helping others avoid drug abuse, has died. He was 60. Muncie died Monday of a heart attack at his Los Angeles-area home, his family announced. After a stellar career at UC Berkeley, Muncie played in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984 and was selected to play in three Pro Bowls. He spent more than four years with the Saints before joining the Chargers in the middle of the 1980 season.

at Angel Stadium The Division I title game tonight at 7:30 between Huntington Beach Edison and Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley is all about pitching. Edison (23-5) will go with Kurt Heyer, a senior right-hander who has performed well in several big games. Capistrano Valley (25-6) will counter with left-hander Kevin Chambers, who shut out Marina in his last start.

If you have a child heading to college in the next few years - or even in college now - there are a few things you ought to keep in mind this holiday season. That's because parents of college-bound seniors will be facing complicated financial aid forms in January, and planning ahead means you're likely to get more help. Meanwhile, those with high school sophomores and juniors may want to take a close look at how they hold their assets before the year ends, since the economic "snapshot" that's taken Dec. 31 of a student's junior year can have a significant effect on the aid that child gets later.

A student on a remote Indian reservation in Minnesota burst through the metal detector at his high school Monday and shot dead five classmates, a teacher and a security guard before turning the gun on himself, authorities said. Before his rampage at the school, the student shot and killed his grandparents at their home on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, authorities said. His grandfather, Sgt. Daryl Lussier, had served for more than 35 years on the Red Lake police force.

Re "A lot new under the hood in high school auto shop," Oct. 28 It's about time we restored auto shop and other "less academic" courses to the high school curriculum. As a former math teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, I know that many students are not well served by forcing them into college-prep classes. However, almost everyone can benefit from practical courses such as auto shop. Gail Heinrich Los Angeles ALSO: Letters: Red Car redux Letters: This memorial is fishy Letters: That big open space in Irvine

The rapper Drake has never lacked for confidence, but his latest feat warrants special congratulations. Ten years after dropping out of high school for his famed role on the Canadian television show "Degrassi: The Next Generation," he finally earned his high school diploma after studying with a private tutor. "97% on my final exam. 88% in the course. One of the greatest feelings in my entire life. As of tonight I have graduated high school!" he tweeted last night . "Thank you to my teacher Kim Janzen for spending the last 5 months working tirelessly with me!