Compton, Calif. native and hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre has committed $10 million dollars to the construction of a performing arts center for one of his hometown’s high schools, the Compton Unified School District announced today. The center, which will boast creative resources and a 1,200-seat theater, will be a part of the new Compton High School, and is expected to break ground in 2020.
“My goal is to provide kids with the kind of tools and learning they deserve,” Dre said in a statement. “The performing arts center will be a place for young people to be creative in a way that will help further their education and positively define their future.”
In addition to his personal contribution, Dre will be involved in raising the additional funds to complete the project. (Though born and raised in Compton, Dre did not attend Compton High, though his collaborators Eazy-E and the Game did.)
The Compton High School project will be Dre’s second major philanthropy effort in Southern California education. He and business partner Jimmy Iovine jointly contributed $70 million to the University of Southern California, creating the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation in 2013.
Per Micah Ali, vice chairman of the Compton Unified School District’s Board of Education: “The Compton Unified School District is building what will be the most modern high school complex ever provided to public school students. This extraordinarily ambitious project will be a beacon for transformational change in Compton – giving our community an unparalleled access to opportunity and achievement. Dr. Dre has stepped up and partnered with the school district to make this vision a reality. A true act of giving back to the community in a way that will directly impact the ever-resilient efforts of our students to rise-up and succeed. A true act of leading the way and standing as an example to others of how never to forget where you came from.”
Once built, the new Compton High is expected to serve approximately 2,500 students.
