10/15/2026
Maclay Junior High: A Name Changes, a History Remains
For many people, the change from Maclay Middle School to Glenoaks Academy feels deeply personal. Some see it as a betrayal—or fear it could erase a history they treasure. Those feelings deserve to be heard. After all, Maclay was more than a school. It was a place where generations formed friendships, discovered their talents, and made memories that stayed with them.
But there is another way to look at this change. Rather than erase Maclay’s story, it may mark the close of a distinct chapter—one we can continue to preserve and celebrate under the name we remember.
From 1960 to 2026, Maclay’s story reflected the changing community around it. Its student population shifted from a mix of white, Black, and Brown students to a predominantly Black enrollment, then to a largely Black and Brown student body, and eventually to a predominantly Brown one. Through those changes came remarkable people, special moments, and lasting connections.
People still share stories of Bonnie Green, Sarah Rosenberg’s extraordinary drama class, the teachers who made a difference, and friendships that have endured for decades. Those memories are at the heart of Maclay’s legacy.
At the same time, education and the community have continued to change. We are also asking more questions about the names our institutions carry and the histories those names represent. We can take those questions seriously without diminishing what the school meant to the people who attended it.
Maclay Junior High can remain its own chapter in Pacoima’s history. Its photographs, yearbooks, and personal stories belong in the historical record under that name. Whoever carries Pacoima’s history forward can open a new folder for Glenoaks Academy—not to replace Maclay’s folder, but to sit beside it.
A name change can still feel like a loss. But it does not have to mean erasure. Our responsibility is to keep Maclay’s stories alive while making room for the stories that come next.
