On February 28, 1921, the Los Angeles Board of Education purchased the site for $100,000, for the purpose of constructing Belmont High School.The school newspaper conducted an election to select its name, with "Sentinel" easily winning over "Progress."Central Los Angeles High School 11 (Edward R. Roybal (formerly Belmont) Learning Center),[12] Central Los Angeles High School 12,[13] and the Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Learning Centers all opened in 2009.Facilities were also updated throughout the school campus to accommodate those with special needs (for example, the addition of wheelchair ramps).[15] Belmont High School hosts three Small Learning Communities (SLC's; also called academies) which specialize in a career pathway: US News 2021 Rankings US News 2020 Rankings As of 2016[update] the school had about 1,000 students, 25% of whom were of Central American origin.Due to an enrollment decline in the 1950s the Los Angeles City High School District considered closing Belmont.[20] Due to overcrowding, Belmont had a year-round schedule for 26 years, until the 2008 opening of the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center.