Academic calendar
School Year 2026-2027 runs Aug 12, 2026 – Jan 11, 2027. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer School Block 1
- Summer School Block 2
- Summer School Block 3
- Summer School Block 4
- School Year 2026-2027Relevant now
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 18 of 18 terms
A
- ASB
- Associated Student Body, the student leadership and government organization on campus.
C
- CTE
- Career Technical Education, referring to vocational pathways like New Media Academy.
H
- HGM
- Highly Gifted Magnet, a prestigious and rigorous academic program housed within Taft.
S
- SAS
- School for Advanced Studies, the honors-level program for resident students not in a magnet.
- STEAM
- The Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics magnet program.
T
- T-Pride
- A common slogan used to denote school spirit and adherence to campus values.
- T-Town
- A popular nickname for Taft Charter High School used in social media and sports contexts.
- Taftie
- A colloquial term for a student who attends Taft Charter High School.
- The Cafeteria
- The primary indoor location for obtaining school-provided breakfast and lunch.
- The Hill
- Refers to the elevated geographic area surrounding the school in Woodland Hills.
- The Magnet
- A term used to distinguish students or facilities belonging to the HGM or STEAM programs from the 'resident' school.
- The Quad
- The central outdoor area where students congregate during nutrition and lunch.
- The Quad
- The central outdoor gathering area where the majority of the student body eats lunch and socializes.
- The Student Store
- The on-campus shop where students purchase snacks, drinks, and Taft-branded spirit wear.
- The Taft Way
- A phrase used by administration and students to describe the school's standards of behavior and excellence.
- The Window
- The walk-up service counters at the cafeteria where students line up to receive daily meals.
- Toreadors
- The official school mascot, often used by students to refer to themselves or the student body.
V
- VAPA
- Visual and Performing Arts, referring to the collective departments of music, theater, and fine arts.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Late Start
- Refers to Tuesday mornings when the school day begins later to accommodate staff professional development.
- Main Building
- The central structure housing the administrative offices, library, and core classrooms.
- Nutrition
- The designated mid-morning break between second and third periods.
- Off-Campus Pass
- A specific permit granted to eligible seniors allowing them to leave campus during the lunch period.
- OneCard
- The official LAUSD student identification card used for campus entry and library services.
- Oral Arts
- The campus theater building used for drama, choir, and large presentations.
- Parent Portal
- The LAUSD online system (PASSport) used for official attendance records and final grade reporting.
- Period 0
- An optional class period held before the official start of the school day, often for athletics or extra electives.
- Schoology
- The Learning Management System used by all students to track assignments, submit work, and view grades.
- taft_cafeteria
- Taft Cafeteria
- TAP Card
- The transit pass provided to students for discounted or free travel on LA Metro and local buses.
- The Auditorium
- The primary performance venue for school plays, concerts, and formal presentations.
- The Big Gym
- The primary gymnasium used for varsity basketball, volleyball, and school-wide pep rallies.
- The Bungalows
- The portable classroom units located on the outskirts of the main campus buildings.
- The Library
- The Media Center used for research, quiet study, and textbook distribution.
- The Main Office
- The administrative hub located at the front of the school for attendance issues and visitor check-ins.
- The Media Center
- The official name for the school library and computer lab hub.
- The Portal
- The LAUSD Student/Parent Portal used for checking official attendance records and final transcripts.
- The Small Gym
- The secondary gymnasium typically used for wrestling, dance, and physical education classes.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- School Year 2026-2027 runs Aug 12, 2026 – Jan 11, 2027.
- How much campus context is included?
- 18 approved campus terms and 19 local details are included in full.
- Are all approved campus terms included?
- Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
- Where does this guide come from?
- Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.