In turn the college was part of the inspiration for the renaming of the neighboring city of Dairy Valley to Cerritos.

The district covers Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Norwalk, La Mirada, and Hawaiian Gardens.

Originally, classrooms were rented in the now defunct Excelsior High School in September 1956.

[6] In September 1959, the college moved from Excelsior High School to the current site.

[6] The founder was Ralph Burnight of Redlands, a resident of Bellflower and superintendent of the Excelsior School District.