Washington High School (Kansas)

{{Short description|Public high school in Kansas, United States}}

{{Infobox school

|name = Washington High School

|image =

|caption =

|address = 7340 Leavenworth Road

|city = Kansas City

|state = Kansas

|zipcode = 66109

|country = United States

|coordinates = {{coord|39.1436|N|94.7490|W|region:US-KS_type:landmark|display=inline,title|name=Washington High School}}

|district = Kansas City USD 500

|schooltype = Public high school

|enrollment = 1,188 (2024-2025)

|grades = 9 to 12

|campus = Urban

|principal =Lynnae Knipp

|athletic director =Andrew Monrean

|athletics_conference =Meadowlark League

|athletics = 5A

|colors = {{color box|Maroon}} Burgundy
{{color box|white}} White

|rival = Wyandotte High School, F. L. Schlagle High School, J. C. Harmon High School, Sumner Academy of Arts and Science

|mascot = Wildcats

|newspaper = Washingtonian

|yearbook = Hatchet

|established = 1932

|website = {{URL|https://washington.kckschools.org/|School website}}

}}

Washington High School is a public high school located in Kansas City, Kansas, United States. It serves students in grades 9 through 12 and is operated by the Kansas City USD 500 school district

History

On January 4, 1932 Washington High School (originally named Washington Rural High School) opened on Leavenworth Road in the northwest part of Wyandotte County, Kansas. The school was named after the first United States President George Washington.{{Cite web |last=Rupert |first=Mary |date=July 24, 2020 |title=Should Washington High School change its name to Michelle Obama High School. |url=http://www.wyandottedaily.com/should-washington-high-school-change-its-name-to-michelle-obama-high-school/}}{{cite book |last1=Diugid |first1=Lewis |title=A Teacher's Cry: Expose the Truth about Education Today |date=2004 |publisher=Universal Publishers |page=230 |isbn=9781581125191 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7SKbCgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Washington+rural+high+school%22+1932&pg=PA230 |access-date=25 September 2021}} The new high school formed from the creation of Rural High School District #2 of Wyandotte County{{cite news |title=New School is Nearer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85935773/kansas-city-high-school-clipping-agaiin/ |access-date=25 September 2021 |work=The Kansas City Star |date=29 March 1931 |page=11}}

Washington Rural High School's attendance area abutted the west boundary of the Kansas City, Kansas School District, but was outside the city limits of Kansas City, Kansas. The Washington attendance area population grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s for two reasons. First was the post-World War II baby boom with middle-class families moving into the area. The second reason was the commencement of white flight from Kansas City, Kansas.”Four Decades of Segregation-Desegregation Integration and Repopulation in Unified School District 500, Kansas City, Kansas," Dr. O. L. Plucker, June 12, 2009, 14-15

In 1962, due to a new Kansas law that required the merger of elementary school districts and high school districts to provide "unified" K-12 districts, Washington High School District USD 201 was formed. But by 1965, with rapid population growth and an urgent need for new schools, the new school district faced a financial crisis. Due to the lack of a strong industrial/ commercial tax base and comparatively low residential property values, the district did not have the available tax base and corresponding tax revenues to fund its capital needs to expand.

The Washington District responded to its challenging situation by authorizing an election in 1966 to decide if USD 201 would be absorbed by Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. That election measure narrowly passed , resulting in USD 500 annexing USD 201 in 1967.”Schools in Kansas City, Kansas in Years of Change 1962-1986,” Dr. O. L. Plucker, June 30, 1987|page=92-94|

The resulting expanded USD 500 district responded to the overcrowding at Washington High School by opening F. L. Schlagle High School three miles away at 59th Street and Parallel Parkway in 1972.{{cite web |title=School History|url=https://washington.schools.kckps.org/?page_id=57 |website=Washington High School | access-date = August 12, 2021}}

Sports and activities

Washington is a part of the Kansas State High School Activities Association 5A classification{{cite web |title=2020-2021 Classifications and Enrollments|url=https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/General/Classifications.cfm.|website=KSHSAA|language=en}} The school offers many sports and activities, including: Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Football,{{Cite web|date=2021-08-10|title='Ready to go': Kansas City, Kansas, football teams return to gridiron after pandemic pause|url=https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/ready-to-go-kansas-city-kansas-football-teams-return-to-gridiron-after-pandemic-pause|access-date=2021-08-22|website=KSHB|language=en}} Wrestling, Baseball, Softball, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Bowling, Track and Field, Cross Country, Scholars Bowl, Forensics, Debate, Robotics, and Choral Music.{{cite web |title=Washington High School| access-date = August 12, 2021|url=https://washingtonschool.rschoolteams.com/page/2917/mn|website=Washington High School|language=en}}

= State championships =

== Team ==

Washington High School has two team Kansas State High School State Championships which were in 5A-1A boys bowling in both 2010 and 2011.{{cite web |title=KSHSAA Gallery of Champions|url=http://www.kshsaachamps.org/StateChampions/ |website=KSHSAA | access-date = August 21, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Dean |first1=Rick |title=Seaman Bowlers Second Again |url=https://www.cjonline.com/article/20100304/SPORTS/303049715 |access-date=25 September 2021 |work=The Topeka-Capital Journal |date=4 March 2010}}{{cite news |last1=Paske |first1=Scott |title=Viking boys third in state bowling |url=https://www.cjonline.com/sports/bowling/2011-03-03/viking-boys-third-state-bowling |access-date=25 September 2021 |work=The Topeka-Capital Journal |date=3 March 2011}}

== Individual ==

In 1974, Mark Hosking won the 5A-4A boys tennis state championship.{{cite web |last1=N/A |first1=N/A |title=Kansas State High School Activities Association Championship History 1908-2021|url=https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Records.pdf |website=kshsaa.org |access-date=4 April 2022}}
In 1977, Rosa Kelly set the 5A girls 440 yard dash record (race has been discontinued) of 56.8.{{cite web |last1=N/A |first1=N/A |title=Kansas State High School Activities Association Championship History 1908-2021|url=https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Records.pdf |website=kshsaa.org |access-date=4 April 2022}}
In 1978, both the Washington boys 2-Mile Relay team (8:04.0) and the Washington girls Mile Relay team (4:10.7) set Kansas 5A state championship meet records.{{cite web |last1=N/A |first1=N/A |title=Kansas State High School Activities Association Championship History 1908-2021|url=https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Records.pdf |website=kshsaa.org |access-date=4 April 2022}}
In 1978, Paul Cowan won the 5A boys 330 intermediate hurdles (race has been discontinued) in a state record time of 39.5.{{cite web |last1=N/A |first1=N/A |title=Kansas State High School Activities Association Championship History 1908-2021|url=https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Records.pdf |website=kshsaa.org |access-date=4 April 2022}}
In 1982, Washington High School athletes won both the boys (Brad Ogden) and girls (Mary Shaffer) 6A cross country championships.{{cite web |last1=N/A |first1=N/A |title=Kansas State High School Activities Association Championship History 1908-2021|url=https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Records.pdf |website=kshsaa.org |access-date=4 April 2022}}
In 1991, Wendell Gaskin set both the 6A boys 400 meter dash record (46.76) and 200 meter dash record (21.29).{{cite web |last1=N/A |first1=N/A |title=Kansas State High School Activities Association Championship History 1908-2021|url=https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Records.pdf |website=kshsaa.org |access-date=4 April 2022}}
In 2010, Le'Tristan Pledger set the 5A girls 100 meter high hurdles record of 13.90. In 2009, Pledger set the 5A girls long jump record of 19'10.75".{{cite web |last1=N/A |first1=N/A |title=Kansas State High School Activities Association Championship History 1908-2021|url=https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Records.pdf |website=kshsaa.org |access-date=4 April 2022}}
In 2011, Cedric Phillips won the 5A-1A boys individual bowling state championship.{{cite web |last1=N/A |first1=N/A |title=Kansas State High School Activities Association Championship History 1908-2021|url=https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Records.pdf |website=kshsaa.org |access-date=4 April 2022}}