Kirkwood High School

Infobox School
name = Kirkwood High School
imagesize =
caption =
motto =
established = 1955
type = Public secondary
affiliation =
district = Kirkwood R-7
grades = 9 to 12
president =
principal = Dr. David Holley
head of school =
dean =
faculty =
staff =
students = 1,750 (2007-08)
enrollment =
athletics =
conference =
colors = Red and white color box|redcolor box|white
mascot = Pioneers
campus type = College
campus size = 47 acres
free_label = Superintendent
free_text = Dr. David Damerall
free_label2 =
free_text2 =
free_label3 =
free_text3 =
location = 801 W Essex Ave, Kirkwood, Missouri
country = USA
coordinates =
website = [http://www.kirkwoodschools.org/khs/ www.kirkwoodschools.org/khs/]

Kirkwood High School is a secondary school in Kirkwood, Missouri. It is located at 801 W Essex Ave, Kirkwood, MO. The school is part of the Kirkwood R-7 School District. The current principal is Dr. David Holley.

History

Kirkwood High School as an academic institution has a history that dates back to 1865, when the Kirkwood School District was founded. A temporary building opened in the fall of 1866 and high school and elementary students attended school together. Jefferson Avenue School was the district's first formal school and was built in 1869. The Booker T. Washington School, which opened in 1869 on Adams near Geyer Rd was built for African-American students to attend. In 1888, the district built the Adams Avenue School next to the Jefferson School, which offered a two-year high school program for students completing elementary grades. In 1896, Kirkwood offered the first four-year high school program in St. Louis County; 10 students were members of the first graduating class in the spring of 1897. In 1922, a new, four-year high school was built on Kirkwood Road, where Nipher Middle School is currently located.

The current campus of Kirkwood High School was opened in 1955 on a 47 acre campus and was designed with 7 buildings set on a college-like campus. Both Caucasian and African-American students were allowed to attend. New facilities from a 1993 tax/bond issue (Proposition I) included the Thomas N. Keating Performance Center, a fine arts complex that features an 821-seat theater, band, art and vocal music classrooms. The privately funded Walker Commons enclosed the theater lobby area connecting the Center to the main campus. Due to community support of Proposition I in April 2005, a new science building will open in August 2007. The science facility was designed to reflect current research and best practices in science education. The two-story structure measures convert|51000|sqft|m2 and features 15 combined science classrooms/laboratories, five each for chemistry, biology and physics. Each classroom/laboratory averages about convert|1500|sqft|m2 and is designed to facilitate the movement of students from discussion to hands-on activities. The district is also pleased to have the support of the Kirkwood School District Foundation, which volunteered to raise $1.6 million dollars in private funds to ensure students had immediate access to the science equipment and technology needed to mirror the recommendations in the National Science Foundation report to Congress. Also part of Prop I, construction of a new regulation-size gymnasium and renovation of the existing physical education facility began this summer. The new facility is scheduled for completion in 2008. Prop I also funded a variety of infrastructure improvements at KHS including installation of a new fire alarm and sprinkler system as well as a decentralized heating and cooling system.

Mission system

"The mission of the Kirkwood School District R-7, in a cooperative effort with parents and community, is to provide a world-class education to empower all learners to make wise choices throughout their lives and become assets to society." (Approved on February 3rd, 1993 by the Kirkwood R-7 School Board of Education)

School profile

*Grades 9-12
*Total enrollment: 2,100
*First graduating class: 1897, 10 students
*Senior class of 2007: 441
*Student/teacher ratio: 18:1
*Rate of attendance 92%
*Graduation rate – 92.5%
*Composite ACT score 23.9
*2007 National Merit students: 5
*2007 National Merit Commended students: 10
*2007 National Achievement Commended student: 1

Faculty

* Average years of experience 13.7 years
* Teachers with advanced degrees – 82%

Notable alumni

*Scott Bakula, actor
*Jeremy Maclin, 2007 All-American wide receiver for the University of Missouri

References

* [http://www.kirkwoodschools.org/khs/aboutus/history.php "School History"] from www.kirkwoodschools.org

External links

* [http://www.kirkwoodschools.org/khs/ Kirkwood High School official website]