Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Lexington, Kentucky)

Infobox Education in the United States
name= Paul Laurence Dunbar High School


imagesize=
motto= Where Excellence Meets Tradition! motto_translation=
streetaddress= 1600 Man O' War Blvd
city= Lexington
state= Kentucky
zipcode= 40513
areacode= 859
phone= 381-3546
fax=
email=
url= http://www.pld.fcps.net
schoolnumber=
schoolboard=
affiliation= None
superintendent=
trustee=
principal= Anthony Orr
viceprincipal=
administrator=
schooltype= Public
grades= 9-12
language= English
area= Suburban
mascot= Bulldog
teamname=
colors= Red █ and Black █
founded= 1990
enrollment= 2241
enrollment_as_of= December 2007

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (PLD) is a secondary school located at 1600 Man O' War Boulevard on the southwest side of Lexington, Kentucky, USA. The school is one of five high schools in the Fayette County Public Schools district.

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is named after the famous 19th century African-American poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar. Opened in 1990, the school is the newest high school in Lexington, Kentucky. With an enrollment of over 2200, it is the largest public high school in Kentucky.Fact|date=December 2007 It also houses the Math, Science, and Technology Center. The PLD student body, unlike that of most of the other schools named after Dunbar, has a substantial white majority, although African Americans make up roughly one fifth of the students.

Locally, PLD has earned a reputation of being an outstanding school, excelling in academics, athletics, fine arts and other student organizations. PLD's band and cheerleading programs have won national acclaim.

History

The school name was part of a political deal made in 1965 with the city's African-American community. In the era of segregated schools, Dunbar High School, also named after the poet, was the city's lone surviving black high school and one of the main cornerstones of Lexington's black community. When Fayette County's schools integrated in 1967, Dunbar High was closed, with its students being bused to four previously white schools. Eventually, the county school board agreed that the next high school to open in Lexington would bear Dunbar's name, principally at the urging of the Rev. William Augustus Jones, Sr., senior minister of Lexington's oldest and largest black church [ [http://www.visitlex.com/AfAmChurches.html Historic African American Churches: Lexington, KY CVB ] ] and a civil rights leader [ [http://www.lfuchrc.org/KCHR_Hall_of_Fame/2001_kentucky_civil_rights_hall_.htm 2001 Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame ] ] whose five oldest children had graduated from Dunbar and embarked on careers of distinction. [E.g., http://www.blackstarnews.com/?c=135&a=1894 and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/07/AR2006020701906.html] To the board's credit, it kept its word, even though a full generation had passed since the original agreement. To keep the schools differentiated, the new school was given the poet's full name, rather than just the last name as with the old school. As an additional tribute to the old Dunbar High School, the gymnasium was named the "S.T. Roach Sports Center" for basketball coach Sanford T Roach, who led the school to a 512-142 record from 1942 to 1965, and is a member of the National High School Sports Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. The new PLD adopted the original school colors of the old Dunbar High (which were red and black, but changed to green and white during the 1940s). The new high school did not, however, retain the former school's "Bearcats" mascot. A vote of the school's future students shortly before the school's opening favored "Bulldogs."The chosen spelling of the new high school also received community criticism as it chose an alternate spelling of the poet's middle name. This was an act many members of the city's community felt was taken to distinguish the new and predominantly white Paul Laurence Dunbar High School from other images of both the poet and the old Dunbar High.

The building of the original high school at 545 North Upper Street has since been converted to the Dunbar Community Center, which serves myriad cultural, educational and recreational needs for the city of Lexington. The Dunbar Community Center is operated by the city's department of Parks & Recreation, whose central offices are also located at this address.

Academics

In the class of 2004, 25 seniors were named National Merit Semifinalists. It also ranks consistently as one of Kentucky's top high schools in terms of scores in the statewide testing program, CATS (Commonwealth Accountability Testing System). And in 2007 P.L.D. became the first school in the Fayette County Public High Schools to score an average of 90 on the CATS tests.

Math, Science, and Technology Center

The Math, Science, and Technology Center, also known as MSTC, is a magnet program housed in Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Since the program's establishment in 1991, it has produced 61 National Merit Finalists, has an average ACT score of 31 and an average SAT score of 1400. Seven MSTC students have scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT and three students have scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. MSTC graduates are offered an average of 5 scholarships from different schools, and have attended twenty of the top thirty universities and colleges in the country as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

PLD Academic Team

The PLD academic team has been well recognized across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It has made numerous appearances in the Governor's Cup. The team has won numerous state championships starting in 2003. After three unsuccessful seasons, Dunbar regained two consecutive titles in the 2007 and 2008 Governor's Cup State Championships. The 2006 senior team did not win the state championship. In 2008, Dunbar's United States Academic Decathlon team won the state division for the first time and proceeded to nationals.

Athletics

Paul Laurence Dunbar offers many sports, including football, boys' and girls' basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, golf, track and field, cheerleading, swimming, dancing, and wrestling. The students from PLD have a yearly impact on the KHSAA state championships.

Basketball

PLD boasted of a competitive boys' basketball program almost from the beginning. In 1993 the team led by Darnell Burton was State Runners-Up, losing at Rupp Arena. In 1994 the team repeated as State Runners-Up, losing at Freedom Hall. In 1997 the team again reached the Sweet Sixteen, losing in the first round.

Football

Unlike basketball, PLD Football got off to a slow start, hampered in part by the lack of a home stadium. For the first five and a half years, the team played their "home" games at other Lexington high schools. Midway through the 1995 season, PLD's football stadium opened, and that year the school advanced to the playoffs for the second time. The first playoff appearance was in 1992, only the school’s second year in existence. Unfortunately, their fate was to meet the eventual state AAAA champions in the first round. In 1996 they were the Kentucky 4A state runners-up, losing the championship game in overtime to Nelson County.

The football stadium was later named for Jon R. Akers, PLD's First principal. John R. Akers is also the father of National Football League kicker David Akers of the Philadelphia Eagles.

occer

In 1992, 2002, and 2005 PLD Soccer were the State Champions. All three championships were under Todd Bretz who has been the head coach since the program's inception.

Cheerleading

PLD Cheerleading is nationally competitive. They have been UCA National Champions in the Large Varsity Division (all girls) in 1995, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. UCA National Runners-Up in 1994, 2002 and 2003, Cheersports National Champions in 2003, and KAPOS State Champions in 1994,1997, 2000, 2001, 2003,2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. They have been nationally ranked for twelve years and have been featured in "American Cheerleader" magazine. Donna Martin has coached the squad since the school opened in 1990. She has been elected to "American Cheerleader's" Who's Who of Cheerleading and has coached cheerleading for 17 years. [http://teamspiritcheer.com/dunbar.cfm]

In 2001, MTV's True Life series prominently featured Dunbar's cheerleading team in the episode "I'm a Cheerleader."

On November 28, 2005, Lifetime Television announced a reality series featuring the PLD cheerleaders. [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/pr.cgi?id=20051128lifetime01] "Cheerleader Nation" premiered in early 2006. The television show had very high ratings.

Former Dunbar cheerleaders have gone on to cheer for the University of Kentucky, Morehead State University, Western Kentucky University, Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, Indiana University, and many other colleges.

Baseball

In 2003, PLD Baseball were state champions. [http://www.khsaa.org/baseball/2003/statechampionship03.htm] That year they also set a Kentucky record for the most wins in one season, winning 41 games and losing only 4. [http://www.khsaa.org/baseball/staterecords.pdf] It was Dunbar's first berth into the State Tournament and First State Title in the school's history. Josh Ellis went a perfect 12-0 in 2003, despite knee injury suffered in a PLD football game, and was named Kentucky's Mr. Baseball. Dunbar was once again state champions in 2007.

Track and field

In 2005, the girls' track and field team tied as 3A state champions.

Both the boys' and girls' teams have won the Lexington City Championships each year since 2000. The boys placed second in 2007 to Henry Clay High School in a loss by 3 points. The girls won Region 5 AAA in 2001, 2006, and 2007.

Cross Country

Laura Steinmetz won state two years in a row. Girls won state in 2005. Placed third in 2006.

Lacrosse

Currently an unsanctioned team by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. They won the first ever Bluegrass State Games that involved lacrosse over the summer and are currently undefeated in the "pre-season" games this year.

Fine Arts

Band

The Paul Laurence Dunbar band, currently led by Jeff Hood and Brian Morgan, has won national acclaim; they are one of a handful of high school band programs to receive the Sudler Shield twice. The school's commitment to a quality band program was clear from the beginning, when Craig Cornish, coming away from a state marching band championship at North Hardin High School, was hired as director. In 1998, then-assistant director Jeff Hood took over. The band have been state champions in 1991 (Class AAA), 2003 and 2004 (Class AAAA), and 2005 and 2007 (Class AAAAA); State Runners-Up in 1992, 1994, 1995, 2002 (all Class AAAA), and 2006 (Class AAAAA), and has been a state finalist 14 out of the last 15 years. In 2004 and 2005 they were Bands of America Regional and Class Champions, at Middle Tennessee State University and Western Kentucky University. In 1995,1996, and 2007 they were Grand Champions at the Contest of Champions at Middle Tennessee State University. Dunbar has participated in the BOA Grand Nationals contest twice (1996 and 2006) placing in the top 20 both times. Altogether, the band has been Grand Champions more than 20 times. The band performed in the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21941534] .

The symphonic band has performed as a featured ensemble for the KMEA Professional Development Conference in Louisville. All three concert bands consistently score a 1 ranking in adjudication for the district concert festival. There is also a jazz ensemble and orchestra. The band averages about 10 to 13 All-State members each year.

Orchestra

The Paul Laurence Dunbar Orchestra regularly places its strongest players in the All-State Orchestra, making impressive showings in the highest chairs of the strings section. The program was built by Robyn Bourgois, who taught two orchestra classes at the school until retiring. Some of the orchestra's most distinguished members have continued on scholarship with the nation's finest university orchestras. After serving for two years as Principal Viola in the Atlanta-Emory Orchestra, Amos N. Jones, of Dunbar's Class of 1996, played professionally for the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra. Jason Wu, of the Class of 2006, has won numerous national piano competitions, including the 2005 World Piano Competition, and has performed in Carnegie Hall.

tudent Exchange

Paul Laurence Dunbar currently operates an exchange program with Hillpark Secondary School in Glasgow, Scotland. Students from each school are chosen annually to live with host families of students from the other school.

Notable alumni

occer

Sean Kelley (2002-2006) - Named HS All-American in his senior season and named Gatorade Player of the Year in the same season while winning countless other awards while leading his team to a state title.

Basketball

*Darnell Burton (1990-93) - Scored 1,017 points in 1993 (9th all-time in Kentucky), starter at the University of Cincinnati.
*Cameron Mills (1990-94) - Played at the University of Kentucky.
*

"Jeopardy!" appearances

Dunbar students have an impressive history with the television game show "Jeopardy!". In just 15 years since the school opened, three students have won the Teen Tournament, and one alumnus has won the College Championship.

*Fraser Woodford - Won 1993 Teen Tournament, appeared in 1993 Tournament of Champions
*Miguel Dickson - Participated in Fall 1999 Teen Tournament; was an alternate for the semifinals.
*John Zhang - Won 2003 Teen Tournament, appeared in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions
*Nathan Gordon - 2004 Played against Ken Jennings
*Grayson Holmes - 2004 Appeared in three shows [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=144 J! Archive - Grayson Holmes ] ]
*Kermin Elliott Fleming, Jr. - Won 2004 College Championship, appeared in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions
*Papa Chakravarthy - Won 2006 Teen Tournament [http://boards.sonypictures.com/boards/showthread.php?s=9c7e4ae5f73a496a4b6c699f4f54fb6f&t=20941]

References

External links

* [http://www.pldband.org Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Band website]
* [http://www.pld.fcps.net/mstc Math, Science, and Technology Center website]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/ky/476 Profile on Greatschools.net]