Parkway West High School

Infobox_School2 | name = Parkway West High School


established = 1968
type = Public
head_name = Principal
head = Beth Plunkett
students = 1,361 as of 2008
mascot = Longhorn
free_label = Colors
free = Red and Columbia Blue
free_label4 = Fight Song
free_text4 = Stand Up and Cheer
city = Ballwin
state = Missouri
country =
flagicon|USA United States
website = [http://www.pkwy.k12.mo.us/west Parkway West High School]

Parkway West High School is a secondary school of the Parkway School District located in Ballwin, Missouri. The school mascot is the Longhorn and the school colors are Columbia blue and red.

Academics

As of 2008, there are 1,361 students enrolled with an average attendance rate of 92.7%. Of West High graduates, an average of 97.9% enter post-secondary education. As of 2007:
* 81% - 4 year college
* 13% - 2 year college
* 6% - Other

The middle 50% of ACT composite scores are in the 21-29 range. The average staff experience is 15.5 years, and 71.6% of staff members have a masters degree or above.

Mission Statement

Teaching and learning are why we are here. The mission of the Parkway West High School community is to foster lifelong learning and good citizenship by developing critical thinking, altruism, and responsibility.

chool Spirit

For its 40th year anniversary, Parkway West revived its fight song, Stand Up and Cheer, which the lyrics are: "Stand up and cheer, stand up and cheer for Parkway West. For today we raise, the red and blue above the rest we are the best. The Longhorns are fighting, for we are bound to win this game. We've got the team! (We've got the team!) We've got the steam! (We've got the steam!) For it is Parkway West's Day, Hey!"

ports

Parkway West has a sports rivalry with Parkway Central High School. The school's original rivalry (sports and otherwise) was with nearby Rockwood School District's Lafayette High School, which was located just west of P.W.H.S., in Ellisville, Missouri (that building is currently a middle school); Lafayette High School is now located in Wildwood, Missouri.

Extracurricular Activities

Parkway West also offers many opportunities for students apart from sports. Such activities include: Model United Nations, NFLSpeech and Debate, Theatre, Women of West (often referred to as WOW), Mu Alpha Theta, Beta Chi Pi (science honors society), Improvisational theatre and the Student Activities Leadership & Service Association (SALSA).

Alumni

* August Busch IV, Class of '82, president and CEO of Anheuser-Busch since July 2002
*Chris Cissell, Class of '90, head coach of men's soccer & women's soccer at William Jewell College. NSCAA/adidas NAIA Men's National Coach of the Year in 2006. [ [http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/060107aal.html "Chris Cissell Named 2006 NSCAA/adidas National Coach of the Year"] "www.jewell.edu", retrieved August 12, 2008.]
* Blaine Gabbert, Class of '08, quarterback at the University of Missouri, ranked No. 1 pro-style quarterback for the class of '08 by Rivals.com
* Stone Phillips, Class of '73, attended Yale University, and now anchors Dateline NBC. Phillips gave the baccelaureate address for the class of '83.
* Nikko Smith, Class of '00, was in the top 12 of American Idol Season 4, and is the son of St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith.
* Tuc Watkins, Class of '85, is an actor most noted for his role on One Life to Live.

Notes

Sources

* [http://www.pkwy.k12.mo.us/west/westsr.html School website]
* [http://www.pkwy.k12.mo.us/west/info/profile.pdf?SchoolCode=1080 Parkway West profile]
* [http://www.pkwy.k12.mo.us/50th/history/schoolHistory/westhigh.htm West High history]

Keith E MorrisseyClass of 85Vice President, NTT DoCoMo Research Labs