- Columbia River High School
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Columbia River High School Location Vancouver, Washington, United States Coordinates 45°41′38″N 122°40′44″W / 45.694°N 122.679°WCoordinates: 45°41′38″N 122°40′44″W / 45.694°N 122.679°W Information Type Public 4-year Established 1962 Principal Christina Iremonger Staff 122[1] Enrollment ~1300 Mascot Chieftain Colors Purple and Gold Website http://river.vansd.org 
The main entrance of Columbia River High School
Columbia River High School is a public high school in Vancouver, Washington, United States. It is part of the Vancouver School District (VSD). The school was opened to students in 1964. Columbia River has over 1,300 students.[2] Columbia River is a magnet school in the VSD for the International Baccalaureate Program.
Contents
Achievements
In September 2006 the Vancouver School District announced the names of students who earned recognition as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. Of ten recipients, nine were students at Columbia River.[3] Two students were recognized as semifinalists in September 2007.[4]
In June 2010 Newsweek magazine listed Columbia River High School in its annual list of “America’s Best High Schools,” which includes 1,600, or about 6 percent, of the nation’s high schools. CRHS was listed 1,573rd nationally and 32nd out of 32 high schools listed in the state of Washington.[5]
Demographics
As of 1 October 2006, 1317 students attend Columbia River High School. Of all students enrolled, 1183, or 85 percent identify themselves as White; 80, or 6 percent identify themselves as Asian; 56, or 4 percent identify themselves as Hispanic; 31, or 2 percent identify themselves as Black; and 15, or 1 percent identify themselves as American Indian. Among all grade levels, 16 percent of students are eligible for federally subsidized lunch. One student is enrolled in the English Language Learning program and 132, or 9 percent of all students receive Special Education. English is the primary language spoken at home for 95 percent of students. It is followed by Spanish, Vietnamese, and Russian, which are each spoken by 1 percent of the student body. Of all students, 35 percent are enrolled on boundary exceptions.[2]
Compared to the Vancouver School District high school populace as a whole, Columbia River students are more white, more likely to speak English at home and less likely to be eligible for subsidized lunches.[6]
Standards-based Assessment
In Washington state, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) is administered annually to students in the tenth grade. For testing administered in spring 2006, 91 percent of Columbia River students met reading standards, 68 percent met math standards, 90 percent met writing standards and 50 percent met science standards.[7] This compares favorably to the District pass rates of 80, 48, 78 and 30 percent for each of the respective subjects.[8]
Columbia River passed in all areas of Adequate Yearly Progress.[9]
According to the most recent School Improvement Plan for Columbia River, a large achievement gap exists in WASL results between races. For example, 90 percent of Asian students passed the math section of the 2003 WASL; this compared to a 46 and 21 percent pass rates for White and American Indian students respectively.[10] Results for Black and Hispanic students are not reported.
Sports
Football
Chieftain Stadium hosts all home football gamesThe Columbia River Chieftains teams play in the Greater St. Helens 3A League. In 2007, the football team won the 3A Greater Saint Helens League Championship. The 2007 3A GSHL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year were both Columbia River football athletes.
Cross country
The boys' 1965 (Fall season of 1964) and 1971 (Fall season of 1970) cross country team coached by Lee Cave won the State Cross Country Championships and were a power in the State until 1984. They later won academic state championship in 2001. In the same year the girls team won the district championship and placed third at state.[11]
Track and field
The Columbia River boys track team placed second in the combined able-bodied and wheelchair category at the 2007 WIAA 3A state track and field championships. The Columbia River Girls track team won the three A state championship in 2010
Baseball
Columbia River won the 1984 Washington State 3A championship headed by coach Curt Daniels.
They also won the State Championship (3A) in 1989. Columbia River was the runner up in the 1986 Washington State 3A championship and also in the 2004 and 2005 Washington State 3A championship. Currently the Chieftains have won back-to-back district titles in 2008 and 2009, placing top 16 in the state in 2009. In 2010, the Chiefs went 18-8 making it to the Final Four in the 3A State Tournament held at Safeco Field. They played league rival Camas High School in the state semifinals, losing 3-2 on a game winning double in the bottom of the 11th with 2 outs recorded.
Fastpitch Softball
Columbia River won the 1992 and went back-to-back in the 1996 and 1997 Washington State 4A championships. Columbia River were runners up in the 2005 Washington State 3A championship.
Wrestling
Columbia River won the 1969 and 1986 Washington State 3A championship. Columbia River were runners up in the 1979 Washington State 3A championship.
Volleyball
Columbia River won the 1991 4A and 2000 3A Washington State championship. Columbia River were runners up in the 1981, 1982, 1987 and 1989 Washington State 3A championship and also in the 2002 Washington State 3A championship.
Gymnastics
Columbia River won the 2009 3A Washington State championships with coaches Alicia Green and Allison Sparrow. In 2010 they won 2nd place at the 3A Washington State Championships, and in 2011 took 3rd.
Soccer
In the 2009-2010 school year, the Chieftains won the girls 3A soccer state championship.
Columbia River in the News
Columbia River gained national media attention in December 2002 after a visit by Washington senator Patty Murray. In a question and answer session with the class of teacher Gary Lorentzen,[12] Sen. Murray stated: "We've got to ask, why is this man so popular around the world?" referring to Osama bin Laden, "Why are people so supportive of him in many countries that are riddled with poverty?" She elaborated that bin Laden had been "out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day care facilities, building health care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. We haven't done that." The remarks later became a political issue in her 2004 race against Republican challenger Rep. George Nethercutt.[13]
Capturing Solar Energy
Solar panels were installed at Columbia River High School on May 26, 2010. The panels were purchased by a grant through the Clark Public Utilities Green Lights Program. Under peak sun conditions, the panels will produce 2,160 watts of power. Under typical Vancouver conditions, this relates to 2,400 kilowatt hours per year.[14]
Notable Faculty
- Al Bauer - former Washington State legislator.
- Lee Cave - Washington State Coaches Association (WSCA) Hall of Fame for Cross Country (1981) & Track (1996); coached two state champion Cross Country teams (1964 & 1970).
- John McKibbin - former Washington State legislator.
Notable alumni
- Dan Frantz - 1996 Alumni and place kicker for the Chicago Rush (AFL).
- Dennis Heck - state politician and founder of TVW
- Ed Herman - Mixed Martial Arts and contract fighter for the [UFC].
- Joe Phillips - NFL, defensive lineman
- Brett Pierce - Tight End in the NFL.
- Stan Spencer - Former major league pitcher for the San Diego Padres
References
- ^ Columbia River High School - Vancouver, WA
- ^ a b Columbia River High School Demographic Profile
- ^ Eisenhower Elementary School Closing Ceremonies
- ^ http://river.vansd.org/Newsletters/September%20October%20Newsletter%202007-2008.pdf
- ^ "In our view: Academic Acclaim." The Columbian - Serving Clark County, Washington. The Columbian, 16 June 2010. Web. 17 June 2010. <http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jun/16/academic-acclaim/>.
- ^ High Schools Demographic Profile
- ^ Washington State Report Card
- ^ Washington State Report Card
- ^ http://portalsso.vansd.org/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/VSD_HOME_PUBLIC/SCHOOL_INFORMATION/SCHOOL_PERFORMANCE_REPORTS_04/SCHOOL_PERFORMANCE_REPORTS_04_INFO_PAGE/COLUMBIA%20RIVER.PDF
- ^ Microsoft Word - Narrative/Colu
- ^ 2006 FALL WIAA STATE ACADEMIC CHAMPIONS
- ^ Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor (Seattle Weekly)
- ^ 'Bizarre' praise of Osama
riles senator's challenger - ^ "Conservation Efforts Are Underway: Capturing Solar Energy." Report to the Community - Vancouver Public Schools June 2010: 9. Print.
External links
- Columbia River High School website
- GSHL Football - Columbia River High School
- Columbia River Orchestra
WIAA Southwest Washington District 4 (Web) AA-AAAA Classifications 4A Conferences Greater St. Helens 4A: Battle Ground Tigers • Evergreen Plainsmen • Heritage Timberwolves • Skyview Storm • Union Titans3A Conferences Greater St. Helens 3A: Camas Papermakers • Columbia River Chieftains • Fort Vancouver Trappers • Hudson's Bay Eagles • Kelso Hilanders • Mountain View Thunder • Prairie Falcons2A Conferences Greater St. Helens 2A: Hockinson Hawks • Mark Morris Monarchs • R. A. Long Lumberjacks • Washougal Panthers • Woodland Beavers •
Evergreen 2A: Aberdeen Bobcats • Black Hills Wolves • Centralia Tigers • NT Rams • River Ridge Hawks • Tumwater T-birds • W.F. West BearcatsA & B-BB Classifications 1A Conferences Evergreen 1A: Elma Eagles • Forks Spartans • Hoquiam Grizzlies • Montesano Bulldogs • Onalaska Loggers • Rainier Mountaineers • Rochester Warriors • Tenino Beavers •
Trico 1A: Castle Rock Rockets • Ilwaco Fishermen • Kalama Chinooks • La Center Wildcats • Ridgefield Spudders • Stevenson Bulldogs• Toledo Indians • Columbia Bruins2B Conferences Central 2B: Adna Pirates • Morton Huskies/White Pass Panthers • Mossyrock Vikings • Napavine Tigers • Pe Ell Trojans • Toutle Lake Ducks • Wahkiakum Mules • Winlock Cardinals
Pacific 2B: Naselle Comets • North Beach Hyaks • Northwest Christian Navigators • Ocosta Wildcats • Raymond Gulls • South Bend Indians • Willapa Valley Vikings1B Conferences Coastal: Lake Quinault Elks • Knight Owls • North River Mustangs • Oakville Acorns • Taholah Chitwin • Wishkah Valley Loggers
Columbia Valley: Columbia Adventist • Kingsway Christian • Pope John Paul II Eagles • Seton Catholic Cougars • Three Rivers Christian • Vancouver Christian Light • Washington School for the DeafCategories:- Educational institutions established in 1964
- High schools in Vancouver, Washington
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