Washington Park High School

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Washington Park High School
Established 1852
Type Public secondary
Students 2,200 (approx)
Grades 9–12
Location Racine, Wisconsin USA
Colors Blue and orange
Mascot Panthers
Yearbook Kipikawi
Newspaper The Beacon
Website http://www.racinepark.org

Washington Park High School (also known as "Park" or "Racine Park" High School) is a public, four-year high school in Racine, Wisconsin with an enrollment of over 2,200 students. Its school colors are blue and orange. The school's mascot, the panther, was adopted by the Class of 1949, reportedly because of a nearby Native American effigy mound in the shape of a panther.

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[edit] History

The school traces its roots to 1852 when Racine High School, the first public school in Wisconsin opened. In 1926, the Racine School Board decided to replace Racine High School with a new school that would eventually become Park. The new Washington Park High School opened in 1928. About the same time, malted milk magnate William Horlick opened his own school on the north side of Racine, setting up the long-time rivalry between the two schools.

Much of the history and memorabilia (including art, awards and traditions) from Racine High School were moved to Park. Most notable is the statute of Joan of Arc, displayed in Park's foyer, that was donated by the Racine High School Class of 1904. The school's newspaper, The Beacon (a reference to Racine's Wind Point Lighthouse), and the school yearbook Kipikawi (a Native American name for the Root River), were also both carried over from Racine High School.

[edit] Athletics

Park's sports teams compete in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA)'s Southeast Conference with schools from Racine, Kenosha and southern Milwaukee, including Park's long-time, crosstown rival Horlick High School. Park is the only Division 1 high school in Wisconsin to have won a state championship in football, basketball, and baseball. [1] Park has produced several athletes who have gone on to play professionally, including Brent Moss, (NFL: Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams), Caron Butler (NBA: Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards), and Kevin Barry (NFL: Green Bay Packers).

[edit] State championships

Sport Years
Boys' Baseball 1993
Boys' Basketball 1943
Girls' Basketball 1997
Boys' Cross Country 1948, 1949
Boys' Golf 1931, 1947, 1948, 1958, 1968, 1970, 1973
Girls' Gymnastics (combined Racine team) 1997, 1998, 2004
Boys' Football 1988, 2005
Boys' Tennis 1931
Boys' Track 1974, 1997, 1998, 2000
Girls' Track 1978
Boys' Wrestling 1967, 1969

[edit] See also

  • The World's Best Prom: An award-winning documentary and forthcoming feature-length documentary about high school prom in Racine, Wisconsin.

[edit] External links