Abraham Lincoln High School (Des Moines)

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Lincoln High School
Established 1923
Type Public Secondary
Principal Albert Graziano
Dean Fatima Piresson
Students 2,126[1]
Grades 9–12
Location 2600 SW 9th Street
Des Moines, Iowa USA
District Des Moines Public Schools
Campus Urban
Colors Maroon and Gold
Website dmps.k12.ia.us/schools/3Lincoln/
For other schools of the same name, see Abraham Lincoln High School.
Lincoln High School Logo

Abraham Lincoln High School, also referred to as Lincoln High School or Lincoln, is a secondary school located on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa. It is one of five secondary schools under the district of the Des Moines Public Schools, and was named after the 16th United States president Abraham Lincoln. The school sports team has been named after one of President Lincoln's nicknames, the "Rail Splitter" (the "Lincoln Railsplitters").

Contents

[edit] History

Lincoln High School was constructed to address the increasing enrollment of students at nearby East High School. During this time, the south side of Des Moines was home to new urban development. This further increased enrollment and the need for an additional school. A bond issue was passed on March 18, 1918, that provided the funds to build the school.[2] By 1923, construction was completed, at a cost of $949,754.95 USD.[2]

At that time, the school had 55 classrooms, a swimming pool, two gymnasiums, several labs, an art and music room, cafeteria, and an auditorium, providing for a total student capacity of 1,300 people.[2]

In 1962 an additional wing was constructed, which added additional classrooms, additional laboratory areas, and a library with over 13,000 volumes.[2]

A male faculty lounge was added in 1963.[2] An existing light-well was enclosed to provide for this new room.

In 1964, further expansions were contracted at a total cost of $1,667,000.[2] This provided for the construction of the Roundhouse, home to the various indoor sporting venues. On the lower level, a new swimming pool and boys' locker room was constructed. The old swimming pool was converted to classroom space, but the old gymnasiums are still in use. The old locker rooms were remodeled into the girls' locker rooms.

[edit] Controversial events

  • The Westboro Baptist Church protested the awarding of a Matthew Shepard scholarship at the graduation ceremony on June 6, 2003.[3] Four people were arrested when they ambushed the protesters with whip-cream pies.
  • Nine students formed a suicide pact in response to the death of a Lincoln student on October 2003.[4] Des Moines police were dispatched to the students' homes to alert the parents. CNN reportedly named Lincoln High the second most controversial school after Columbine.[citation needed]

[edit] Recent events

In November 2005, the Des Moines School Board approved contracts totaling $22,753,954 for the renovation and expansion of Lincoln High.[5] The work is scheduled to be completed by August 2008. Since Lincoln is at overcapacity, students in the 9th grade will attend classes at the Kurtz Junior High building, to be named Lincoln South, for the school years starting in 2006 and 2007. This separation has caused complications in schedules for students being bused back and forth between classes and after-school activities. Some after-school clubs have been started at Lincoln South like the Art Club and Random Independent, one of the school's newspapers.

[edit] Campus

Lincoln has three levels of classrooms, with the cafeteria and music classrooms located on the lowest level. The "old gymnasium" occupies the second and third levels in the main concourse (with the entrance on the second level). The Roundhouse is the primary gymnasium in use at Lincoln. The upper level an arena with a capacity of roughly 2,500 people. On the lower level of the Roundhouse are the weight-training area, boys' locker rooms, and swimming pool.

Outside of the cafeteria, there are two mobile classrooms that were constructed to house additional classes. These are referred to by students and staff as Mobile Units #3 and #4. Near the Roundhouse are two others, named Mobile Unit #1 and #2.

On the opposite side of Bell Avenue are two student parking lots, a baseball diamond, soccer fields, and Hutchens Stadium (home to football and track events).

[edit] Athletics

In recent years, The Railsplitters have excelled in athletics particularly in baseball with over 10 state championship appearances. The Rails have held the Conference Championship in many sporting events including, boys' soccer, softball, baseball, boys' and girls' basketball, football, and girls' swimming. The girls' basketball has had many successes over the years with six straight conference championships. They were even ranked 7th in the nation during the 2000-2001 season. Most recenltly the football team has enjoyed its first conference championship in nearly two decades and two straight conference championships and playoff appearances.

[edit] Students

As of the 2005-2006 school year, there were 2,126 students[1] enrolled at Lincoln, which makes the school the second largest in Iowa following West High School in Davenport (with 2,141 students). 76.9% of the student body is of White (European-American) descent[6] (down from 79.3% in the 2004-2005 school year[7]). The leading ethnic group by enrollment is that of Latino descent, and they are followed by Black (African-American), Asian, and Indian (Native American or Alaskan Native).[6] This makes the school the least diverse of the other high schools in the Des Moines Public School district.[6]

[edit] Enrollment figures

Year Total Seniors (12th grade) Juniors (11th grade) Sophomores (10th grade) Freshmen (9th grade)
2005-2006[1] 2,126 396 446 572 712
2004-2005[8] 2,157 391 454 571 741
2003-2004[8] 2,179 411 462 580 726
2002-2003[8] 2,330 447 491 559 833

[edit] Faculty

There are approximately 107 instructors at Lincoln High, which puts the student-teacher ratio at about 20 students per course instructor. There are 76 additional personnel who carry out other administrative duties at Lincoln. In total, the faculty count is approximately 183.[9]

[edit] Extracurricular activities

Students have the option to participate in many extracurricular activities, which include activities, clubs, and sports that take place outside of the regular curriculum.

  • Clubs (as of 2005-2006 school year, clubs in italics are defunct)
    • Anime Club
    • Business Professionals of America
    • Computer Club
    • DECA
    • Dorian Art Club
    • Drama Club
    • International Thespian Society Troupe #4752
    • National Honor Society
    • Rails Key Club
    • Straight and Gay Alliance (SAGA)
    • Students Against Drunk Drivers (SADD)
  • Activities
    • Academic Decathlon
    • Academic Letter
    • All Male Dance Team
    • Ambassadors
    • Band (Marching, Jazz, Concert, Pep)
    • Cheerleading
    • Close Up
    • Committee Select
    • Conflict Management
    • Debate/Forensics
    • Fellowship of Christian Athletes
    • Mermaids Synchronized Swimming
    • Minority Achievement Program (MAP)
    • Mock Trial
    • Quiz Bowl
    • Railettes Dance Team
    • Science Bound
    • Sisters for Success
    • Student Council
    • Upward Bound
    • We the People
  • Sports
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Track
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling

[edit] Curriculum

The school day is split into seven periods of course instruction, with the fifth period being the longest to allow for a short lunch break. The school district requires students to take a number of core academic courses if they wish to graduate. This includes Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, Art, and Physical Education. The exact amount of academic credit needed to satisfy graduation requirements is determined by the school district.

All students are required by the district to enroll in four subject courses and a Physical Education course. However, the school compels lower-class students to schedule a full day of classes, in order to ensure satisfaction with district graduation requirements. Juniors and seniors have the option of having an "open period" during the first or last period of the school day ("Seniors may have open periods during any period"). However, juniors require parental permission to have an open period.

The district requires four years of Physical Education. Freshmen and sophomores usually take their P.E. courses at the school. Juniors and seniors have the option of taking alternative P.E. programs, including a bowling class that requires students to commute to a nearby bowling alley.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Des Moines Public Schools (2005). "Enrollment Report as of September 16, 2005".
  2. ^ a b c d e f History of Lincoln High School. Retrieved on 31 August, 2005.
  3. ^ "Controversial Anti-Gay Group Returns To Des Moines", The Iowa Channel, June 6, 2003. Retrieved on December 3, 2006. (in English)
  4. ^ "Lincoln High Parents Warned Of Suicide Pact", The Iowa Channel, October 8, 2003. Retrieved on December 3, 2006. (in English)
  5. ^ Board Approves Lincoln High School Construction Contracts. Retrieved on 12 September, 2006.
  6. ^ a b c Des Moines Public Schools (2005). "Minority Enrollment Report as of September 16, 2005".
  7. ^ Des Moines Public Schools (2004). "Minority Enrollment Report as of September 17, 2004".
  8. ^ a b c Des Moines Public Schools (2004). "Enrollment Report as of September 17, 2004".
  9. ^ Des Moines Public Schools (2003). "Data report: Basic School-Level Staffing".

[edit] External links

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