Captain John L. Chapin High School
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Captain John L. Chapin High School is a public high school in El Paso, Texas.
Chapin is located on unused land reserved for the United States Government and is a part of the El Paso Independent School District. The school enrolls close to 1,700 students, throughout grades 9 to 12. Almost half the students are comprised of military dependents from neighboring the military installation Fort Bliss. The school also accepts students throughout the city of El Paso, Texas as part of the school's technology magnet program.
Chapin High School has earned a reputation of being an institution of academia and athleticism by excelling in both fields. In 2006, students of the exiting senior class had the highest number of graduates accepted to prestigious military academies than any other high school in the United States.
Chapin gets it's name from Captain John L. Chapin who was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. Before enlisting in the National Guard, Capt. Chapin graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He intended to go to medical school after graduating but postponed his plans so he could join the National Guard. In November of 1940, Chapin's unit was activated as Company E, 141st Infantry, 36th Division of the United States Army. They were sent overseas to North Africa. Chapin declined numerous opportunities for promotions in order to stay with Company E, a unit predominantly comprised of fellow El Pasoans. Most of men in Company E were hispanics who couldn't speak english. Capt. Chapin knew if he took the promotion Company E would most likely be left to someone who couldn't speak spanish and wouldn't treat the soldiers properly. For this and many other things his men greatly respected him. He was killed leading the men of Company E into battle across the Rapido River in Italy.
[edit] Trivia
- Captain John L. Chapin High School the only high school in the (continental) United States that is on government property, but not owned by the government.
