Clover Park High School
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| Clover Park High School | |
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| School type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1928 |
| District | Clover Park No. 400 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Principal | John Seaton |
| Students | 1500 |
| Athletics | Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, Swimming, Tennis, Golf, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Water Polo, Chess, Track, Wrestling |
| Athletic Conference | WIAA |
| Colors | Green, white, gold |
| Mascot | Warrior |
| Location | 11023 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW Lakewood, WA 98499 |
| Information | 253-583-5500 |
| Website | Link |
Clover Park High School (CPHS), located in Lakewood, Washington, is one of two secondary schools within the Clover Park School District. The high school was established in 1928 due to the rapid expansion of nearby military posts at Fort Lewis.
The cornerstone of the first Clover Park High School was laid June 28, 1928. According to the 1981 Clover Park yearbook, Odyssey, on February 23 of that year a fire, which was started in the gymnasium, destroyed the gym, music center and business department. Junior Alphred Shropshire was arrested and convicted for starting the fire. One wing of the original school is now used for the school district's Student Services Center.
The rival school of CPHS is Lakes High School. Approximately 1500 students are enrolled each year. Their school mascot is the Warriors and the colors are kelly green, gold, and white. During the 2005/2006 school year the current principal, John Seaton, took the reins from the former principal, Paul Tytler, who is now part of Stanford University's School Redesign Network.
Many students and parents have expressed deep safety concerns as CPHS has been plagued with gun violence, sexual harassment and street gangs. On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the safest, parents gave CPHS a rating of 2 for safety and discipline. In response, the Clover Park School District applied for and received a federal grant which allows students who have been victimized or participated in violence to receive therapy from private mental health counselors. [1]
Although some parents have voiced concern CPHS continually meets NCLB standards for school safety. Recently, CPHS was listed in the OSPI (Washington State Office of Public Instruction) document The High Schools We Need: Improving an American Institution [2]. The OSPI document states, "Clover Park is committed to maintaining high expectations for rigorous performance from students."
According to OSPI the evidence of effectiveness:
(1) Between 2002 and 2004, WASL scores increased by 17.4 percent in reading, 8.3 percent in math, 16.9 percent in writing, and 6.9 percent in science.
(2) Over the past seven years, student achievement increased and the gaps narrowed between the racial, ethnic, gender, cultural, and economic class groups within the school.
(3) The annual dropout rate declined from 14.1 percent to 10.2 percent between 2001 and 2004.
(4) The school successfully made adequate yearly progress in all areas in 2005 and was not mandated to do a plan for improvement.
(5) The college retention rate of students who received the Bill and Melinda Gates Scholarship as high school juniors averaged more than 75 percent in each year 2002-2004.
(6) Retention of highly qualified faculty has increased over the last five years.
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[edit] Students
Out of the approximate 1500 student body, 53 percent are minorities, and 57 percent receive a free or reduced lunch. Student enrollment is triple both the district and state average (1557 versus 421.9 and 458.8). The student to teacher ratio is 20.039:1 compared to district and state averages of 16.272:1 and 17.316:1, respectively.
[edit] Smaller Learning Communities Program
In August 2003, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation promised $540,000 over five years to the school to "support personalized learning environments where all students achieve."[3] The school is thus sometimes referred to as a "Gates Grant school," in reference to the donation.
The highly diverse school used the grant to engage in major restructuring as part of the "Smaller Learning Communities Program" (SLCP) which is intended to help large schools create smaller and safer communities within themselves. The program has received criticism, as parents complained that dividing the school into separate "houses" limited the selection of courses, and that attempts to "Raise the Bar" for all students had the effect of "dummying down" the challenges available to more able students. [4] [5]
CPHS is now recognized as a leader in high school reform by the School Redesign Network at Stanford University and OSPI for the improvements in student learning and for narrowing the achievement gap. (SRN case study/ OSPI High Schools We Need).
[edit] Notable alumni and staff
Notable Clover Park High School alumni and staff members include:
- John Greek and Rich Dangel, guitarists with The Wailers, who wrote "Tall Cool One" while at the school;[6]
- John Kelly, Chairman and CEO of Alaska Airlines from 1995-2003. [7]
- Matt Elisara, co-vice-principal during the 1996-1997 school year. Played for Denver Gold football team (now defunct).
[edit] Fight song
The CPHS fight song is performed to the music of the Washington State University fight song.
Fight, fight, fight for Clover Park High
Win the victory
Come on and win the fight for our green and white
Best in the west, we know you'll all do your best
So on, on, on, we'll fight to the end
Honor and glory you must win,
So fight, fight, fight, for Clover Park High and victory
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Pernell, Anastasia. Clover Park School District Community Relations. (253) 583-5040.
- Aden, Carlin B. A Schoolhouse That Grew Wings.
- The Sounding Board. Volume 12, Number 3, January, 1981. Published by Clover Park School District No. 400.
- Odyssey. 1981 Clover Park High School Yearbook.
[edit] External links
- Clover Park High School website
- Clover Park writeup featured in Learning What Works newsletter by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Clover Park High School profile on greatschools.net
