DuPont Manual Magnet High School

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The correct title of this article is duPont Manual Magnet High School. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.
duPont Manual High School
Established 1892
Type Public Secondary Magnet
Principal Dr. Beverly Keepers
Students 1,800 (2003-2004)
Grades 9–12
Location Louisville, Kentucky ,United States
District Jefferson County Public Schools
Campus Urban
Colors Crimson █ and
White █
Mascot Ram/Crimsons
Students per Teacher 21:1
Students per computer 4.9:1
Website duPont Manual High School

duPont Manual High School is a secondary school located at 120 West Lee Street in the Old Louisville neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. It is part of the Jefferson County Public School district. It is directly across the street from the main campus of the University of Louisville, and qualifying students may attend a college class per semester if they wish.

The three story building is in the Gothic style, made prominent by a large, majestic tower that protrudes upward from the structure's center. There is one room on the "fourth floor" at the base of the tower.

Contents

[edit] History

duPont Manual traces its roots through the University of Louisville back to the Jefferson Seminary (1798). After several changes, the Jefferson Seminary was divided into the University of Louisville and the Louisville Male High School (1856). Soon, the Louisville Girls High School became operational (1856). In 1892, a generous grant of $150,000 from Alfred Victor du Pont became the foundation for the duPont Manual Training High School.

Manual High School as seen from Lee Street
Manual High School as seen from Lee Street

The endowment allowed for the purchase of a property at the corner of Brooke and Oak and construction of buildings there, completed and dedicated in May 1893. By 1923, there were over 1,700 students and a faculty of 56. At this time the facilities were expanded and Manual Stadium, now with a capacity of nearly 11,500,[1] was built a year later in 1924.

Although originally designed to teach young men industrial ("manual") skills that would fit them for their duties in life, in 1950, the nationwide trend of coeducation led to the joining of the duPont Manual Training High School and the Louisville Girls High School, which had long been counterparts. This fusion of institutions resulted in the birth of the modern duPont Manual High School in Reuben Post Halleck Hall, former home of the Louisville Girls High School, at 120 West Lee. The huge, signature Gothic architecture inspired structure was built in 1933 and remains in use, although two major additions have since been made.

In 1984 the school became known as duPont Manual Magnet High School.

[edit] Today

Today, Manual combines traditional education with modern novelties. It offers five distinct magnet programs:

  • High School University (HSU)
  • Math/Science/Technology (MST)
  • Visual Arts (VA)
  • Communications/Media Arts (CMA)
  • Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS)

Among these, the Math/Science/Technology program and the Youth Performing Arts School have achieved national recognition on multiple occasions.

Manual holds Kentucky's state record from 2000 of 52 National Merit Semifinalists, ranking third in the United States for that year behind only the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and Stuyvesant High School. In the past few years it has won both National Science Bowl (2000) and National Academic League championships, and performed exceptionally in Quiz Bowl tournaments throughout the eastern half of the nation, even achieving 7th place at the NAQT's High School National Championships. Manual has been mentioned several times in Redbook Magazine's "America's Best Schools", based on its innovative programs and commitment to excellence. It has also been featured in the United States Department of Education as a National School of Excellence. In 2002, Manual became its own region for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The YPAS chorus was the only chorus to perform at the inauguration of President George W. Bush.

Many interior shots of the 1999 film The Insider were shot at Manual. Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, the subject of the film, taught science and Japanese at Manual after he was fired by tobacco company Brown & Williamson in 1993.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Sports

[edit] Football

duPont Manual Magnet High School is home to the duPont Manual Crimsons, one of the oldest high school football teams in Louisville, Kentucky. Their rivalry with the Male Bulldogs, dubbed the Old Rivalry, dates directly to 1892 and claims to be the oldest high school rivalry in Kentucky. The rivalry item is The Barrel.

[edit] Other

The school also offers baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country running, dance team, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track, and other sports teams.

The girls' swim team won the state title in 2005, 2006, and 2007. In addition, they were the Combined Boys and Girls Champions in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. The Boys' and Girls' Swim Teams are coached by Gary Webb.

The Dazzler dance team placed first at the NDA national championship in the Large Varsity Jazz division in 2004.

As one of the most successful teams at the school, the varsity cheerleaders have won the NCA national Championship in the Large Varsity Division four years in a row, starting in 2002.

Varsity Boys' Soccer was second at state in 2005 and third in 2004.

In 2006, the Manual Girls' Cross Country team finally won the school's first team title after narrowly placing second in 2004 and 2005. The 2006 win was the first championship for a Jefferson County, Kentucky Class AAA Public School since 1980. Additionally, Manual's combined 2006 Cross Country Boys' and Girls' Team was the combined AAA State Cross Country Champion. The Boys' and Girls' Cross Country Teams are coached by Debra Moore.

The boys' tennis team achieved their best finish at the KHSAA State Tennis Tournament in the year 2006 by tying rival St. Xavier High School for second place. Seniors Victor Wong and Stewart Koch won the state doubles title which was the first state title in Ram Tennis history on the boy's side. Ben Newstadt, sophomore, won a round as well. The 2005-2006 season continued a trend of Regional Runner-Up status for the team; their fifth consecutive.

[edit] Campus life

There is no uniform policy in place at the school, though students' attire must comply with a basic dress code. During lunch, students may eat outside in the rear courtyard, weather permitting.

Manual is reputed to be one of the most diverse high schools in the region, enrolling students from various countries and of multiple ethnicities, backgrounds, religions and financial circumstances. Due to this great diversity, along with its focus in liberal arts programs, it is perceived to be a primarily liberal institution.

The staff and administrators at Manual are all highly qualified in their respective fields, a few of them holding a Doctoral degree (PhD) or equivalent. Many of the school's athletic directors are also academic teachers, a symbolic reflection of Manual's balanced emphasis on academics as well as athletics, both areas in which the school has obtained considerable acknowledgement.

The Youth Performing Arts School, also of national recognition, is located nearby. YPAS is considered one of Manual's magnet programs because YPAS students take their academic classes at Manual, but YPAS itself remains semi-autonomous; it has its own assistant principal, counselors, administrative staff, and parents' organization. Many Manual students take classes at YPAS, even if it is not their academic major.

[edit] References

  1. ^ DuPont Manual High School KHSAA Directory Entry. Kentucky High School Athletic Association. Retrieved on February 16, 2007.
  2. ^ http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Biographies/john_jacob_niles.htm
  3. ^ Annual Review of Sociology.
  4. ^ http://www.kirareedstudios.com/resume/resume.html

[edit] External links

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