Abraham Lincoln High School (Des Moines)
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| Established | 1923 |
|---|---|
| Type | Public Secondary |
| Principal | Albert Graziano |
| Dean | James Badger |
| Students | 2,175[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/ |
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Abraham Lincoln High School, also referred to as Lincoln High School or Lincoln, is a secondary school located in Des Moines, Iowa. It is the 2nd largest high school in the state of 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").
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[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.
There are a number of prized possessions in Lincoln High School. In the floor of the vestibule is the school monogram done in bronze, surrounded by a design in variegated marble. On the south wall is a portrait of “The Boy Lincoln” painted by Russell Cowles, a former student of West High School. On the north wall is “Lincoln the Statesman” painted by William Reaser. In the Main corridor is a bronze bust of Lincoln, the work of Laurence Stewart, former student of East High. The corner stone of the old Lincoln School, which used to be at Ninth and Mulberry Streets, has been set as a memorial on the Lincoln High lawn. It was presented to the school with appropriate ceremonies when the old school was demolished. This corner stone is only one of the many reminders of President Lincoln that are preserved by the school. There is a steel engraving of the Lincoln family when Lincoln was in office, also one of the President himself, both presented to the school by Fred Foss. A piece of log from Lincoln’s cabin birth place was presented by W. L. King, a former school teacher. An engraving of the national monument in the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, which was dedicated by President Lincoln with his famous Gettysburg address, is also in the collection. In the auditorium above the stage are the words of that famous address done in gold.
[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.[3] 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 recently started at Lincoln South, such as the Art Club and Random Independent[citation needed], one of the school's newspapers that then began to be a page long feature in the main building's newspaper The Railsplitter.[citation needed]
[edit] Campus
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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).
There is a common rumor that the corpse of President Abraham Lincoln is buried underneath the gymnasium floorboards. Students say his ghost comes out on the anniversary of his assassination.
[edit] The Fine Arts
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts are alive and well at Lincoln. Art classes include Painting/Drawing/Multi-Medias,3D design, and AP Studio Art. Each year the art department competes in many exhibitions and art shows. They also have their own art club, The Dorian Art Club.
Music
Lincoln's music department is widely acclaimed locally and has been honored with numerous awards. Musical Groups at Lincoln include Concert Band, Marching Band, Chamber and Concert Choir, Sound Attraction Show Choir, Infinity Show Choir, Prep Choir, and Orchestra.
Drama
The Drama Department is a vital part of the Lincoln Tradition and has gathered many awards especially in the area of IHSSA. The Drama Department presents two full-length performances each year.
Journalism
The official school newspaper is The Railsplitter. The Railsplitter received merit recognition from the National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia School of Journalism. This is the highest recognition given to a high school publication. There is also an Independent Newspaper called The Random Independent created by Freshman at Lincoln South.
[edit] Athletics
Lincoln is a member of the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. The league is divided into three 6-team conferences as shown below:
| Central | Iowa | Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Ankeny | Ames | DM East |
| Indianola | Fort Dodge | DM Hoover |
| Johnston | Marshalltown | DM Lincoln |
| Southeast Polk | Mason City | DM North |
| Urbandale | Waukee | DM Roosevelt |
| WDM Dowling | WDM Valley | Ottumwa |
Lincoln High School has an exceptionally active and successful athletic program. With 19 sports - ten for boys and nine for girls - there are ample opportunities for students to get involved, either as a participant or a team manager. Not a year goes by that doesn't see a Lincoln team in the hunt for a conference championship or involved in a playoff or tournament game.
The Girls Basketball Team has a continuing tradition of having one of the best basketball programs in the state. They have been ranked in the top 10 every year under Coach Jerry Schartner. During the 2001-2002 season they were ranked 7th in the nation.
Lincoln's other standout sport is baseball. The Rails have had many state titles, state appearances and conference championship titles under Head Coach Quijano.
During the 2006 season the Girls Swim team defeated the schools arch-rival Roosevelt for the first time in the school's history.
The Football has had recent success over the years with 2 straight conference championship titles and 2 straight play-off appearances. But in the year 2007 the streak ended. Even then the team still finished with a 4-1 conference record and 7-2 overall.
For the 2007-2008 season the Boys Basketball team is looking to come out on top. Last year the team had its first state trip in years and lost in the first round with a two-point difference in the score.
The 2007 softball team had a great season with its first state trip since 2003 beating second-ranked East High School to get there.
There is also a hockey team that uses the school name but it is not school-affiliated.
[edit] Students
As of the 2005-2006 school year, there were 2,126 students[4] 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[5] (down from 79.3% in the 2004-2005 school year[6]). 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).[5] This makes the school the least diverse of the other high schools in the Des Moines Public School district.[5]
[edit] Enrollment figures
[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.[8]
[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
- Gamer's Paradise
- 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
- Des Moines Public Schools for other schools in the same district.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Des Moines Public Schools (2006). "Enrollment Report as of October 2, 2006".
- ^ a b c d e f History of Lincoln High School. Retrieved on 31 August, 2005.
- ^ Board Approves Lincoln High School Construction Contracts. Retrieved on 12 September, 2006.
- ^ a b Des Moines Public Schools (2005). "Enrollment Report as of September 16, 2005".
- ^ a b c Des Moines Public Schools (2005). "Minority Enrollment Report as of September 16, 2005".
- ^ Des Moines Public Schools (2004). "Minority Enrollment Report as of September 17, 2004".
- ^ a b Des Moines Public Schools (2004). "Enrollment Report as of September 17, 2004".
- ^ Des Moines Public Schools (2003). "Data report: Basic School-Level Staffing".
[edit] External links
- Abraham Lincoln High School (Des Moines) is at coordinates Coordinates:
| Year | Total | Seniors (12th grade) | Juniors (11th grade) | Sophomores (10th grade) | Freshmen (9th grade) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-2007[1] | 2,175 | 481 | 548 | 570 | 576 |
| 2005-2006[4] | 2,126 | 396 | 446 | 572 | 712 |
| 2004-2005[7] | 2,157 | 391 | 454 | 571 | 741 |
| 2003-2004[7] | 2,179 | 411 | 462 | 580 | 726 |
