Chaparral High School (Scottsdale, Arizona)

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**Chaparral High School**
Principal	Mrs. Mary Lou Muccino
School Type	Public (U.S.)
Religious Affiliation	None
Founded	1973
Address & Location	6935 E. Gold Dust Avenue, Scottsdale, Arizona 85253, USA
Enrollment	1,828 students
Campus Situation	Suburban
Mascot	Firebird
School Colors	Scarlet Red and Gold
School Website	CHS

Chaparral High School is a public high school located in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. The mascot is the firebird and the school colors are scarlet red and gold.^[1] Based on the percentage of students passing or exceeding the AIMS, Chaparral is one of the best high schools in the state. In 2006, Chaparral had the state's highest percentage of students exceeding reading standards, and the fourth highest percentage of students exceeding math and writing standards.

1 Student body and academics
2 Athletics
3 Arts
4 Speech and Debate
- 4.1 2006-2007 School Year
5 Notable alumni
6 Construction & Remodeling
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Student body and academics

Chaparral has one of the highest graduation rates in the state, with a 98% graduation rate, significantly higher than the 80% state average. Over 95 percent of Chaparral's graduates enroll in higher education, the most of any highschool in Arizona.^[2] Chaparral High School has consistently ranked in Newsweek's list of Best High Schools in America, and in 2007 Chaparral was one of only 12 schools ranked in Arizona.^[3] The high school also usually garners more National Merit Semifinalists annually than any other school in the state and holds the state record for having the most scholars in one year (24 in 2000).^[4] Additionally, the school has also earned the record most in-state Presidential Scholars in Arizona with 17 in 2003.

Chaparral is the only school in Arizona to have students win the highest honors at the Siemens Westinghouse Competition and Intel Science Talent Search, two of the most prestigious science competitions in the U.S.^[5]

[edit] Athletics

Chaparral competes in 19 interscholastic sports and leads the 4A Division I in a number of sports programs; however, the school is best known for its baseball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, lacrosse, Speech and Debate, and swimming teams. Charlie Ragle is the head football coach. Ragle's most recent coaching stint was with Arizona State University.

The school has historically been best known for its baseball program, annually ranked in USA Today's Super 25 High School Baseball Team list.^[6]

Chaparral recently had a brand new, state-of-the-art artificial turf football field installed by Rhino Sports. The field is one of the first high school fields of its kind in the greater Phoenix area.

[edit] Arts

Chaparral has three concert choirs, and a Mixed Jazz group (a co-ed group which perform jazz standards) and a Nothing But Treble group (an all girls group which often will sing songs that somebody in the group has arranged or written, or will perform already written music) which rehearse on their own time to put together performances.^{[citation needed]}

Chaparral also has two concert bands, a marching band, jazz band, as well as various ensemble groups.

Chaparral is home to Thespian Troupe #203. It is known for the high quality of its successful performances^{[citation needed]}including 2 mainstage productions, a musical and Student Productions each year.

[edit] Speech and Debate

[edit] 2006-2007 School Year

The Speech and Debate team has many students and specializes in Oratory and Public Forum Debate. At 4A Winter Trophy in Tucson, Arizona, Sean Arn took 1st place in Novice LD debate^[7], while Anthony Conyers, Justin Hillman, Andrew Matson, Eric Himmelberger, Ben Grossman, and Adam Bloch closed out in Varsity PFD.^[8] Chaparral was the only school in Arizona to send Public Forum Debate teams to the Tournament of Champions, held at the University of Kentucky. ^[9]

At the ASU Southwest Debate Championship (a national debate tournament held at ASU), Adam Bloch and Ben Grossman took first place in Varsity PFD ^[10] and Emily Shiau took 3rd Place in Oratory^[11]. Chaparral defeated its competition at the 2007 State Tournament, winning 2nd in sweepstakes. Chaparral PF debaters, Adam Bloch, Ben Grossman, Eric Himmelberger, Andrew Matson, Anthony Conyers, Nick French, Riley Roberts, and Max Ullman, closed out PFD at semi-finals.^[12] Furthermore, Ben Grossman (1st) and Emily Shiau (2nd) closed out Original Oratory. ^[13] Ben Grossman and David Schaeffer were State Champions in Student Congress, and Grossman also won 1st place in Expository Speaking.^[14] ^[15]

Chaparral also sent three students to the National Forensic League National Competition in Derby/Wichita, Kansas: Ben Grossman (Original Oratory), Riley Roberts (PFD), and Max Ullman (PFD). ^[16] Ben Grossman was named the All-Tribune Forensics Scholar for his forensics accomplishments. ^[17]

[edit] Notable alumni

Brian Bannister- Baseball Player (Kansas City Royals)
Jarrett Bellini- Writer/Humorist
Darrell Bevell- Football Coach (Minnesota Vikings)
Paul Konerko- Baseball Player (Chicago White Sox)
Busy Phillips- Actress
Lyle Sendlein- Football Player (Arizona Cardinals)
Stephenie Meyer -author of #1 bestselling series, The Twilight Saga
Ike Davis- Baseball Player (Arizona State Sun Devils) and son of former MLB All-Star Ron Davis
Jason Jarvis- Baseball Player (Arizona State Sun Devils)
Charles Brewer- Baseball Player (UCLA Bruins)
Chris Rasmussen- Professional mountain biker and journalist
Mike Kleis - Vascular surgeon and philanthropist

[edit] Construction & Remodeling

Founded in 1973, the school needs renovation. The rebuilding of the school started early August 2006, and the entire reconstruction of the school is planned to be finished August 2008, before the 2008-2009 school year.