Kaiserslautern American High School

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Kaiserslautern High School

Established	March 12, 1953
Type	DoDDS Secondary
Principal	Jennifer Beckwith, Ph.D.
Faculty	54 (+6 1/2 day)
Students	536 (August 2006)
Grades	9-12
Location	Kaiserslautern, Rheinland Pfalz,, Germany
Campus	Urban
Colors	Red & White
Mascot	Red Raider

Kaiserslautern American High School is a Department of Defense operated international school located in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Kaiserslautern American High School (KAHS) (K-Town) is part of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) group, and belongs to the DoDDS school system. This school system is comprised of more than 250 schools at nearly 200 different locations in 26 countries around the world. The world-wide headquarters for the DoDDS Schools is located in Arlington, VA. Ms Diana Ohman, whose headquarters are located in Wiesbaden, Germany, is the DoDDS-Europe Superintendent. KHS is in the Kaiserslautern District, under the direction of Mrs. Lawana H. Mangleburg, District Superintendent. The District Superintendent's Office is located on Kapaun Air Station, which is also near Kaiserslautern.

With the Principal's Office in the bedroom, the English classes in a living-dining room and German in the kitchen, Kaiserslautern High School began its history in 1952 in a converted apartment building across the street from the present school location. The Americans had just taken over the Western area of Germany from the French and was referred to as WACOM. The present site of the high school was carved out of the forest. Early students watched with avid interest all developments as the building took form. School officially opened on 12 March 1953.

The original building, the big "E", was divided up with the junior high located in the lower center wing with the exception of Chemistry, Shop, and the Band rooms. The high school was in the upstairs center wing. All else was elementary school. The "K" building was originally planned for Kindergarten classes.

The dormitory, the "A" building, 1953-58, housed 150 students from France (7-day students) and from parts of Germany where there weren't high schools (5-day students). The high school was originally known as Rhine High. During the early sixties, it was renamed Kaiserslautern High School. In 1976, Creek Swap brought the Headquarters for the United States Air Force, Europe to the Kaiserslautern Area. At that time the Military Supporting Agency was moved from the Army to the Air Force at Ramstein Air Base. Prior to Ramstein High School opening in August of 1982, Kaiserslautern High School was the largest American High School outside the continental United States. The Ramstein High School drew off about 700 students from an enrollment of well over 1600 students, grades nine through twelve.

Kaiserslautern High School is part of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, the 9th largest United States School System which is located around the world. The student population is a mixture of the children of American civilian, military, NATO support personel, and German locals.

A tuition fee of 17,000 USD is incured per school year for students not sponsored by the U.S. Government.

KHS gets routine visits from various politicians, Department of Defense officials and military officers to ensure that all operations are running well at the school. Celebrities have also visited KHS on morale trips for the American students who live so far away from the United States. These include the Orlando Magic cheerleaders, and stars of various TV shows.

In 2006 Dr. Jennifer Beckwith left the prestigous Bahrain American High School and was appointed principal at KAHS.