Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Lexington, Kentucky)

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Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Address
1600 Man O' War Blvd
Lexington, Kentucky 40513
Information
Affiliation(s) None
Principal Anthony Orr
Enrollment

2241 (December, 2007)
School type Public
Grades 9-12
Language English
Area Suburban
Motto Where Excellence Meets Tradition! motto_translation=
Mascot Bulldog
Color(s) Red █ and Black █
Founded 1990
Homepage http://www.pld.fcps.net

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (PLD) is a secondary school located at 1600 Man O' War Boulevard on the southwest side of Lexington, Kentucky, USA. The school is one of five high schools in the Fayette County Public Schools district.

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is named after the famous 19th century African-American poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar. Opened in 1990, the school is the newest high school in Lexington, Kentucky. With an enrollment of over 2200, it is the second-largest public high school in Kentucky, following Henry Clay High School.[citation needed] It also houses the Math, Science, and Technology Center. The PLD student body, unlike that of most of the other schools named after Dunbar, has a substantial white majority, although African Americans make up roughly one fifth of the students.

Locally, PLD has earned a reputation of being an outstanding school, excelling in academics, athletics, fine arts and other student organizations. PLD's band and cheerleading programs have won national acclaim.

Contents

[edit] History

The school name was part of a political deal made in 1965 with the city's African-American community. In the era of segregated schools, Dunbar High School, also named after the poet, was the city's lone surviving black high school and one of the main cornerstones of Lexington's black community. When Fayette County's schools integrated in 1967, Dunbar High was closed, with its students being bused to four previously white schools. Eventually, the county school board agreed that the next high school to open in Lexington would bear Dunbar's name, principally at the urging of the Rev. William Augustus Jones, Sr., senior minister of Lexington's oldest and largest black church[1] and a civil rights leader[2] whose five oldest children had graduated from Dunbar and embarked on careers of distinction.[3] To the board's credit, it kept its word, even though a full generation had passed since the original agreement. To keep the schools differentiated, the new school was given the poet's full name, rather than just the last name as with the old school. As an additional tribute to the old Dunbar High School, the gymnasium was named the "S.T. Roach Sports Center" for basketball coach Sanford T Roach, who led the school to a 512-142 record from 1942 to 1965, and is a member of the National High School Sports Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. The new PLD adopted the original school colors of the old Dunbar High (which were red and black, but changed to green and white during the 1940s). The new high school did not, however, retain the former school's "Bearcats" mascot. A vote of the school's future students shortly before the school's opening favored "Bulldogs." The chosen spelling of the new high school also received community criticism as it chose an alternate spelling of the poet's middle name. This was an act many members of the city's community felt was taken to distinguish the new and predominantly white Paul Laurence Dunbar High School from other images of both the poet and the old Dunbar High.

The building of the original high school at 545 North Upper Street has since been converted to the Dunbar Community Center, which serves myriad cultural, educational and recreational needs for the city of Lexington. The Dunbar Community Center is operated by the city's department of Parks & Recreation, whose central offices are also located at this address.

[edit] Academics

In the class of 2004, 25 seniors were named National Merit Semifinalists. It also ranks consistently as one of Kentucky's top high schools in terms of scores in the statewide testing program, CATS (Commonwealth Accountability Testing System). And in 2007 P.L.D. became the first school in the Fayette County Public High Schools to score an average of 90 on the CATS tests.

[edit] Math, Science, and Technology Center

Main article: Math, Science, and Technology Center

The Math, Science, and Technology Center, also known as MSTC, is a magnet program housed in Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Since the program's establishment in 1991, it has produced 61 National Merit Finalists, has an average ACT score of 31 and an average SAT score of 1400. Seven MSTC students have scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT and three students have scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. MSTC graduates are offered an average of 5 scholarships from different schools, and have attended twenty of the top thirty universities and colleges in the country as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

[edit] PLD Academic Team

The PLD academic team has been well recognized across the State Commonwealth of Kentucky. It has made numerous appeareances to the Governor's Cup. The team has won numerous state championships starting in 2003. In the following three seasons the PLD strive for the state title was short in which the roster line up needed some adjustments. After three dry seasons, Dunbar regained two consecutive titles in the 2007 and 2008 Governor's Cup State Championships. The 2006 senior team did not win a state championship due some team member's attitude and overall fate and destiny. In 2008, Dunbar's United States Academic Decathlon team won the state division for the first time and proceeded to nationals.

[edit] Athletics

Paul Laurence Dunbar offers many sports, including football, boys' and girls' basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, golf, track and field, cheerleading, swimming, dancing, and wrestling. The Students from PLD have a yearly impact on the KHSAA state championships.

[edit] Basketball

PLD boasted of a competitive boys' basketball program almost from the beginning. In 1993 the team lead by Darnell Burton, were State Runners-Up, losing at Rupp Arena. In 1994 the team repeated as State Runners-Up, losing at Freedom Hall. In 1997 the team again reached the Sweet Sixteen, losing in the first round.

[edit] Football

Unlike basketball, PLD Football got off to a slow start, hampered in part by the lack of a home stadium. For the first five and a half years, the team played their "home" games at other Lexington high schools. Midway through the 1995 season, PLD's football stadium opened, and that year the school advanced to the playoffs for the second time. The first playoff appearance was in 1992, only the school’s second year in existence. Unfortunately, their fate was to meet the eventual state AAAA champions in the first round. In 1996 they were the Kentucky 4A state runners-up, losing the championship game in overtime to Nelson County.

The football stadium was later named for Jon R. Akers, PLD's First principal. John R. Akers is also the father of National Football League kicker David Akers of the Philadelphia Eagles.

[edit] Soccer

In 1992, 2002, and 2005 PLD Soccer were the State Champions. All three championships were under Todd Bretz who has been the head coach since the program's inception.

[edit] Cheerleading

PLD Cheerleading is nationally competitive. They have been UCA National Champions in the Large Varsity Division (all girls) in 1995, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. UCA National Runners-Up in 1994, 2002 and 2003, Cheersports National Champions in 2003, and KAPOS State Champions in 1994,1997, 2000, 2001, 2003,2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. They have been nationally ranked for twelve years and have been featured in American Cheerleader magazine. Donna Martin has coached the squad since the school opened in 1990. She has been elected to American Cheerleader's Who's Who of Cheerleading and has coached cheerleading for 17 years.[1]

In 2001, MTV's True Life series prominently featured Dunbar's cheerleading team in the episode "I'm a Cheerleader."

On November 28, 2005, Lifetime Television announced a reality series featuring the PLD cheerleaders. [2] "Cheerleader Nation" premiered in early 2006. The television show had very high ratings.

Former Dunbar cheerleaders have gone on to cheer for the University of Kentucky, Morehead State University, Western Kentucky University, Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, Indiana University, and many other colleges.

[edit] Baseball

In 2003, PLD Baseball were state champions. [3] That year they also set a Kentucky record for the most wins in one season, winning 41 games and losing only 4. [4] It was Dunbar's first berth into the State Tournament and First State Title in the school's history. Josh Ellis went a perfect 12-0 in 2003, despite knee injury suffered in a PLD football game, and was named Kentucky's Mr. Baseball. Dunbar was once again state champions in 2007.

[edit] Track and field

In 2005, the girls' track and field team tied as 3A state champions.

Both the boys' and girls' teams have won the Lexington City Championships each year since 2000. The boys placed second in 2007 to Henry Clay High School in a loss by 3 points. The girls won Region 5 AAA in 2001, 2006, and 2007.

[edit] Cross Country

Laura Steinmetz won state two years in a row. Girls won state in 2005. Placed third in 2006.

[edit] Lacrosse

Currently an unsanctioned team by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

[edit] Fine Arts

[edit] Band

The Paul Laurence Dunbar band, led by Jeff Hood and Brian Morgan, has won national acclaim; they are one of a handful of programs that have been awarded the Sudler Shield twice. The school's commitment to a quality band program was clear from the beginning, when Craig Cornish, coming away from a state marching band championship, was hired as director. In 1998, assistant director Jeff Hood took over. The band have been state champions in 1991 (Class AAA), 2003 and 2004 (Class AAAA), and 2005 and 2007 (Class AAAAA); State Runners-Up in 1992, 1994, 1995, 2002 (all Class AAAA), and 2006 (Class AAAAA), and has been a state finalist 14 out of the last 15 years. In 2004 and 2005 they were a Bands of America Regional and Class Champion, at Middle Tennessee State University and Western Kentucky University were the group has won several of their state championships and a few BOA championships. In 1995,1996, and 2007 they were Grand Champions at the Contest of Champions at Middle Tennessee State University in 2007 they won against Dobbins Bennett High School. Dunbar has participated in the BOA Grand Nationals contest twice (1996,2006)placing in the top 20 both times. Also, placed 15th in the nation in 2006 after losing the state championship merely 2 weeks earlier to Lafayette High School (also in Lexington, KY). Altogether, the band has been Grand Champions more than 20 times; including a 2007 season were they walked away from every competition as grand champions(except quarter and semi finals for state). The band performed in the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City[4].

The symphonic band has performed as a featured ensemble for the KMEA Professional Development Conference in Louisville. All three concert bands consistently score a 1 ranking in adjudication for the district concert festival. There is also a jazz ensemble and orchestra. The band averages about 10 to 13 All-State members each year. This year, the band had 16 members to receive the honor of playing in the All-State Band. Including several in the All-State Choir and Orchestra.

[edit] Orchestra

The Paul Laurence Dunbar Orchestra regularly places its strongest players in the All-State Orchestra, making impressive showings in the highest chairs of the strings section. The program was built by Robyn Bourgois, who taught two orchestra classes at the school until retiring. Some of the orchestra's most distinguished members have continued on scholarship with the nation's finest university orchestras. After serving for two years as Principal Viola in the Atlanta-Emory Orchestra, Amos N. Jones, of Dunbar's Class of 1996, played professionally for the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra. Jason Wu, of the Class of 2006, has won numerous national piano competitions, including the 2005 World Piano Competition, and has performed in Carnegie Hall.

[edit] Student Exchange

Paul Laurence Dunbar currently operates an exchange program with Hillpark Secondary School in Glasgow, Scotland. Students from each school are chosen annually to live with host families of students from the other school.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Soccer

Sean Kelley (2002-2006) - Named HS All-American in his senior season and named Gatorade Player of the Year in the same season while winning countless other awards while leading his team to a state title.

[edit] Old P.L. Dunbar High

  • John T. Smith- first African-American to be confirmed a PhD from the University of Kentucky (1961). He later served as Vice President of Minority Affairs for the university. A residence hall on the campus is named in his honor.

[edit] Basketball

[edit] Jeopardy! appearances

Dunbar students have an impressive history with the television game show Jeopardy!. In just 15 years since the school opened, three students have won the Teen Tournament, and one alumnus has won the College Championship.

  • Fraser Woodford - Won 1993 Teen Tournament, appeared in 1993 Tournament of Champions
  • Miguel Dickson - Participated in Fall 1999 Teen Tournament; was an alternate for the semifinals.
  • John Zhang - Won 2003 Teen Tournament, appeared in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions
  • Nathan Gordon - 2004 Played against Ken Jennings
  • Grayson Holmes - 2004 Appeared in three shows[5]
  • Kermin Elliott Fleming, Jr. - Won 2004 College Championship, appeared in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions
  • Papa Chakravarthy - Won 2006 Teen Tournament [5]

[edit] Others

  • Bret Donaldson (Class of 1992) - Acclaimed Chef; 2-time ACE (Award for Culinary Excellence) award winner, ACF Certified Executive Chef, Fellow of the American Academy of Chefs. Chef for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Sheik Mohammed of Dubai, and exclusive caterer for the gala premier of "The Sporanos: Season 3" for HBO/Time Warner. Work has appeared on 'Ellen - The Ellen Degeneres Show" for the wedding of Alecia and Jerod Pace in May 2005. Also worked as Director of Catering for NBA's Orlando Magic and WBA's Orlando Miracle, and as Director of Catering for the Orlando Science Center, one of the nation's top museums.
  • Frederick Mullins (Class of 1997) - Film and commercial actor that has appeared in over 30 films, commercials, and music videos for Warner Bros., CCAA, Revolution Pictures, and Lifeway. Performances include:
    • Films: "Looking Forward", "Forever There", and "Space Quest"
    • Notable Commercials include: National Toyota commercial, National Revlon Sheryl Crow commercial, CMT promos, US Armed Forces
    • TV: Host of Emmy winning program "Meth is Death"
    • Notable Music Videos lead role performances include:
    • "Letters From Home" by John Michael Montgomery (2004)
    • "Missing Years" by Little Texas (2006)
    • "The More I Drink" by Blake Shelton (2007)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Historic African American Churches: Lexington, KY CVB
  2. ^ 2001 Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame
  3. ^ E.g., http://www.blackstarnews.com/?c=135&a=1894 and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/07/AR2006020701906.html
  4. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21941534
  5. ^ J! Archive - Grayson Holmes

[edit] External links