Renton High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Renton High School | |
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Pride, Tradition and Excellence
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| Location | |
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| 400 South Second Street Renton, Washington, 98057 USA |
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| Information | |
| School district | Renton School District |
| Principal | Paul Apostle |
| Enrollment |
1,106 (March 2008) |
| Faculty | 44 full-time |
| Type | Free public |
| Grades | 9th through 12th |
| Campus | Urban |
| Mascot | Indians |
| Color(s) | Red and White |
| Established | 1911 |
| Homepage | Renton High School home page |
Renton High School is a public secondary school (grades 9-12) in downtown Renton, Washington, USA, about 10 miles southeast of downtown Seattle. Founded in 1911, it is the oldest high school in the Renton School District.
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[edit] History
The original Renton High School was built in March 1911 on land originally owned by the Duwamish Indian Tribe[1], at a cost of $65,000. The three-story brick building, featuring a bell tower that rang out every half hour, stood on the location of the east wing of the current building. The school stood on wooden pilings, which started to rot when Lake Washington was lowered owing to the building of the ship canal. The timbers cracked and the crowded building sank a few inches during the 1923 graduation ceremonies.[2] It was replaced by a larger school in March 1932. In 1941, the old building was torn down and a new addition built near the current building.[3] The school was remodeled in 1969.[4]
In April 1998, Renton voters approved a levy to renovate the high school. Funds were collected from private donors to expand the project to turn the school's auditorium into a performing arts center, at an estimated additional cost of $1.5 million. The City of Renton appropriated another $400,000 for the project. The naming rights were secured by IKEA for $500,000 and construction began in June 2002. The shared-use facility, known as the Renton Community IKEA Performing Arts Center, was completed in June 2003.[5]
When the school first opened, there were only 43 students: 17 freshmen, 19 sophomores, 3 juniors, and the 4 seniors who made up the first graduating class, in May 1911. By comparison, the largest graduating class, that of 1965, when Renton was still the only high school in the district, comprised 809 seniors.[2]
The nickname "Indians" was adopted in honor of Henry Moses, who from 1916 through 1920 was the school's sole Native American basketball player. Moses was the last chief of the Duwamish tribe, and a great grandnephew of Chief Sealth, for whom Seattle was named.[2] Though the name has become controversial in recent years, Moses' widow and the Duwamish Tribe have asked Renton to retain the name to honor Moses' memory.[1] In response to a 1993 resolution by the Washington State Board of Education asking all school districts to review their mascots and logos, the mascot was modified to depict a Pacific Northwest Indian.[6] The words to the school fight song have been modified to say "let's show 'em" in place of the former "let's scalp 'em".[7]
[edit] Student body
As of March 2008 there were 1,106 students enrolled.[8] The school boasts a diverse student body, with only 15.3% of the students (as of fall 2007) identified as Caucasian or White. Percentages for other groups: Black or African American 34.40%, Asian 33.47%, American Indian or Alaska Native 0.93%, and Hispanic or Latino 15.89%.[9]
[edit] Academics
Renton High School offers a full range of academic subjects, including classes in mathematics, language arts, social studies, science, physical education, business, computers, art, drama, music, vocational and technical studies, world languages, and home and family life. Advanced placement courses are offered. The school participates in the federally-sponsored GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) program, designed to increase the number of low-income students continuing their education at the college level.[4][10]
[edit] Athletics
Renton is a member of the King Division of the Seamount League and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). The Indians compete interscholastically in football, volleyball, cross country, swimming, soccer, basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, baseball, softball, tennis, and track.
Home football and soccer games, as well as track and field events, are held at Renton Memorial Stadium, located a few blocks to the north at 405 Logan Avenue N. The stadium, shared with the district's other high schools, includes an AstroTurf field surrounded by an all-weather track. The facility has covered seating for 5,500 and parking for 1,000 vehicles. [11] [12]
[edit] Notable alumni
Canadian Football Hall of Fame fullback George Reed was a member of the class of 1959.[13] Reed was voted the second best CFL player of all time in a 2006 poll.[14]
Clarence "Clancy" Williams, class of 1961, played in the NFL for eight seasons with the Los Angeles (now St. Louis) Rams.[13] Williams has been recognized, along with Reed, as a member of the Washington State Sports Hall of Fame.[15]
Mark Prothero, best known as the lead defense attorney for Green River killer Gary Ridgway, was a state champion swimmer as a senior at Renton in 1974. He went on to compete at the University of Washington for four years and qualified for the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials.[16]
John Swartzwelder, writer for the animated television series the Simpsons, was a 1967 Renton graduate.[17]
Val Caniparoli, a member of the class of 1969, is a renowned choreographer and long-time member of the San Francisco Ballet.[17][18]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Renton High School history, RHS web site (retrieved 23 March 2008)
- ^ a b c Slauson, Morda C., Renton From Coal to Jets, Renton Historical Society 2006. ISBN 0-9786954-0-2
- ^ School Houses of Renton, The Burgess Legacy Project (retrieved 23 March 2008)
- ^ a b Renton School District: 2003-04 Performance Report (retrieved 23 March 2008)
- ^ Renton Community Performing Arts Center, Association of Washington Cities (awcnet.org) (retrieved 23 March 2008)
- ^ Washington State Board of Education Resolution STAR (Students and Teachers Against Racism) (retrieved 24 March 2008)
- ^ Renton High School Student Handbook (2007-08) (retrieved 30 March 2008)
- ^ Renton School District Enrollment March 2008 retrieved 23 March 2008
- ^ School Enrollment Report as of October 1, 2007, Renton School District (retrieved 23 March 2008)
- ^ Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, US Dept. of Education (retrieved 23 March 2008)
- ^ Renton High School Athletics, RHS web site (retrieved 23 March, 2008)
- ^ 2001 Renton Stadium, USCAA web site (retrieved 28 March, 2008)
- ^ a b The top 25 greatest running backs in state history, The Seattle Times (retrieved 23 March 2008)
- ^ TSN Top 50 CFL Players TSN.ca (retrieved 23 March 2008)
- ^ Football, Washington State Sports Hall of Fame (retrieved 23 March 2008)
- ^ Family's bond runs deep, The Seattle Times (retrieved 23 March 2008)
- ^ a b 1967 Illahee, Renton High School yearbook
- ^ Val Caniparoli (retrieved 10 May 2008)
