Rufus King High School
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| Motto | "Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it; no idleness, no laziness, no procrastination; never put off until tomorrow what you can do today." |
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| Established | 1934 (IB introduced 1979) |
| Type | Public (magnet) secondary |
| Principal | Marie Newby-Randle |
| Students | 1,500 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location | 1801 West Olive Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA |
| Oversight | Milwaukee Public Schools |
| Colors | Royal blue and gold |
| Mascot | The Generals |
| Yearbook | 'King's Crown' |
| Newspaper | 'King's Page,King's Realm' |
| Literary magazine | The Sphinx |
| Website | www.rkhs.org |
Rufus King International Baccalaureate High School is located on the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States and is part of Milwaukee Public Schools. The school promotes positive values in a culturally-diverse setting. Rufus King students are of many and varied interests, the heart of which is motivation to compete, achieve, and excel academically. The quality academic program is only matched by the historic charm and aesthetic beauty of the building that houses it.
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[edit] Academics
The emphasis on academic excellence is reflected in the strong college preparatory curriculum anchored by the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP), established at Rufus King in 1979 as one of the first urban public schools to offer the program and the 119th worldwide. Emphasis is placed on writing, speaking, critical thinking and independent application of knowledge. Many students who graduate from the IB program gain college credit, enabling them to bypass many entry-level college courses and sometimes gain sophomore standing. Approximately 90% of Rufus King students participate in pre-diploma and IB courses, and 95% of graduates matriculate to higher education.
Students are required to take a combination of two semesters of a foreign language, mathematics, and science. Because of these rigorous graduation requirements, students are expected to enter with strong academic record, including consistent attendance, good conduct and extra-curricular involvement.
In the spirit of the goals and missions of the school and International Baccalaureate Organization, Rufus King students are expected to be well-rounded young people, who can communicate effectively and express themselves creatively and artistically. Rufus King's curricular and extracurricular accomplishments indicate that students are putting their talents and skills to good use.
[edit] Snapshot of Accomplishments
The school has been honored twice as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, and in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007 was ranked Wisconsin's top high school by Newsweek magazine.
On May 8, 2002, the school was selected by the White House as the site of a presidential visit. President George W. Bush delivered an educational policy address at Rufus King and recognized it as one of the top high schools in the country.
Mathematics: Department Chair Wanda Bussey serves as an examiner and workshop instructor for the International Baccalaureate Organization. The competition Math Track team has a long and distinguished record of wins at local, state and national levels.
Science: Rufus King has entered the Wisconsin Science Olympiad since its beginning in 1985. It won "valued participant" in 1994, advancing to the regional competition where it placed thirteenth in Milwaukee. In 2001, the team placed ninth in the state. Rufus King regularly enters a variety of local and national science and engineering competitions.
Music: Jeffrey Durr directs the marching band, concert band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and successful three-time (2005, 2006, and 2007) city champion drumline. Each year, students perform well at the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) competition. Former principal Andrew Meuler was board president of the WSMA.
Art: King students have entered work and have received many honorable mentions in the Wisconsin Regional Scholastic Art Awards Competition, the Photographic Society of America Awards Competition, and Rainbow Fun-Time Poster Competition.
Theater: Serving as a pilot for the IB curriculum, Rufus King’s theater program is partnered with education initiatives with several professional companies including Milwaukee Shakespeare, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, NextAct Theatre, Milwaukee Rep and Spiral Theater.
Academic Competitions: Rufus King students have earned several accolades over the years through the National Forensic League, FIRST Robotics Competition, Quiz Bowl, United States Academic Decathlon, Chess and LifeSmarts.
[edit] Athletics
Rufus King's most notable achievements in athletics are its five Wisconsin State Boy's Basketball Championships. The boy's basketball team has been nationally ranked over the last few years, achieving a #4 ranking nationwide at its peak.
Many other Rufus King teams in various sports have won the Milwaukee City Conference in recent years.
Rufus King's traditional rival is Riverside University High School. It is also part of an intense three-way rivalry with Washington High School and Vincent High School in boys basketball. These schools have accounted for 14 of the last 23 Division 1 boys basketball championships in Wisconsin.
In addition to a nationally-ranked Boys' Basketball team and large Track and Wrestling squads, Rufus King is host to a score of athletic teams, many of whom have won state championships (though only two have ever managed to win more than once)
Boys' Cross-Country: 1942 Boys' Track: 1955 Wrestling: 1959 Boys' Basketball: 1984, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2004 Girls' Track: 1989, 2000, 2001, 2002
[edit] Notable alumni
- Mike Wilks, NBA basketball player
- Gordon Gano, Musician - Violent Femmes
- Speech, Musician - Arrested Development
- David Fowlkes Jr. - Inventor of the spinners
- Michael Weishan - Landscape designer, former host of The Victory Garden
- Leigh Scott-film director and producer
