| Type and location | |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Grades | Pre-K through 12 |
| Established | 1850 |
| Location | Ankeny, Iowa |
| District Info | |
| Superintendent | Dr. Matthew Wendt[1] |
| Schools | 13 |
| Budget | $113.8 million[2] |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 8,800[2] |
| Teachers | 574[2] |
| Staff | 1,103[2] |
| Athletic Conference | Central Iowa Metro League |
| District Mascot | Hawks and Jaguars |
| Colors | Maroon and Gold / Black and Silver with a Maroon Accent |
| Other information | |
| Mission: | Ankeny Community Schools is unified in its commitment, passion, and vision so every learner is prepared to achieve a lifetime of personal success. |
| Core Values: |
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| Website | http://www.ankenyschools.org/ |
The Ankeny Community School District is located in Polk County, Iowa and is 6 miles (9.7 km) from the capitol city, Des Moines. The district is well known in Iowa for accomplishments in academics, athletics and activities. Ankeny Schools are accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (AdvancEd) and the Iowa Department of Education, and are part of the Central Iowa Metro League (CIML).
For more than a decade, the district has been one of the fastest growing school district in Iowa. The district will serve more than 8,800 students in 2011–2012 and is the 10th largest district in the state (by student enrollment). By 2014–2015, the district is projected to enroll 10,019 students and by 2018–2019 the district is projected to enroll 11,274 students.[3]
Physically, the district encompasses a relatively compact 51.93 square miles (134.5 km2) and has more than 360,540 miles (580,230 km) driven by buses per year.[2]
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The first school in Ankeny was a log cabin, built in 1850, twenty years before Crocker Township was organized as a civil township. Ankeny's first school was located approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) south of town where the east entrance of the Iowa State Experimental farm joined Highway 69. This school was later re-located on the east side of Ankeny Boulevard, just south of First Street. Records show that Mr. A. H. Feigenbaum was one of the early teachers, serving in one of the one-room schools about 1880. The early roster includes other names such as Mrs. Hattie Cornwall, a Miss Benedict, Miss Maude Kennedy, and Mrs. John Wagner as a substitute.
The district's first official "graduating class" was the five-person class of 1914. Consolidation came to Ankeny in 1919, at which time the oldest part of the Neveln building was built. Several country school houses were moved to the grounds to accommodate the increased enrollment.
There was no further new construction until 1952 when the original part of the Parkview building was constructed. In 1957, the west wing was added and in 1964 an east wing was completed. In 1964, Parkview became Ankeny High School. Later, the facility was repurposed and renamed as "Parkview Middle School."
Northwest Elementary on West 1st Street was the first building to open after the original Parkview building. It was completed in 1962. Additional buildings include (in order of opening):
The Ankeny School district is currently implementing a ten-year facility plan that culminates in the operation of two high schools in the 2013–2014 school year. At that time, the district will operate two, fully functioning secondary school systems. In 2009, construction began on the new Ankeny High School in Prairie Trail, and construction on the new Ankeny Centennial High School began with a groundbreaking ceremony on September 1, 2010.
In August 2011, the district opened the new Ankeny High School and Phase I of Southview Middle School, at which time the previous high school became a middle school for 8th and 9th grades. At that same time, the district experienced its first division on the way to two secondary school systems, by moving to two 6th–7th grade middle schools: Prairie Ridge Middle School for the north feeder system and Parkview Middle School for the south feeder system. In 2013–2014 the district will open Ankeny Centennial High School, marking the first time in four decades in which a school district in Iowa expanded to two high schools. The name, "Ankeny Centennial High School" is in honor of 100 years of graduating classes in Ankeny Community Schools. The Class of 2013 will be the 100th class, graduating just three months prior to the opening of the school.
Several other construction projects are currently underway in the district, including expansion of East Elementary School, and the construction of Prairie Trail Elementary (K-5).
Some of the recent academic accomplishments of Ankeny students include:[2]
• 95.6% graduation rate – No. 1 among the ten largest districts in Iowa (2010–2011)
• 1.6% dropout rate – (2010–2011)
• 96.6% average daily attendance rate (2010–2011)
• 23.7 average composite score on ACT, while state average is 22.2 and national is 21.3 (2010–2011)
• 23rd on the Belin and Blank Iowa AP Index with 334 AP exams among 465 graduates (2009–2010)
• 43 students earning AP Scholar Awards; eight with distinction and 14 with honor (2009–2010)
• 85.6% of the graduating class intends to pursue post-secondary education (2009–2010)
• More than 13,000 DMACC credits earned by students (2010–2011)
• 77,776 DMACC credits earned by AHS students since 2000 (2010–2011)
• 4 National Merit Scholarship Finalists (2010–2011)
• 2 Presidential Scholar Candidates (2010–2011)
• 204 students took 5 or more AP/Honors classes (2010–2011); the third straight year of increase.
• 42 students graduated with an honors diploma (2011)
• 85.6% of the class of 2010 intend to pursue post-secondary education/training.
The district currently has 13 school buildings, using a K-5, 6–7, 8–9, 10 and 11–12 grade level structure.
In 2013, when the district divides into two secondary school systems, the grade-level structure will revert to its traditional K-5, 6–7, 8–9, 10–12 grade level structure. The "feeder system" configuration for two high schools is planned as follows:
North Feeder System
South Feeder System
Superintendents who have served at Ankeny Schools include:
• H.H. VanBethuysen 1917–1919
• E.G. Clark 1919–1921
• E.W. Neveln 1921–1943
• Cliff Evans 1943–1947
• Ted Karges 1948–1951
• Ralph Jorgensen 1951–1958
• Melvin Anderson 1958–1960
• Keith Hopkins 1960–1986
• Dr. Ben Norman 1986–2002
• Kent Mutchler 2002–2006
• Dr. Veronica Stalker 2006–2007
• Dr. Matthew Wendt 2007 – present
2010–2011 School Year Athletic & Activities Achievements[2]
Girls' Athletics Ankeny girls' athletics rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s under Coach Dick Rasmussen, who coached the girls' basketball and softball teams. Under head coach Scott De Jong, the girls basketball team holds the record for the most consecutive state titles. They won the state championship in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005; in 2005 they rose as high as No. 2 in USA Today's Super 25 national rankings.[4] The Hawkettes hold the record for the most state titles by a school in Iowa history, having won six championships under Coach De Jong in the five-girl era and another three under the old six-girl rules.[5]
The Ankeny girls track and field team won the state outdoor championship in 1981 under coach Roy Crabtree and has, under head coach Dennis Adamson, won the state indoor championship in 1996 and was runner-up outdoor state champions in 1996 and 1997. The girls track and field team under coach Adamson has also been in the top ten state finishers seven times most recently finishing seventh in the 2010 season.
Under Coach Dave Whims, the Ankeny High School volleyball team has had several state tournament appearances and have won the state championship in 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009. In 2003, 2004 and 2010 the team was the state 4A runner up. Overall since 1996, the volleyball team has made 10 state tournament appearances and won 9 conference championships.[6]
The Ankeny girls' golf team, coached by Toni Dickey, has appeared in the state tournament from 2001 to 2005, 2007 to 2009, and 2011. The team has four championships, 1986, 2003, 2004, and 2008. The 2009 team placed 3rd at the state tournament, and 5th in 2011. The girls have been crowned conference champions in each year from 2001 to 2009, and again in 2011.[7]
The Ankeny girls' soccer team, under the direction of Coach Chris Allen, captured their first state championship in 2011.
Boys' Athletics
Ankeny also has a very successful football team. Coach Jerry Pezzetti has accumulated over 300 wins in his 40+ year career at Ankeny including a state championship in 1997.[8] Since 1998, and with the help of special teams coach Peter Rameh, four Hawk kickers have played college football for teams in the Division I Bowl Sub-division, including former University of Miami All-American Todd Sievers
The Ankeny boys' soccer team is coached by Rick Isaacson, with the assistance of Peter Rameh. The team made its first ever state tournament appearance in 2006, losing in the first round to top seeded Bettendorf. They made the state tournament again in 2007, where they won the state title with a 1–0 victory over Valley High School after a last-minute goal by Jacob Misel.
The baseball team has nine state tournament appearances, including four state runner-ups and one state championship in 1992.
Alumni Athletic Participation at Higher Levels
Ankeny High School alumni have participated in numerous NCAA Division I sports, including football,[9] men's[10] and women's[11][12] basketball, baseball,[13] women's golf,[14] equestrian,[15] men's[16] and women's[17] track and field, men's[18] and women's[19] swimming, softball,[20] volleyball,[21] men's[22] and women's[23] soccer, men's[24] and women's[25] cross country, and wrestling.[26]
Several former Ankeny athletes have achieved high levels of performance at the professional level:
The Ankeny Bands have two jazz bands, Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab, and one marching band, the Marching Hawks.
There are three show choirs at Ankeny High School; Visual Adrenaline (VA), Perpetual Motion (PM) and Intensity, VA and PM being coed, while Intensity being an all girls choir, respectfully. VA continues to gain First Place in competitions, and is 11th in the nation. Jim Cacciatore leads Intensity, while Lester Miller directs VA and PM.
The Drama department does three plays a year: a fall play, a children's play (which is led by the students) and a spring musical.
• Chris Fehn and Jim Root, members of Slip {knot
• Dennis Albaugh, Owner of Albaugh Chemical, No. 468 on the 2009 The World's Billionaires list published by Forbes
• Dennis Gibson, linebacker for the Detroit Lions and San Diego Chargers football teams
• Pat Dunsmore, Tight end for the Chicago Bears football team
• Paul Rhoads, Head Coach of the Iowa State University football team
• Benj Sampson, pitcher for the Minnesota Twins baseball team
• Connie Yori, head basketball coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers women's basketball team and recipient of the 2010 Naismith College Coach of the Year award
• Andrew Brodell, former wide receiver for the University of Iowa (2004–2008) and second team All-Big Ten Selection.