George Washington High School (Denver, Colorado)

George Washington High School
Location
Denver, CO
United States
Information
Motto "Patriot Pride"
Established 1960
School district Denver Public Schools
Principal Loan Maas
Faculty 89
Grades 9-12
Number of students 1491
Color(s) Green & White         
Athletics Baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling
Athletics conference Denver Prep League
Mascot Patriot, the Green Foot and the Green Giant
School Newspaper The GW Surveyor
JROTC 6th Battalion
Sports Division 5A
Website

George Washington High School (also "GW", "GWHS", "G-Dubb" and "George") is located near the intersection of South Monaco Parkway and Leetsdale Drive in Denver, Colorado. The school is located in the Glendale neighborhood on the southeast side of Denver. GW is recognized as the first school in Colorado to offer International Baccalaureate courses, beginning in 1984. GW is a large urban high school serving grades 9-12. GW is one of 14 high schools in the Denver Public Schools system, and one of four named for a U.S. president.[1]

Contents

History

George Washington's existing building was constructed in 1960 and has had many renovations since its opening. The Jolly Green Giant became George Washington's mascot in 1965 when GW students Ken Waters, Tom Turril and friends pulled a unique “prank” that survives to this day. Ken Walters called The Green Giant Co., which agreed to donate The Giant as GW’s mascot. The seniors put the Giant on the roof of the high school, with painted footprints running up the wall. The prank became notorious when the story appeared in newspapers and on television. Since then, The Giant has become a regular at pep rallies, basketball and football games, and has even had his senior portrait featured in the high school yearbook.[2]

Intro Correction: It is near but not in the CITY of Glendale. It is in Denver in the Washington/Virginia Vale Neighborhood. Source: I live here.

Demographics

Enrolled in the 2009-2010 school year was 1,491 students.

Using federal government guidelines, 50.97% of the students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.[3]

International Baccalaureate Program

George Washington High School became Colorado's first International Baccalaureate World School in April 1984. The school offers two dozen International Baccalaureate classes.[4][5] In 2007, 100% of GWHS IB graduates went on to attend college (39% in-state, 61% out-of-state), with a mean ACT score of 28.5 and SAT of 1920. Historically, half of GWHS IB graduates receive merit-based scholarships.[6]

Athletics/Extracurriculars

The school newspaper is The George Washington Surveyor, which is part of the High School National Ad Network. The paper takes its name from president George Washington's lifelong association with geography and cartography. The Surveyor newspaper was the winner of the prestigious National Pacemaker Award from the National Scholastic Press Association in 2007, 2008, and 2009.[7]

George Washington currently has 47 active clubs[8] and the GW Athletic department currently offers 21 sports in JV and Varsity.[9]

Notable alumni

References

External links