| Shawnee Mission West High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 8800 West 85th Street [1] Overland Park, Kansas, 66212 United States |
|
| Information | |
| School type | Public, High School |
| Established | 1962 |
| School district | USD 512 |
| Superintendent | Gene Johnson |
| CEEB Code | 172773 [2] |
| Principal | Charles McLean [3] |
| Athletic Director | Don Perkins [3] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Gender | coed |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Black Gold |
| Athletics | Class 6A [4] District 2 [5] |
| Athletics conference | Sunflower League [3] |
| Mascot | Vikings |
| Newspaper | The EPIC |
| Yearbook | The SAGA |
| Website | School Website |
Shawnee Mission West High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Overland Park, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. Shawnee Mission West is one of several public high schools located within Shawnee Mission, KS. The official school colors are black and gold and the school mascot is the Viking. The average annual enrollment is approximately 2,000 students. Statistically, Shawnee Mission West is the most ethnically diverse high school in the district.
Shawnee Mission West was founded in 1962 in order to help educate the increasing number of students due to the emerging population of Shawnee Mission, KS. Throughout the school's history, it has been remodeled several times. Additions have also been made to the school, the most famous of which is "the bridge," an actual bridge between halves of the school that later had classrooms added beneath it.
Shawnee Mission West is a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association and offers a variety of sports programs. Athletic teams compete in the 6A division and are known as the "Vikings". Extracurricular activities are also offered in the form of performing arts, school publications, and clubs.
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Shawnee Mission West was established in 1962 due to the increasing numbers of students within Overland Park, Kansas. Since then, it has been remodeled several times. Additions have also been made to the school, the most famous of which is "the bridge," an actual bridge between halves of the school that later had classrooms added beneath it. The bridge now serves as a social and dining area for the students.
The former principal, Dr. Karl Krawitz, was named the NEA III District Educator of the Year for 2004-2005. Shawnee Mission West is home to both an award-winning school newspaper, the EPIC, and yearbook, SAGA.
Shawnee Mission West has a student body population that is 11% African-American, which is the highest African-American population of any Johnson County high school.[6]Statistically, Shawnee Mission West is the most ethnically diverse high school in the county as well. Shawnee Mission West draws its student population from both Overland Park, Lenexa, and from a small portion of Shawnee.
The Vikings compete in the Sunflower League and are classified as a 6A school, the largest classification in Kansas according to the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Throughout its history, Shawnee Mission West has won several state championships in various sports. Many graduates have gone on to participate in Division I, Division II, and Division III athletics.
SM West won state championships in 1972 and 1985 in football, in addition to runner-up finishes in 1977 and 2006. Of late, the SM West football team, and its "Viking Power" slogan have become a dominant force in class 6A football under head coach Tim Callaghan. In November 2006 the Vikings defeated Lawrence Free State High School in the Sub-State playoffs, then lost to Hutchinson High School 21-14 in the state title game in Emporia on November 25. The victory is still in question and many doubt its legitimacy feeling the referees may have been paid. The main call in question was a penalty in which Coach Callaghan was penalized for the penalty of "coaches on the field". They were the first Shawnee Mission school to reach the state championship game since West won in 1985.
In recent years, the girls tennis team has taken the region by storm. In 2006, the girls won the Sunflower League, which had been largely dominated by Shawnee Mission East for the past eight years. In both 2006 and 2007, the team turned out a state doubles runner-up title.
West has competed in four state title games for basketball, the most recent being in 2005, led by coach Mike Brinsko, but has never been able to come away with the title. The SM West baseball team also has enjoyed their fair share of success, winning state championships in 1977, 1987, and 1988. In 1991, West's soccer team won the 6A state title, defeating two USA Today nationally ranked teams in the process: (Wichita South High School and Shawnee Mission South). Also, the SM West girl's soccer team was 2005 and 2006 Sunflower League Champions; 2005 and 2006 Northeast Kansas 6A Regional Champions; 2005 and 2006 Kansas 6A state quarter-finalist; 2005 and 2006 Kansas 6A State runners-up.
In recent May 2008, Coaches Jeff Onnen and Rick Rogers lead the Varsity Boys 4x800 Meter team to a Kansas 6A League, Regional, and State Championship.
| State Championships[7] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Fall | Football | 2 | 1972, 1985 |
| Soccer, Boys | 1 | 1991 | |
| Gymnastics, Girls | 3 | 1983, 1984, 1987 | |
| Winter | Wrestling | 1 | 1977 |
| Basketball, Girls | 2 | 1990, 1993 | |
| Swimming and Diving, Girls | 1 | 1984 | |
| Spring | Baseball | 3 | 1977, 1987, 1988 |
| Total | 13 | ||
SM West has twice (1986 and 2007) placed second at the National Forensic League tournament for policy debate.
The Shawnee Mission West marching band is presently directed by Bill Thomas. The Shawnee Mission West marching band has been invited to play in London for the New Years Parade every three years for the past fifteen years. The Wind Ensemble was selected through audition to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Convention in February 2010. There were only three high school bands selected from across the state of Kansas for the prestigious honor. It has been 15 years since a band from Shawnee Mission West High School has been selected to perform at this event. The Overland Express Jazz band is directed by Berklee School of Music graduate Kevin Hupe. Percussion is directed by Kansas City musician Brandon Draper. At the end of the regular football season, the Shawnee Mission West marching band has a light show where the band straps glow-sticks and flashlights to themselves. This show is performed each year at the end of the last home football game of the regular season.
The Choral Department has been under the direction of Laura VanLeeuwen since fall of 1999. It comprises four choirs: Bel Canto (Women's Select Choir), Chorale, Concert Choir (freshman) and the Madrigal Singers (a chamber choir of 24 to 30 students). Madrigals members are generally required to be enrolled in Chorale, with few exceptions. The Madrigal Singers, the school's premiere ensemble, was selected to represent West at Carnegie Hall in the 2006-07 school year and the Chorale was also in 2009-2010.