Grand Prairie High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Grand Prairie High School
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| Established | 1911 |
|---|---|
| School type | Public |
| Grade levels | 9th-12th |
| Enrollment | 3,004 (2006-2007) |
| Principal | Joseph Showell |
| Location | Grand Prairie, Texas |
| Mascot | Gopher |
| Colors | Blue and White |
| Web sites | http://gphs.gpisd.org http://gphs9.gpisd.org |
Grand Prairie High School is a public high school in Grand Prairie, Texas, the seventh-largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and 17th-largest in Texas[1]. It is one of two high schools serving the 37-campus Grand Prairie Independent School District, which encompasses the Dallas County portion of Grand Prairie.
Contents |
[edit] History
| 1902 | Grand Prairie Independent School District established |
|---|---|
| 1904 | Ten formal grades established |
| 1905 | Two-story building constructed at 214 West College Street |
| 1911 | First graduating class of four students completes high school program |
| 1924 | Grand Prairie High School fields its first football team |
| 1954 | Dalworth School (for African-American students) adds high school program |
| 1956 | Dalworth High School graduates first class |
| 1966 | Grand Prairie ISD integrates Dalworth High School into Grand Prairie High School |
[edit] Campus
Grand Prairie High School relocated to its current site [1] at 101 High School Drive in 1951.
[edit] Classroom facilities
Following construction of the original building in 1951, the school underwent its first expansion in the late 1970s. However, the classroom facilities in use today are mainly the product of a major expansion and renovation project completed in 1990. The project added a new library, administrative offices, classroom space, cafeteria, and gymnasium (see "Athletic facilities" below), as well as the atrium at the school's entrance.
Due to dramatic growth in the student population, GPHS opened a Ninth Grade Center in 2002 at the southwest corner of the campus. The original building now serves grades 10-12.
[edit] Athletic facilities
The Gopher Bowl was constructed in 1956 in the northeast portion of the campus and hosts the school's home football games and soccer matches. Unlike many stadiums with "bowl" in their names, the Gopher Bowl is a true bowl-shaped stadium, situated below ground level. Since 1969, it has also been the site of the home football games of the South Grand Prairie High School Warriors. It was remodeled and expanded in 2003-2004 and re-dedicated as the Gopher-Warrior Bowl.
The school's coliseum was completed in 1990. The GPISD Board of Trustees re-dedicated it as the Amos Turner Gymnasium in 1998. Turner was principal of GPHS during the 1975-1976 school year and previously served as both a teacher and coach at GPHS from 1953 until 1968.
[edit] Performing arts facilities
The 2000-seat H. H. Chambers Auditorium sits at the southeast corner of the campus and was dedicated in 1963. Chambers served as superintendent of the Grand Prairie Independent School District from 1950 to 1968.
The Leon Breeden Band Hall houses the school's music education program and honors former GPHS band director Leon Breeden. Following his tenure at GPHS, Breeden achieved international recognition as the director of the world-renowned jazz program at the University of North Texas[2].
[edit] Demographics
Grand Prairie High School had the following demographic profile during the 2006-2007 school year[3]:
| 69.6% | Hispanic |
|---|---|
| 17.2% | Anglo-American |
| 10.9% | African-American |
| 1.7% | Asian or Pacific Islander |
| 0.7% | Native American |
[edit] Achievements
The following list captures Grand Prairie High School's University Interscholastic League and Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest statewide honors since 1984. Each academic and athletic award was in Class 5A.
- State Champion - Boys' 100/110 Hurdles, 1987[4]
- State Champion - Boys' 100m, 1987[5]
- State Champion - Boys' 200m, 1987[6]
- State Runner-up - Calculator Applications, 1990[7]
- State Outstanding Performer - Medium Ensemble, 1991[8]
- State Champion - Current Issues and Events, 1993[9]
- State Champion - Current Issues and Events, 1994[10]
- State Outstanding Performer - Medium Ensemble, 1994[11]
- State Semifinalists - Baseball, 1995[12]
- State Outstanding Performer - Medium Ensemble, 1995[13]
- State Champion - Boys' High Jump, 1997[14]
- State Runner-up - Boys' 300 Hurdles, 1999[15]
- State Runner-up - Boys' Wrestling, Weight Class 130, 1999[16]
- State Runner-up - Boys' Wrestling, Weight Class 215, 1999[17]
- State Runner-up - Poetry Interpretation, 2002[18]
- State Outstanding Performer - Trumpet, 2002[19]
- State Champion - Ready Writing, 2004[20]
- State Runner-up - Headline Writing, 2004[21]
- State Runner-up - Current Issues and Events Team, 2004[22]
- State Champion - Poetry Interpretation, 2006[23]
[edit] Notable alumni
(includes Grand Prairie High School and Dalworth High School)
- Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (2005-2008)
- Randy Galloway, Dallas/Fort Worth ESPN Radio host and Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist
- Charley Taylor, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame and former Washington Redskins wide receiver
- Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs pitcher and 1998 National League Rookie of the Year
- Michael Keasler, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge
- Charles England, Mayor of Grand Prairie
- B. Glen Whitley, County Judge of Tarrant County, Texas
- Kirk England, State Representative, District 106, Texas House of Representatives
- E. P. Sanders, leading New Testament scholar and retired Duke University professor
- Ronald L. Berry, former Director of Mission Support, Space Shuttle Program
- Fred Knox, Joint Strike Fighter Chief Test Pilot, Boeing Corporation
- Alicia Powell, clinical psychiatrist and instructor at Harvard Medical School
- Dave Clark, 1960 Olympian, Pole Vault
- Lonnie Hannah, member of 2002 gold-medal-winning and 2006 bronze-medal-winning U.S. Paralympic sledge hockey team and flag bearer at closing ceremonies of 2006 Winter Paralympics
- Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The League of American Theatres and Producers
- Dennis Burkley, actor
- Mede Nix, longtime journalist at The Dallas Morning News and formerly of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Dallas Times Herald
[edit] Alma mater
Here's to you
Whose name we cherish
Ever in our song!
Honor, love, and hearts devotion
All to you belong!
Grateful sons our vows renew
And joyously we cry!
Alma Mater!
Alma Mater!
Hail Grand Prairie High!
[edit] References
- ^ Population, Texas Cities. Texas State Library. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ Handbook of Texas Online, University of North Texas College of Music. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved on 2007-05-27.
- ^ 2005-2006 Academic Excellence Indicator System. Texas Education Agency. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
- ^ 1987 State Track Meet Results - 100/110 Hurdles. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
- ^ 1987 State Track Meet Results - 100m. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 1987 State Track Meet Results - 200m. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 1989-90 State Academic Meet Results - Calculator Applications. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 1990-91 TSSEC Outstanding Performers. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 1992-93 State Academic Meet Results - Current Issues & Events. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 1993-94 State Academic Meet Results - Current Issues & Events. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 1993-94 TSSEC Outstanding Performers. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 1994-95 Baseball Playoff Results. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-09-15.
- ^ 1994-95 TSSEC Outstanding Performers. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 1997 State Track Meet Results - High Jump. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 1999 State Track Meet Results - 300 Hurdles. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ UIL State Wrestling Meet Records. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ UIL State Wrestling Meet Records. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 2001-02 State Academic Meet Results - Poetry Interpretation. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ 2001-02 TSSEC Outstanding Performers. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ State Academic Meet Results Database. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ State Academic Meet Results Database. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ State Academic Meet Results Database. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ State Academic Meet Results Database. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
[edit] See also
- List of high schools in Texas
- Grand Prairie, Texas
- Grand Prairie Independent School District
- South Grand Prairie High School
[edit] External links
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