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The Shawnee Mission School District (Kansas Unified School District 512) is one of the major school districts in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Located in northeast Johnson County, Kansas, the school district enrolled 29,389 students in the 2003-2004 school year. As of 2004, the district comprises 5 high schools, 7 middle schools, 39 elementary schools, and 3 instructional centers.

Historical Significance

South Park Elementary school, in Merriam, Kansas played a significant role in school desegregation prior to the unification of the Shawnee Mission School District. South Park opened in 1948 for white students, leaving African-American students in the inadequate Walker Elementary using outdated curriculum. Corinthian Nutter, an African-American teacher, resigned in protest and taught the students from her home. 1949's Webb v. School District 90 case paved the way for Brown v. Topeka Board of Education five years later.

McAuliffe elementary in Lenexa, Kansas was the first school in the nation named in honor of Christa McAuliffe.

High schools

Shawnee Mission North

Shawnee Mission Rural High School opened September 12, 1922, having cost $150,000 to build. It had 12 faculty members and a senior class of 20. There had been a vote on September 21, 1921, on a "proposal to organize a rural high school district."

In 1922 the east building was completed and in 1936 the west building, housing a gym and auditorium, was connected to the east building by an arcade. In 1941 the shop wing was constructed to house agriculture and auto mechanics; it was connected to the west building by a concrete walk. In 1950 a large addition was made, including the south academic wing, the cross hall/offices, library, Field House and music rooms. After 30 years all the buildings were connected by hallways.

The swimming pool and science wing were built in 1969, the Developmental Center in 1978, the Little Theater in 1984 and the "lunch dock" remodeled in 1993. In the summer of 1997, the new library was added as well as air-conditioning. In 1998 the cafeteria and kitchen were remodeled.

As part of a recently-introduced district-wide bond, major improvements will be made to the SM North campus as well as all high schools, middle schools, and many elementary schools. A key project at SM North will be the demolition of the Stadium and reconstruction beginning in 2005.

The school was named Shawnee Mission Rural until 1948, when senior Robert F. Bennett was sent to Topeka to petition the legislature for a name change to more accurately reflect the school's suburban status. It was thought that the job would take several weeks, if it could be accomplished at all, but Bob Bennett brought it home in three days. Governor Bennett was named North's first 'Distinguished Alumnus' by the class of 1975.

It was thus named Shawnee Mission High School until 1958, when East opened and Shawnee Mission High School became SM North. SM West opened in 1962, South in 1966, and Northwest in 1969.

Alma Mater
(tune: Far Above Cayuga's Waters -- Cornell University)

Shawnee Mission, Shawnee Mission,
Here's our toast to thee
We will cherish and respect thee
Pledge our loyalty
We will honor, we will love thee
Send our colors forth
Proud and brave our alma mater
Shawnee Mission North!

Fight Song
(tune: On Wisconsin -- University of Wisconsin)

Onward Shawnee! Onward Shawnee!
Fight for victory!
Press 'em harder, ever harder!
Show them we can fight, fight fight!
Onward Shawnee! Onward Shawnee!
Fight for victory!
Fight, Indians, fight, fight, fight!
We'll win tonight.

Traditions
There are always two mascots. One is an Indian princess, and the other is an Indian warrior. The students acting as Indian princess and warrior are always a male and female senior. The outfits they wear while playing these parts were crafted by the Shawnee Indians of Oklahoma. The Indian warrior originated in 1975 with a student's Halloween costume, which proved so popular he joined the traditional Indian princess as mascot.

During the alma matter, students stand and hold up their right index fingers while singing.

The Indian head time capsule (in front of the main office), which was gifted to the school by the class of 1965, is roped off and not to be stepped on.

The day before homecoming, Shawnee Mission North stages a large parade. Different clubs, groups, and alumni create floats to parade down Johnson Drive.

SM North is located in northern Overland Park and serves much of northeastern Johnson County. The SM North area has a population of approximately 52,000 and includes the communities of Countryside, Merriam, Mission, northern Overland Park, Roeland Park, and eastern Shawnee.

The 2006 population of SM North was 1,966. The mascot is an Indian, and the school colors are cardinal and black. Its alumni include Phil McGraw and General Richard B. Myers.

Every year around February a senior male is selected by his fellow classmates as "Northman". This title is much like "Homecoming King" at other schools. Originally called "Big Man on Campus", the winner was crowned at the annual "Women Pay All (WPA)" dance. In 1979 the title was considered outdated and changed to Northman.

Shawnee Mission East

Opened in the school year beginning in 1957, SM East is unique in the district for featuring the International Baccalaureate program, one of the few in the region. As of 2006, the population of East is 2,012, making it the most populous school in the SMSD. The mascot is a Lancer, and the colors are columbia blue, black, and white. Its rival is SM South. Its alumni include game programmer John Carmack, Major League Baseball players union representative Donald Fehr, National Review senior editor Ramesh Ponnuru, author, Harper's columnist and Editor of The Baffler Thomas Frank and author W. Bruce Cameron. It is located in the suburb of Prairie Village.

The Eastonian is an underground newspaper known for its longevity and long lists of editors who all use the pseudonym John Galt. Former editors include Thomas Frank, author of What's the Matter With Kansas?.

Another defining aspect of SME is its debate/forensics/mock trial squad. The squad is the sixth-largest in the nation with regard to National Forensics League degrees.

The Shawnee Mission East school newspaper, The Harbinger, has won numerous city-wide, state-wide and national awards. The newspaper is currently advised by Dow Tate. During the 2004-2005 school year, Libby Nelson, editor of The Harbinger, was named National High School Journalist of the Year by the Journalism Education Association. During the 2005-2006 school year, "The Harbinger" won both a Pacemaker and Gold Crown award. Theses awards are given to the top 20-30 high school newspapers each year by two separate groups.

The SME Boys Swim & Dive Team has repeated its victory as the Kansas Boys Swim & Dive State champion in 2004-05 and 2005-06, the school's 8th and 9th wins. In 2006, they won by a margin of 114.50 points and were proclaimed the "greatest team in Kansas history." In 2006, the team won state titles in five events, while breaking three state records (200 Yard Freestyle Relay, 100 Yard Freestlye, 400 Yard Freestyle Relay). 2005-2006 junior Luke Tanner was Kansas State Swimmer of the Year as well as Kansas City Metro Area Swimmer of the Year.

School song

Shawnee Mission, hail to thee.
Lancers we will ever be.
We'll stand beside our colors bright,
Columbia blue, black and white.
High school days too soon are gone,
But fond memories linger on (stomp feet)
May our spirits be increased,
And God watch over SM East! (pump fists in air)

Traditions

The last school day before the Homecoming Dance, all students are released early from school to celebrate in the Lancer Day Parade. Different clubs and classes organize floats for this special event. The parade starts at the intersection of 75th Street and Mission Road and proceeds down Mission to Prairie Village Shopping Center. Traditionally, the mayor of Prairie Village gives a speech praising SME and changing the name of his/her city for one day from Prairie Village to "Lancer" Village.

Shawnee Mission South

Located on Lamar Avenue near 107th Street in Overland Park, Shawnee Mission South's school colors are green and yellow and its mascot is the Raider. The school's population in 2006 consists of 1,805 students. SMS is notable because it hosts the Shawnee Mission South District's Center for International Studies, giving students who attend opportunities to study not only Spanish, French, German and Latin, but also Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and Russian. The school is notable for its achievements in scholastic competitions such as Academic Decathlon, Categories (a local quiz-bowl type competition) and forensics. South has won the state Academic Decathlon title the last 5 years and has had strong finishes at the national level. In 2005, South's Science Olympiad team made district news by winning the state of Kansas competition and advancing to the national level. Notable alumni include former USC and NFL quarterback Rodney Peete. Also Shawnee Mission South's Repertory Theatre is well known in the community for its productions. Its most recent success is Dames at Sea which will be going to the national competition, in Lincoln, Nebraska in June.

School song

Hail to Shawnee Mission South
As Raiders Honor thee.
May All In Kinship and Friendship Stand
In Thy Fraternity.
Let Green and Gold of Raiders Bold
Proclaim their loyalty,
So the World May Know
Where e'er We Go
That Raiders, we ever
SHALL BE.

Shawnee Mission West

SM West has the mascot of a Viking, and the school colors are black and gold. It opened its doors in 1962 and has remodeled several times and has had additions. The most famous of which is "the bridge" an actual bridge between halves of the school that was later added on to by placing classrooms underneath. As of 2006, its population is 2,042. It is located in Overland Park. Notable alumni include actor Paul Rudd, basketball player Matt Freije, actor/director Jason Wiles, and seminary teacher Cris Howell. The Madrigal Singers, currently under direction of Laura VanLeeuwen, were selected to represent West at Carnegie Hall 2006-07 year. The heart of the school can be found in Pep Club and Student Council. The former principal, Dr. Karl Krawitz was the NEA III District Educator of the Year for 2004-2005. SM West is home to both an award winning school newspaper, the EPIC, and yearbook, SAGA.

SM West has a student body population that is 8% black, which is the highest black population of any Shawnee Mission high school. Statistically, SM West is also the most ethnically diverse high school in the district. SM West is also most unique in location. Located at 85th and Antioch, in Overland Park, Kansas the school is geographically lodged in the middle of the Shawnee Mission School District. When Shawnee Mission Northwest opened in 1969, the school board almost considered changing SM West to SM Central, and naming what is now SM Northwest, SM West. The thought behind it was that having SM North, SM South, SM East, SM West and SM Central made more sense than having a corner school such as Northwest. The idea never materialized however, and never came into being. SM West draws its student population from both Overland Park, Kansas, and also Lenexa, Kansas.

Sports

SM West has a long history of success in sports, mainly football. SM West won state championships in 1972, and 1985. Of late, the SM West football team, and its "Viking Power" slogan have become a dominant force in class 6A football. SM West has competed in 4 state titles games for basketball, the most recent being in 2005, but has never been able to come away with the title. The SM West baseball team also has enjoyed their fair share of success, having won state championships in 1987, and 1988.

SM West is also known on the sports scene for their eccentric fan base. The fan base was known as the Nordic Nasties up until the early 2000's, when a beloved teacher, coach, and most importantly friend, Marcus Priddy died of cancer. The fan base's name was then changed to Priddy's Posse. The student fan base is known for showing up to football games an hour early, to heckle the opponents players as they warm up. Priddy's Posse is made up of hundreds of studetns of all ages, and is generally lead by 8-10 male seniors, who each year develop their own unique stlye of face painting, and costume wear.

School Song

school district.:Alma Mater, hail to thee

Sing we now so joyfully
Honor, praise and loyalty
Ever shall our promise be
Onward, we are always striving
For thy colors brave, undying
Hail to thee, Shawnee Mission West
Hail to thee, Shawnee Mission West!!

Shawnee Mission Northwest

Shawnee Mission Northwest High School's mascot is the Cougar, and the school colors are black and orange. Its principal is Bill Harrington. As of 2003, its population is 1957. It is located in Shawnee and produces a bi-weekly newspaper, The Northwest Passage, which has claimed several prestigious national awards since its initial printing in 1969. The yearbook, The Lair, has also won numerous awards. At the 2005 Fall JSPA convention held in Chicago, Illinois, it received third place in Best of Show out of all yearbooks in the nation publishing over 375 pages. It is consistently rated as one of the top yearbooks in the country.

School song

Stand up we are the Northwest Cougars
Kings of mountain, plain, and shore
We are the Shawnee Mission Cougars
May our minds and hearts triumphant soar
United stand we arm in arm
We raise our banners to the fore!
Remember we are Northwest Cougars
Cougars now and evermore

During the 6th line of the song, all the students raise their arms up in a fist symbolizing raising their banners to the fore.

School Specialties

The Shawnee Mission Northwest Drumline is consistently a top placer in many of its own competitions throughout the marching season. It is under the direction of Britt Haney and Matt Ronan.

As of 2005, Northwest’s boys cross-country team has claimed state for twelve consecutive years. The school has also taken state in softball (2003).

The Shawnee Mission Northwest Marching Cougar Pride is known for its annual lightshow that is displayed at their last homegame of the football season.

Shawnee Mission Northwest also has been know in the Kansas City Area for their very exceptional music program, especially their jazz band, which holds many talented musicians.

Middle Schools

  • Antioch (building was originally Milburn Junior High)
  • Hocker Grove
  • Indian Hills
  • Indian Woods (building was originally Nallwood Junior High)
  • Mission Valley (building was originally Meadowbrook Junior High)
  • Trailridge
  • Westridge (building was originally Hillcrest Junior High)

Previous Schools

  • Broadmoor Junior High (building now Broadmoor Technical Center)
  • Indian Creek Junior High (building now used for district offices as Indian Creek Technical Center)
  • Old Mission Junior High (building now part of Bishop Miege Catholic High School)

Elementary Schools

  • Apache
  • Belinder
  • Beninghoven (Rhein Beninghoven)
  • Bluejacket-Flint
  • Bonjour (Don Bonjour)
  • Briarwood
  • Broken Arrow
  • Brookridge
  • Brookwood
  • Carpenter (Katherine Carpenter)
  • Comanche
  • Corinth
  • Crestview
  • Diemer (John Diemer)
  • East Antioch
  • Highlands
  • McAuliffe (Christa McAuliffe)
  • Merriam
  • Mill Creek
  • Moody (Dorothy Moody)
  • Nieman
  • Oak Park
  • Overland Park
  • Pawnee
  • Prarie
  • Ray Marsh
  • Rising Star
  • Rosehill
  • Rushton
  • Santa Fe Trail
  • Shawanoe
  • South Park
  • Sunflower
  • Tomahawk
  • Trailwood
  • Westwood View

Previous Schools

  • Arrowhead
  • Bagby (Marsha Bagby)
  • Bluejacket (merged into new Bluejacket-Flint school)
  • Cherokee (closed 2001)
  • Flint (merged into new Bluejacket-Flint school, building is now Wonderscope Children's Museum)
  • Hickory Grove (building originally used for AEP program, replaced with new facility and renamed Horizons High School)
  • Nall Hills (closed 2001)
  • Ridgeview
  • Roeland Park
  • Roseland
  • Somerset
  • Valley View (building is now Holy Cross Catholic School)

District Centers

  • Broadmoor Technical Center
  • Center for International Studies
  • Horizons High School (AEP)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, the district has a total population of 219,949 with 93,221 households (or occupied housing units) and 59,084 families. 69.0% of the occupied housing units are occupied by the owner. The racial makeup of the district is 91.0% White, 2.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.8% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 1.6% of some other race, and 1.6% of two or more races. 4.3% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 93,221 households out of which 29.9% are individuals living alone, 63.4% are families, and 6.7% are non-families with two or more people. 52.2% of households (or 82.4% of families) are married couples living together and 28.6% (or 45.1%) have their own children (that is persons under the age of 18) living with them. Out of the 11.2% of households that have a householder with no spouse present, 44.4% are women living with their own children. The average household size is 2.33, and the average family size is 2.93.

The 50,632 children residing in the district are 23.0% of the total population, and 13,283 (6.0%) are under the age of 5; 13,605 (6.2%) are from 5 to 9; 14,874 (6.8%) are from 10 to 14; and 8,870 (4.0%) are from 15 to 17. 48.8% of the children are female. For 95.1% of the children in the district the householder is the child's parent and 77.3% live in married-couple families, but 1.1% are not related to the householder. Also 21 householders or spouses are under the age of 18.

See also

References

External links

Johnson County, Kansas | Kansas City metropolitan area | School districts in Kansas

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Shawnee Mission School District".

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