John R. Rogers High School | |
---|---|
Address | |
1622 East Wellesley Avenue , 99207 United States | |
Coordinates | 47°42′00″N117°23′10″W / 47.700°N 117.386°W |
Information | |
Type | Comprehensive Public High School |
Motto | Familia Sumus (We Are Family) |
Established | March 1, 1932 |
School district | Spokane Public Schools |
Superintendent | Adam Swinyard |
CEEB code | 481260 |
NCES School ID | 530825001386 [1] |
Principal | John Hammil |
Staff | 92.75 (FTE) [1] |
Grades | 9–12 |
Enrollment | 1,514 (2018-19) [1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 16.32 [1] |
Campus size | 25.5 acres (10.3 ha) |
Campus type | Suburban |
Color(s) | Purple, Gold, Black & White |
Athletics | WIAA Class 2A |
Athletics conference | Greater Spokane League |
Mascot | Pirates |
Newspaper | Rogers Record |
Yearbook | Treasure Chest |
Feeder schools | John Shaw Middle School Spokane Chief Garry Middle School Glover Middle School |
Elevation | 2,040 ft (622 m) AMSL |
Website | spokaneschools.org/rogers |
John R. Rogers High School | |
Built | 1932 |
Architect | William A. Wells [2] |
Architectural style | Art Deco |
NRHP reference No. | 10001104 |
Added to NRHP | January 7, 2011 |
John R. Rogers High School is a four-year public secondary school in Bemiss, Spokane, Washington, part of Spokane Public Schools (District No. 81). Opened in 1932 in northeast Spokane, the school is named after John Rankin Rogers, the third governor of the State of Washington.
The 90,000-square-foot (8,400 m2) school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 7, 2011. [3] [4] In September 2009, extensive renovation was completed on the school, adding another 170,000 square feet (16,000 m2) to the three-story Art Deco structure. [5]
Two movies have been filmed on location at the school: Vision Quest in 1984, and the thriller Hangman's Curse in 2002. Both movies included hundreds of current and former members of the student body of Rogers High School as extras, as well as former members of the Pirates championship wrestling team, including award-winning coach and social studies teacher, Ken Pelo.
John R. Rogers is located in the Bemiss neighborhood, [6] 3.25 miles (5.2 km) northeast of Downtown Spokane and about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Northtown Mall and Division Street, the north-south corridor, which separates the city into east and west. While the school is about 2 miles (3 km) southwest of the Hillyard Historic District, it is often associated with the area, due to its close proximity to the former town and the site of the former Hillyard High School. [7]
John R. Rogers High School was established in 1932, as the successor to the nearby Hillyard High School. Built in 1907, Hillyard High served a smaller community surrounding James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway train yards. In the late 1920s, Hillyard became overcrowded, making it abundantly clear to the city and the district that there was an urgent need to build a larger, more modern school to accommodate students on the north side of the city.
While the building itself cost $400,000, financed through a hefty bond measure, the combined cost with ground and equipment brought the price tag to $500,000. [8] While the need for a new school was readily apparent throughout Spokane, the approval of a large bond measure, following the recent 1929 stock market crash was considered a shot in the dark. The city overwhelmingly passed the measure. On April 10, 1930, the school board awarded the contract for overseeing the planning and design of the new school to the local architectural firm of Wells & Dow. The building of the structure was completed by J. J. Lohrenz. [9]
Rogers was somewhat unusual, serving as both a replacement of an existing high school, as well as a new school. At the time, Rogers was the only school located on the north side of the city. With the more westward location of the new school, Rogers was able to accommodate the city by serving an expanded geographic area and student population. [10] While the school was initially able to house 800 students, expansion possibilities would accommodate 1,000. The auditorium theater was two stories high, with tiered seating for 635 students on the main level and another 250 on the upper balcony. [8]
The contract for general construction of the new high school was awarded to J.J. Lohrenz. Following the fall of the stock market, economic depression had set in, along with high unemployment throughout the country. Among the stipulations of awarding the construction contract to Lohrenz was the agreement to ensure that all construction materials and labor would be sourced locally. While new construction was generally at a minimum, the project provided employment for hundreds of Spokane residents. Local contractors included Washington Brick and Lime to supply all the brick and tile; along with Jensen-Byrd (hardware); O.N. Wolff (cut stone), and John Malnati (plastering). [9]
The design of the school included several innovative features, many of which were new to not only Spokane, but the Pacific Northwest. The new school had the first building-wide public address system in Spokane; the first 8-circuit electric signal clock, which rang class bells automatically; the first built-in-the-wall student lockers in Spokane; modern acoustical ceilings; and a new ventilation system, which reduced fuel bills and kept the building temperature at 70 degrees. [9]
The architectural style used for the school was considered cutting edge design. Art Deco style was popular throughout the world. The external and internal design used zigzags, chevrons, circles, parallel and stepped back lines, and stylized vegetation. The historic portion of the school uses brick and cast stone, built onto a reinforced concrete superstructure. The architectural form of the building is a geometrically-balanced edifice with symmetrical rows of large, multiple-pane windows, which are softened by the ornamental use of Art Deco design details. [9]
A bird's eye view of the school building resembles a slightly irregular E-shaped design, with the school auditorium in the center. Two rectangular, fully enclosed courtyards surround the east and west sides of the auditorium. These courtyards, or light wells, allow ventilation and natural lighting to reach the auditorium and interior corridors of the building. [10]
A number of features visible from the roof include ventilation louvers, elevator penthouses, and skyview crow's nest, in keeping with the Pirate mascot used throughout the school. The skyline of the school is dominated by a tall, square chimney stack, featuring elaborately designed corbelled brick edging. [10]
After only nine months, the school was ready for students. Official dedication of the school took place in the school auditorium on March 1, 1932. Public speakers and ceremony participants included N. D. Showalter, state superintendent of public education; Orville C. Pratt, Spokane school superintendent; and city officials and student representatives from other high schools and junior high schools of Spokane. School District 81 board members in attendance included Evan Berg, chairman; Kate Kimpson, buildings and grounds committee chairman; Roy Redfield; Alex Turnbull; and Dr. T. D. Burger. [10]
When completed, the new building was a symmetrical design. The front wing of the building form was three stories high, while the auditorium and the east and west wings were two stories high. This symmetry was altered in 1941, when new classrooms were built above the east rear wing. In 1969, symmetry was restored when another story was added to the west rear wing. The new addition lacked windows and the walls were clad with metal. This anomaly was removed during the 2009 construction of the new rear addition.
John R. Rogers High School was preserved and restored by NAC Architecture as part of a major addition and modernization project included in a voter-approved school facility improvement bond. The original 1932 three-story structure was renovated and modernized to complement the classic Art Deco design. The updates, new construction and renovation included: demolition and replacement of the Pittsburg Street Annex Building, along with the Family and Consumer Science/Art Building; renovated and new academic classrooms; replacement of career and technical education spaces; replacement of the cafeteria with a new student commons; increase of the current gymnasium size with improved locker rooms; new safety and security systems; and community-use spaces. The building totals 260,000 square feet, an increase of 90,000 square feet over the previous size.
On January 7, 2011, John R. Rogers High School was honored with an official listing on the National Register of Historic Places, representing an outstanding example of the Art Deco style in Spokane, as applied to public structures. Although the interior was significantly renovated in 2009, which added another 170,000 square feet (16,000 m2) to the three-story structure, [11] the exterior of the original 90,000 square feet (8,400 m2) school building largely retains the same appearance as when it was first constructed in 1932. [12] [13]
Two movies have been filmed on location at the school. Vision Quest , a 1985 film starring Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino, and Ronny Cox, was filmed on the Rogers campus in 1984, primarily using the exterior, classrooms, and gymnasium. The school was referred to as "Thompson High School" in the story. Several students and graduates of the school were used as extras in the film. [14] The wrestling team in the movie was portrayed by former members of the Pirates championship wrestling team, and coached by Ken Pelo, [15] [16] who had served as wrestling coach at Rogers for 37 years. In 1998, Pelo was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. [17]
In 2002, the thriller Hangman's Curse , based on the Frank Peretti novel of the same name and starring David Keith and Mel Harris, was filmed at the school. The story involves a mystery of school bullying, suicide, ghosts, and spiritual warfare, told from a Christian perspective. The film included hundreds of Rogers students were used as extras, with some earning significant screen time. [18] [19] [20]
In late 2007, teacher Erin Jones was named one of the winners of the Milken National Educational Award (known now as the Milken Educator Award) administered by the Milken Family Foundation. Only 80 teachers in the United States received this award in 2007. Unlike most awards, educators are recommended in confidentiality through their state's department of education instead of applying through a formal application process. The Milken Educator Award are the largest national teacher recognition program and was dubbed the "Oscars of Teaching" by Teacher magazine. To honor the recipients as the best teachers in the country, the award also comes with a $25,000 cash prize. Later, Jones was hired by the State Superintendent to oversee the Center for Improvement of Student Learning. Shortly thereafter, she was promoted to serve as Assistant State Superintendent for Student Achievement. [21] [22] [23]
In 2011, Rogers received a $4 million federal grant to improve its graduation rate and academics. [24] Throughout Spokane, in the 2010 class of 2,272 students who started as freshman, only 1,479 graduated, a rate of 65 percent. The school with the lowest rate was Rogers, with a graduation rate of 43 percent. In spite of these low rates, the school was named by Newsweek magazine, as one of the top 1,600 schools in the United States. [25] Several conditions were required of the grant, one of which included replacing the principal and transforming the academic program. Lori Wyborney was brought on staff as principal, while the school added 100 hours to its schedule. The administration additionally started the 2011–2012 year two days early and added 30 minutes to each school day. [26] [27] [28]
Beyond required classes in the core areas (math, science, social studies, and English), John R. Rogers offers a wide variety of elective courses, including an honors and Advanced Placement (AP) program. World language studies include German, Japanese, French, and Spanish. [29]
The John R. Rogers Advanced Placement (AP) program is entitled "Summer Bridge". The program is designed to provide support and structure in preparation for college and career readiness. Courses provided include studies in science and math, social studies, and English. Summer opportunities and assignments provide students with resources to get a head start on the upcoming school year. [30]
In 1932, the original school library encompassed a space no larger than three average-sized classrooms. In 1995, the library went through extensive renovation, which included tearing down corridor walls, more than doubling the size of the library. During the 2009 renovation, the library was expanded to include 42 computer stations. The school also offers remote access for online books and resources, available through Cengage Learning databases. Approximately 12,000 books and 3,000 magazines are available for use. [31]
John R. Rogers competes in WIAA Class 2A and is a member of the Greater Spokane League in District Eight.
Source: [32]
|
The following demographic figures are current as of October 2010, unless otherwise noted. [52]
Enrollment | |
---|---|
October 2010 Student Count | 1,620 |
May 2011 Student Count | 1,456 |
Gender | |
---|---|
Male | 51.4% |
Female | 48.6% |
Ethnicity/Race | |
---|---|
Caucasian | 71.3% |
Hispanic/Mexican | 7.7% |
American Indian/Alaskan Native | 4.3% |
Asian/Pacific Islander | 6.9% |
African American/Black | 3.5% |
Two or More Races | 6.2% |
Unknown | .1% |
Special Programs | |
---|---|
Free or Reduced-Price Meals (May 2011) | 73.8% |
Special Education (May 2011) | 17.8% |
Transitional Bilingual (May 2011) | 6.4% |
Migrant (May 2011) | 0% |
Section 504 (May 2011) | 2.2% |
Foster Care (May 2011) | .3% |
Gonzaga University (GU) is a private Jesuit university in Spokane, Washington. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Founded in 1887 by Joseph Cataldo, an Italian-born priest and Jesuit missionary, the university is named after the young Jesuit saint Aloysius Gonzaga. The campus houses 105 buildings on 152 acres of grassland alongside the Spokane River, in a residential setting a half-mile (800 m) from downtown Spokane.
Borah High School is a three-year public secondary school in the western United States, located in Boise, Idaho. One of four traditional high schools in the Boise School District, it serves students in grades 10–12 in the southwest portion of the district and is named for William Borah (1865–1940), a prominent U.S. Senator from the state and a presidential candidate in 1936.
Hillyard is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington which existed as a separate town between 1892 and 1924. The town came about due to the Great Northern Railway and was named for James J. Hill, then-head of the railroad. Between 1904 and 1912, many of the town's houses were built to house railroad workers working in the local yard. Hillyard was the home of the Great Northern's famed shops where locomotives were manufactured, repaired, and refurbished. At the time, the Hillyard shop was the largest in the nation.
Saint George's School is an independent K–12 college preparatory school located in Spokane, Washington. The campus is located on 120 acres (0.49 km2) along the Little Spokane River. Saint George's mission statement is "Inspiring scholars, athletes, and artists to serve and lead others."
Spokane Public Schools is a public school district in Spokane County, Washington, and serves the city of Spokane. The district includes oversight and administration of seven high schools, six middle schools, and 34 elementary schools. Specialized programming focuses on alternative learning opportunities for intelligently gifted children, as well as those that experience moderate to severe emotional and/or physical disabilities, are homeless, or experiencing the Spokane Public Schools system through the Foreign Exchange Program.
Pullman High School is a public secondary school in the city of Pullman, Washington, the home of Washington State University.
Mount Spokane High School is a public high school located in Mead, Washington. It is located several miles north of Spokane and has a student body that currently enrolls 1,611 students in grades 9-12. The school opened in 1997, and had its first graduating class in 1999. Mt. Spokane is one of two high schools in the Mead School District, the other being Mead High School.
The Gonzaga University School of Law is the professional school for the study of law at Gonzaga University. Established in 1912, the Jesuit-affiliated law school has been fully accredited by the American Bar Association since 1951, and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
North Central High School is a four-year public high school in Spokane, Washington in the Spokane Public Schools District 81. It opened in 1908 as the second high school in the city; the original structure was razed and the new building opened in 1981.
Forest Grove High School is a public high school in Forest Grove, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1907, it is the only high school in the Forest Grove School District.
Lewis and Clark High School is a four-year public secondary school in Spokane, Washington, United States. Opened in 1912, it is located at 521 W. Fourth Ave. in the Cliff/Cannon neighborhood of downtown Spokane, bounded by I-90 to the north and MultiCare Deaconess Hospital to the west. It replaced South Central High School, destroyed by fire in 1910, and was named for the two leaders of the Corps of Discovery.
Shadle Park High School is a four-year public secondary school in the northwest United States, located in the Audubon/Downriver neighborhood of Spokane, Washington. Northwest of downtown Spokane, Shadle Park was the first new high school in the city in a quarter century when it opened 67 years ago in 1957. Part of Spokane Public Schools, it had an enrollment of 1,348 students in 2019.
Arts and Technology High School, known as ATHS or ArtTech, was a public charter high school in Wilsonville, Oregon, United States. Part of the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, the school opened in 2005. it closed at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. The main Art Tech campus as well as the adjacent Kiva Administration Building have since been turned back over to the City of Wilsonville, and are now utilizing it for various purposes.
Wayne Delbert Anderson was an American college basketball coach, the head coach for eight seasons at the University of Idaho, his alma mater. He was also the head baseball coach at Idaho for nine seasons, and the assistant athletic director for fifteen years.
NAC Architecture is a design firm with over 170 architects, engineers, interior designers and support staff, with offices in Spokane, Seattle and Los Angeles. The firm specializes in architecture, planning, electrical engineering, interior design, and capital facilities consulting. Core markets served include education, healthcare, laboratory, biotechnology, recreation, hospitality, civic, cultural, extended care, and restoration. Incorporated in 1970, NAC Architecture has roots in Spokane, Washington, dating back to 1960.
Bemiss is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. It is located within City Council District 1, which covers the northeastern section of the city. The neighborhood is bounded by Wellesley Avenue to the north, Market Street to the east, Illinois Avenue and the Spokane River to the south, and Perry Street and Napa Street to the west. It is located to the southeast of the Hillyard neighborhood and is often grouped into greater Hillyard.
Minnehaha is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, located in the northeastern portion of the city. The Spokane River flows along the southern edge of the neighborhood, from which the terrain rises along the slopes of Beacon Hill to the northeast. It is a primarily residential neighborhood, with its main commercial district on Euclid Street shared with the adjacent neighborhoods of Bemiss and Hillyard. Minnehaha Park is located here, though the nearby Minnehaha Rocks are just beyond the neighborhood's bounds.
Nevada Heights is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, located on the north side of the city. Its southern border is atop a bluff that runs east–west across the north side of the city, which gives the neighborhood its name. Nevada Street, a major north–south arterial, runs through the neighborhood. The neighborhood is largely residential, but also home to large retail districts, medical facilities, schools and parks. Being surrounded by the city of Spokane on all sides, the neighborhood is well integrated into urban area.
Shiloh Hills is a neighborhood in Spokane, Washington, located on the far northeastern side of the city. It is one of the newer areas of the city, initially annexed in the late 1960s with growth continuing into the 21st century. The neighborhood is home to residential, commercial and industrial districts as well as multiple regionally important transportation corridors such as the Division Street "Y".
Whitman is a neighborhood located on the northeast side of Spokane, Washington. It is named for pioneer missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Media related to John R. Rogers High School at Wikimedia Commons