Lewis-Palmer High School

Not to be confused with Palmer High School or Palmer Ridge High School.

Lewis-Palmer High School
Location
1300 Higby Road Monument , Colorado 80132 United States
Coordinates	39°4′50″N104°51′17″W / 39.08056°N 104.85472°W / 39.08056; -104.85472
Information
Former name	The Lewis School
School type	Public high school
Motto	Expect the Best
Established	1920(105 years ago) (1920)
School district	Lewis-Palmer 38
CEEB code	061040
NCES School ID	080582001003 [1]
Principal	Jeffery Zick [2]
Teaching staff	56.02 (on an FTE basis) [1]
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	1,171 (2023–2024 [1] )
Student to teacher ratio	20.90 [1]
Color(s)	Black and orange
Athletics conference	CHSAA
Mascot	Ranger
Feeder schools	Lewis-Palmer Middle School
Website	www.lewispalmer.org/lphs

Lewis-Palmer High School (LPHS) is a public high school in Monument, Colorado. It is one of only three high schools in the Lewis-Palmer School District 38, the others being Palmer Ridge High School and Monument Academy High School.

2006 Issue

The school refused to give its 2006 valedictorian her diploma after she mentioned Jesus Christ in her commencement speech. Corder pursued legal action against the school district. ^[3] The court ruled against Corder by declaring that the graduation was a school-sponsored event and therefore the school was under the obligation to uphold the constitutional separation between church and state. The court also ruled that the school's policy for graduation speeches was too vague, and thus unconstitutional due to the "chilling effect" that is created by overly broad rules. ^[4]

Notable Teacher

In 2015, Kathy Thirkell won the Colorado Teachers of the Year award. ^[5]

Notable alumni

• Bobby Burling, professional MLS player, attended Lewis-Palmer High School ^[6]
• Billy Cook, MLB baseball player ^[7]
• Pat Garrity, basketball player who played ten years in the NBA ^[8]
• Kim Lyons, personal trainer, appeared on The Biggest Loser ^[9]
• Josh Scott (basketball), professional basketball player and former University of Colorado basketball star. ^[10]
• Jennifer Sipes, actress and model, born in Monument, attended Lewis-Palmer High School ^[11]
• Derek Theler, actor and model, attended Lewis-Palmer High School ^[12]

References

1. "Search for Public Schools - LEWIS-PALMER HIGH SCHOOL (080582001003)". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved December 12, 2024.
2. "Principal's Message / Home". Lewis-Palmer School District 38. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
3. FOXNews.com - Colorado Student Files Lawsuit Over Commencement Speech That Mentioned Jesus
4. Corder v Lewis Palmer
5. "Colorado Teachers of the Year 1963-Present". cde.state.co.us. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
6. "Bobby Burling". MLS Soccer. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
7. "Lewis-Palmer Graduate Billy Cook selected to Orioles in 10th round". KOAA-TV . July 15, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
8. "Patrick Joseph Garrity (Pat)". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
9. "There are no 'losers' when Rangers hit primetime". Colorado Community Media. October 31, 2006. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
10. "Lewis-Palmer's Josh Scott is Colorado's easygoing superstar". ESPN.com. November 25, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
11. "Jennifer Sipes Video". OV Guide. Archived from the original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
12. "THE REEL DEAL: DEREK THELER Q&A". 303 magazine. August 14, 2013.

External links

• Official website