Shawnee Mission Northwest High School

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Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
Shawnee Mission NW HS logo.png
Location
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
12701 West 67th Street [1]

Shawnee
,
Kansas
66216

United States
Coordinates 39°00′24″N94°43′58″W / 39.006637°N 94.732846°W / 39.006637; -94.732846
Information
School type Public, High School
Established1969
School district Shawnee Mission USD 512
CEEB code 172771 [2]
Principal Lisa Gruman
Teaching staff97.30 (on an FTE basis) [3]
Grades 9–12
Gender coed
Enrollment1,619 (2023-2024) [3]
Student to teacher ratio16.64 [3]
Campus type Suburban
Color(s)  Orange
  Black
  White
AthleticsClass 6A [4]
District 2 [5]
Athletics conferenceSunflower [6]
Nickname Cougars
Rival Shawnee Mission North High School Shawnee Mission East High School
NewspaperThe Northwest Passage
YearbookThe Lair
Communities served Shawnee Mission
Website smnorthwest.smsd.org

Shawnee Mission Northwest High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Shawnee, Kansas, United States, serving students in grades 9-12. It is one of five high schools operated by Shawnee Mission USD 512 school district. The school colors are orange, black, and white. The school population is approximately 1,850 students. The current principal is Lisa Gruman.

Contents

Shawnee Mission Northwest was founded in 1969 in order to help educate the increasing number of students due to the emerging population of Shawnee Mission. The school launched the International Baccalaureate program at the start of the 2008–2009 school year. Shawnee Mission Northwest 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 "Cougars".

History

Shawnee Mission Northwest High School was established in 1969 to help educate the increasing populations of Shawnee and Overland Park, Kansas. In 1998, a mural of evolution was painted near the science rooms in the school which created controversy throughout the school and the city. The mural depicted many things including DNA, cells, photosynthesis, and a four chambered heart. In addition to this, the mural also depicted in a series of walking figures, the evolution of man, from a hunched-over, hairy, apelike creature to the modern man. The mural offended many students and their parents and a large debate was held concerning whether to paint over the mural. As of 2025, the mural has been repainted by the school’s Murals Club

Academics

Shawnee Mission Northwest High School was designated a Blue Ribbon School in 2001. National Blue Ribbon Schools seal.svg
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School was designated a Blue Ribbon School in 2001.

In 2001, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School was selected as a Blue Ribbon School. The Blue Ribbon Award recognizes public and private schools which perform at high levels or have made significant academic improvements. In 2008, Shawnee Mission Northwest launched the International Baccalaureate program for the 2008–2009 school year.

Faculty

In 2004, history teacher Dan Fullerton was named the 2004 Kansas Outstanding Teacher of American History by the Kansas Society Daughters of the American Revolution. [8]

In 2005, social studies teacher Ron Poplau was named a Disney Teacher Award Honoree. [9]

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

The Cougars compete in the Sunflower League and are classified as a 6A school, the largest classification in Kansas according to the KSHSAA. Throughout its history, Shawnee Mission Northwest has won many state championships in various sports. Many graduates have gone on to participate in Division I, Division II, and Division III athletics. Spanning from 1994 to 2007, the Northwest boys varsity cross-country team won the state title for fourteen consecutive years and nineteen years overall. [10] The Northwest boys basketball team triumphed over Wichita Heights in the state championship finals, marking the first state title in school history for basketball. [11]

State championships

State Championships [12]
SeasonSportNumber of ChampionshipsYear
Fall Football 11981
Gymnastics, Girls 81985, 1986, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2010
Volleyball 11988
Soccer, Boys 41990, 1993, 1998, 1999
Cross Country, Boys 201977, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012
Cross Country, Girls 131980, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2011
Spring Basketball, Boys 22024, 2025
Golf, Boys 21985, 1989
Golf, Girls 21998, 1999
Track & Field, Boys 32002, 2011, 2012
Tennis, Boys 11997, 2002
Baseball 31990, 1991, 1993
Softball 61976, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003
Total66

School newspaper and yearbook

The school newspaper is The Northwest Passage and the yearbook is The Lair. The Passage, Lair, and the journalism website have received national recognition at journalism conventions across the country, including awards like the Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Pacemaker awards from the National Scholastic Press Association.

Notable alumni


See also

Other high schools in Shawnee Mission USD 512 school district

References

  1. ↑ GNIS entry for Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; USGS; November 16, 2006.
  2. ↑ High School CEEB Code Search
  3. 1 2 3 "Shawnee Mission Northwest High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  4. ↑ KSHSAA School Classification List
  5. ↑ KSHSAA School District List Archived 2010-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "School Search - Shawnee Mission Northwest HS". Kansas State High School Activities Association. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Blue Ribbon Schools" (English). Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  8. ↑ "NW Teacher Receives State Honor". Kansas City Star. February 16, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Ronald Poplau Shawnee Mission Northwest School, Shawnee, KS" (PDF).
  10. ↑ Martin, Francine (April 26, 2009). "KSHSAA Cross Country". Kansas State High School Activities Association. Archived from the original on August 20, 2003. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  11. ↑ Green, PJ (March 9, 2024). "KC-area high schools bring home 2024 state basketball championships".
  12. ↑ "State Records & State Champions". Archived from the original (English) on April 21, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
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