Bethel High School (Washington) Explained

Bethel High School
Established:1952
Coordinates:47.0542°N -122.3778°W
Streetaddress:22215 38th Avenue East
City:Spanaway
State:Washington
Zipcode:98387-6828
Country:United States
Campus:Suburban
Type:Public secondary
Principal:Christy Rodriguez
Grades:9–12
Enrollment:1,739 (2022-23)[1]
District:Bethel School District
Mascot:Bisons
Colors:Crimson, Gray & Black
Faculty:88
Ratio:20:1
Website:http://bhs.bethelsd.org/pages/bsd403_bhs

Bethel High School is a public high school located in Spanaway, Washington. It is one of four high schools in the Bethel School District, is the district's oldest, having been founded in 1952.[2]

Academics

AP classes offered are Statistics, Calculus, Psychology, Literature and Composition, Language and Composition, Government and Politics, and Biology.

Athletics

Bethel is part of the Bethel School District along with Spanaway Lake High School and Graham-Kapowsin High School. Bethel competes in the Pierce County League (PCL) 3A in Washington's West Central District.

History

See main article: Bethel School District v. Fraser.

During the 1983 elections for student council, student Matthew Fraser delivered a sexually suggestive speech while nominating a classmate for student council vice president.[3] Fraser was suspended from Bethel High School for three days, but filed a lawsuit against the school board, alleging that the suspension violated his First Amendment right to free speech.[4] The case was ultimately granted certiorari by the Supreme Court of the United States, which held in the landmark decision Bethel School District v. Fraser (1986) that it does not violate the First Amendment for public schools to punish students for lewd or indecent speech.[5]

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bethel High School. Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. May 3, 2023.
  2. News: November 17, 2021 . Bethel High School changing mascot from Braves to Bison . . April 26, 2023.
  3. News: Denton . Jake . June 11, 2019 . Are Racist Yearbook Photos Protected Student Speech? . . April 26, 2023.
  4. Bethel School District v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986)
  5. News: July 8, 1986 . Court Backs School on Student's 'Vulgar' Speech . 18 . . April 26, 2023.
  6. News: January 31, 2001 . Bethel steps closer to title . . April 26, 2023.
  7. Marmor . Jon . September 2010 . Mariners’ Mike Blowers went from the diamond to the booth . University of Washington Magazine . April 26, 2023.
  8. News: Manley . Jon . April 22, 2020 . Bethel grad, Boise State's Ezra Cleveland ready for NFL draft . 9 . . April 26, 2023.
  9. News: Rockne . Dick . February 25, 1990 . Race From Obscurity – Daytona Win Puts Cope In Spotlight . . April 26, 2023.
  10. News: Kawada . Eijiro . September 17, 2004 . Olympian Morgan Hicks gets homecoming parade . 16 . . April 26, 2023.
  11. News: Condotta . Bob . March 22, 2015 . Former Husky Caesar Rayford badly wants another shot in the NFL . . April 26, 2023.
  12. News: Danzer . Paul . November 21, 2013 . Story back on track to climb UFC ladder . . April 26, 2023.