W. F. West High School Explained

W. F. West High School
Streetaddress:342 SW 16th St.
City:Chehalis, Washington
Zipcode:98532
Coordinates:46.6497°N -122.9492°W
Schooltype:Public high school
Established:1892 (renamed W. F. West High School 1951)
District:Chehalis School District
Principal:Bob Walters
Teaching Staff:46.66 (FTE)
Grades:9–12
Enrollment:1,031 (2019–20)[1]
Ratio:22.10
Colors:Crimson & Gray
Mascot:Bearcats
Newspaper:The Crimson and Gray

William F. West High School, commonly referred to as W. F. West, is a public high school in Chehalis, Washington, United States. It is the only high school in the Chehalis School District. It was named for local businessman William F. West, who donated money and land to the school district. The school prides itself in the amount of scholarships given out yearly. Many students travel out of district to attend. The school added a brand new science wing in 2018.

History

The school opened a combination gymnasium-music room in February 1954. Considered one of the largest in the state, it was constructed at a cost of $450,000. The addition to the campus officially held an open house with a ceremony and a basketball game between the Chehalis and Centralia boys' basketball teams. The gym, days later, held an AAU tournament, with a game played that helped to raise funds for a local cerebral palsy charity. The music space, which contained a 1800square feet rehearsal room that accommodated up to 110 practice seats, was soundproofed and offered smaller areas for choir practice.[2] The school was expanded in 1971 to include an additional three rooms. One classroom was for laboratory use and included a darkroom for photography students undertaking a journalism course. The $500,000 project also included a resource center in the library and a choir room.[3]

The W.F. West Tennis Courts were renamed in February 2024 to Coach Jack State Tennis Courts in honor of Jack State. The process began under the district's Facility Naming Committee, with a recommendation passed to the Chehalis School Board which approved the name change unanimously. State, who died in January 2024, was both a teacher and coach at the high school, serving 50 years as the tennis coach. In an additional remembrance, a sign measuring 6feetx8feetft (xft) is to be installed at the courts, mirroring State's nickname that was based on his height, "Six-Eight Jack State".[4] [5]

Academics and graduation rates

Academics

Students receive free access to the PSAT due to funding provided by a local organization, the Chehalis Foundation. With help from school officials, each senior is required to submit an application for acceptance to Centralia College, a program started by the school district to achieve high rates of graduation, college admission, and career opportunities for the students.[6]

The high school has been host to a University of Washington STEM camp since the early 2010s . A weeklong summer day-camp, the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classes are held at W.F. West's STEM wing and are open to all students of high school age, regardless of school district. The educational opportunity is based on a partnership between the university and the Chehalis Foundation.[7] [8] To bolster the STEM program further, the school purchased an electron microscope in the mid-2010s.[9]

Beginning in early 2023, students can participate in the "Crimson & Gray", a coffee shop in the school. The shop, part of a business and marketing class supported through the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), is run in-full by the students.[10]

Graduation rates

The graduation rate in 2010 was 77% and 1/3rd of those students achieved admission into a university or training school.[6] In 2018, 73% of seniors who graduated went on to further higher education. That rate increased to 100% in 2019, beginning a four year stretch in which the entire graduating senior classes were accepted into college.[11] In 2019, the four-year graduation rate was 95%, bettering the state average by 14 points.

Extracurricular activities

The school sponsors the following sports and extracurricular activities:

Sports and sporting achievements

The school's athletic teams compete as the Bearcats as a member of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association in the 2A Evergreen Conference.

The high school's gymnasium hosted the first-ever meeting between the rival Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle SuperSonics in an NBA pre-season exhibition game on September 30, 1970.[12]

The school has been home to state hall of fame coaches, including Mike Keen, who was elected into the Washington Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame; Keen won 333 games and three championships under his W.F. West tenure in the early 21st century.

State titles

Traditions

The graduating class of W.F. West High School holds a local parade that traverses through several neighborhood and business districts in Chehalis, ending at Stan Hedwall Park. It is customary for seniors to receive various gifts, including monetary, during the senior year and at graduation. The contributions are paid for by a fund raised by parents.[20] The graduating class also participates in a "Senior Walk", visiting the elementary and middle schools in Chehalis. Begun in the late 2010s, it allows seniors to meet with younger pupils and reconnect with previous teachers and staff.[21] [22]

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: W F West High School. National Center for Education Statistics. May 28, 2021.
  2. News: Chehalis Opens New School Plant To Open Wednesday . February 7, 2024 . The Daily Chronicle (Centralia, Washington) . February 16, 1954.
  3. News: New Chehalis Facility In Use . May 1, 2024 . The Daily Chronicle . January 22, 1971 . 1.
  4. News: Fitzgerald . Emily . Chehalis School Board votes to rename W.F. West tennis courts after Jack State . February 23, 2024 . The Chronicle . February 21, 2024.
  5. News: Mittge . Brian . Remembering tennis coach Jack State, a true ace . February 23, 2024 . The Chronicle . January 12, 2024.
  6. News: Zylstra . Matthew . 'This Doesn’t Just Happen by Chance': How the Chehalis School District Became a Jewel in Public Education . June 8, 2023 . The Chronicle . September 29, 2022.
  7. News: The Chronicle staff . Chehalis, Aberdeen schools to co-host University of Washington for STEM camp . August 17, 2023 . The Chronicle . July 28, 2023.
  8. News: Heldring . Thatcher . Lewis County students see biomedical research firsthand . August 17, 2023 . UW Medicine Newsroom . August 12, 2018.
  9. News: Long . Katherine . Just 20% of kids got 4-year degrees, so Chehalis schools changed everything . February 7, 2024 . The Seattle Times . June 2, 2017.
  10. News: Fitzgerald . Emily . Crimson & Gray: W.F. West High School students learn business skills in school-based coffee shop . October 2, 2023 . The Chronicle . September 29, 2023.
  11. News: Every Graduating W.F. West Senior Has Been Accepted Into College, District Announces . June 8, 2023 . The Chronicle . June 6, 2023.
  12. News: September 26, 1970 . Chehalis NBA Contest Viewed Historic Event . The Daily Chronicle . September 3, 2023.
  13. News: Camas 5, Chehalis 1 in Class 3A fastpitch final . February 26, 2024 . The Seattle Post-Intellingencer . Associated Press . May 24, 2002.
  14. News: VanTuyl . Aaron . W.F. West Softball Coach Mike Keen Retires . April 3, 2024 . The Chronicle . June 7, 2017.
  15. News: The Chronicle staff . Former Bearcats Softball Coach Enters Hall of Fame . April 3, 2024 . The Chronicle . February 26, 2020.
  16. News: VanTuyl . Aaron . A Decade in Review: Looking Back at the Best of the 2010s . April 2, 2024 . The Chronicle . December 31, 2019.
  17. News: Ringer . Sandy . Archbishop Murphy girls come close, but late run ends state-title dreams . June 9, 2023 . The Seattle Times . March 3, 2018.
  18. News: VanTuyl . Aaron . Breaking Down the Past With the 1960 Bearcats . June 12, 2023 . The Chronicle . January 28, 2010.
  19. Web site: 1968 A State Invitational Cross Country Meet . WIAA . 29 May 2024.
  20. News: Long . Katherine . Small towns find new ways to celebrate high-school graduation amid coronavirus restrictions . June 8, 2023 . The Seattle Times . June 6, 2020.
  21. News: W.F. West Graduates Complete Rite of Passage With Senior Walk . June 10, 2024 . The Chronicle . June 3, 2021.
  22. News: In focus: W.F. West class of 2024 continues senior walk tradition . June 10, 2024 . The Chronicle . June 7, 2024.
  23. News: Van Tuyl . Aaron . Editor's Notes: Breaking Down the Past With the 1960 Bearcats . August 15, 2024 . The Chronicle . January 28, 2010.
  24. News: Zylstra . Matthew . Nazi Germany Refugee, Famous Ad Campaign Executive, W.F. West Grad Speaks About Life . June 13, 2023 . The Chronicle . April 26, 2023.
  25. News: Chamber Host To Grid Eleven . August 15, 2024 . The Centralia Daily Chronicle . December 28, 1932 . 3.
  26. News: The Chronicle staff . Olson Wraps up Third Season as Shock Head Coach With Second Trip to Postseason . August 15, 2024 . The Chronicle . August 6, 2014.
  27. News: Martin . Zach . The Ultimate Underdog: Brock Peterson grows as a baseball player, snares pro opportunity out of W.F. West . August 5, 2024 . The Chronicle . July 27, 2024.
  28. News: Schwartz . Eric . Orin Smith, Dedicated Donor and Hometown Hero, Dies at 75 . August 15, 2024 . The Chronicle . March 4, 2018.
  29. News: Former Grid Star Dead . August 15, 2024 . The Daily Chronicle . September 27, 1958 . 1.

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