North Kansas City High School Explained

North Kansas City High School
Seal Image:Emblem-Gold.jpg
Type:Public
Streetaddress:620 East 23rd Avenue
City:North Kansas City
State:Missouri
Zipcode:64116
Principal:Keith Jones[1]
Colors:Purple and gold
Mascot:Hornet
Newspaper:The Buzz
Free Label2:Broadcast
Free Text2:NTV News
Motto:NorthtownTRUE[2]
Yearbook:1924–1949 The Owl; 1950–present The Purgold
District:North Kansas City School District
Grades:9–12
Faculty:100.55 (FTE)
Ratio:16.31
Enrollment:1,640 (2022–23)[3]
Rivals:Staley High School
Oak Park High School
Winnetonka High School
Park Hill South High School
Website:North Kansas City High School
Pushpin Map:Missouri#USA

North Kansas City High School (also known as NKCHS, NKC, and Northtown) is a high school in North Kansas City, Missouri, United States, with over 1,900 students enrolled. It is a part of the North Kansas City School District.

The first graduating class found of record was in 1917 with three known graduates. The school began as an all-white school, due to the inhabitants of the community, and is now one of the most diverse and integrated schools in the nation.[4] [5] [6]

Since July 2001, Northtown has been an International Baccalaureate World School with Dr. Jane Reed as the program coordinator.[7] [8] [9]

Its boundary includes North Kansas City, Avondale, and portions of Gladstone south of NW Englewood Road.[10] [11]

History

Throughout the school's history, several buildings have been built and torn down. Currently, the only remaining building of the original multi-building campus is the three-story Main building. Northtown began significant renovations beginning the fall of 2016. As of the 2020–2021 school year, the renovations are complete with the addition of A, B, and C wings. A Building, containing a new performing arts center and orchestra, band, choir, woodshop, and theatre classrooms, was finished in August 2020. B Building, containing numerous new classrooms and study rooms, was finished before the onset of the 2018–2019 school year. C Building, containing a new cafeteria, main gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium, weight room, and locker rooms, was completed for the 2018–2019 school year. Additionally, the old Main building underwent massive renovations to fix safety concerns and put in a new multimedia center and more classrooms. Northtown was one of the only local schools to have an open campus. However, this changed with the completion of the schools' renovation; the campus is now a closed campus. Students and alumni may recall buildings such as the "Academy" or "South Campus" and the Norclay building (on the other side of Howell street). Both were closed at the beginning of the 2020–2021 school year as well, and the "Academy" or "South Campus" (south of the Main building) was torn down and replaced by a parking lot.

The stone wall around the NKCHS football field was created as a works project during the Great Depression.[12] It has been ranked the Most Interesting High School Football Field in the Kansas City area by the Kansas City Star, and has been used for local commercials, including Metro Sports.

The current main building was contracted to be built the first of March 1925 as documented in the 1925 NKCHS Owl Yearbook for a total cost of $190,000. The contract was awarded to Fritzlen & Hufford Construction in Liberty, Missouri. The 1926 NKCHS Owl yearbook describes the opening and dedication of the new building on Sunday afternoon, January 24, 1926, by Missouri Governor Baker.

One of the buildings where classes were held was the Hiram McElroy Dagg building.[13]

Mascot

The school's mascot is the hornet. Although many have thought the original mascot was an owl, no evidence of that exists in NKCHS yearbooks. There is, however, evidence of the hornet mascot in the 1929 yearbook. The confusion comes with the name of the yearbook from 1924 through 1949; which was The Owl. High school jewelry like pins also bore the image of an owl; however, there is no evidence that the owl was the school's mascot. In the 1929 Owl yearbook, the Pep Squad states, "All right, let's everybody give fifteen big "Rahs" for the "Hornets". In the 1930 NKCHS Owl yearbook, the hornet is shown on basketball players' shirts.[14]

Yearbook

The Owl yearbook was printed from 1924 through 1949. No yearbook was printed in 1933, 1932 or 1927 for reasons unknown. The school adopted a new name for the yearbook in 1950: the Purgold.[15]

Athletics

In the 2019 season, the women's basketball team defeated Jefferson City High School in the state championship game. Head Coach Jeff Lacy was also named Coach of the Year.

Competitive teams include:

Men's and women's teams

Men's only

Women's only

Musical groups

Choral

Band

Organizations and clubs[16]

Publications

Activities

Clubs

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Administration Team. nkcschools.org. April 17, 2018.
  2. Web site: Twitter Hashtag "NorthtownTrue".
  3. Web site: NORTH KANSAS CITY HIGH. National Center for Education Statistics. June 17, 2024.
  4. Web site: North Kansas City High School Profile | Kansas City, Missouri (MO) . Publicschoolreview.com . February 18, 2013 . February 25, 2013.
  5. Web site: Davidson . Jill . English Language Learners in Essential Schools | Coalition of Essential Schools . Essentialschools.org . February 25, 2013.
  6. Web site: North Kansas City High School, Kansas City, MO Test Scores and Information – Movoto Real Estate . Movoto.com . February 25, 2013.
  7. Web site: International Baccalaureate . Ibo.org . February 25, 2013.
  8. Web site: North Kansas City High in KANSAS CITY, MO | Best High Schools . US News . February 25, 2013.
  9. Web site: Executive Board . Midwest IB Schools . February 25, 2013.
  10. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Clay County, MO. U.S. Census Bureau. September 9, 2022. - Compare with the boundary map
  11. Web site: District Attendance Areas. North Kansas City School District. September 9, 2022. - Compare with the census map.
  12. Web site: Best of Kansas City 2001 | Sports & Recreation | Best High School Football Stadium . The Pitch . October 18, 2011.
  13. Web site: McElroy Dagg School . North Kansas City High School . October 18, 2011.
  14. Web site: Hi! I'm Henry Hornet Mascot of North Kansas City High School (retired) . Northkansascityhighschool.com . April 28, 2010 . October 18, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20140224041111/http://www.northkansascityhighschool.com/Mascot.htm. February 24, 2014.
  15. Web site: Yearbooks . North Kansas City High School . October 18, 2011.
  16. Web site: Organizations / Organizations . September 18, 2023 . www.nkcschools.org . en.
  17. News: North Kansas City alum Adetomiwa Adebawore goes to Colts in NFL Draft. PJ. Green. Fox 4 Kansas City (WDAF-TV). April 29, 2023. en.
  18. Web site: Lowry . Brian . Democrat Arthur wins Missouri election in Northland days after Greitens resigns . . August 22, 2024 . June 6, 2018.
  19. Web site: Governor Parson announces appointments to state boards and commissions. July 12, 2024. KOAM News Now.
  20. Web site: robin wayne bailey: Books . Amazon . October 18, 2011.
  21. Web site: Robin Wayne Bailey, Fantasy and Science Fiction Author . Robinwaynebailey.net . March 15, 2009 . October 18, 2011.
  22. Web site: Barnes, Jim | Missouri Center for the Book . Books.missouri.org . June 19, 2011 . October 18, 2011.
  23. Web site: Class of 1970 . North Kansas City High School . October 18, 2011.
  24. Web site: Lawrence Kestenbaum . Index to Politicians: Brooks-bittings to Brougham . The Political Graveyard . October 18, 2011.
  25. Web site: National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl XIV . Rauzulusstreet.com . February 25, 2013.
  26. Web site: William Jewell honors alumni for life achievements . Jewell.edu . January 23, 2009 . February 25, 2013.
  27. Web site: William Jewell College Athletics – Hall of Fame . Jewellcardinals.com . February 25, 2013.
  28. Web site: 620 E. 23rd Avenue North Kansas City, Missouri 64116 . North Kansas City High School . Nkcschools.org . February 25, 2013.
  29. http://www.mosportshalloffame.com/inductee_detail/Al+Conway/185
  30. Web site: Al Conway Achievement Day Convocation Remarks . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/552gpRXcBHA . December 19, 2021 . live. YouTube . February 25, 2013.
  31. Web site: In Memory Of Alfred Joseph Conway ~ Class of 1948 . Northkansascityhighschool.com . February 25, 2013.
  32. Web site: Staff Directory • Jon Carpenter. www.claycountymo.gov.
  33. Web site: Connie Dover Official Home Page . Conniedover.com . February 19, 2009 . October 18, 2011.
  34. Web site: Alan Huss 2000-01 . March 6, 2024 . Creighton Athletics.
  35. Web site: Kelso's Northtown . May 21, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100512185142/http://kelsosnorthtown.com/ . May 12, 2010 .
  36. Web site: New Music Videos, Reality TV Shows, Celebrity News, Pop Culture | LOGOtv.
  37. Web site: DAVE . Coming out of Horror's Closet: Mark Patton from NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE! | . Terrordaves.com . June 27, 2011 . February 25, 2013.
  38. Web site: A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge Trailer (HD – Best Quality) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/xqvrgX2Urug . December 19, 2021 . live. YouTube . June 1, 2009 . February 25, 2013.
  39. Web site: Interview with Mark Patton . Mediamikes.com . April 26, 2010 . February 25, 2013.
  40. Web site: Never Sleep Again: After Decades ... Mark Patton Talks Elm Street 2 | Horror Movie, DVD, & Book Reviews, News, Interviews at Dread Central . Dreadcentral.com . November 9, 2009 . February 25, 2013.
  41. Web site: Mark Patton (Freddy's Revenge) Interview | A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) . Nightmareonelmstreetmovie.com . November 10, 2009 . February 25, 2013.
  42. Web site: Mark Patton . Flixster.com . February 25, 2013.
  43. Book: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 – Freddy's Revenge . A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 – Freddy's Revenge: Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Robert Rusler, Clu Gulager, Hope Lange, Robert Englund, Jack Sholder, Robert Shaye, David Chaskin: Movies & TV . 978-0780630857 .
  44. Web site: Home . Rudy Reyes . October 18, 2011.
  45. Web site: Generation Kill Star Rudy Reyes on War, Spirituality and the Martial Arts. https://web.archive.org/web/20101220194524/http://www.blackbeltmag.com/archives/893. December 20, 2010. September 19, 2021. blackbelt.com.
  46. Web site: The Way of the Warrior . In Their Boots . October 18, 2011.
  47. Web site: Marine Recon Rudy Reyes in "The Way of the Warrior" Documentary from "In Their Boots" . Healing Combat Trauma . January 13, 2011 . October 18, 2011.
  48. Web site: Marine Rudy Reyes: The Apocalypse Man – Thaindian News . Thaindian.com . January 7, 2010 . October 18, 2011.
  49. Book: Randolph, Dave . Hero Living: Seven Strides to Awaken Your Infinite Power (9780451228109): Rudy Reyes, Evan Wright: Books . 978-0451228109 . 2009 . Penguin Publishing .
  50. Book: Hero Living: Seven Strides to Awaken ... – Rudy Reyes, Angela Smith, Evan Wright – Google Books . October 18, 2011. 9781101145302 . Reyes . Rudy . October 6, 2009 . Penguin .
  51. Web site: Florida Governor Rick Scott – The Office of the 45th Governor of Florida . Flgov.com . October 18, 2011.
  52. Web site: Katheryn Shields Indicted On Federal Charges – Kansas City News Story – KMBC Kansas City . Kmbc.com . January 4, 2007 . October 18, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111002071403/http://www.kmbc.com/news/10671828/detail.html . October 2, 2011 .
  53. Web site: Lawrence Kestenbaum . Index to Politicians: Snowbarger to Snure . The Political Graveyard . October 18, 2011.
  54. Web site: Gov.-elect Nixon Names More than 100 Missourians to Serve as Citizen Transition Advisers . Governor.mo.gov . December 5, 2008 . October 18, 2011.
  55. Web site: Garrett Stutz – Men's Basketball. Wichita State Athletics.

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