Omaha Burke High School Explained

Burke High School
Type:Public high school
Location:12200 Burke Blvd
Omaha, Nebraska
United States
District:Omaha Public Schools
Grades:9–12
Principal:Darren Rasmussen
Students:2,073 (2018-19)[1]
Ratio:16.68
Teaching Staff:124.29 (FTE)
Colors: Black and Gold
Mascot:Bulldog
Website:http://www.ops.org/burke

Harry A. Burke High School is a secondary school located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. The principal is Darren Rasmussen.[2] The school's mascot is the Bulldog.

Each year in May, the Nebraska State Track Meet is held at the school.[3] Its stadium was renovated in 2008.[3]

Name

Burke High School was dedicated to Harry A. Burke in November 1967. Burke, who was Omaha Public Schools superintendent from 1946 to 1962, actively prevented black educators from having positions of authority during his tenure.[4] Among Burke's racist statements was "I would never want black people in a position of power, where white children would be educated." A 2019 op-ed in school newspaper The Burke Beat and a June 2020 petition both called for the school to change its name.[5] Alternative namesakes were suggested, including Lucinda Gamble, Omaha Public Schools' first African American teacher.[6]

Extracurricular activities

Academic Decathlon

Burke has participated in the Academic Decathlon competition for 14 years, and has been the Nebraska state champion seven times. Their chief rivals are Creighton Preparatory School and Pius X High School. Burke holds the record for the highest overall score by a Nebraska team (48,337), set in 2008.[7] In 2009, the Burke Academic Decathlon team placed second in Division I and third overall at the national competition.[8]

Athletics

Burke athletic teams have won 39 state championships.

State championships[9]
Season Sport Number of championships Year
Fall 1 1982
1 1986
1 2018
6 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983
Winter 1 2000
2 1977, 1986
1 1978
3 1992, 1994, 1995
5 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994
Spring 3 1976, 1981, 1992
2 1990, 1994
7 1975, 1981, 1984, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997
1 2004
5 1970, 1975, 1979, 1992, 2000
Total 39

Notable alumni

External links

41.2606°N -96.1064°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Burke High School. National Center for Education Statistics. October 5, 2020.
  2. Web site: MAIN OFFICE STAFF. burke.ops.org. September 18, 2020.
  3. News: Duffy. Erin. $12.85 million plan would modernize Burke High's stadium, other facilities. March 9, 2018. Omaha World-Herald. April 24, 2017.
  4. News: Sasse . Adam Fletcher . A History of Segregated Schools in Omaha, Nebraska . North Omaha History . February 6, 2018 . en.
  5. News: Bahnsen . Kylie . Forgotten History: Is it time for a name change? . The Burke Beat . November 26, 2019.
  6. News: Chapman . John . Burke High graduate petitions for school name change amid BLM movement . WOWT . June 17, 2020 . en.
  7. http://acadecscores.gilslotd.com/wiki/State/Nebraska/2008 State/Nebraska/2008 - AcaDec Scores and Information Center
  8. http://acadecscores.gilslotd.com/wiki/2009_Nationals Nationals/2009 - AcaDec Scores and Information Center
  9. Web site: Nebraska School Activities Association . English . 2012-06-26.
  10. Web site: George Andrews Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com . 2013-11-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130606203650/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ANDREGEO01 . 2013-06-06 .
  11. Web site: Patterson . Mike . Omaha Burke grad Xavier Watts wins Bronko Nagurski Award for nation's top defensive player . Omaha World-Herald . en . 5 December 2023.

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