| Raytown South Senior High School | |
| Established: | 1961 |
| Type: | Public |
| Principal: | Shunton Hammond |
| Faculty: | Lori Flaherty (activities) Dr. Earl Donalson |
| Enrollment: | 1,185 (2022–23)[1] |
| Teaching Staff: | 67.95 (FTE) |
| Ratio: | 17.44 |
| Colors: | Red and White |
| Mascot: | Cardinal |
| Location: | 8211 Sterling Raytown, MO 64138 |
| Information: | (816) 268-7330 |
| Website: | Raytown South H.S. |
| Picture Caption: | Aerial view |
| Coordinates: | 38.9731°N -94.4495°W |
| Yearbook: | Polaris (1966-1986)[2] Putting the Pieces Back Together (1993)[3] Take a Closer Look (1996)[4] All (1997)[5] By Invitation Only (1999)[6] Polaris (2000-2001)[7] |
Raytown South Senior High School is a high school located in Raytown, Missouri. The school was established in 1961, and graduated its first class of seniors in 1964. As Raytown became less of a "destination-suburb" in the 1990s, the enrollment fell drastically.
The forensics program has had several national champions in various styles of debate, public forum, expository speaking and poetry reading.
From 1984-2009, the choir program saw several dozen student attain All-State status. The choir program performed throughout Kansas City, including Crown Center, Arrowhead Stadium and Royals Stadium. Every May, thousands came to an annual variety show called Southern Comfort. In November 2005, the choir sang at Carnegie Hall along with several other show choirs from across the country.
From the inception of the school until March 2006, the program was under the direction of the legendary Bud Lathrop. His career record was 955-300, going 924-267 at South. As of his retirement, Lathrop was ranked No. 7 all-time in high school career coaching victories in the United States. He also went to the Final Four six other times in 1974, 1975, 1985, 1992, 1993, 2003.
Lathrop his teams to the state playoffs 23 times and won 35 conference championships. A total of 254 of Lathrop's former players went on to play college basketball at various levels. Lathrop was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
Lathrop's teams won Missouri state titles in:
The Raytown South boys golf team have qualified for the Missouri State Championship as a team eight times (1964, 1965, 1970, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1985, 2002).[8]
In 1976, Doug Maddox won the individual state championship with a 136 total score (68-66) at Grandview Golf Course in Springfield, Missouri.