A.C. Davis High School (Washington) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Davis High School is a high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

in Yakima, Washington

Yakima, Washington

Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...

, USA

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, serving students in grades 9-12. It is part of the Yakima School District

Yakima School District

Yakima School District No. 7 is a public school district in Yakima County, Washington, USA and serves the city of Yakima.As of October 2004, the district has an enrollment of 14,290 students.-High schools:*A.C. Davis High School*Alternative School*D.D...

and has approximately 2,000 students.

History

North Yakima High School, which was renamed Davis High School in 1957 when Eisenhower High School became the second senior high school in Yakima, began classes in 1884, and was housed in the Columbia Building. By 1896, the school's enrollment reached 40 students and classes were relocated to the Central School Building. With an ever-increasing student body, in 1900, the school was once-again relocated to the Lincoln School. In 1905, land was procured on South 7th Avenue and Walnut, with plans to build a new, larger high school. As it turned out, that foresight was well thought out, because after the Lincoln School burned on Jan. 6, 1907, the high school took up temporary residence at the Methodist Church on Fourth Street.

The new school building, which began construction in 1905, was completed in 1908. The new building cost $84,980, had 23 classrooms and increased capacity to 690 students.
Angus Charles Davis served as principal from 1908 through 1913, and was superintendent until 1947. In 1978, after an extensive, thirteen-year remodeling project, which cost upwards of $5 million, the Yakima High School was re-dedicated as Davis High School, in honor of its early principal and long-time superintendent.

One of the keynote speakers at the school's re-dedication was Cathy Douglas Stone, wife of U.S. Supreme Court Justice, William O. Douglas

William O. Douglas

William Orville Douglas was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. With a term lasting 36 years and 209 days, he is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court...

who is, perhaps, Davis's most notable alumnus. Douglas, who played on the basketball team and was valedictorian of his graduating class, went on to teach English at North Yakima High School before pursuing his dream of being a lawyer and, ultimately, a Supreme Court judge.

Plans

In May 2009, a $114 million bond was approved by Yakima voters to remodel and renovate area schools. Davis was allocated $42 million of that bond money (plus another $42 million in State-matching funds), to refurbish the school.

Principals

Angus Charles Davis

Frances Wesley Jones

Clarence Klise

Forest J. Dollinger (1913–1914, 1916–1918)

Dr. Warren Dean Starr

Dr. Raymond Lindley (1974-1977)

Dr. Robert McLaughlin

Arthur Church

Donald Davidson

Karen Garrison

Jose Vidot

Lee Maras (2002–2007)

Ben Ramirez (2007-current)

Academics

Davis is the only school in the Yakima Valley to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Program for high school juniors and seniors. The program is nationally and internationally recognized by both secondary schools and universities such as Oxford

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...

and Harvard

Harvard College

Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...

. It is generally considered by universities to exceed the rigor of the College Board

College Board

The College Board is a membership association in the United States that was formed in 1900 as the College Entrance Examination Board . It is composed of more than 5,900 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. It sells standardized tests used by academically oriented...

Advanced Placement (AP) Program in secondary schools. Every year over one hundred students participate in the International Baccalaureate program at the school. The most involved students take up to 6 to 7 IB classes their junior and senior years to earn the IB diploma, strengthen their educational background, and earn college credit. However, students can take any number of IB classes related to their educational and personal interests. IB course offerings include: Music, Art, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematical Methods, Mathematical Studies, History of the Americas, Spanish B (for non-native speakers), Spanish A (for native speakers), French B (non-native speakers), Theory of Knowledge, and English A (for native speakers). Each of these courses lasts for 2 years with the exceptions of Theory of knowledge (2 trimesters) and Physics (1 year).

The program is highly successful at educating bright and enthusiastic students who want to make a difference in their schools, communities, and nation. Davis IB alumni have a very strong track record of gaining admission to and experiencing success upon matriculation to the most nationally prestigious colleges and universities. A plurality of IB students opt to attend the University of Washington

University of Washington

University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...

, while a few students every year go further afield to attend top-ranked institutions including Ivy League

Ivy League

The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...

and Stanford Universities. Study abroad and foreign exchange programs are also popular options for graduating seniors.

Students who opt not to participate in the IB program have a myriad of other educational opportunities and career paths. Davis students oftentimes participate in the Running Start

Running Start

The Running Start program in Washington state allows high school juniors and seniors to attend college courses numbered 100 or above, tuition-free, while completing high school. It is similar to dual enrollment programs common at public and private colleges and universities in other states...

program at Yakima Valley Community College

Yakima Valley Community College

Yakima Valley Community College is one of the oldest community colleges in Washington, having been founded in 1928.-Overview:YVCC serves over 10,000 students a year through two campuses located in Yakima and Grandview, as well as learning centers located in Ellensburg, Toppenish, and Goldendale...

to earn their high school diploma as well as their Associate's degree prior to graduation. The ESL (English as a Second Language) program assists Spanish speaking students adjust to an English learning environment.

Library programs are considered some of Davis' greatest assets. Students and teachers provide general tutoring in a variety of subjects and SAT preparation. Several computer labs with internet access are provided to Davis students and to the public. The library stays open late during school nights to make internet access and federally funded tutoring services available to students who may or may not have these resources in their home.

Athletics

Davis is Division 4-A school, a member of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association

Washington Interscholastic Activities Association

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association is the governing body of athletics and activities for secondary education schools in the state of Washington...

(WIAA), and competes in the Columbia Basin "Big Nine" Athletic Conference. The school supports several interscholastic sports, including: baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

, basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

, bowling

Bowling

Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...

, cross-country

Cross country running

Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...

, fastpitch softball

Fastpitch softball

Fast-pitch softball is a form of softball played commonly by women and men, though coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. The International Softball Federation is the international governing body of softball...

, football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

, golf

Golf

Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....

, soccer

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

, swimming

Swimming (sport)

Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...

and diving

Diving

Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...

, tennis

Tennis

Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...

, track

Track and field

Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...

, volleyball

Volleyball

Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...

and wrestling

Wrestling

Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...

. The Davis Pirates have a long-standing rivalry with cross-town high school, D.D. Eisenhower High

Eisenhower High School (Yakima, Washington)

Dwight David Eisenhower High School in Yakima, Washington is a school named after U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. It is one of four high schools in the Yakima School District with the others being Davis High School, Stanton Academy and O.I.C. Alternative...

(more familiarly known as "Ike").

Clubs and activities

Currently, there are approximately 36 academic and recreational student clubs at Davis, including MeChA, Knowledge Bowl, FBLA and Lolomi (student yearbook). The yearbook has been called the Lolomi since 1921, but before that was called many different names, including Papoose, Quietus, Potlatch, and Wigwam. These yearbooks are available for viewing at the Yakima Valley Regional Library.

Music

Davis offers music programs in the areas of choir

Choir

A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...

, orchestra

Orchestra

An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...

, and band

School band

A school band is a group of student musicians who rehearse and perform instrumental music together. A concert band is usually under the direction of one or more conductors...

. The school offers jazz choir, chamber choir

Chamber choir

A chamber choir or group of chamber singers is the choral equivalent of a chamber ensemble, using voices instead of instruments. This prestigious choir will usually consist of 20-40 elite and dedicated singers. Several chamber choir formats exist, ranging from barbershop groups to exclusively...

, two orchestra ensembles, jazz band

Jazz band

A jazz band is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music. Jazz bands usually consist of a rhythm section and a horn section, in the early days often trumpet, trombone, and clarinet with rhythm section of piano, banjo, bass or tuba, and drums.-Eras:SwingDuring the swing era in the mid-twentieth...

, wind ensemble, concert band

Concert band

A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...

, and a percussion ensemble

Percussion ensemble

A percussion ensemble is a musical ensemble consisting of only percussion instruments. Although the term can be used to describe any such group, it commonly refers to groups of classically-trained percussionists performing primarily classical music. Percussion ensembles are most commonly found at...

.

The Davis band and orchestra first came about in 1927 under Avery Olson. The band began with about 20 students, but since then has grown to over 100. Each autumn, the A.C. Davis Buccaneer Marching Band prepares a marching show and performs at home football games, as well as local competitions, such as Cavalcade of Bands in Tri-Cities, Washington

Tri-Cities, Washington

The Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, consisting of three neighboring cities: Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. The cities are located at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers in the semi-arid region of...

, and Puget Sound Marching Festival in Everett, Washington

Everett, Washington

Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...

. Davis and Eisenhower High School

Eisenhower High School (Yakima, Washington)

marching bands co-host the Harvest Marching Festival in Yakima, Washington

Yakima, Washington

. In the spring, Davis hosts a band contest as well as a choir contest for bands and choirs around the region. A.C. Davis's concert ensembles regularly receive superior ratings at these contests for their excellence.

Students have been consistently honored as solo musicians as well. At the Washington State Solo and Ensemble competition, Davis High School sends several students to the state level each year in both instrumental and vocal music performance. The Davis percussion ensemble is currently one of the top-ranking musical groups in the state.

The Davis drumline

Drumline

A drumline is a section of percussion instruments usually played as part of a musical marching ensemble. High school and college marching bands, drill and drum corps, drum and bugle corps, indoor percussion ensembles, and pipe bands usually incorporate drumlines; however, drumlines can exist...

has performed a student-written half-time shows at basketball games for two years and has done clinics with the Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group is an organization founded by Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton. The organization produces theatrical shows and concerts featuring popular music, comedy and multimedia; recorded music and scores for film and television; television appearances for shows such as The Tonight...

as well as received high rankings at marching band and solo and ensemble competitions.

During the 1940s and 1950s, the orchestral and band director was William Herbst, and the choral director, during this same time period, was Mildred Forsling.

Noted alumni

• Oleta Adams

Oleta Adams

Oleta Adams is an American soul, jazz, and gospel singer and pianist.-Biography:Adams was born the daughter of a preacher and was raised with gospel music. In her youth her family moved to Yakima, Washington, which is sometimes shown as her place of birth.Before gaining her opportunity to perform,...

, internationally acclaimed singer and performer.

• Jamie Allen, former MLB baseball third baseman (Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...

).

• Jerry Burling, Class of 1954, Winner, National Prime Time Emmy Award (1977). http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1244210/awards

• Raymond Carver

Raymond Carver

Raymond Clevie Carver, Jr. was an American short story writer and poet. Carver is considered a major American writer of the late 20th century and also a major force in the revitalization of the short story in the 1980s....

, American author.

• Don Crow

Don Crow

Donald Le Roy Crow is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. He played in four games for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1982 season, recording four at bats. He never got a big league hit....

, former MLB baseball catcher (Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...

).

• William O. Douglas

William O. Douglas

, Supreme Court Justice

Supreme Court of the United States

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...

; a plaque commemorating the fountain and courtyard at Davis High School in his name was dedicated in 1980 by the Class of 1968 and a statue of Douglas was erected in the courtyard in 2005 in his memory.

• Joe Hipp

Joe Hipp

Joe "The Boss" Hipp is a retired professional Native American Heavyweight boxer. Hipp, a member of Blackfoot Tribe became the first Native American to challenge for the world heavyweight championship of boxing on August 19, 1995 when he fought WBA champion Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand Las Vegas...

, former professional heavyweight boxer.

• Thomas Domingo Rodriquez Kranz, noted trial attorney in Denver, Colo.; University of Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...

alumnus; on the Board of Trustees at Walla Walla Community College

Walla Walla Community College

Walla Walla Community College is a multi-campus community college located in southeastern Washington.WWCC's main branch was established in Walla Walla in 1967 with a first class of 850 students and has grown to an average annual enrollment of over 13,000 students...

.

• Mel Stottlemyre, Jr.

Mel Stottlemyre, Jr.

Melvin Leon Stottlemyre, Jr. is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City Royals. He attended the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.-Houston Astros:...

, former MLB baseball pitcher (Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

).

• Todd Stottlemyre

Todd Stottlemyre

Todd Vernon Stottlemyre is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 15 seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks. He is the son of Mel Stottlemyre, former New York Yankees pitcher. His brother...

, former MLB baseball pitcher (Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....

, Oakland Athletics

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....

, St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...

, Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers (baseball)

The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...

, Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...

).

• Taylor Stubblefield

Taylor Stubblefield

Taylor Evans Stubblefield is a former American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers and St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He left Purdue owning the most receptions in NCAA history. Stubblefield is currently a wide receivers coach at Central Michigan University. A...

, former college football player; set NCAA career receptions mark (325) while at Purdue University

Purdue University

Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...

External links

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