East High School (Phoenix, Arizona)
Encyclopedia
East High School was the high school for east Phoenix, Arizona
, on 48th Street near Roosevelt Street. It opened in the fall of 1964 and closed in 1982 amidst sharply declining enrollment.
and North
high schools. (Tempe's McClintock High School
was in a similar situation.) The building opened on January 25, 1965. East was part of a five-year building campaign to add new high schools to relieve overcrowding in Phoenix; Alhambra High School
and Maryvale High School
also opened their doors.
An advisory council selected the school colors: their choices were scarlet, purple and white. The students chose the Longhorn mascot — one school board member found it an ill fit to the area. (He backed down, however, when reminded that there were Spartans
as the mascot at one school.) The Longhorn mascot was a fit anyways, thanks to its location; it was just north of the old Phoenix-Tovrea Stockyards in an area known for its ranching heritage.
The land on which the school was built was the old farm of R.G. Langmade. Roosevelt Dam water was used to irrigate alfalfa along 48th Street and to maintain citrus groves. In 1956, the 58 3/4 acre property was sold to a J.T. Jackson, whose widow sold it to the district in 1959 at a cost of $4,000 an acre.
Construction began in September 1963. It cost US $3,242,800 ($ in dollars). This was the district's most expensive school until Trevor G. Browne High School
was built. The new campus was more modern than others in the district, combining the library and audiovisual department into one instructional materials center. The library featured space for 17,000 books. The auditorium was delayed, opening in April 1965 (after the main buildings were opened). A health building opened in 1974, followed by an occupational education hall in January 1976.
East was built to service 2,500 students (levels it would reach by 1973). But with a student body of 700 and 33 teachers at the outset, many classrooms were vacant in the school's early years.
An open lunch period debuted in 1971, following the lead of Camelback and Central
high schools.
In the 1970s, the mix of students reflected increasingly minority demographics. New student committees and awareness programs were introduced as a result.
East athletics earned several state championships. In 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980, and 1981, boys' basketball teams won championships under coach Royce Youree — during the first year, Youree coached football, basketball, and baseball. The team also won 54 straight games in 1975 and 1976 and lost the 1984 title in four overtimes to Alhambra High School — a game that stands to this day as the longest championship in Arizona high school basketball history.
Enrollment began to fall precipitously in the Phoenix Union High School District of the 1970s. East High went from 2410 to 1251 students in the period from 1977 to 1982; North lost half its enrollment in the 1970s; Phoenix Union shrunk by two-thirds in the same period; and West was below 2,000 students for the first time since 1950. The district closed East, West, North, and Phoenix Union in the first half of the 1980s. (North was reopened in 1984.) The school remained standing until 2002, when the property was redeveloped. Part of the land, including the site of the school's football field, is now right of way for the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway
, opened in 1990.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, on 48th Street near Roosevelt Street. It opened in the fall of 1964 and closed in 1982 amidst sharply declining enrollment.
History
While the school was under construction, it was open in the fall of 1964, with double sessions at Phoenix UnionPhoenix Union High School
Phoenix Union High School was the main high school for Phoenix, Arizona, at 7th Street and Van Buren Avenue. It closed in 1982 amidst declining enrollment, along with East High School and West High School. It is the namesake of the still-extant Phoenix Union High School District.The mascot was the...
and North
North High School (Phoenix, Arizona)
North High School is part of the Phoenix Union High School District. The campus is located at 1101 East Thomas Road north of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA. North’s enrollment is 2600 students. The school predominantly serves students from partner elementary districts Madison, Osborn, Creighton...
high schools. (Tempe's McClintock High School
McClintock High School
McClintock High School is located in Tempe, Arizona, approximately two miles southeast of the campus of Arizona State University. McClintock High School was established in 1964. McClintock moved to the Arizona 4A Conference beginning with the 2001-02 school year...
was in a similar situation.) The building opened on January 25, 1965. East was part of a five-year building campaign to add new high schools to relieve overcrowding in Phoenix; Alhambra High School
Alhambra High School (Phoenix, Arizona)
Alhambra High School is part of the Phoenix Union High School District. The campus is located at 3839 West Camelback Road, northwest of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Alhambra's enrollment is 2900 students, just under 80 percent of whom are Hispanic...
and Maryvale High School
Maryvale High School (Phoenix, Arizona)
Maryvale High School is part of the Phoenix Union High School District. The campus is located at 3415 North 59th Avenue northwest of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Maryvale’s enrollment is 2624 students, over 90 percent of whom are Hispanic...
also opened their doors.
An advisory council selected the school colors: their choices were scarlet, purple and white. The students chose the Longhorn mascot — one school board member found it an ill fit to the area. (He backed down, however, when reminded that there were Spartans
Camelback High School
Camelback High School is part of the Phoenix Union High School District. The campus is located at 4612 North 28th Street, northeast of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Camelback’s enrollment is 2,000 students, over 75 percent of whom are Hispanic...
as the mascot at one school.) The Longhorn mascot was a fit anyways, thanks to its location; it was just north of the old Phoenix-Tovrea Stockyards in an area known for its ranching heritage.
The land on which the school was built was the old farm of R.G. Langmade. Roosevelt Dam water was used to irrigate alfalfa along 48th Street and to maintain citrus groves. In 1956, the 58 3/4 acre property was sold to a J.T. Jackson, whose widow sold it to the district in 1959 at a cost of $4,000 an acre.
Construction began in September 1963. It cost US $3,242,800 ($ in dollars). This was the district's most expensive school until Trevor G. Browne High School
Trevor G. Browne High School
Trevor G. Browne High School is part of the Phoenix Union High School District. The campus is located at 7402 West Catalina Drive, northwest of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Trevor Browne's enrollment is 2,887 students, over 80 percent of whom are Hispanic...
was built. The new campus was more modern than others in the district, combining the library and audiovisual department into one instructional materials center. The library featured space for 17,000 books. The auditorium was delayed, opening in April 1965 (after the main buildings were opened). A health building opened in 1974, followed by an occupational education hall in January 1976.
East was built to service 2,500 students (levels it would reach by 1973). But with a student body of 700 and 33 teachers at the outset, many classrooms were vacant in the school's early years.
An open lunch period debuted in 1971, following the lead of Camelback and Central
Central High School (Phoenix, Arizona)
Central High School is a high school in the Phoenix Union High School District, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.The campus is located at 4525 North Central Avenue, just north of downtown. Central’s enrollment is 2315 students. Over 60 percent of the population is Hispanic...
high schools.
In the 1970s, the mix of students reflected increasingly minority demographics. New student committees and awareness programs were introduced as a result.
East athletics earned several state championships. In 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980, and 1981, boys' basketball teams won championships under coach Royce Youree — during the first year, Youree coached football, basketball, and baseball. The team also won 54 straight games in 1975 and 1976 and lost the 1984 title in four overtimes to Alhambra High School — a game that stands to this day as the longest championship in Arizona high school basketball history.
Enrollment began to fall precipitously in the Phoenix Union High School District of the 1970s. East High went from 2410 to 1251 students in the period from 1977 to 1982; North lost half its enrollment in the 1970s; Phoenix Union shrunk by two-thirds in the same period; and West was below 2,000 students for the first time since 1950. The district closed East, West, North, and Phoenix Union in the first half of the 1980s. (North was reopened in 1984.) The school remained standing until 2002, when the property was redeveloped. Part of the land, including the site of the school's football field, is now right of way for the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway
Arizona State Route 202
State Route 202, or Loop 202, is the beltway encompassing the eastern Phoenix, Arizona, United States Metropolitan area. It navigates and surrounds the cities of Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert, making it very vital to the area freeway system...
, opened in 1990.