Kirksville High School
Encyclopedia
Kirksville High School is a public high school
located in Kirksville, Missouri
. The school serves grades 9 through 12, and is part of the Kirksville R-III School District. Current enrollment is 827 students, with a staff of 74 teachers, paras and administrators. Other schools in the district include the Kirksville Middle School (grades 6, 7, & 8), Ray Miller Elementary (grades 3, 4, & 5) and Kirksville Primary School (grades K, 1, & 2). All schools, along with the R-3 District offices are located on a large tract of land in southeast Kirksville.
era, there was no separate high school building until 1894. The first purpose-built high school building was not built until 1899. However rapid community growth soon necessitated the construction of a bigger KHS in 1914. This building, near downtown Kirksville, served the community well for over forty years. Post-World War II
growth and influx of new citizens as well as the post-war baby boom
, pointed out the need to plan for the future. As a result, in 1960 the current Kirksville High School was constructed. Its campus-style design was more conducive to expansions and remodeling, both of which have occurred through the decades, ensuring high education without the high expense of yet another new building.
The KHS Academic Team, or "Quiz Bowl" has advanced to the state competition eight times, occurring in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.
. The Tiger althletic teams compete in the North Central Missouri Conference (NCMC). Kirksville High School has won three state championships; boys tennis in 1984, baseball in 1995, and wrestling in 2009. Additionally, the Kirksville wrestling program has produced several individual state champions in varying weight classes from the 1970s through 2011, the most recent being Colton Schmitz, a senior, (2nd title) and Justin VanHoose, a sophomore, (2nd title). Also Travis Lang, a sophomore, (1st title) and Austin Roper, a sophomore, (1st title).
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Kirksville High School offers the following sports:
The Senior Tile was a donation to the school by the Class Of 1962, the first to graduate from the current building. The Tiger Tile is a 2' by 2' square floor tile featuring a Tiger, located between the main office and library. The tradition states that only seniors may step on the tile and that freshmen, sophomores, and juniors may trod upon it at their own peril. Although violence is not condoned, more than one careless underclassman over the years was known to go home with a sore arm courtesy of a guarding senior.
The Seniors' Last Day of School
The last day of school for Seniors typically occurs two weeks before the end of the school year. On the last day of school the seniors participate in several traditions. For instance, tradition states that on the last day of school for the Senior Class that Seniors block off the parking lot adjacent to both the High School and the Kirksville Area Technical School, or Vo-Tech. Other lesser traditions include: a Senior Skip day, a Senior Bar-B-Que in the parking lot, and various Senior Pranks.
Courtwarming: Courtwarming was first held at Kirksville High School during the 1982-83 school year. Often seen as a winter companion to the football Homecoming, Courtwarming is a time to honor basketball teams and the wrestling program. The week leading up to the games are filled with activities including special dress days and a pep rally. A dance traditionally follows the Courtwarming basketball games.
, Model United Nations, Film Club, Amnesty International
, GLSEN (Gay-Straight Alliance), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), FCA, Future Teachers of America, Science Club
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....
located in Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
. The school serves grades 9 through 12, and is part of the Kirksville R-III School District. Current enrollment is 827 students, with a staff of 74 teachers, paras and administrators. Other schools in the district include the Kirksville Middle School (grades 6, 7, & 8), Ray Miller Elementary (grades 3, 4, & 5) and Kirksville Primary School (grades K, 1, & 2). All schools, along with the R-3 District offices are located on a large tract of land in southeast Kirksville.
History
While public education existed in Kirksville from at least the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
era, there was no separate high school building until 1894. The first purpose-built high school building was not built until 1899. However rapid community growth soon necessitated the construction of a bigger KHS in 1914. This building, near downtown Kirksville, served the community well for over forty years. Post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
growth and influx of new citizens as well as the post-war baby boom
Baby boom
A baby boom is any period marked by a greatly increased birth rate. This demographic phenomenon is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds and when the number of annual births exceeds 2 per 100 women...
, pointed out the need to plan for the future. As a result, in 1960 the current Kirksville High School was constructed. Its campus-style design was more conducive to expansions and remodeling, both of which have occurred through the decades, ensuring high education without the high expense of yet another new building.
Academics
KHS participates in the Missouri A+ program. The school has also been included in the list of America's Best High Schools as judged by US News & World Report magazine.Academics
In May, 2010 the KHS Academic Team aka "Quiz Bowl" varsity team took first place in the Missouri state tournament. This followed a first place finish in April, 2010 at the Missouri state tournament by the junior varsity quiz bowl team.The KHS Academic Team, or "Quiz Bowl" has advanced to the state competition eight times, occurring in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.
Athletics
The extracurricular activities offered at Kirksville High School are fairly small and limited due to the school's moderate size. The Tigers are classified as a 3A school according to the Missouri State High School Activities AssociationMissouri State High School Activities Association
The Missouri State High School Activities Association is the governing body for high school activities throughout the state of Missouri...
. The Tiger althletic teams compete in the North Central Missouri Conference (NCMC). Kirksville High School has won three state championships; boys tennis in 1984, baseball in 1995, and wrestling in 2009. Additionally, the Kirksville wrestling program has produced several individual state champions in varying weight classes from the 1970s through 2011, the most recent being Colton Schmitz, a senior, (2nd title) and Justin VanHoose, a sophomore, (2nd title). Also Travis Lang, a sophomore, (1st title) and Austin Roper, a sophomore, (1st title).
State championships
| State Championships | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Winter | 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... |
1 | 2009 |
| Spring | Tennis, Boys 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... |
1 | 1984 |
| 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... |
1 | 1995 | |
| Total | 3 | ||
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Kirksville High School offers the following sports:
Fall
- Football
- Volleyball
- Boys Cross-Country
- Girls Cross-Country
- Girls Golf
- Boys Soccer
- Girls Tennis
- Cheerleading
Spring
- Baseball
- Boys Golf
- Boys Tennis
- Girls Soccer
- Softball
- Boys Track and Field
- Girls Track and Field
Traditions
The Senior Tile:The Senior Tile was a donation to the school by the Class Of 1962, the first to graduate from the current building. The Tiger Tile is a 2' by 2' square floor tile featuring a Tiger, located between the main office and library. The tradition states that only seniors may step on the tile and that freshmen, sophomores, and juniors may trod upon it at their own peril. Although violence is not condoned, more than one careless underclassman over the years was known to go home with a sore arm courtesy of a guarding senior.
The Seniors' Last Day of School
The last day of school for Seniors typically occurs two weeks before the end of the school year. On the last day of school the seniors participate in several traditions. For instance, tradition states that on the last day of school for the Senior Class that Seniors block off the parking lot adjacent to both the High School and the Kirksville Area Technical School, or Vo-Tech. Other lesser traditions include: a Senior Skip day, a Senior Bar-B-Que in the parking lot, and various Senior Pranks.
Courtwarming: Courtwarming was first held at Kirksville High School during the 1982-83 school year. Often seen as a winter companion to the football Homecoming, Courtwarming is a time to honor basketball teams and the wrestling program. The week leading up to the games are filled with activities including special dress days and a pep rally. A dance traditionally follows the Courtwarming basketball games.
Clubs
Kirksville High School provides students with clubs and organizations in which to participate, including: National Honor SocietyNational Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, Model United Nations, Film Club, Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, GLSEN (Gay-Straight Alliance), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), FCA, Future Teachers of America, Science Club