Thomas McKean High School
Encyclopedia
Thomas McKean High School is a comprehensive public high school
located on 301 McKennan's Church Road in Wilmington, Delaware
. The school opened in December, 1966, and graduated
its first class in June 1967.
, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence
, as its namesake
, the school followed several traditions associated with the Scottish
heritage of Thomas McKean
. The mascot is a fierce Highlander
, wearing a kilt
made of the tartan of the Clan MacDonald. Among the dominant colors of the plaid
are blue and green, the school's colors. In addition, the names of the school newspaper—Minstrel
—and the yearbook—Talisman—reflect the culture of the Scottish Highlands
. The Minstrel is headed by Junior Catherine Gillette who is also the Editor of the Minstrel.
as well with safety equipment and slowly upgrading the schools internal computer network. Also a new band room and several other new rooms are being constructed currently as well.
The dropping enrollment has already caused Thomas McKean High School to move down a flight in the Delaware high school athletic conference, and has sparked concerns.
Dropping enrollment may be due to a mix of changing area demographics, the Delaware school choice system, and increasing enrollment at charter and magnet schools across the state.
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 on 301 McKennan's Church Road in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. The school opened in December, 1966, and graduated
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
its first class in June 1967.
Traditions
Having selected Thomas McKeanThomas McKean
Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of...
, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
, as its namesake
Namesake
Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that has the same, or a similar, name to another....
, the school followed several traditions associated with the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
heritage of Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of...
. The mascot is a fierce Highlander
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
, wearing a kilt
Kilt
The kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear, originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century. Since the 19th century it has become associated with the wider culture of Scotland in general, or with Celtic heritage even more broadly...
made of the tartan of the Clan MacDonald. Among the dominant colors of the plaid
Plaid
Plaid may refer to:Material* A plaid or full plaid is a pleated cloth worn with the modern kilt, made from the same tartan and worn cast over the shoulder and fastened at the front* The belted plaid or "great kilt", earlier form of the kilt...
are blue and green, the school's colors. In addition, the names of the school newspaper—Minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
—and the yearbook—Talisman—reflect the culture of the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. The Minstrel is headed by Junior Catherine Gillette who is also the Editor of the Minstrel.
Physical Building
Originally designed as a model school for flexible scheduling, the building has several unique features and has proven adaptable to many situations. The school expanded in 1972, adding ninth grade to the student body and a new wing to the building. Thus, the class of 1976 was the first to spend four years at McKean. The school is currently going under construction for updating labsLaboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
as well with safety equipment and slowly upgrading the schools internal computer network. Also a new band room and several other new rooms are being constructed currently as well.
Problems facing McKean High School
According to the Delaware School Profiles, Thomas McKean High School is currently declining in enrollment. In the year 2001, there were 1,354 students enrolled at Thomas McKean High School. By the year 2007, there were 1,062 students enrolled, which is a 259-student drop.The dropping enrollment has already caused Thomas McKean High School to move down a flight in the Delaware high school athletic conference, and has sparked concerns.
Dropping enrollment may be due to a mix of changing area demographics, the Delaware school choice system, and increasing enrollment at charter and magnet schools across the state.
Sports
McKean was known to be one of the top public powerhouse men's swimming teams. They consistently finished in the top three for States. Here is a chart of some of the team's accomplishments.| Year | Men's Swimming Season Accomplishment |
|---|---|
| 1980 |
|
| 1996 |
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| 1997 |
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| 1998 |
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| 1999 |
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| 2000 |
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| 2001 |
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| 2002 |
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| 2003 |
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| 2004 |
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Points of Pride
- McKean's current Marching BandMarching bandMarching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
is led by Drum MajorDrum MajorA drum major is the leader of a marching band, drum and bugle corps, or pipe band, usually positioned at the head of the band or corps. The drum major, who is often dressed in more ornate clothing than the rest of the band or corps, is responsible for providing commands to the ensemble regarding...
Joey Dice. The Director is Wes Morton. - The school's most famous alumnusAlumnusAn alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
is former Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
great Randy WhiteRandy White (American football)Randall Lee "Randy" White is a former American football defensive lineman and linebacker. He attended the University of Maryland from 1971 to 1974, and played professionally for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975 to 1988. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
, who has the football field named in his honor. - The school also counts Tom Verlaine of Television as a former student.