East High School
Address
815 E 13th Street

Des Moines
,
Iowa
50316

United States
Coordinates41°35′49″N 93°36′00″W / 41.59694°N 93.60000°W / 41.59694; -93.60000
Information
TypePublic Secondary
MottoFor the Service of Humanity
Established1861 (1861)
School districtDes Moines Independent Community School District
SuperintendentThomas Ahart
NCES School ID190897000528[1]
PrincipalJill Versteeg
Staff98.40 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment2,097 (2019–2020)[1]
Student to teacher ratio21.31[1]
CampusUrban
Color(s)Red and black    
Athletics conferenceCentral Iowa Metro League
MascotEast Scarlets
RivalsLincoln Rail Splitters
North Polar Bears
Southeast Polk Rams
WebsiteDes Moines East

East High School, often locally referred to as East or East High, is a public secondary school located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. East is the oldest high school in the Des Moines metro and is part of the Des Moines Public Schools. East is currently the seventh largest high school in the state by enrollment with 2,076 students.

History

East High was established in 1861 on the top floor of Bryant School, a primary school located at East 9th and Grand Ave. (sometimes listed as Pennsylvania Ave. and Grand Ave. - the other end of the same block) in Des Moines.[2][3][4]

Graduation rates in the early years were extremely low - an Elizabeth Mathews was the sole member of the very first graduating class in 1871, and there were no further high school graduates until 1875. In 1877, the high school moved to the top floor of Webster School at the corner of E. 12th and Lyon Street, where it remained until 1891.[2][4] Rising enrollment forced the freshman class back to Bryant School in 1888.[5]

In 1891, a new and larger dedicated school building with an auditorium, cafeteria and laboratories was opened at E. 12th and Court, directly adjacent to the Iowa State Capitol grounds.[2] At inception, in addition to the high school it housed all the primary students from Bryant and Webster, as well as the offices of the Board of Education and Superintendent. It is written that the students from Bryan and Webster marched to the new facility in a snowstorm.[3] The primary students remained until 1903, when Cary School was built to house them. Originally there were about 200 students, subsequently growing to around 700.[5] One of the few available photos of this building is on the cover of the 1910 Quill yearbook.[6]

In anticipation of yet a larger school, an entire square block of land just a few blocks away from the Capitol was purchased by the East Des Moines School District in 1901 from the State of Iowa for $8,000. The current main building of East High School at E. 13th and Walker St. was constructed in 1910-1911 at a cost of $400,000 to a design by architects Bird and Rawson. A bond issue and ultimately an Iowa Supreme Court ruling were required to allow construction to go forward. Groundbreaking was done by Principal May Goodrell on September 6, 1910, who also placed the cornerstone on January 18, 1911. However, construction costs had consumed the entire budget, leaving little money for furnishings. This delayed occupancy of the building until May 17, 1912, when once again a procession of students marched from the 1891 building to the new school, bringing furnishings with them.[5]

From 1911 onward, the East High campus has never moved again, and it has remained continuously in use as a three- or four-year high school. The main building has received a number of additions, such that it is now surrounded on three sides by newer construction, leaving only the original West-facing neo-classical facade fully exposed (see infobox photo).

On March 7, 2022, it was reported that a school shooting had occurred on the property, killing 15 year old Jose David Lopez and hospitalizing two female students.[7] Police said that the shots most likely came from a moving vehicle. Police said that Jose David Lopez was not a student of the school but he was the intended target of the shooting. Police had several suspects in custody just hours after the event occurred.

Campus

East High is located on East 14th Street (also known as U.S. Route 69) in Des Moines, close to Interstate 235. There is ample grass-covered recreation space, as well as parking, to the west and north of the main building. There is one annex, situated a block away from the main campus.

Main Building Complex

While the main East High is one large building, it consists of several distinct areas built at different times. Some facilities, including the cafeteria, offices, band room, and student center have been relocated more than once, and the East wing was substantially altered in the large 2006 renovation.

  • Main Building (built 1910, dedicated 1911, occupied 1912, renovated 2005 with completion on January 4, 2006). Four stories high, the first floor houses Special Education, Speech, Foreign Language, and Home Economics classes. The second floor is home to the auditorium, counselors' offices, and History and Drama classes. The third floor houses general English and Math classes. The fourth floor holds the art rooms and Special Education classes.
  • East Wing or Gym Wing (1955).[8] Originally home to the main gymnasium, weight room, student center, and Technology Education classes.
  • South Wing or Media Center (1968).[8] The first two floors are occupied by the East High Library, while English classrooms take up the third floor.
  • North Wing (1973).[8] The first floor holds Mathematics classrooms and counseling offices, while the second floor hosts Economics and Computer Sciences.
  • Renovations, new connector building and performing arts wing (completed August 2006).Major $22.6M project with over 100,000 sq. ft. of construction that replaced the student center, cafeteria, offices, music rooms, gymnasium and locker rooms.[9]

Walker Annex

Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, freshman classes were moved to the Walker Annex, located one block away from the main campus. Freshmen attended physical education, chorus, band, and orchestra classes on the main campus, but attended their basic science, math, English, and history courses in the Walker building. In 2012, freshman classes were switched back to the main building. The Walker Annex is now used for students with academic and attendance issues.

Students

As of the 2021-2022 school year, there were 2076 students[10] enrolled at East High, making it the seventh largest public high school in Iowa.[11]

Enrollment

Including some selected historic years for which data is available.

YearTotalSeniors (12th grade)Juniors (11th grade)Sophomores (10th grade)Freshmen (9th grade)
2022-2023 1,647 238 452 463 494
2021-2022[10]2,076

509

2020-2021[12]2,097537482544534
2015-2016[13]2,307
2005-2006[14]2,115357419559780
2004-2005[15]2,125384384592765
2003-2004[15]1,970302438496734
2002-2003[15]1,841319359497666
1917-1918[16]1400+
1916-1917[16]1,306
1914-1915[16]1,029
1912-1913[16]832 (first year in new building)
1911-1912[16]713 (last year in 1891 building)
1910-1911[16]692
1907-1908[16]585
1905-1906[16]470
1900-1901[16]400
1895-1896[16]291
1890-1891[16]243
1885-1886[16]138

Curriculum

The school day is split into four periods of course instruction on an alternating A day/B day schedule. There are four lunches, over the period of two and one half hours. Students can earn an extra half of an hour of lunch for demonstrating proficiency on the Iowa Assessments. The school district requires that students take a number of core academic courses, if they wish to graduate and receive a diploma. This includes Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, Art, and Physical Education. The amount of academic credit needed to satisfy graduation requirements is determined by the school district.

All students are required by the district to enroll in four subject courses and a Physical Education course. However, the school compels Freshman and Sophomore students to schedule a full day of classes, to ensure satisfaction with district graduation requirements. Seniors have the option of having an "open period" during the first or last period of the school day. However, Juniors require parental permission to have an open period.

The district requires 2 semesters of Physical Education. Freshmen and Sophomores usually take their P.E. courses at the school. Juniors and Seniors have the option of taking alternative P.E. programs.

Achievements

Athletic Championships

  • 2011 Girl's Class 4A State Softball Champions[17][18]
  • 2011 Girls' Class 4A State Basketball Champions[19]
  • 2006 Girls' Class 4A State Softball Champions[17][20]
  • 1981 Girls' Softball Champions[17][21]
  • 1980 Class 4A State Baseball Champions[22]
  • 1979 Girls' State Basketball Champions[23]
  • Boys' Cross Country Team State Championships: 1937 A, 1941 A, 1942 A, 1943 A, 1949 AA.[24]
  • Boys' Golf State Champions 1928.[25]
  • Boys' Track and Field Team State Champions: 1909, 1926, 1928, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1944, 1950 A, 1951 A.[26]


Academics

  • 1998 Iowa Teacher of the Year, Ruth Ann Gaines[27]

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Search for Public Schools - East High School (190897000528)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "History of East High School". Archived from the original on October 15, 2006. Retrieved April 10, 2006.
  3. 1 2 Denny, Dr. Robert R. (1976). Bicentennial Reflections: History of Des Moines Public Schools, 1876-1976. Des Moines, IA: Des Moines Independent Community School District. p. 70. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  4. 1 2 Gatti, Ruth (12 May 1993). "Beginning of public school in D.M." Des Moines Register. Des Moines Register. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Denny, Dr. Robert R. (1976). Bicentennial Reflections: History of Des Moines Public Schools, 1876-1976. Des Moines, IA: Des Moines Independent Community School District. pp. 81–82. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  6. ↑ "Des Moines Public Library Yearbook Collection, East High". Des Moines Public Library. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "Teenager dead, two in critical condition after shooting outside Iowa high school -police". Reuters. 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  8. 1 2 3 "East High Through the Years". Des Moines Public Schools. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "East High School, Addition and Renovation". schooldesigns.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  10. 1 2 "2021-2022 DMPS Enrollment Report". Des Moines Independent Community School District. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Largest Public High Schools in Iowa". niche.com. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  12. ↑ "School Directory Information". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "East High School". highschools.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  14. ↑ Des Moines Public Schools (2013). "Enrollment Report for 2013-2014". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. 1 2 3 Des Moines Public Schools (2004). "Enrollment Report as of September 17, 2004" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 25, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2006. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Lewis, Ervin Eugene (1918). University of Iowa Extension Bulletin #37, Survey of the High Schools of Des Moines. Iowa City, IA: State University of Iowa. pp. 5–25.
  17. 1 2 3 "Des Moines East". Iowa High School Sports. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  18. ↑ "State Softball Record Book" (PDF). Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "All Time State Tournament Results" (PDF). Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. pp. 10–17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  20. ↑ "State Softball Record Book" (PDF). Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  21. ↑ "State Softball Record Book" (PDF). Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "2020 IHSAA Baseball State Tournament Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  23. ↑ "All Time State Tournament Results" (PDF). Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. pp. 10–17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  24. ↑ "2020 IHSAA Cross Country Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  25. ↑ "2019-2020 Golf Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  26. ↑ "2020 IHSAA Track & Field Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  27. ↑ Iowa Department of Education Website: http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/686/664/ Archived 2008-09-06 at the Wayback Machine.
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