Waukee High School (also known as Waukee Senior High School) is a three-year public high school in Waukee, Iowa, United States. The school hosts grades 10–12. It is run by the Waukee Community School District.

Waukee High School
Location
Map
555 SE University Avenue
Waukee, IA 50263
Coordinates41°36′03″N 93°50′36″W / 41.600822°N 93.8432808°W / 41.600822; -93.8432808
Information
TypePublic high school
Establishedc.1997
School districtWaukee Community Schools
SuperintendentBrad Buck
PrincipalCary Justmann
Staff77.84 (FTE)[1]
Faculty112[2]
Enrollment1,345 (2023–2024)[1]
Student to teacher ratio17.28[1]
Color(s)Purple and Gold    
Athletics conferenceCentral Iowa Metro League
NicknameWaukee Warriors
RivalValley High School Dowling Catholic Johnston High School Waukee Northwest High School
Information515-987-5163
Websitewaukeeschools.org

As of the 2017–18 school year, the school has an enrollment of 1,950 students and 112 faculty with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.[3]

History

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The high school first opened its doors in 1997.[3] Since then it has renovated and expanded in 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2012.[3] The latest renovation included "an additional 24 classrooms (including three new computer labs, a new media center, and three new science rooms), renovated classrooms, Waukee Fieldhouse, and additional locker rooms." The new fieldhouse has created some controversy because of its considerable cost (nearly $15 million).[4] The gym's large video screen features such amenities as instant replay and player introduction clips.

Enrollment

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As of the 2018–2019 school year, there were 2,081 students enrolled at Waukee High School.[1] This number has grown exponentially over the years, as Waukee is one of the fastest growing school districts in Iowa.

During the 2010–2011 school year, up to 90% of enrolled students were white. Waukee High School has been slowly becoming more diverse ever since. During the 2018–2019 school year, 81% of enrolled students were white.[1]

Academics

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Waukee High School uses a block-scheduling system which has students spending their day in just four classes per day for 90 minutes each. In the average high school class system (eight classes per day), students spend a whole year enrolled in their core classes with semester-long electives. Waukee's block-scheduling keeps students in their core classes for a semester with quarter-long electives. Research has shown that this system creates better attendance rates and more Honor Roll students than traditional class scheduling.[5]

The school has traditionally boasted good grades and test scores. In 2012, the school tested at a 92% proficiency rate for math (state average 83%) and a 94% proficiency rate for reading (state average 84%).[6] The school received the highest possible rating on greatschool.org. The class of 2011 held an ACT composite score average of 23.5 (state average was 22.3).[7]

Activities

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Vocal music

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Waukee's premier curricular ensemble, "A Cappella," has been honored with performances at the 2005 and 2015 National, and 2010 and 2021 Regional Conventions of the American Choral Directors Association.[citation needed]

Waukee has three show choirs: Spirit, Millennium and Nova. Under the direction of Matt Huth until 2015, Millennium experienced remarkable success. From 2012 to 2015, they received the award for Best Vocals at every competition in which they performed - a total of 16. Additionally, they were crowned Grand Champion at 13 of the 16 competitions (they were awarded First Runner-Up at the other three), going entirely undefeated in both 2013 and 2014.[citation needed]

Athletics

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Since the 2006–2007 school year, Waukee High School[8] has been competing in the CIML (Central Iowa Metro League).[9] In 1997, Waukee was one of the smallest schools in the state, competing at 1A and 2A levels (1A to 5A in order of increasing school size). The school spent several years at the 3A level and has since subsequently risen to 4A and now 5A (the largest class in the state of Iowa). Waukee initially joined the CIML in the Iowa conference; however, since Ankeny has split into two high schools, the league is now moving to a four-conference format for the 2013–2014 seasons.[10]

Fall Sports

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  • Football
  • Volleyball
  • Boys' Cross-Country
  • Girls' Cross-Country
  • Boys' Golf
    • Boys' Golf first state championship was in Fall of 2010 at The Harvester Golf Club. In Fall of 2012 boys' golf won their second state title at Tournament Club of Iowa. The Fall of 2014, boys’ golf won a third state title at Tournament Club of Iowa. In the fall of 2015, boys’ golf won a fourth state title at Elmcrest CC in Cedar Rapids. In the fall of 2018, boys’ golf won a fifth state title at Brown Deer GC in Coralville. In the fall of 2019, boys’ golf won a sixth title and second in a row, held at Tournament Club of Iowa, with three individuals placing in the top 20 (Matthew O'Brien 10th, Jackson Starr 11th, Joshua Nichols 17th).[11] In the fall of 2020, boys’ golf won a seventh state title at Des Moines Golf & CC.[citation needed]
  • Girls' Swimming and Diving
    • 2011 was the teamt's inaugural season. Prior to 2011, the team members were competing on the combined Johnston-Urbandale-Waukee team; however, Waukee created its own team after the construction of a new YMCA in Waukee.[citation needed]

Winter Sports

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  • Boys' Basketball
    • 2021 State Champions Class 4A
  • Girls' Basketball
    • 2015 State Champions Class 5A[12]
    • 2021 State Champions Class 5A
  • Bowling
    • Boys' 2022 Class 3A State Champions[13]
  • Wrestling
  • Boys' Swimming
    • 2011 was the team's inaugural season. Prior to 2011 they were competing on the combined Johnston-Urbandale-Waukeee team.[citation needed]
    • 5-time State Champions (2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023)[14]

Spring Sports

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  • Boys' Track and Field
    • 2015 Class 4A State Champions[15]
    • 2014 Class 4A State Champions
    • 3-time wheelchair state champions (2018, 2019, 2021)[16]
  • Boys' Soccer - The 2019 team finished 3rd nationally according to Top Drawer Soccer[17] and 8th nationally according to USA Today/United Soccer Coaches Super 25[18]
    • 2019 3A State Championship Team[19]
    • 2018 3A State Championship Team
    • 2001 1A State Championship Team
    • 1999 1A State Championship Team
  • Girls' Soccer
  • Boys' Tennis
    • 2021 Class 2A State Champions[20]
  • Girls' Tennis
  • Girls' Golf[citation needed]
    • 2013 5A State Championship Team
    • 2012 4A State Championship Team
  • Girls' Lacrosse
    • Their inaugural season was 2010. They generally compete in five tournaments a year with one at home. The tournaments are located in Omaha, Kansas City, and multiple places in Missouri. The team is associated with the YMCA, which sponsors the tournaments. Combined with some students from Valley High School, this Girls' Lacrosse Team was the first high-school-age team in Iowa.[citation needed]

Summer Sports

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  • Baseball
  • Softball
    • 2015 5A State Champions[21]
    • 2000 2A State Champions
    • 1999 2A State Champions
  • Cheerleading[citation needed]
    • 4A Cheer State titles (2012)
    • Coed Cheer State titles (2015, 2016)
    • 4A Stunt team State titles (2012)
  • Dance Team[citation needed]
    • Pom State titles (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008)
    • Hip Hop State titles (2013, 2012)

Expansion/Growth

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By itself, the town of Waukee is not very large. Waukee's school district, however, is immense in comparison, encompassing the suburbs as far east as West Des Moines and as far west as the edge of Adel. Because the district extends into West Des Moines, the district has been able to take advantage of enormous residential growth surrounding the Jordan Creek Town Center. This growth has led the district to open a new school each year for six years straight.

Waukee High School has had to expand four times to accommodate the ever-growing student population.

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Waukee Senior High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "Waukee High School - Staff". Archived from the original on 2011-10-26.
  3. ^ a b c "Waukee High School". www.waukee.k12.ia.us.
  4. ^ "High School Insider: Waukee's New Fieldhouse Rivals Some College Venues". www.usatodayhss.com.[dead link]
  5. ^ "BLOCK SCHEDULING: RESEARCH". coe.winthrop.edu. Archived from the original on 2001-06-18.
  6. ^ "Explore Waukee Senior High School in Waukee, IA". www.greatschools.org.
  7. ^ "Waukee High School: Academic Achievements". www.waukee.k12.ia.us. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  8. ^ "Waukee".
  9. ^ "Central Iowa Metropolitan League". www.cimlcentral.org.
  10. ^ ciml waukee history
  11. ^ Godwin, Cody (October 12, 2019). "State golf: Waukee tops Valley by one stroke to win second straight Class 4A title". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "2023 Record Book Bowling" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. August 18, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "IHSAA 2023-24 Swimming Record Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. February 1, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  15. ^ "2020 IHSAA Track & Field Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  16. ^ "2023 IHSAA Track & Field Record Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. September 1, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "FAB 50 High School Soccer Team Rankings".
  18. ^ "High School Rankings – Spring Boys – National | United Soccer Coaches".
  19. ^ "Soccer Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  20. ^ "2023 IHSAA Tennis State Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. March 12, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  21. ^ "State Softball Record Book" (PDF). Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. 9 July 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  22. ^ Anderson, Erich B. (July 30, 2021). "The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Joey Jordison". Grunge.
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