East High School

Wichita High School East, one of seven comprehensive public high schools in the Wichita Public Schools USD 259, is located on a 44-acre urban campus and serves a geographical area of 10.5 square miles. The area encompasses a broad range of socioeconomic levels.

East High has special first class commission with the State Department of Public Instruction, accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

For more detailed information on East High School, its programs and activities, please visit the Wichita High School East website: http://east.usd259.org.


Credits

One-half credit is equal to one-half Carnegie Unit.  All classes receive one-half credit per semester.  The school uses traditional scheduling that consists of seven periods.

Graduation Requirements

A Wichita High School Diploma requires a minimum of 22 units of credit.  This includes credits earned in approved high school programs.

Grade Point Average

A cumulative average based on all classes taken is calculated by awarding point values. Honors and college recommending marks are not used, and grades are not weighted. Grade point averages carried to three places are listed in descending order to determine class rank.

Class Rank

A cumulative average based on all classes taken is calculated by awarding point values. Honors and college recommending marks are not used, and grades are not weighted. Grade point averages carried to three places are listed in descending order to determine class rank.

Exit I-135 at First Street, go east on First Street to Grove. Go south on Grove, past Douglas. East is on the corner of Douglas and Grove. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

Wichita High School East provides a collaborative community where all students and staff are actively engaged in learning.

Each school has a site council, which is a group of parents, community members, business representatives, teachers and other school staff. Site councils identify, consider and discuss educational problems and issues at the school. Councils provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and school site performance goals and objectives. Councils may also recommend methods that may be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives.

Wichita High School East offers a comprehensive curriculum providing for a wide range of student interests and abilities. Offerings include:

• Advanced Placement
• ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
• Gifted Education
• International Baccalaureate Program (IB)
• School-to-Work Programs
• Special Education
• Vocational/Technical Programs
• Peer Coaching
• Executive High School Internship (EHI)
• Community Based Instruction (CBI)
• Youth Court

International Baccalaureate Program

Internationally recognized as one of the most rigorous college-preparatory curricula available, the IB program is offered in 1,421 schools in 117 countries (www.ibo.org). IB students complete four-year programs in English, math, science, social studies and foreign language, with optional courses in music, theater arts, computer studies, or visual arts. Students earning the IB Diploma may earn college credit and/or advanced standing.

Read more on the East IB website, http://east.usd259.org/ib

Athletics

Wichita East High School participates in 10 women's sports and 11 men's sports as a member of the Greater Wichita Athletic League and is classified 6A conference under the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA).

The Wichita Public schools offer a comprehensive interscholastic athletic program for high school students. For more information, visit one of the following websites:

East High Activities & Sports Website - http://east.usd259.org/activities
USD259 Athletics - http://www.usd259.com/offices/athletics

In January 1922, the citizens of Wichita voted bonds for a new Wichita High School. Two years earlier it had become apparent the old high school was too small to house an increasing number of pupils. A large tract of land east of the canal on East Douglas, owned by pioneer Wichitan J. Hudson McKnight, was considered to be the logical location for such a building. After some months of negotiation, the Board of Education purchased the 68 acres for $150,400 and selected Mr. Lorentz Schmidt as the architect for the million dollar structure.

The new building, named Wichita High School (changed to Wichita High School East in 1929 when North High opened), was composed of three main, distinct units: the main building, gymnasium and the shops. The auditorium had a 90-foot stage framed with a Tudor-style proscenium and a seating capacity of 2,200. A laundry, an ice plant, an office vault, a greenhouse, a separate heating plant and cloistered walks connecting the separate units were other attractions. Architecturally, the building was a modified form of Collegiate Gothic.

Because of a growing interest in vocational and industrial arts, a vocational building was added in 1931 and another in 1952. From 1952 to 1968, approximately 500-700 students annually enrolled in a variety of vocational courses. In the summer of 1968, the $1,100,000 Vocational Technical Center of the Wichita Area Vocational-Technical School (now Wichita Area Technical College, Grove Campus) was opened on the East HIgh campus. This center, with a separate administration, offered 18 different areas of training in trade and industry to students and adults.

In 1960, the East High swimming pool was enlarged and the kitchen and cafeteria areas renovated. In 1964, the walkway between the main building and the old shops was enclosed and heated. In 1976-77, a library media center and cafeteria facility to serve both East High and Roosevelt Junior High were constructed, and the old cafeteria, library and administrative office areas were remodeled.

For eight years of the school's history the enrollment exceeded 3,000. A peak of 3,324 occurred in 1952 just before Wichita High School West opened, and another 3,195 in 1956 before Southeast opened. To accommodate the large enrollment, East acquired two portables in 1963. After 1965, the enrollment declined because of the commercialization of the surrounding area. The current enrollment stands at approximately 2,000.

In 1991, the stone filigree of the original cloistered walk between the East building and the gym was torn down. The filigree had deteriorated to the point that it was unsafe for the walk to be open. According to an article published in the May 17, 1991 Messenger, the filigree is to be rebuilt in an historically correct style.

In the fall of 1988, all ninth graders were moved to high schools. In 1990, a handicap lift was installed, and Roosevelt Middle School was closed and alterations made to the building for use by East. The International Bacculaurate (IB) program is currently housed in the building.

From A History of Wichita Public School Buildings, c 1997