Heights High School

Wichita Heights High School offers numerous courses to allow students to mix college or vocational preparatory courses with other areas of interest. Scholarship is encouraged through honors, advanced placement and dual-credit classes. Skill development is emphasized across the curriculum in 13 specific areas, which are believed to be essential for students to successfully pursue their future goals. These skill proficiencies were developed with a high level of community involvement and faculty study that focused on improved student achievement. It is the goal that all students will be able to:

• Calculate numerical expressions using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Display data with an appropriate graph, table or chart.
• Organize, analyze and interpret data to solve problems or make predictions.
• Solve application problems involving percents.
• Select the formula that applies and solve an unknown quantity.
• Recognize patterns and make appropriate predictions.
• Solve problems by applying measurements and measurement formulas.
• Determine central ideas from a variety of texts.
• Utilize information from a variety of reference materials.
• Include pertinent and important content in their writing.
• Organize their writing appropriately for the curricular area.
• Include proper vocabulary and nomenclature in their writing.
• Use proper writing conventions.

Beyond the classroom, 35 sports, clubs and activities provide students with an opportunity to become involved in many aspects of campus life. Heights’ location north of Wichita combines the advantages of a quiet country campus with the academic opportunities of a large-city school.

Curricular Initiatives:

Heights offers an NCA (North Central Association) accredited comprehensive curriculum that provides for a wide range of student interests and abilities. In addition to regular academic offerings and Special Education, there are many elective courses in the arts, sciences and industrial/vocational areas. “Honors” courses are offered in English, Biology, Social Studies, and World History. Advanced Placement courses for college credit are offered in English, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, U.S. History, Government and Computer Science. In addition, many courses are offered to assist the student who will enter “the world of work” upon graduation.

Choices abound within the over 200 regular separate courses taught. Heights High School has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence that is supported by teachers, parents and students. The 105 faculty members strive to motivate students to excellence by their own example. Over half of the faculty holds advanced college degrees. The academic support provided by parents is also exceptional. Last year, parent volunteers donated 7,000 hours of service. Add it up as you consider the results of a team effort.

• 9 students attained a 4.0 GPA earning the distinct title of valedictorian
• 24 students were named Kansas Regents Scholars
• Over $3,000,000 in scholarships were offered to the 387 members of the Class of 2009

Exit I-135 at 53^rd St. North (Red Coach Inn is at this exit). Go east on 53^rd St. two miles to Hillside. Heights is on the southwest corner. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

The mission of Heights High School is to provide a positive learning environment for every student, offering each the opportunity to gain proficiency in skills necessary for future goals.

Specific Campus Improvement Plan objectives have been set for reading, writing and math based upon the No Child Left Behind target areas established by the Kansas State Department of Education and the Wichita Public Schools. All student groups, based on race, socio-economics and educational needs, meet the:

• Kansas Reading Assessment target goals within the range of "proficient" to "exemplary."
• Kansas Math Assessment target goals within the range of "proficient" to "exemplary."

The 21-member Heights High School Site Council, comprised of teacher, staff, parent, student, business and community representatives, shares in decisions relative to goal setting, curriculum and instruction, budget, staffing and school organization. Terms of service are for two years. If you’re committed to making our school a better place to learn and grow, consider applying for a position on the Heights High School Site Council. Applications are available at enrollment and are published in the October edition of The Falcon Times parent newsletter.

Site Council Meeting Dates: 

• August 31, 2009
• September 28, 2009 
• October 26, 2009
• November 23, 2009
• January 25, 2010
• February 22, 2010
• March 22, 2010
• April 26, 2010

Location: Conference Room
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Chairperson: Belinda Whitten

Clubs and athletic programs greatly contribute to the school climate. Areas where Heights’ activities have experienced success across the city and state include:

• Kansas Math Assessment – This class was among the top of the city in mathematics proficiency
• Basketball – Seniors led the Falcons men's team to a City League and State Championship finish in Emporia. Our women's team was City League Champions and finished fourth at the state tournament.
• Bowling – Our men’s and women's teams won City League Championships. The men's team finished second at state and the women's team earned fifth place honors.
• Instrumental Music – This program is one of the largest in the city.  In addition to playing at home football games and basketball games, they have participated in numerous festivals and a full concert season. The Jazz Band received all 1-Ratings at festivals.  Numerous Instrumental Band students received 1-Ratings in solo and ensemble festival.
• Baseball – Heights had its 18^th consecutive winning season
• JROTC – Volunteers gave 540 hours in service for the betterment of this community. Twenty-two students’ accomplishments were recognized by nationally fraternal and civic organizations for excellence in academics and leadership.
• Scholarships – Over $3,000,000 in scholarship offers says a lot about the academic and athletic prowess of the students of Heights, as well as the efforts of a very special group of teachers, counselors and coaches.
• Swimming – Senior Bailey Beins was named an eight-time All-American.
• Football – League, District and Regional Champions
• Volleyball – League Champions and fourth at state
• Wrestling – League Champions and fifth at state. Senior Kendrick Maple was named All-American.

While club offerings may vary slightly from year to year, the following are offered:

Clubs

• French Honor Society
• National Honor Society
• Stock Market Club
• SADD
• Spanish Honor Society
• Science Olympiad
• Publications
• Safety Committee
• Bible Study
• Student Council
• Gospel Choir
• Future Educators of America
• French Club
• Business Professionals of America
• Hispanic Awareness
• Asian Awareness
• Peer Leaders
• German Club

Sports

• Cross Country
• Football
• Soccer
• Basketball
• Swimming
• Wrestling
• Bowling
• Baseball
• Golf
• Tennis
• Track
• Pom Pom
• Volleyball
• Softball
• Cheerleading

The Wichita Public schools offer a comprehensive interscholastic athletic program for high school students. For more information click here to go to the Athletic website.

The Wichita Heights Rural High School District No. 192 was organized in accordance with the laws of the State of Kansas on January 6, 1959. The purpose of the organization was to provide a four-year rural high school for an increasing number of pupils from five common, non high school districts in the area. At that time, secondary school students attended 11 different schools in Wichita and Sedgwick County. Overcrowded conditions in these schools seriously restricted the educational opportunity of all students involved. The people of the five common school districts petitioned the County Commission for authority to hold an election to decide whether or not a rural high school district should be organized within the boundaries previously approved by the County Superintendent of Schools. The election was held on December 9, 1958, and was carried by an overwhelming majority.

At a January 5, 1959 meeting, school board members were elected, and the boundaries of Common School Districts No. 51, Kechi Center; No. 184, Kechi; No. 170 North Riverside; No. 171, Riverview; and No. 169, Bridgeport, became the boundaries of Rural High School District No. 192. On March 16, 1959, two administrators were elected by the school board to assist in planning the building and the educational program. It was the desire of the school board to provide a building and program that would meet the very comprehensive educational needs of the community.

The architectural firm of Anderson, Srack and Johnson was employed to design a building for approximately 1,200 students. The Vollmer Construction Company was the successful bidder for the general contract. A bond election was passed on July 31, 1959 and actual construction started shortly thereafter. The building site was selected near the geographic center of the Rural High School District at 53^rd Street and North Hillside. The building was opened for school in the fall of 1961.

Heights High School operated under the control of Rural High School District No. 192 for two years. In December 1962, the rural high school district petitioned for attachment to the Wichita Public School District No. 1. The petition was approved, and in July 1963, Heights entered the Wichita system as a four-year high school. In 1966, the ninth grade was dropped, and Heights became a three-year senior high school.

Enrollment at Heights increased from 706 pupils in September 1961 to a high of 1,770 in September 1969. During the years of growing enrollment, a total of 15 portable units were added. Since 1970, there has been a gradual decrease in school population to approximately 1,200 pupils.

In 1976-77, a new gymnasium and a media center were constructed. McVay, Schmidt and Allen were the architects for the addition.

In the fall of 1988, all ninth graders were moved to high schools.

From A History of Wichita Public School Buildings, c 1997