North High School

North High School students are immersed in a tradition of academic excellence. The Administration and Faculty, with support of the community, has taken the initiative to re-organize into Smaller Learning Communities. The intent is to provide an environment that fosters academic achievement and student connectedness, as well as career exploration. North represents one of the most diverse populations in the city and we celebrate everyone’s differences. As a comprehensive high school, North offers a full range of core and elective courses, including several advanced placement courses. Students may enroll in the Biomedical and TV production programs, which are unavailable at other high schools.

• Reading
• Writing
• Problem Solving
• Attendance and Graduation

Meeting Day: First Monday of the month
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: North High Library
Chairperson: Julie Tice-264-8084 and Lorilyn Kinder-390-8113

Biomedical - Special Program

The Biomedical program is a comprehensive high school curriculum that focuses on medical and technology-related health careers, such as physician, medical technician, nurse and nurse assistant. Through science courses, students learn chemistry, biology, physics and technology with emphasis on medical terminology and medical fields. Experiences in research, field studies and environmental monitoring of local conditions are an integral part of this program.

TV Production - Special program

Students with an interest in broadcasting will receive hands-on experience in writing, producing, taping and editing video programs about classroom, extracurricular and community activities. The TV Production program allows students to build communication, technical and team skills while producing programs for broadcast. Using North’s in-house studio and editing systems, students produce two shows, “North Focus” and “North Exposure,” which air on the Wichita Public School’s cable channel. The program is endorsed by KAKE-TV and the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University.

Auto Technology Center (ATC)

Students with drive and ambition for the automotive field will receive hands-on experience in an automotive lab. Through real world applications, North students will foster growth in an industry-driven world. The Automotive Technology Center prepares students for career opportunities by networking with local businesses and working towards achieving Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification.

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)

AVID is a four-year regularly scheduled elective college preparatory class for disadvantaged students with academic potential. Both teachers and tutors are trained to use specific teaching methodologies and materials to work with these students. AVID students will experience support through study groups and individual work, with assistance in all academic areas. Lessons are also offered in note taking, study skills, test taking, time management, SAT and college entrance/placement exam preparation, effective textbook reading and library research skills. Students receive extensive help in preparing college applications and financial aid forms. In addition, on-going home contact and a Parents’ Advisory Board are vital to the success of the program.

The Indian theme used throughout the design of the building was more than a matter of choice - the Indian was responsible, indirectly, for the founding of North High School. "A history of Kansas written in steel and stone," was a phrase used to describe Wichita High School North when the building was first completed in 1929. However, the history of North truly had its origin many years before land was purchased and building construction was begun in 1928.

In the 1860s the Wichita Indians moved here from Oklahoma to escape persecution for their support of the Union cause in the Civil War. They settled near the junction of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers in what is now the Riverside area. In 1867, the United States government sent Company A of the 10th Division to the forks of the Arkansas to protect the incoming cattle drives from Indians. After the arrival of the army troops, white settlers came to the area and a small settlement began to develop. William Finn, a surveyor, taught the first school established in the settlement (1869). The school had 14 students enrolled and was located at 12^th and Jackson Streets. The 15-acre site at North High now covers the very ground where those children played.

By 1929 the population of Wichita was so great that the only high school (East, built in 1922) could no longer accommodate the city's high school students. Plans for a new high school were begun. In 1928, a new site of 15 acres was purchased at 13^th and Rochester streets, and Wichita High School North was begun.

When the plans for North were being developed, three sketches were submitted to the Board of Education. These plans were Romanesque, Gothic and American. The Board unanimously chose the modern American style of architecture, and Glen H. Thomas was designated the architect. The idea for the Indian and pioneer theme which is expressed on the exterior of the building was drawn up in the original plans. Lawrence W. Byers was instrumental in this part of the design. Bruce Moore, a former Wichita High School graduate, constructed the small scale plaster models of the figures which were to be used. The models were carefully studied, and color was applied to them so the architects could study the actual effect in sunlight and shadow and the actual proportions and harmony. The final full-size figures were developed from the small models by the Terra Cotta Ornamental Works.

The decorations of the building are not of meaningless carvings of stone by are arranged to tell a story of yesteryear. The tower is the central point of interest. In the panel above the arched entrance was placed the pioneer plowman with his yoke of oxen in the foreground, the setting sun and distant hills in the background, typical of the labor and plodding determination required to overcome and conquer the hardships of frontier days. The Indian chief was placed back in the corners near each entrance, watching with immobile countenance the tedious progress of the white man. Rising above all else atop the pylons and on all eight corners of the towers were placed the Indian scout and the eagle. Their duty is to watch, and in watching position they seem to gaze with interest and wonder on the activities of an advancing city and country.

In a panel, also at the top of the tower, is placed the Indian hunter engaged in the hazardous pasttime of shooting down with bow and arrow the lumbering, bellowing and stampeding buffalo. Capping the pylons at the entrances to the gymnasium and the auditorium are the buffalo, basking peacefully in the sun of the western day. At all entrances is an American sun design, a spot of color and light to cheer those who enter or leave. The frieze, patterned after an Indian rug design, was formed to permit the use of the lonely Indian teepee, the Kansas sunflower, and here and there the buffalo again, in full silhouette against the deep blue western sky.

Wichita High School North was built on the pay-as-you-go plan; there was no bond issue. The cost of $1,285,000 included: 15-acre site, $135,000; building, $900,000; and equipment, $250,000. The original building was constructed to house 1,500 students with a cafeteria seating 700 pupils, an auditorium to accommodate 1,500 students, and a gymnasium seating over 2,000 spectators. The plan was that of a large "U" with a wing on each side, the base being 230 feet long. Originally, one side of the "U" was 138 feet long and the other 255 feet.

North began with an enrollment of 800 students with Grover Dotzour as the first principal and a total of 40 teachers. The number of students increased almost yearly until 1952 when 2,147 students were literally packed into its facilities. The opening of Wichita High School West relieved the congestion and reduced the student body to 1,555. The enrollment again increased until the 1968-69 school year when 2,456 students attended classes. Since then enrollment has gradually leveled off to approximately 1,900.

Because of the growth of North's student body, several new sections have been added to the original building. In 1941 an annex for physical education classes was added and was later used to house the journalism classes. In 1950 the auto mechanics shop was opened, and in 1951 the remainder of the project was concluded which provided a girls' gymnasium and remodeled locker and shower room facilities. Also in 1950-51, two annexes for classroom use were placed in the court. In 1955-56 three additional portable annexes were installed. With the opening of the 1957 fall term a large three-story extension of the south wing adding 18 rooms was used for the first time. Remodeling that year also included changes in the administrative and clerical offices. Two additional portables were built for use beginning in 1968, and three more annexes were added for the 1969 school term for a total of 11 annexes to the main building. The successful bond election of 1974 provided funds for construction of a new library and classrooms, and renovation of science classrooms, offices and woodworking room, an extension to the small gymnasium, improve both the boys and girls physical education dressing rooms and shower areas. The improvements and/or additions made it possible to remove all but three of the annex buildings.

Acquisition of land across from the school in 1977, 1980 and 1982 has enabled the school district to provide ample student parking. During the summer of 1988 the cafeteria was relocated to the first floor and classrooms were constructed in the former cafeteria. The change was made to make additional classrooms available to accommodate ninth grade students who started high school as a part of the restructuring plan.

In 1994 hall lockers were replaced.

From A History of Wichita Public School Buildings, c 1997