Webster Groves High School

Webster Groves High School
Location
100 Selma Avenue Webster Groves, Missouri United States
Information
Type	Public secondary
Established	1906
School district	Webster Groves School District
Principal	Dr. Jon Clark
Grades	9-12
Number of students	1,378 (2007-08)
Student to teacher ratio	19:1
Classrooms	84
Color(s)	Orange and Black
Athletics	Missouri State High School Activities Association - Varsity and Junior Varsity
Mascot	Statesmen
Newspaper	The Echo
Superintendent	Dr. Brent Underwood
Website	Webster Groves High School - Home

Webster Groves High School is a public secondary school in Webster Groves, Missouri. It is located at 100 Selma Ave, Webster Groves, MO. The school is part of the Webster Groves School District and its current principal is Dr. Jon Clark.

History

Webster Groves High School was first established in 1889 as a ninth grade course. The original high school building was located on Gray Avenue, which was later changed into Bristol Elementary School. In 1906, a new building for the school was built at its current location, 100 Selma Avenue. At first the high school was a two-story brick building with three classrooms and an auditorium. In 1913 two wings were added to the school, which contained an auditorium and a gymnasium. In 1917 an Armory was erected, but it was converted to the gymnasium/lunch room after World War I. In 1946 that building was replaced by Roberts Gym, named after Charles A. Roberts, who coached and taught at the school for 39 years. In the 1920s a three-story section and public library were added. In 1935 an addition was completed that added the drama, home economics, and science department classrooms. In 1966 a three-story wing was added onto the back of the building and the Herbert Schooling Library was donated. The original fireplace from this library still stands today.

Facilities

The Webster Groves High School building has 84 classrooms along with an auditorium, a media center, and a theater. It has a soccer field to the west and a baseball and softball field to the east. Moss Field, the football stadium, is located at Hixson Middle School at 630 South Elm Avenue, a short drive from the high school. The field was built in 1946 and has been renovated several times. It now has locker rooms, bleachers, lights and an all-weather track.

Mission Statement

The Webster Groves School District community is committed to academic and personal success for every student.

Curriculum

24 credits are required to graduate from Webster Groves High School. The class of 2010 and every class thereafter need four credits of Communication Skills; three credits each of Science, Math, and Social Studies; one Fine Art credit; one and a half credits each of Practical Arts and Physical Education; and six and a half Elective Credits. Students are also required to take a half credit of Personal Finance, which is considered either a practical art or a social studies credit.

Activities and Clubs

• A-Men
• Acting to Build Character (ABC)
• Anime Club
• Art Club
• Athletic Training Club
• Band
• Chess Club
• Choir
• Circle of Friends
• DECA
• Fall Musical
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
• Fencing Club
• FIRE
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
• Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA)
• German Exchange Club
• Guard
• History Club
• International Club
• Jazz Band
• Key Club
• Latin Club
• Math Club
• National Honor Society (NHS)
• Peer Helpers
• Reflections Archives
• STAR / FCCLA
• Student Action For the Environment (SAFE)
• Student Council
• Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
• Students for Awareness and Action (SAA)
• Swing Dance Club
• Thespians
• Webster's Reel Film Project
• Yoga Club

Turkey Day Football Game

The Turkey Day football game is an annual game held on Thanksgiving Day between Webster Groves High School and its rival, Kirkwood High School. The rivalry between the two schools is the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi. The location of the game alternates each year between Webster’s Moss Field and Kirkwood’s Lyon’s Memorial field. In 2007, the 100th Turkey Day game was played at Kirkwood High School. A number of festivities surround the game, including a shared dance and a separate bonfire and pep rally at each school.

Sports

Webster Groves High School sponsors a number of different sports, including football (men's), soccer (men's and women's), basketball (men's and women's), baseball (men's), softball (women's), golf (men's and women's), track and field (men's and women's), swimming (men's and women's), and lacrosse (women's). Ice hockey and men's lacrosse are club sports at the high school.

State Championship Wins

• 1931: Boys Track  
• 1947: Boys Golf    
• 1951: Boys Golf    
• 1954: Boys Golf    
• 1967: Boys Swimming    
• 1968: Boys Swimming    
• 1970: Boys Swimming    
• 1979: Football  
• 1983: Girls Golf    
• 1984: Girls Golf    
• 1988: Football  
• 1996: Boys Basketball  
• 2002: Football  
• 2008: Boys Basketball  

Media References

In 1966 CBS produced an award winning documentary called 16 In Webster Groves, which was about the lives of students in Webster Groves. In 1996 then-President Bill Clinton came to the school to recognize the Webster Groves School District’s work towards preventing drugs and violence among its students. In 1999 Time magazine devoted a cover story to a week at Webster Groves High School.

Faculty

• Average professional experience: 15.3 years
• Percentage of teachers with advanced degrees: 79.4%

School Information

• Grades: 9-12
• Enrollment: 1,378
• Senior class of 2008: 329
• Student/teacher Ratio: 19:1
• Rate of Attendance: 93.6%
• Graduation Rate: 97.9%
• 2008 Composite ACT Score: 23.4
• 2008 National Merit Semifinalist Students: 2
• 2008 National Merit Commended Students: 4
• Courses offering College Credit: 23

Webster Groves High School is a closed campus for grades 9-11. Seniors are given the privilege to leave campus during the school day.

References

• Webster Groves High School 2007-2008 Accountability Report Card. Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 6 December 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
• "Webster Groves High School Profile". Webster Groves High School Guidance Center. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
• District Information - History Webster Groves High School. Retrieved 11 May 2009.