Kent-Meridian High School

Kent Meridian High School
Location
Kent, Washington
United States
Information
Type Free public
Motto Achieving Excellence... Every Day!
Established 1951
School district Kent School District
Principal Dr. Wade Barringer
Faculty 65
Grades 9th through 12th
Enrollment 2200
Campus type Urban
Color(s) Red, white and blue
Mascot Royals
Website www.kent.k12.wa.us/KM/

Kent-Meridian High School is a high school located in Kent, Washington, United States, and part of the Kent School District. Kent-Meridian is one of four high schools in the Kent School District. It servers students in grades nine through twelve who live mainly in the south region of the district. Its principal is Dr. Wade Barringer.[1]

The school opened in its present form in 1951 when the Kent School District merged with the Panther Lake and Meridian School Districts. This new high school served all three districts.[2] The former Kent High School building became Kent Junior High School.[3]

Athletics

Kent-Meridian is part of the Cascade Division of the North Puget Sound League as of the 2016-17 school year.[4] Kent-Meridian High School's athletic teams are known as the Royals. Teams compete at French Field located next to the school.

Dick Pruett coached Kent-Meridian wrestlers to success from (1966–1992). He compiled a dual match record of 298–72–7. His teams amassed 17 league titles and 14 Sub Regional Championships, were regional champs 10 times and produced three state championships, 2nd and 4 thirds, totaling 9 times placing in the top three in State. Individually Pruett's wrestlers claimed 80 League Champs, 62 regional champs, and 16 state champs (one of those being his son Joe, who took the 135 title in 1985.) Dick counts 63 wrestlers as state placers.

Another legend of Kent-Meridian is the late Gunter Bohrmann who taught gymnastics, leading the boys gymnastics team to 12 regional titles, eight state titles and two national titles between 1969 and 1982. He became the coach of the Kent-Meridian girls gymnastics team in 1985 and led them to the state title. He retired in 2001 and there has been no boys gymnastics team since.

Kent-Meridian uses a swimming pool which was built as a part of King County Forward Thrust which is now owned by the city of Kent.

Kent-Meridian won a track state championship in 2011, and finished second in 2009.[5]

Kent-Meridian has an excellent volleyball team. The team has made the state playoffs 18 times, with the last being in 2011-2012.[6]

Taylor Trophy

The Taylor Trophy is given to and kept by the winner of the yearly football rivalry between Auburn High School and Kent-Meridian dating back to 1908. Dr. Owen Taylor created the trophy presentation in 1929. Dr. Taylor owned the Kent hospital that was on Second Avenue and Gowe Street and he had a home on Scenic Hill. The rivalry is the second oldest football rivalry in Washington. Kent-Meridian has the greatest number of victories over Auburn for the all-time record. The trophy has been with Auburn since 1996, but the 2014 Kent-Meridian football team reclaimed it, thanks to their kicker Tristan Ingold.

Kent-Meridian all-star DB/RB Kyle Reeves holds the record for most tackles and interceptions in a Taylor Trophy championship match. In the Taylor museum is the Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket of Badgro, one of the highlights of the exhibit. Badgro was born in Kent and graduated in 1921 from Kent High. He retired in Kent and died in 1998 at the age of 95.[7]

Kent-Meridian Technology Academy

Kent-Meridian is home to the Kent-Meridian Technology Academy. The KMTA is an innovative Small Learning Community that is part of Kent-Meridian, characterized by its utilization of project-based learning, STEAM, and 21st Century Skills.[8]

I.B. Program

Kent-Meridian is the only Kent high school that provides the International Baccalaureate program. The IB program is for 11th and 12 grade students.

KM students who choose to become IB Diploma Candidates must complete work and assessments in six academic areas during their junior/senior years. Additionally, students must write an extended essay, fulfill service requirements and complete the Theory of Knowledge course. Students taking these courses can take the IB final exam and receive the IB certification, increasing their chance of admission to most colleges.

Notable alumni

Lawsuits

Kent-Meridian was involved in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union in 1997. Mark Iversen vs. Kent School District, et al., which alleged that a student at Kent-Meridian was repeatedly harassed for being gay. The suit was settled in 1999.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Report Card from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Retrieved July 12, 2006.
  2. ↑ "Period of Rapid Growth (1950-Today)" Kent History: A Virtual Tour of Kent, Washington Retrieved July 12, 2006.
  3. ↑ Slater, Marcia. "Curriculum Management Audit:History of Kent School District December 1998. Retrieved July 12, 2006.
  4. ↑ http://www.kentreporter.com/sports/367006581.html?mobile=true
  5. ↑ http://www.wiaa.com/schoolhistory.aspx
  6. ↑ http://www.wiaa.com/schoolhistory.aspx
  7. ↑ http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/sports/29772954.html
  8. ↑ http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/KMTA
  9. ↑ Longoria, Ruth. "Reichert to seek reelection" Mercer Island Reporter July 6, 2006. Retrieved July 12, 2006.
  10. ↑ "Jersey City educator named N.J. charter school teacher of the year". www.nj.com. Retrieved 2016-07-23.
  11. ↑ Settlement Reached in Harassment of Gay Student from the ACLU January 1, 1999. Retrieved July 12, 2006.

Coordinates: 47°22′22″N 122°12′25″W / 47.372758°N 122.206957°W / 47.372758; -122.206957

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