Leavenworth High School Celebrates 150 years

~ from Leavenworth County Historical Society Facebook post

In the Summer of 1865, the School Board purchased the brick building formerly used as a church by the Westminster Society and had the interior re-modeled so as to furnish three convenient school rooms to house the newly organized Leavenworth High School.

When the Morris School at 5th and Dakota was completed in 1867 the High School moved into the top floor. The new building, costing $50,000, was described in the 1868 directory, “Such a building is an ornament in our midst. It is something of which, as citizens of Leavenworth, we may be proud, something to which we can call the attention of strangers and challenge their admiration. It is a magnificent witness to the faith of our people in, and their love for, universal education.” 

As enrollment grew, the need for more space led to the 1875 construction of a new brick school at the corner of Walnut and Seventh Streets (at a cost of $30,000 and known as Oak Street School). 

The first high school had no entrance requirements, nor graduates. In his report of ’67, the Superintendent said, “Our High School was started as an experiment; it has proved to be a success; still, the measure of its usefulness will be increased by arranging its classes according to some definite course of instruction. This involves a complete reorganization and regrading.” 

The work of regrading began and was taken vigorously in hand. Examinations were held, and astonished and indignant students went home to report that they had been lowered one, two, or three years. The indignation was contagious, for soon parents began to complain to the Board of Education. However, the Superintendent and Principal were firm, and as a result of their firmness, found themselves unemployed in the middle of the year. The new grading system was continued, however, and in the 1870’s the system was divided into the High School (three grades), Grammar (four grades), and Primary (six grades) departments. In 1871 Leavenworth High School was the first Kansas high school to graduate a class; it graduated its first class of four. 

From 1874 until 1885 the high school remained at the Oak address. In 1886 it moved to another Westminster Church building, this time located on the north side of Walnut between 4th and 5th Streets. Here it remained until 1904 when it moved into its new building at Chestnut and 4th Street. This building burned in 1932 and was rebuilt in the same location. In 1959 the high school moved into its new campus-style buildings at Halderman and 10th Avenue. The building has been remodeled several times since, most recently in 2010.

For more information, contact the Leavenworth Historical Society at 913-682-7759 or visit their website.