Rainier Beach High School
| Rainier Beach High School | |
|---|---|
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| Address | |
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8815 Seward Park Avenue South Seattle, Washington 98118 United States |
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| Coordinates | 47°31′28″N 122°16′00″W / 47.52444°N 122.26667°WCoordinates: 47°31′28″N 122°16′00″W / 47.52444°N 122.26667°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public High School |
| Principal | Dwane Chappelle |
| Enrollment | 448 (2013-14) |
| Color(s) | Blue & Orange |
| Mascot | Vikings |
| Information | (206) 252-6350 |
| Website | rainierbeachhs |
Rainier Beach High School is a public secondary school (grades 9-12) in the Seattle Public Schools system. It is located in the Rainier Beach area, in the southeastern part of the city of Seattle, Washington, United States. The school historically has had a strong emphasis on team sports, and many championship teams. The building has a capacity of 1,200 students, but enrollment has declined greatly in recent years. In 2006, 1,302 of the 1,600 high school students living in the Rainier Beach neighborhood traveled out of the area each morning to attend other high schools. In 2008-09, Rainier Beach began the year with 453 students and ended with about 295, giving an average monthly enrollment of 374. Sixty students chose it as their first choice. In 2013 the school began offering an International Baccalaureate program.
Rainier Beach High School is a member of the 3A Metro Conference, part of Sea-King District 2 and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.
In 2002, Rainier Beach's men's basketball team was ranked number 1 in the entire country for a brief time, defeating teams like St. Vincent - St. Mary High School
As of October 2007, 59.8% of enrolled students were African American, 24.4% were Asian, 9.4% were Hispanic, 5% were White and 1.4% were Native American. Of the 361 students, 61.8% qualify for free or reduced lunch. These demographics reflect the neighborhood itself. In October 2009, 70.6% of students were eligible for free or reduced price meals. It is the only high school in the state of Washington where African-American students account for the majority of the student body. [1]
Rainier Beach has a history of trying new things, beginning with its founding. Starting as a combined Middle and High School, the increased volume of students created the need to separate the two types of schools. Staff has been honored with the local Golden Apple awards. 2 Parents and leaders of the PTSA have been honored at the White House. 3 Along with program recognition (1998 Golden Apple Teaching Academy winner) a tight knit community which supports and develops close knit community relationships. 4 Much of the stigma of the Rainier Valley is often placed on the school, however the academics and the student successes are often over looked. Rainier Beach is trying to share their view of the school with their new approach, "The New Beach." Promotion of their academic success is the new focus. 5 RBHS is in a troubled section of the city, and many incidents occurring in the area are automatically assumed to be caused by gang-affiliated young men, including Rainier Beach and South Lake Alternative High School students. Students come from many ethnic cultures within the neighborhood, and often from difficult socio-economic backgrounds. Sometimes the realities of society outside the school enter into school life. One recent example emerged in this newspaper story. Another larger incident erupted on the school grounds during the summer.
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Wikipedia