Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Lexington, Kentucky)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Address
1600 Man o' War Boulevard Lexington, Kentucky 40513
Information
School type	Public
Motto	Where Excellence Meets Tradition!
Founded	1990
Principal	Anthony Orr
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	2142[1] (2008-09)
Language	English
Area	Suburban
Color(s)	Red █ and Black █
Mascot	Bulldog
Average SAT scores	1763[1]  (2008-09)
Average ACT scores (2008-09)	23.5[1]
Affiliation	None
Information	+1 (859) 381-3546
Website	www.pld.fcps.net

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (PLD) is a secondary school located at 1600 Man O' War Boulevard on the southwest side of Lexington, Kentucky, USA. The school is one of five high schools in the Fayette County Public Schools district.

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is named after the 19th century African-American poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar. Opened in 1990, the school is the newest high school in the Fayette County Public Schools system. With an enrollment of over 2100,^[1] it one of the largest public high schools in Kentucky^[2], and was the largest during the 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08 academic years.^[3] It also houses the Math, Science, and Technology Center. The PLD student body, unlike that of most of the other schools named after Dunbar,^{[citation needed]} has a substantial white majority, although African Americans make up roughly one fifth of the students.^[1]

Dunbar's band and cheerleading programs have won national acclaim, while PLD has earned a local reputation as an outstanding school,^[4] excelling in academics, athletics, and fine arts.

Contents 1 History 2 Academics 2.1 Math, Science, and Technology Center 2.2 Academic Team 3 Athletics 3.1 Basketball 3.2 Football 3.3 Soccer 3.4 Cheerleading 3.5 Baseball 3.6 Track and field 3.7 Cross country 3.8 Lacrosse 3.9 Ice hockey 4 Fine arts 4.1 Band 4.2 Orchestra 5 Student exchange 6 Notable alumni 6.1 Baseball 6.2 Basketball 6.3 Soccer 6.4 Jeopardy! appearances 7 References 8 External links

[edit] History

The school name was part of a political deal made in 1965 with the city's African-American community. In the era of segregated schools, Dunbar High School, also named after the poet, was the city's lone surviving black high school and one of the main cornerstones of Lexington's black community. When Fayette County's schools integrated in 1967, Dunbar High was closed, with its students being bused to four previously white schools. Eventually, the county school board agreed that the next high school to open in Lexington would bear Dunbar's name, principally at the urging of the Rev. William Augustus Jones, Sr., senior minister of Lexington's oldest and largest black church^[5] and a civil rights leader^[6] whose five oldest children had graduated from Dunbar and embarked on careers of distinction.^[7] To the board's credit, it kept its word, even though a full generation had passed since the original agreement. To keep the schools differentiated, the new school was given the poet's full name, rather than just the last name as with the old school. As an additional tribute to the old Dunbar High School, the gymnasium was named the "S.T. Roach Sports Center" for basketball coach Sanford T Roach, who led the school to a 512-142 record from 1942 to 1965, and is a member of the National High School Sports Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. The new PLD adopted the original school colors of the old Dunbar High (which were red and black, but changed to green and white during the 1940s). The new high school did not, however, retain the former school's "Bearcats" mascot. A vote of the school's future students shortly before the school's opening favored "Bulldogs" and selected "The Victors", by Louis Elbel, as the basis of the fight song.^[8]

The building of the original high school at 545 North Upper Street has since been converted to the Dunbar Community Center, which serves myriad cultural, educational and recreational needs for the city of Lexington. The Dunbar Community Center is operated by the city's department of Parks & Recreation.^[9]

[edit] Academics

Since opening, Dunbar has averaged more than 15 National Merit Semifinalists a year, with 71 in the last four years.^[1] PLD also ranks consistently as one of Kentucky's top high schools in terms of scores in the statewide testing program, CATS (Commonwealth Accountability Testing System).^{[citation needed]} In 2007 P.L.D. became the first school in the Fayette County Public High Schools to score an average of 90 on the CATS tests.^{[citation needed]} Of the Class of 2008, 75% continued on to four-year colleges or universities, with another 17% attending two-year colleges or technical schools.^[1] As of 2009, Dunbar offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in fourteen subject areas.^[1]

[edit] Math, Science, and Technology Center

The Math, Science, and Technology Center, also known as MSTC, is a magnet program housed in Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. The program accepts 55 incoming freshmen each year, from more than 2,500 applicants.^[1] Many MSTC courses exceed the comparable AP curriculum.^[1] Since the program's establishment in 1991, its students have received an average ACT score of 31 and an average SAT score of 1400. Seven MSTC students have scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT and three students have scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. MSTC graduates are offered an average of 5 scholarships from different schools, and have attended twenty of the top thirty universities and colleges in the country as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

[edit] Academic Team

The PLD academic team have won numerous contests, including Governor's Cup championships in 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2009.^{[citation needed]} In 2008, Dunbar's United States Academic Decathlon team won the state division for the first time and proceeded to nationals.^[10]

[edit] Athletics

Paul Laurence Dunbar offers many sports, including football, boys' and girls' basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, boys' lacrosse, tennis, golf, track and field, cheerleading, swimming, dancing, wrestling, and ice hockey. Altogether, Dunbar's athletic teams have won 18 state championships (Boys' soccer, 3; cheerleading, 11; baseball, 2; girls' track and field, 1; girls' cross country, 1) in the school's 19 years, and the cheerleaders have won 6 national championships.

[edit] Basketball

PLD had a competitive boys' basketball program almost from the beginning. In 1993 the team, led by Darnell Burton, were State Runners-Up,^[11] and in 1994, led by Cameron Mills, the team repeated as State Runners-Up.^[11] In 1997 the team again reached the Sweet Sixteen, losing in the first round.

[edit] Football

The first football playoff appearance was in 1992, only the school’s second year in existence.^{[citation needed]} For the first five and a half years, the PLD football team played their "home" games at other Lexington high schools.^{[citation needed]} Midway through the 1995 season, PLD's football stadium opened, and that year the school advanced to the playoffs for the second time.^{[citation needed]} In 1996 they were the AAAA state runners-up, losing the championship game in overtime.^[12]

The football stadium was later named for Jon R. Akers, PLD's first principal and the father of National Football League placekicker David Akers.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Soccer

In 1992,^{[citation needed]} 2001,^[13] and 2005^[14] PLD Soccer were the State Champions. All three championships were under Todd Bretz who has been the head coach since the program's inception.

[edit] Cheerleading

PLD Cheerleading is nationally competitive. They have been UCA National Champions in the Large Varsity Division (all girls) in 1995, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. UCA National Runners-Up in 1994, 2002, 2003 and Third Place in 2009, Cheersports National Champions in 2003, and KAPOS State Champions in 1994, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,2009, and 2010. They have been nationally ranked for twelve years and have been featured in American Cheerleader magazine. Donna Martin has coached the squad since the school opened in 1990. She has been elected to American Cheerleader's Who's Who of Cheerleading and has coached cheerleading for 17 years.[3]

In 2001, MTV's True Life series prominently featured Dunbar's cheerleading team in the episode "I'm a Cheerleader."

On November 28, 2005, Lifetime Television announced a reality series featuring the PLD cheerleaders. [4] "Cheerleader Nation" premiered in early 2006. The television show had very high ratings.

Former Dunbar cheerleaders have gone on to cheer for the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Morehead State University, Western Kentucky University, Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, Indiana University, and many other colleges.

[edit] Baseball

In 2003, PLD Baseball were state champions.^[15] That year they also set a Kentucky record for the most wins in one season, winning 41 games and losing only 4.^[16] Josh Ellis went a perfect 12-0 in 2003,^[16] despite knee injury suffered in a PLD football game, and was named Kentucky's Mr. Baseball.^[16] Dunbar was once again state champions in 2007.^[17]

[edit] Track and field

In 2005, the girls' track and field team tied as AAA state champions.^[18]

Both the boys' and girls' teams have won the Lexington City Championships each year since 2000.^{[citation needed]} The boys placed second in 2007 to Henry Clay High School in a loss by 3 points.^{[citation needed]} The girls won Region 5 AAA in 2001, 2006, and 2007.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Cross country

Laura Steinmetz was the girls AAA individual state champion in 2005^[14] and 2006.^[17] The girls team were AAA state champions in 2005^[14] and placed third in 2006.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Lacrosse

Lacrosse is not sanctioned by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. Dunbar's team went undefeated and won first place in the 2009 Bluegrass State Games, the first time lacrosse was included in the Games.^[19]

[edit] Ice hockey

Like lacrosse, ice hockey is not sanctioned by KHSAA. Dunbar's team began as a combination of travel and house league players in 2001, and are one of ten teams in the state of Kentucky.^[20]

[edit] Fine arts

[edit] Band

The Paul Laurence Dunbar band, currently led by Jeff Hood and Brian Morgan, has won national acclaim; they are one of a handful of high school band programs to receive the Sudler Shield twice.^[21][22] The school's commitment to a quality band program was clear from the beginning, when Craig Cornish, coming away from three consecutive state marching band championships at North Hardin High School, was hired as director. In 1998, then-assistant director Jeff Hood took over. The band have been state champions in 1991 (Class AAA)^[23], 2003^[24] and 2004 (Class AAAA), and 2005 and 2007 (Class AAAAA); State Runners-Up in 1992, 1994, 1995, and 2002 (Class AAAA) and 2006 and 2008 (Class AAAAA); and a finalist in 2009. Together with North Hardin High School and cross-town rival Lafayette High School, they are considered the "Big 3" of Kentucky bands.^[25] In 2004 and 2005 they were Bands of America Regional and Class Champions, at Middle Tennessee State University and Western Kentucky University. In 1995, 1996, and 2007 they were Grand Champions at the Contest of Champions at Middle Tennessee State University. Dunbar has participated in the BOA Grand Nationals contest twice (1996 and 2006) placing in the top 20 both times. Altogether, the band have been Grand Champions more than 25 times. The band performed in the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City^[26].

The symphonic band has performed as a featured ensemble for the KMEA Professional Development Conference in Louisville. All three concert bands consistently score a 1 ranking in adjudication for the district concert festival. There is also a jazz ensemble and orchestra. The band averages about 10 to 13 All-State members each year.

[edit] Orchestra

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2009)

The Paul Laurence Dunbar Orchestra regularly places musicians in the All-State Orchestra.^{[citation needed]} The program was built by Robyn Bourgois, who taught two orchestra classes at the school until retiring. After serving for two years as Principal Viola in the Atlanta-Emory Orchestra, Amos Jones, of Dunbar's class of 1996, played professionally for the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Student exchange

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2009)

Paul Laurence Dunbar currently operates an exchange program with Hillpark Secondary School in Glasgow, Scotland. Students from each school are chosen annually to live with host families of students from the other school. Additionally many French students participate in the Lexington Sister Cities exchange with Deauville, France.

Also, 3 students have now participated in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange to Germany.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Baseball

• Josh Ellis (2000-04) - Kentucky's Mr. Baseball his senior year, Josh was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007 and has played for the Diamondbacks' minor-league affiliates since then.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Basketball

• Darnell Burton (1990-93) - Scored 1,017 points in 1993 (9th all-time in Kentucky), starter at the University of Cincinnati.^{[citation needed]}
• Cameron Mills (1990-94) - Played at the University of Kentucky.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Soccer

• Sean Kelley (2002-06) - Named Kentucky's Mr. Soccer, an NSCAA HS All-American, and the Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior, while leading his team to a state championship.^[27]

[edit] Jeopardy! appearances

Dunbar students and alumni have a history with the television game show Jeopardy!. In 18 years since the school opened, three students have won the Teen Tournament, and one alumnus has won the College Championship.

• Fraser Woodford - Won 1993 Teen Tournament, appeared in 1993 Tournament of Champions^{[citation needed]}
• Miguel Dickson - Participated in Fall 1999 Teen Tournament; was an alternate for the semifinals.^{[citation needed]}
• John Zhang - Won 2003 Teen Tournament, appeared in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions^{[citation needed]}
• Nathan Gordon - 2004 Played against Ken Jennings^{[citation needed]}
• Grayson Holmes - 2004 Appeared in three shows^[28]
• Kermin Elliott Fleming, Jr. - Won 2004 College Championship, appeared in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions^{[citation needed]}
• Papa Chakravarthy - Won 2006 Teen Tournament^[29]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Band website
• Math, Science, and Technology Center website

Coordinates: 38°01′04″N 84°34′37″W / 38.01782°N 84.57683°W / 38.01782; -84.57683