Abraham Lincoln High School (Des Moines, Iowa)

For other schools of the same name, see Lincoln High School (disambiguation).

Lincoln High School
Address
2600 SW 9th Street Des Moines , Iowa USA
Information
Type	Public Secondary
Established	1923
School district	Des Moines Public Schools
Dean	James Badger
Principal	Joan Roberts
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	2,175
Campus	Urban
Color(s)	Maroon and gold
Website	dmlincoln.org

Lincoln High School Logo

Abraham Lincoln High School, also referred to as Lincoln High School or Lincoln, is a secondary school located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. It is the largest high school in the state. It is one of five secondary schools under the district of the Des Moines Public Schools, and was named after the 16th United States president Abraham Lincoln. The school sports team has been named after one of President Lincoln's nicknames, the "Rail Splitter" (the "Lincoln Railsplitters" or "Rails"). It is known as the Pride of the South Side.

History

Lincoln High School was constructed to address the increasing enrollment of students at nearby East High School. During this time, the south side of Des Moines was home to new urban development. This further increased enrollment and the need for an additional school. A bond issue was passed on March 18, 1918, that provided the funds to build the school. By 1923, construction was completed, at a cost of $949,754.95 USD.

At that time, the school had 55 classrooms, a swimming pool, two gymnasiums, several labs, an art and music room, cafeteria, and an auditorium, providing for a total student capacity of 1,300 people.

In 1962 an additional wing was constructed, which added additional classrooms, additional laboratory areas, and a library with over 13,000 volumes.

A male faculty lounge was added in 1963. An existing light-well was enclosed to provide for this new room.

In 1964, further expansions were contracted at a total cost of $1,667,000. This provided for the construction of the Roundhouse, home to the indoor sporting venues. On the lower level, a new swimming pool and boys' locker room was constructed. The old swimming pool was converted to classroom space, but the old gymnasiums are still in use. The old locker rooms were remodeled into the girls' locker rooms.

There are a number of prized possessions at the school. In the floor of the vestibule is the school monogram done in bronze, surrounded by a design in variegated marble. On the south wall is a portrait of “The Boy Lincoln” painted by Russell Cowles, a former student of West High School. On the north wall is “Lincoln the Statesman” painted by William Reaser. In the Main corridor is a bronze bust of Lincoln, the work of Laurence Stewart, former student of East High.

The cornerstone of the old Lincoln School, which used to be at Ninth and Mulberry Streets, has been set as a memorial on the Lincoln High lawn. It was presented to the school with appropriate ceremonies when the old school was demolished. This cornerstone is only one of the many reminders of President Lincoln that are preserved by the school. There is a steel engraving of the Lincoln family when Lincoln was in office, also one of the President himself, both presented to the school by Fred Foss. A piece of log from Lincoln’s cabin birth place was presented by W. L. King, a former school teacher. An engraving of the national monument in the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, which was dedicated by President Lincoln with his famous Gettysburg Address, is also in the collection. In the auditorium above the stage are the words of that famous address done in gold.

Campus

Left: Smoke stack
Front: Roundhouse Gymnasium

Lincoln has three levels of classrooms, with the Commons and music classrooms located on the lowest level. The "old gymnasium" occupies the second and third levels in the main concourse (with the entrance on the second level). The Roundhouse is the primary gymnasium in use at Lincoln. The upper level an arena with a capacity of 2,500 people. On the lower level of the Roundhouse are the weight-training area, boys' locker rooms, and swimming pool. All Freshman classes have moved to the Kurtz Junior High building.

On the opposite side of Bell Avenue are two student parking lots, tennis courts, a general practice field, and Hutchens Stadium (home to football and track events).

The Fine Arts

Visual Arts Art classes include Painting/Drawing/Multi-Media, 3D design, and AP Studio Art. Each year the art department competes in exhibitions and art shows. The art club is called The Dorian Art Club.

Music Musical groups at Lincoln include Concert Band, Marching Band, Chamber and Concert Choir, Sound Attraction Show Choir, Infinity Show Choir, Freshmen Prep Choir, and Orchestra. The Vocal Music director is Michael Walag, assisted by Joel Gettys. Joe Spiess assists with show choir choreography. The directors of the LHS band are Kevin Steggman and Darin Bartachek.

Drama The Drama Department has won awards especially in the area of IHSSA. The Drama Department presents two full-length performances each year. The new drama director is Sarah Zdenek.

An annual event is the Gladrigal or Gladrigal Dinner, held since 2005 to showcase the vocal music departments together with the school's arts and drama students. The term "Gladrigal" combines the traditional notions of a Madrigal Feast and the lyric "Put your glad rags on . . ." from Rock Around the Clock. The event consists of a simple meal, such as an Italian spaghetti and meatballs dinner, with salad and breadsticks, with the food donated by community businesses and the labor donated by the parents of students, punctuated by musical selections from the show choir, chamber choir, concert choirs, and the like, often backed up by the school's jazz band or show choir ensemble. Musical skits are sometimes also performed. The music performed is usually mixed choral music, with a heavy emphasis on music from the 1950s forward.

Journalism The official school newspaper is The Railsplitter. The Railsplitter received merit recognition from the National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia School of Journalism. This is the highest recognition given to a high school publication. There is also an Independent Newspaper called The Random Independent created by Freshman at Lincoln South.

Athletics

Lincoln is a member of the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. The league is divided into three 6-team conferences as shown below:

Central	Iowa	Metro
Ankeny	Ames	DM East
Indianola	Fort Dodge	DM Hoover
Johnston	Marshalltown	DM Lincoln
Southeast Polk	Mason City	DM North
Urbandale	Waukee	DM Roosevelt
WDM Dowling	WDM Valley	Ottumwa

Lincoln High School has 19 sports - ten for boys and nine for girls - there are ample opportunities for students to get involved, either as a participant or a team manager.

The Girls Basketball Team has one of the best basketball programs in the state. They have been ranked in the top 10 every year under Coach Jerry Schartner. During the 2001-2002 season they were ranked 7th in the nation.

Lincoln's other standout sport is baseball. The Rails have had many state titles, state appearances and conference championship titles under Head Coach Quijano.

During the 2006 season the Girls Swim team defeated the schools arch-rival Roosevelt for the first time in the school's history.

The Football team's success includes two straight conference championship titles and two straight play-off appearances. In 2007 the streak ended but even so the team still finished with a 4-1 conference record and 7-2 overall.

The 2007 softball team had a great season with its first state trip since 2003 beating second-ranked East High School to get there.

Students

As of the 2005-2006 school year, there were 2,126 students enrolled at Lincoln, which makes the school the largest in Iowa following is West High School in Davenport. 76.9% of the student body is of White (European-American) descent (down from 79.3% in the 2004-2005 school year). The leading ethnic group by enrollment is that of Latino descent, and they are followed by Black (African-American), Asian, and Indian (Native American or Alaskan Native). This makes the school the least diverse of the other high schools in the Des Moines Public School district.

Enrollment figures

Year	Total	Seniors (12th grade)	Juniors (11th grade)	Sophomores (10th grade)	Freshmen (9th grade)
2006-2007	2,175	481	548	570	576
2005-2006	2,126	396	446	572	712
2004-2005	2,157	391	454	571	741
2003-2004	2,179	411	462	580	726

Faculty

There are approximately 107 instructors at Lincoln High, which puts the student-teacher ratio at about 20 students per course instructor. There are 76 additional personnel who carry out other administrative duties at Lincoln. In total, the faculty count is approximately 183.

Extracurricular activities

Student extracurricular activities include:

• Clubs (as of 2005-2006 school year, clubs in italics are defunct)
  • Anime Club
  • Business Professionals of America
  • Computer Club
  • DECA
  • Dorian Art Club
  • Drama Club
  • Gamer's Paradise
  • International Thespian Society Troupe #4752
  • National Honor Society
  • Rails Key Club
  • Straight and Gay Alliance (SAGA)
  • Students Against Drunk Drivers (SADD)
• Activities
  • Academic Decathlon
  • Academic Letter
  • Ambassadors
  • Band (Marching, Jazz, Concert, Pep)
  • Cheerleading
  • Close Up
  • Committee Select
  • Conflict Management
  • Debate/Forensics
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes
  • Mermaids Synchronized Swimming
  • Minority Achievement Program (MAP)
  • Mock Trial
  • Quiz Bowl
  • Railettes Dance Team
  • Railmen
  • Science Bound
  • Sisters for Success
  • Student Council
  • Upward Bound
  • We the People
• Sports
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Rugby
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Track
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling
  • JV Show Choir
  • Varsity Show Choir

Curriculum

The school is on a system of "block" scheduling, which shortens the number of classes per day to four; however, each class is significantly longer than in years past. Each student is required to take eight classes with four on each day on an alternating schedule (referred to as "A" and "B" days). The school district requires students to take a number of core academic courses. This includes Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, Art, and Physical Education. The amount of academic credit needed to satisfy graduation requirements is determined by the school district. Many students also attend Central Academy and Central Campus in downtown Des Moines in order to acquire college credit and technical proficiency.

All students are required by the district to enroll in four subject courses and a Physical Education course. However, the school compels lower-class students to schedule a full day of classes, in order to ensure satisfaction with district graduation requirements. Juniors and seniors have the option of having an "open period" during the first or last period of the school day ("Seniors may have open periods during any period"). However, juniors require parental permission to have an open period.

The district requires four years of Physical Education. Freshmen and sophomores usually take their P.E. courses at the school. Juniors and seniors have the option of taking alternative P.E. programs, including a bowling class that requires students to commute to a nearby bowling alley. In compliance with state law, students with a full academic schedule can be made exempt from all P.E. requirements for that year or allowed to perform self-study P.E.

See also

• Des Moines Public Schools for other schools in the same district.

References

[1]

External links

• Des Moines Public Schools Homepage
• Lincoln High School Homepage