Curtis Senior High School
For the school of the same name in Staten Island, see Curtis High School.
| George R. Curtis Senior High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
University Place , Washington | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Established | 1957 |
| School district | University Place School District |
| Principal | David Hammond |
| Grades | 10–12 |
| Enrollment | 1375 as of 2012 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Blue and White |
| Mascot | Vikings |
| Website | Curtis H.S. |
Curtis Senior High School is a public high school located in University Place, Washington.
Curtis Senior High School is a part of the University Place School District and the only high school in the district. The school's namesake comes from the former UPSD Superintendent George R. Curtis. Opened in 1957 as a joint Junior-Senior High School at the corner of 40th and Grandview. In 1969 a high school facility was built about 500 yards east of the junior high that then extended up 40th Street. After this the original site became just a junior high school. In 2009 the original junior high was torn down and a new facility was built about 400 yards northeast of that site.
History/Current Layout
Both facilities featured several buildings (i.e. 400 building, 200 building etc.). The buildings, that remain today from the original 1969 high school, are: the 200 building (home to some foreign language and social studies classes), the 100 building which houses administrative offices, the theater, and the performing arts rooms. In addition to these the 500 building in the northeast corner of the high school still is used for ceramics and health even though carshop and woodshop classes have been discontinued. Newer additions have been added with the main, two story 400 building added in the mid 90's. This building houses math classes, lab sciences, some history classes and the lunchroom and library. Up until this time, the cafeteria/kitchen were located where the current staff development room and theater are now. The "mall" used to contain table for lunch.
Around 1980, the current stadium was constructed.
In the early 2010s, the gym was rebuilt. Also, the swimming pool and theater were remodeled.
Academics
Curtis has a rigorous curriculum with graduation standards that exceed state requirements. The school offers many Advanced Placement classes such as US History, Chemistry, Physics, Government, Foreign Languages, English Language and Composition, English Literature, Psychology, Biology, Statistics, Photo,and Environmental Science.
Athletics
Curtis has traditionally been a strong sports school with sustained success over the years. Since 1957 the boys basketball, football, boys swimming, boys and girls water polo, boys lacrosse, boys golf, and boys cross country teams have all taken first at least once at the state tournament.
Sports offered at Curtis
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cheerleading
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swim/Dive
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Wrestling
Curtis at State
- 1970: AA Football (1st)
- 1971: AA Football (1st), Boys Basketball (1st)
- 1972: AA Football (1st)
- 1973: Boys Cross Country (1st)
- 1974: Boys Golf (1st)
- 1977: Boys Wrestling (2nd) Boys Cross Country (1st)
- 1983: Boys Basketball (3rd)
- 1984: Boys Basketball (3rd)
- 1985: Boys Basketball (2nd)
- 1986: Boys Basketball (2nd)
- 1987: Boys Swimming (2nd)
- 1989: AAA Football (1st)
- 1990: AAA Football (1st)
- 1992: Boys Swim and Dive (1st)
- 1993: Boys Swimming (2nd)
- 1994: Boys Lacrosse (1st), Boys Swimming (2nd)
- 1995: AAA Football (1st)
- 1996: AAA Football (1st)
- 1997: Girls Swimming (2nd)
- 1998: Boys Soccer (3rd), Girls Soccer (2nd)
- 1999: Boys Swimming: (2nd)
- 2000: Boys Swim and Dive (6th), Boys Track and Field (7th)
- 2001: Boys Swimming (2nd)
- 2002: Boys Track and Field (4th), Boys Lacrosse (1st)
- 2003: Girls Track and Field (1st), Boys Soccer (4th), Boys Lacrosse (2nd)
- 2004: Girls Track and Field (1st)
- 2005: Girls Track and Field (6th)
- 2006: Girls Softball (7th), Boys Basketball (6th), Boys Swim and Dive (6th), Boys Track and Field (6th), Boys Water Polo (1st)
- 2007: Boys Water Polo (1st), Girls Water Polo (1st)
- 2008: Volleyball (5th), Boys Water Polo (1st), Girls Water Polo (1st)
- 2009: Volleyball (2nd), Boys Water Polo (2nd), Girls Track (2nd), Girls Water Polo (1st)
- 2010: Boys Water Polo (1st), Football (3rd), Girls Water Polo 2nd
- 2011: Boys Basketball (2nd), Girls Water Polo (2nd), Boys Water Polo (3rd), Volleyball (3rd)
- 2012: Girls Water Polo (2nd) Girls Track (1st), Boys XC (15th), Boys Water Polo (2nd)
- 2013: Boys Basketball (1st), Boys Bowling (1st), Girls Water Polo (1st), Girls Track (2nd), Volleyball (2nd), Boys Water Polo (4th)
Athletic Facilities
For athletic facilities Curtis has a stadium, pool and large gym that reside in between the high school and original junior high site. The gym opened in 69' and had a north south layout. Torn down in the spring of 2009, a new gym was built in its place. Opened in February 2010 this gym features a large glass lobby, entirely new locker room and weight lifting facilities and a gym with a capacity of 2,000 that runs east west. The pool was renovated in 2011. Expansion in the form of advanced timing systems, more lanes and a newer facility will benefit the students of Curtis greatly. The third facility is the football field, Viking Stadium. Designed to seat several thousand, this stadium was opened in the mid-1980s. It replaced the need to use an older grass field at the junior high site. All Curtis teams play at these sites with the exception of golf, tennis, baseball and bowling.
Notable alumni
- Gary Larson - Author of The Far Side
- Cindy Brunson - SportsCenter anchor on ESPN
- Singor Mobley - Professional football player
- Beau Baldwin - Head Football Coach of Eastern Washington University
- Margaret Witt - Major, USAF (ret), helped overturn "Don't Ask; Don't Tell"
- Adrienne Martelli - 2012 Summer Olympics Bronze Medalist Rowing, Women’s Quadruple Sculls
- Scott Cairns - Poet and Guggenheim Fellow
- Isaiah Thomas - NBA player for the Sacramento Kings
References