Central High School (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
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| Saint Paul Central High School |
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| Motto | Many traditions, one school |
| Established | 1866 |
| Type | Public |
| Students | 2201 (for 2005-2006)[1], but at least 52 less for 2006-2007).[2] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location | St. Paul, Minnesota, USA |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Red and Black |
| Mascot | Minuteman |
| Yearbook | CEHISEAN |
| Phone number | (651) 632-6000 |
| Website | http://central.spps.org/ |
Central High School of St. Paul, is the oldest high school in the state of Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1866 in downtown Saint Paul, Central has educated many leaders in business, government, literature, arts, sciences, and education throughout the state of Minnesota and the United States. Central was also home to more Rhodes Scholars than any other public high school in the U.S.[1] with the most recent scholar, Matthew Landreman, being announced in 2003.
It is also one of the biggest high schools in the state and the second largest in the city of St. Paul (after Harding High School).[2] It is a national Blue Ribbon School.
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[edit] History
Central High School has been situated in four locations, beginning with the first building in 1866.
[edit] 1866 (third floor of Franklin Building)
Before 1866, there were no educational opportunities in St. Paul beyond grade school. About a dozen students wished to continue their schooling so, in 1866, two rooms were set aside for the "High School" on the third floor of the Franklin building in downtown St. Paul. Some people thought that the school was a waste of space. Mrs. Haynes was the lone teacher and Eugene Foster (known as the "Father of the High School") was the principal. The first graduating class of the St. Paul High School was in 1870, and consisted of two students: Fannie Haynes (the daughter of the teacher), and a boy (A. P. Warren). The first 2 diplomas were hand printed on sheepskin. Gradually, the classes enrolled in the Franklin Building became too large for the two little rooms to accommodate them.
[edit] 1872 (7th and Jackson, second floor)
In 1872, the St. Paul High School moved to 7th and Jackson streets where it occupied the whole second floor. That year, graduation exercises were held in the St. Paul Civic Opera House where they were held until it was destroyed by a fire in 1899. Then the commencement exercises were held in the People's Church until the completion of the St. Paul Auditorium. In 1872, the graduating class consisted of 12 students: five boys and seven girls.
In 1873, the graduating class of twelve students originated the custom of presenting each senior with a souvenir appropriate to his/her character. For several years, a prize was offered for the best essay: a Webster's Unabridged Dictionary and a holder for it. The President of the Board of Education also presented a prize to the one having the highest standing in the class, usually a fine set of Shakespeare's works.
[edit] 1883 (10th and Minnesota)
A new building opened in 1883 at 10th and Minnesota streets, and the school was renamed St. Paul Central High School.
In 1888, a 14-room annex was added for laboratories, but there was no money for an astronomical observatory. The Debate society decided to put on plays to make up the money to pay for it. Soon, Central was known as the only high school in the United States to have a fixed telescope with a telescopic glass polished by the late Alvan Clark. Mechanics Arts High School, then known as Manual Training High School, was first housed in the basement of Central.
Soon the building on 10th and Minnesota Street became too small, and the corner of Lexington and Marshall Avenues was chosen as the new site.
[edit] 1912 (Marshall and Lexington)
A new school was built in 1912 on the corner of Marshall Avenue and Lexington Parkway, and was attempted to be renamed Lexington High School; alumni, however, wanted to keep the moniker Central High School. A compromise was reached when the Minuteman was adopted as a logo and mascot. In other words, the name of the school was retained, but for those who wanted the school to be named "Lexington," its logo and mascot were named after the colonial militia men of 1775 at Lexington, Massachusetts, who fought against the British in the first skirmishes of the War of Independence, and were required to be ready at a minute's notice.
[edit] 1970s and 80s (Marshall and Lexington)
Rebuilding and modernization took place in the 1970s and 80s. The "castle" exterior was removed or overlaid with cement, and the interior was gutted and rebuilt.
Central offers many higher level classes, such as the IB and the AP programs. It also started its own advanced program, called Quest, which uses a discussion-based approach towards learning.
[edit] Athletics
Central has produced a long line of talented athletes, the most notable being Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.
[edit] Girls Basketball
In the 2006-2007 season, the Central high school girls basketball team set a state record for most victories in a single season, going 32-0 en route to the class AAAA state championship. During their perfect season, Central beat their opponents by an average of 44 points per game, averaged 86 PPG and had all five starters average more than 10 PPG. Angel Robinson also set the all-time state record for steals in a single season.
Overall, Central has won three state titles in girls basketball: 1976, 1979 and 2007.
[edit] Extracurricular activities
Central's math team has also been highly successful. Led by Nick Arnosti, who did not miss a single point in the regular season, the math team was undefeated and won the state championship.[citation needed]
Central High School is home to a budding policy debate program. Founded by 2007 graduates Molly Schnell and Maureen O'Brien in 2004, the program has since grown to a roster size of 14 in the 2006-2007 season under the leadership of coach Dan Allen.[3] The team qualified juniors Ben Quam and Ilias Karim to the quarterfinals of the Minnesota State High School League Policy Debate Quarterfinals as the fourth seeded team before they were eliminated by Edina High School's seniors Doug Gschneidner and Logan Chin.[4]
[edit] Trivia
- Central is the only five story school in the state.[citation needed]
- Central's yearbook is called CEHISEAN, (seh-HEE-zee-ehn) which stands for Central High Senior Annual.
- The school was remodeled in the late 1970's and early 1980's, and it is an in-joke amongst students that it was designed by a prison architect because of the school's rather utilitarian exterior, metal gates, and few windows on ground level. Until recently, a barbed wire fence extended around portions of the school facing Interstate 94 and Lexington Avenue, contributing to the joke.[citation needed]
[edit] Notable alumni
- Charles M. Schulz, author of the Peanuts comic strip.
- Gordon Parks, photographer, filmmaker, and writer.
- Dave Winfield, Baseball Hall of Fame left fielder.
- Eddie Albert, TV actor Green Acres
- Heiruspecs, underground hip-hop group.
- Mint Condition, R&B/Funk band, known for the hit "Breaking My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)".
- Richard M. Schulze, founder of Best Buy.
- Jawed Karim, co-founder of YouTube.
- Stanley Gordon West, author.
[edit] References
- ^ a b St. Paul Central High School 2005-2006 Profile. St. Paul Public School System. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
- ^ a b Gottfried, Mara and Doug Belden, Trouble flares at Harding High Fri, Dec. 08, 2006 Pioneer Press.
- ^ O'Brien, Maureen. "Debate Team is hard work" (pdf), Central High Times, 2006-12. Retrieved on 2007-02-27.
- ^ 2007 Policy Debate Final Rounds Results. Minnesota State High School League (2007-1-20). Retrieved on 2007-03-05.
