Parkway West High School
File:Parkway West HS logo.png
Location
Ballwin, Missouri, United States
Information
Type	Public
Established	1968
Principal	Beth Plunkett
Number of students	1,361
Mascot	Longhorns
Colors	Red and Columbia Blue
Website	Parkway West High School

Parkway West High School is a secondary school of the Parkway School District located in Ballwin, Missouri. The school mascot is the Longhorn and the school colors are Columbia blue and red. P.W.H.S. was the second high school built in the Parkway School District; it opened in Fall 1968 with grades 10-12. In 1969 and 1970, the high school also housed grades 7 through 9 while Parkway West Junior High was under construction. One of the unusual features of the school was that for 13 years under the leadership of Al Burr, they operated without any written rules or regulations—only mutual agreements and expectations.^[1] The school now operates with grades 9-12.

[edit] Academics

As of 2008^[update], there are 1,361 students enrolled with an average attendance rate of 92.7%. Of West High graduates, an average of 97.9% enter post-secondary education. As of 2007:

• 81% - 4 year college
• 13% - 2 year college
• 6% - Other

The middle 50% of ACT composite scores are in the 21-29 range. The average staff experience is 15.5 years, and 71.6% of staff members have a masters degree or above.

[edit] Mission statement

"Teaching and learning are why we are here. The mission of the Parkway West High School community is to foster lifelong learning and good citizenship by developing critical thinking, altruism, and responsibility."

[edit] School Spirit

For its 40th year anniversary (2008), Parkway West revived its fight song, Stand Up and Cheer, the lyrics of which are: "Stand up and cheer, stand up and cheer for Parkway West. For today we raise, the red and blue above the rest we are the best. The Longhorns are fighting, for we are bound to win this game. We've got the team! (We've got the team!) We've got the steam! (We've got the steam!) For it is Parkway West's Day. Hey!"

[edit] Sports

Parkway West has a sports rivalry with Parkway Central High School. The school's original rivalry (sports and otherwise) was with nearby Rockwood School District's Lafayette High School, which was located just west of P.W.H.S., in Ellisville, Missouri (that building is currently a middle school); Lafayette High School is now located in Wildwood, Missouri. The varsity boys 2008 soccer team defeated Rockwood Summit in penalty kicks to take the Class 3, District 4 title. Boys Cross Country has also seen multiple successful seasons including three state championships. Recently, during the 2007 season the varsity team placed 2nd to SLUH at the MSHAA State Meet.

[edit] Extracurricular activities

Parkway West also offers many opportunities for students apart from sports. Such activities include: Model United Nations, NFLSpeech and Debate, Theatre, Community Outreach at West (often referred to as COW), Women of West (often referred to as WOW), Mu Alpha Theta (math honors society), Beta Chi Pi (science honors society), Improvisational theatre, the Student Activities Leadership & Service Association (SALSA), Gay Straight Alliance, and Amnesty International.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Business

• August Busch IV, Class of '82, president and CEO of Anheuser-Busch since July 2002^[2]
• Rick Lahr Class of '73, Current Mayor of Des Peres MO.

[edit] Sports and Entertainment

• Stone Phillips^[2], Class of '73, attended Yale University, and former anchor of Dateline NBC. Phillips gave the baccelaureate address for the class of '83.
• Ken Schrader^[2], Class of '73, NASCAR racer
• Chris Cissell, Class of '90, head coach of men's soccer & women's soccer at William Jewell College. NSCAA/adidas NAIA Men's National Coach of the Year in 2006.^[3]
• Lucas May, a catcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization
• Nikko Smith, Class of '00, was in the top 12 of American Idol Season 4, and is the son of St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith.
• Tuc Watkins, Class of '85, is an actor most noted for his role on One Life to Live. He also played neighbor Bob Hunter on Desperate Housewives, 2007-2009.
• Joe Williams, Class of '76, film critic of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
• Pooja Kumar, Class of '95, actress and former Miss India USA
• Anne Steffens^[2], Class of '85, KMOV reporter
• Chip Caray, son of Harry Caray and broadcaster for the Atlanta Braves^{[citation needed]}
• Evan Bourne, Current professionial wrestler for WWE
• Conner Mach, second basemen for the Missouri Tigers
• Blaine Gabbert, quarterback for the Missouri Tigers

[edit] Notes

1. ^ School history
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Dillon, D. (2005) So Where'd You Go to High School? Vol. 2, Virginia Publishing.
3. ^ "Chris Cissell Named 2006 NSCAA/adidas National Coach of the Year" www.jewell.edu, retrieved August 12, 2008.

[edit] Sources

• School website
• Parkway West profile
• West High history