Southeast Polk Community School District

Coordinates: 41°36′N 93°26′W / 41.60°N 93.44°W / 41.60; -93.44

Southeast Polk Community School District, or often shortened to SEP or SE Polk is a school district located in suburban Des Moines and rural Polk County, Iowa. The high school and junior high are located in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. The district includes Runnells, Altoona, Mitchellville, parts of Pleasant Hill, Bondurant, Des Moines and surrounding rural areas. The district also stretches into small portions of Jasper and Marion Counties.

The district was formed by a consolidation of several districts (most notably Runnells, Altoona, and Mitchellville; several smaller districts also merged) in 1962. The district operates a high school, a junior high school, a sixth grade center, and eight elementary schools.

The district's current enrollment is 6,735 (2013). The current trend in enrollment should have Southeast Polk reaching 7,000 by 2015-2016.

Famous alumni of Southeast Polk include former Buffalo Bills quarterback Kyle Orton and Chris Pirillo.

High school

A high school (also secondary school, senior school, secondary college) is a school that provides adolescents with part or all of their secondary education. It may come after primary school or middle school and be followed by higher education or vocational training.

Terminology

The term "high school" originated in Scotland, with the world's oldest high school being Edinburgh's Royal High School from 1505. The Royal High School was used as a model for the first public high school in the United States, Boston Latin School founded in Boston, Massachusetts.

The precise stage of schooling provided by a high school differs from country to country, and may vary within the same jurisdiction. In all of New Zealand and Malaysia, along with most of Britain and parts of Australia, Bangladesh and Canada, high school means the same thing as secondary school, but instead of starting in 9th grade, these "secondary schools" begin at ages 11 or 12.

Country by country

Australia

In Australia, high school is a secondary school, from Year 7 or Year 8 through to Year 12, varying from state to state. High school immediately follows primary (elementary) school; therefore, a Year-7 Australian high-school student is sometimes as young as 12. In Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, the term "high school" generally refers to Years 7–10, whereas the term "College" is used for Years 11–12. In Victoria the term "secondary college" has largely replaced the term "high school" following the reforms of the Labor Government in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some schools have retained the name "high school" (such as Melbourne High School) and many have now dropped the "secondary" and are simply known as "college".

Dowling Catholic High School

Dowling Catholic High School is a Catholic secondary school in the central United States, in West Des Moines, Iowa, within the Diocese of Des Moines.

Background

It was created in 1972 by the merger of St. Joseph Academy for girls (established in 1884) and Dowling High School for boys (established in 1918 as the Des Moines College boarding school for boys). Approximately 1,435 students currently attend Dowling Catholic High School.

Academics

During the 2003-04 school year, Dowling Catholic High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.

Tuition

Total tuition cost for 2014-2015 is $9,766 for Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors; the tuition for seniors is $9,766. Tuition for students belonging to a Catholic Parish is $6,984 for 9th through 11th grades; 12th graders pay $6,984.

Extracurricular activities

Baseball

Dowling Catholic baseball is coached by Mark Roering. The Maroons hold the record for most team home runs during a championship game with 5 in 2001.

Ankeny High School

Coordinates: 41°44′31″N 93°36′04″W / 41.742°N 93.601°W / 41.742; -93.601

Ankeny High School is a high school located in the suburban town of Ankeny, Iowa. It is part of the Ankeny Community School District, one of the fastest growing school districts in Iowa. Ankeny High School now serves over 1,100 students.

In August 2011, Ankeny High School moved to its new location at 1155 SW Cherry Street. In 2013-2014, the Ankeny school district divided into two high schools for the first time in its history. It is estimated that Ankeny High School has an enrollment of between 950 and 1,000 students, with the other high school having a similar enrollment. Upon division, Ankeny High School retained its name, all mascots, colors and traditions from before the division.

Sports

For purposes of athletic and activities competition, Ankeny High School is classified in the state of Iowa as "4A." The school mascots are the Hawks (Men) and the Hawkettes (Women). Ankeny is part of the Central Iowa Metro League or CIML. They are extremely competitive in the state with sports, music, and other activities.

The Whispers

The Whispers are an American group from Los Angeles, California, with a consistent track record of hit records dating back to the late 1960s. The Whispers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003, and were winners of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award in 2008. By popular vote, the group was inducted into The SoulMusic Hall Of Fame at SoulMusic.com in December 2012.

Career

The Whispers formed in 1964 in Watts, California. The original members included twin brothers, Wallace "Scotty" and Walter Scott, along with Gordy Harmon, Marcus Hutson and Nicholas Caldwell. After Harmon injured his larynx in a driving accident in 1973, he was replaced by former Friends of Distinction member Leaveil Degree. Scotty Scott's fluid, melodic voice is featured on virtually all of their hits.

The group scored many hits on the R&B and Billboard Hot 100 charts throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and they hit #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1980 with "And the Beat Goes On / "Can You Do the Boogie" / "Out the Box". In 1987, they enjoyed a brief tenure in the Top 10 when "Rock Steady" became their first Top 10 success on the Hot 100, reaching #7, while also capturing the #1 spot on the R&B chart.