Grand Prairie High School
Grand Prairie High School is a public high school in Grand Prairie, Texas. It is one of two high schools serving the 37-campus Grand Prairie Independent School District, which encompasses the Dallas County portion of Grand Prairie.
History
Campus
Grand Prairie High School relocated to its current site at 101 Gopher Boulevard in January 1953, following the 1952 Christmas holidays.Classroom facilities
Following construction of the original building in 1952, the school underwent its first expansion in the late 1970s. However, the classroom facilities in use today are mainly the product of a major expansion and renovation project completed in 1990. The project added a new library, administrative offices, classroom space, cafeteria, and gymnasium, as well as the atrium at the school's entrance.Due to dramatic growth in the student population, GPHS opened a Ninth Grade Center in 2002 at the southwest corner of the campus. The high school and the Ninth Grade Center consolidated to begin the 2013-14 school year as the Ninth Grade Center was converted to the Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy.
Athletic facilities
The Gopher Bowl. Since 1969, it has also been the site of the home football games of the South Grand Prairie High School Warriors. It was remodeled and expanded in 2003–2004 and re-dedicated as the Gopher-Warrior Bowl to recognize both high schools, to much dismay from Gopher alumni.The school's coliseum was completed in 1990. The GPISD Board of Trustees re-dedicated it as the Amos Turner Gymnasium in 1998. Turner was principal of GPHS during the 1975–1976 school year and previously served as both a teacher and coach at GPHS from 1953 until 1968.
Performing arts facilities
The 2,000-seat H. H. Chambers Auditorium sits at the southeast corner of the campus and was dedicated in 1963. Chambers served as superintendent of the Grand Prairie Independent School District from 1950 to 1968.The Leon Breeden Band Hall houses the school's music education program and honors former GPHS band director Leon Breeden. Following his tenure at GPHS, Breeden achieved international recognition as the director of the world-renowned jazz program at the University of North Texas College of Music.
Demographics
Grand Prairie High School had the following demographic profile during the 2009–2010 school year in grades 10–12:72.7% | Latino |
14.7% | Anglo-American |
10.6% | African-American |
1.6% | Asian or Pacific Islander |
0.4% | Native American |
Feeder schools
The following elementary schools feed into Grand Prairie High School:- Hobbs Williams Elementary School
- Travis Elementary School
- Adams Middle School
- Bill Arnold Middle School Women's Leadership Academy
- Kennedy Middle School
- James Fannin Middle School
Academic standards
Achievements
UIL Academic State honors
UIL Athletic State honors
National Speech and Debate Tournament honors
From the National Speech and Debate Association:Year | Event | Award |
1993 | International Extemporaneous Speaking | 11th Place |
2000 | Humorous Interpretation | 7th Place |
2012 | Dramatic Interpretation | National Champion |
2017 | Dramatic Interpretation | 12th Place |
Texas Forensic Association State Tournament honors
From the Texas Forensic Association:Year | Event | Award |
2009 | Duo Interpretation | 6th Place |
2011 | Sweepstakes | 5th Place |
2011 | Duo Interpretation | State Champion |
2011 | Duet Acting | 3rd Place |
2012 | Duet Acting | State Champion |
2012 | Duet Acting | 6th Place |
2012 | Duet Acting | 8th Place |
2012 | Duo Interpretation | 5th Place |
2012 | Duo Interpretation | 7th Place |
2012 | Dramatic Interpretation | 5th Place |
2017 | Dramatic Interpretation | State Champion |
Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest State honors
Notable alumni
- Chris Allen, 2011 Emmy Award Winner for Most Outstanding Commercial
- Rodney Anderson, member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 105; former member of the Texas House from District 106
- Ronald L. Berry, former Director of Mission Support, Space Shuttle Program
- Dennis Burkley, actor
- Dave Clark, 1960 Olympian, Pole Vault
- Charles England, former Mayor of Grand Prairie
- Randy Galloway, retired Dallas/Fort Worth ESPN Radio host and Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist
- Lonnie Hannah, member of 2002 gold-medal-winning and 2006 bronze-medal-winning U.S. Paralympic sledge hockey team and flag bearer at closing ceremonies of 2006 Winter Paralympics
- Michael Keasler, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge
- Fred Knox, Joint Strike Fighter Chief Test Pilot, The Boeing Company
- Keithen McCant, former Canadian Football League player
- T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
- *Jack T. Sanders, professor and department head of religious studies, University of Oregon
- Kenneth Sheets, Dallas attorney and former member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 107 in Dallas County
- Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League
- Charley Taylor, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame and former Washington Redskins wide receiver
- Kerry Wood, retired Major League Baseball pitcher and 1998 National League Rookie of the Year
- B. Glen Whitley, County Judge of Tarrant County, Texas