Shawnee MissionNorthwest High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Shawnee, Kansas, United States, serving students in grades 9-12. The current principal is Lisa Gruman. Shawnee Mission Northwest is one of many schools located within Shawnee, Kansas and surrounding areas. The school colors are orange, black, and white. The school population is approximately 1,850 students. Shawnee Mission Northwest was founded in 1969 in order to help educate the increasing number of students due to the emerging population of Shawnee Mission. The school launched the International Baccalaureate program at the start of the 2008-2009 school year. Shawnee Mission Northwest is a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association and offers a variety of sports programs. Athletic teams compete in the 6A division and are known as the "Cougars".
History
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School was established in 1969 to help educate the increasing populations of Shawnee and Overland Park, Kansas. In 1998, a mural of evolution was painted near the science rooms in the school which created controversy throughout the school and the city. The mural depicted many things including DNA, cells, photosynthesis, and a four chambered heart. In addition to this, the mural also depicted in a series of walking figures, the evolution of man, from a hunched-over, hairy, apelike creature to the modern man. The mural offended many students and their parents and a large debate was held concerning whether to paint over the mural. In the end, the mural was left alone and remains today.
Academics
In 2001, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School was selected as a Blue Ribbon School. The Blue Ribbon Award recognizes public and private schools which perform at high levels or have made significant academic improvements. In 2008, Shawnee Mission Northwest launched the International Baccalaureate program for the 2008-2009 school year.
Faculty
In 2004, history teacher Dan Fullerton was named the 2004 Kansas Outstanding Teacher of American History by the Kansas Society Daughters of the American Revolution. In 2005, social studies teacher Ron Poplau was named a Disney Teacher Award Honoree.
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
The Cougars compete in the Sunflower League and are classified as a 6A school, the largest classification in Kansas according to the KSHSAA. Throughout its history, Shawnee Mission Northwest has won many state championships in various sports. Many graduates have gone on to participate in Division I, Division II, and Division III athletics. Spanning from 1994–2007, the Northwest boys varsity cross-country team won the state title for fourteen consecutive years and nineteen years overall.
State Championships
School newspaper and yearbook
The school newspaper is The Northwest Passage and the yearbook is The Northwest Lair. The Passage, Lair, and the journalism website received national scholastic journalism awards: at the NSPA convention in Seattle, Washington, the 2011 "Lair" received a Silver Crown and Pacemaker Award and "The Northwest Passage" received a Gold Crown.
