Grand Prairie High School is a public high school in Grand Prairie, Texas. It is one of three high schools serving the 41-campus Grand Prairie Independent School District, which encompasses the Dallas County portion of Grand Prairie.

History

1902 Grand Prairie Independent School District established 1902 Ten formal grades established 1905 Two-story building constructed at 214 West College Street 1911 First graduating class of four students completes high school program 1924 Grand Prairie High School fields its first football team 1954 Dalworth School (for African-American students) adds high school program 1956 Dalworth High School graduates first class 1966 Grand Prairie ISD integrates Dalworth High School into Grand Prairie High School 2002 Grand Prairie High School Ninth Grade Center opens 2013 Ninth Grade Center was converted to the Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy 2016 A portion of High School Drive was renamed to Gopher Boulevard on June 1

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 (see "Athletic facilities" below), 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 (was constructed in 1956 in the northeast portion of the campus and hosts the school's home football games and soccer matches. Unlike many stadiums with "bowl" in their names, the stadium is an almost complete below-ground bowl (the northeast end is not enclosed). 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: Austin Elementary School Daniels Elementary School Eisenhower Elementary School Hector Garcia Elementary School Hobbs Williams Elementary School James Bowie Elementary School Juan Seguin Elementary School Milam Elementary School (partial) Sallye Moore Elementary School (partial) Sam Rayburn Elementary School (partial) Travis Elementary School

The following middle schools feed into Grand Prairie High School: Adams Middle School Bill Arnold Middle School James Fannin Middle School

Academic standards In 2010, the school was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency. In 2011, the school was rated "Academically Unacceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.

Achievements

UIL Academic State honors Year Class Award Event 1945 2A Champion Team debate 1990 5A Runner-up Calculator applications 1993 5A Champion Current issues and events 1994 5A Champion Current issues and events 2002 5A Runner-up Poetry interpretation 2004 5A Champion Ready writing 2004 5A Runner-up Headline writing 2004 5A Runner-up Current issues and events team 2006 5A Champion Poetry interpretation 2011 5A Champion Prose interpretation

UIL Athletic State honors Year Class Award Event 1929 N/A Champion Boys' 220 yard low hurdles 1960 4A Champion Boys' pole vault 1963 4A Champion Boys' 180 yard low hurdles 1987 5A Champion Boys' 110m hurdles 1987 5A Champion Boys' 100m dash 1987 5A Champion Boys' 200m dash 1995 5A Semifinalist Baseball 1997 5A Champion Boys' high jump 1999 5A Runner-up Boys' 300m hurdles 1999 5A Runner-up Boys' wrestling, weight class 130 1999 5A Runner-up Boys' wrestling, weight class 215

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 Year Award Category 1983 Outstanding Performer Vocal 1983 Outstanding Performer Vocal 1991 Outstanding Performer Medium Ensemble 1994 Outstanding Performer Medium Ensemble 1995 Outstanding Performer Medium Ensemble 2002 Outstanding Performer Trumpet 2016Outstanding Performer Violin (Mariachi)

Notable alumni

(includes Grand Prairie High School and Dalworth High School) Rodney Anderson, member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 105; former member of the Texas House from District 106 Rhett Bomar, former NFL and Oklahoma quarterback Dennis Burkley, actor Dave Clark, 1960 Olympian, pole vault 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 Keithen McCant, former Canadian Football League player T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (2005–2008) E. P. Sanders, leading New Testament scholar and retired Duke University professor Charley Taylor, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame and former Washington Redskins wide receiver. Grand Prairie was segregated at the time. Charley Taylor went to dalworth high school. Kerry Wood, retired Major League Baseball pitcher and 1998 National League Rookie of the Year

References

External links Grand Prairie High School Alumni Association