Littleton High School (Colorado)

Littleton High School
Location
199 East Littleton Boulevard, Littleton, Colorado United States
Coordinates
Information
Type	Public High School
Established	1907
School district	Littleton Public Schools
Faculty	approximately 97
Grades	9-12
Number of students	1600
Color(s)	Purple and Gold
Athletics conference	Continental League
Mascot	Lion
Phone	303-347-7700
Fax	303-347-7750
Website	http://www.littleton.littletonpublicschools.net/

Littleton High School is a public high school located in Littleton, Colorado, United States. It is a part of the Littleton Public Schools school district.

History

The first Littleton High School building was finished in 1920 and served 20 students initially. In 1935, funding was acquired to construct three new wings to double the floor space and reduce the overcrowding due to the increasing number of students.

In 1956-58 the original school building was converted into Grant Junior High School. Improvements were designed by architect Alfred Watts, including a one-story cafeteria with kitchen and six additional classrooms. An annex was added in 1958 to provide space for a music room, shop, home economics rooms, and labs. The additions of 1956-58 were built in a modern 1950s style emphasizing larger windows and different shades of brick. In 1958, a football field was added at the east end of the site and tennis courts were constructed near the corner of Littleton Blvd. and Windermere Street. The Grant Junior High building was later converted into use by the Littleton School District as administrative offices.

The current Littleton High School, located at 199 E. Littleton Blvd., was completed in 1956. It was designed by Earl C. Morris and built by Mead & Mount. A 1958 addition added 7,092 square feet (658.9 m²) of classrooms and was designed and built by the same companies for $87,875. In 1961, 78,000 square feet (7,200 m²) of new classrooms were added for $1,235,000. Earl C. Morris also designed this addition, with general contracting work completed by Weaver Construction Company. Langfur Construction Co. completed remodeling behind the stage in 1968, with designs by Bourn & Dulaney. A new swimming pool was added in 1969 for $394,369. The architect was Nixon-Brown-Brokaw-Bowen, and the contractor was Hezlep Construction Co. A new 1,200-square-foot (110 m²) shop area was designed by Nixon-Brown-Brokaw-Bowen and built by Weaver Construction in 1979. The auditorium was remodeled and enlarged by 2,400 square feet (220 m²) in 1985. That project went to Allred/Fisher, architects and Van I. Warden general contractors. These additions more than doubled the original size of the high school. The gymnasium is one of few in the area to still have balcony seating for spectators. In 2015 the theater was remodeled and completed in November.

Academics

In 1994, Littleton High School was named one of eight "World Class Schools" in the U.S. and Canada, selected by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. The eight schools all exhibit outstanding characteristics:

1. Clear Vision and High Standards
2. Collaborative Structure
3. Culture of Lifelong Learners

Athletics

Athletic programs at LHS include baseball, men's and women's basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, men's and women's golf, gymnastics, men's and women's lacrosse, poms, men's and women's soccer, softball, swimming, men's and women's tennis, track and field, wrestling, and volleyball. In 2005, the Littleton men's track team placed 2nd overall at the 5A state championship. They were led by 4x100m relay gold medalists Nate Yorks and Shane Cronin who won individual silver medals, 2nd only to 100m/200m state record holder, Jeremy Dodson. Yorks finished in 2nd place in the 100m dash and 200m dash, while Cronin finished in 2nd place in the 400m dash and 4x400m relay. Yorks and Cronin ran splits of 45.9 seconds and 47.0 seconds, breaking the Littleton High School 100m dash, 200m dash, 400m dash, and 4x100m relay records.

Performing arts

Littleton High school has a long history of exceptional performing arts in theater, band, and vocal music since its inception in 1907.

The drama program presents several productions each year, with auditions open to all students. These productions include a fall play and a winter musical. Additionally students may have opportunities to audition for, or work on crews for student-directed plays throughout the year. The theater has been home to hundreds of productions since the school's inception more than one hundred years ago, including well known works such as Camelot, Taming of the Shrew, Oklahoma, Seussical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Laramie Project, and All in the Timing. Additionally in the spring of 2008, they housed the original play The Cliffs Edge written, acted, and directed by the students of the senior Theater Company class of 2008 and End Process, written and directed by the 2009 senior Theater Company (auditions were open to anyone). Many of these performances have been recognized and reviewed by "Colorado Backstage", a web theater critic site for professional productions across the state of Colorado.

The LHS Instrumental Music Department consists of two concert bands (Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Band), one strings-only class (Chamber Orchestra), and two Jazz bands (Jazz ensemble 1-2 for younger musicians/ Jazz Ensemble 3-4 for more advanced musicians). The department also includes a Marching band, Basketball Band, Pit Orchestra for musicals, and several smaller ensembles for various performances. The Marching Band currently competes in the 4A bracket under the direction of Don Emmons and has performed shows such as Locomotion, Midnight in Transylvania, Medusa, The Pirates of Penzance, and Machines.

The LHS Vocal Music Department consists of one non-audition ensemble: Women's Ensemble; and five audition-only ensembles: Concert Choir, Troubadours, Manwich, Syrens, and Vocal Jazz. Both the Concert Choir and Troubadours have performed in many distinguished locations, such as the King Center at Auraria Campus and Boettcher Concert Hall. The Vocal Jazz group, under the direction of Jim Farrel, is known throughout the state as an excellent high school Jazz group, consistently winning state jazz competitions, the Chaparral High School High Plains Jazz Festival, UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival, and the Arapahoe County School District Jazz showcase. It is also known for having at least one student qualify for the Colorado All State Jazz Group every year, the only high school to do so since the creation of the Colorado ASJ program.

International Baccalaureate

In 1997, Littleton High School applied to become an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program School. After approval, the first class of 14 students graduated in 1999 and had a 100% passing rate: all students earned their IB Diploma. Since then, the program has flourished. In May 2007, 46 seniors graduated from the program, with 44 of them earning their diplomas. Over the program’s 9 year history, 96% of the diploma candidates have earned their diploma. In addition, over 35% of Littleton High School’s teachers have attended a four day intensive training on the curriculum and assessments.

Notable alumni

• Molly Burnett, singer and actress on Days of Our Lives
• Brad Corrigan, rock drummer, guitarist, and singer for the band Dispatch, also known as Braddigan
• Dave Grusin composer, arranger and pianist, winner of both Grammy and Academy awards.
• Bob Holme, Ski Jumper, He competed for USA at the 1992 & 1994 Winter Olympics & the 1993 World Championships
• Clint Longley, former NFL quarterback
• Brooks Thompson, former NBA player, with the Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks. Currently head NCAA basketball coach of University of Texas, San-Antonio

External links

• Littleton High School Web Page
• Littleton High School Performing Arts Site
• Littleton High School Class of 1977 Alumni site