East High School (Des Moines, Iowa)

East High was established in 1861 on the top floor of Bryant School, a primary school located at East 9th and Grand Ave. (sometimes listed as Pennsylvania Ave. and Grand Ave. - the other end of the same block) in Des Moines.[2][3][4]

Graduation rates in the early years were extremely low - an Elizabeth Mathews was the sole member of the very first graduating class in 1871, and there were no further high school graduates until 1875. In 1877, the high school moved to the top floor of Webster School at the corner of E. 12th and Lyon Street, where it remained until 1891.[2][4] Rising enrollment forced the freshman class back to Bryant School in 1888.[5]

In 1891, a new and larger dedicated school building with an auditorium, cafeteria and laboratories was opened at E. 12th and Court, directly adjacent to the Iowa State Capitol grounds.[2] At inception, in addition to the high school it housed all the primary students from Bryant and Webster, as well as the offices of the Board of Education and Superintendent. It is written that the students from Bryan and Webster marched to the new facility in a snowstorm.[3] The primary students remained until 1903, when Cary School was built to house them. Originally there were about 200 students, subsequently growing to around 700.[5] One of the few available photos of this building is on the cover of the 1910 Quill yearbook.[6]

In anticipation of yet a larger school, an entire square block of land just a few blocks away from the Capitol was purchased by the East Des Moines School District in 1901 from the State of Iowa for $8,000. The current main building of East High School at E. 13th and Walker St. was constructed in 1910-1911 at a cost of $400,000 to a design by architects Bird and Rawson. A bond issue and ultimately an Iowa Supreme Court ruling were required to allow construction to go forward. Groundbreaking was done by Principal May Goodrell on September 6, 1910, who also placed the cornerstone on January 18, 1911. However, construction costs had consumed the entire budget, leaving little money for furnishings. This delayed occupancy of the building until May 17, 1912, when once again a procession of students marched from the 1891 building to the new school, bringing furnishings with them.[5]

From 1911 onward, the East High campus has never moved again, and it has remained continuously in use as a three- or four-year high school. The main building has received a number of additions, such that it is now surrounded on three sides by newer construction, leaving only the original West-facing neo-classical facade fully exposed (see infobox photo).

On March 7, 2022, it was reported that a school shooting had occurred on the property, killing 15 year old Jose David Lopez and hospitalizing two female students.[7] Police said that the shots most likely came from a moving vehicle. Police said that Jose David Lopez was not a student of the school but he was the intended target of the shooting. Police had several suspects in custody just hours after the event occurred.

East High is located on East 14th Street (also known as U.S. Route 69) in Des Moines, close to Interstate 235. There is ample grass-covered recreation space, as well as parking, to the west and north of the main building. There is one annex, situated a block away from the main campus.

As of the 2021-2022 school year, there were 2076 students[10] enrolled at East High, making it the seventh largest public high school in Iowa.[11]

The school day is split into four periods of course instruction on an alternating A day/B day schedule. There are four lunches, over the period of two and one half hours. Students can earn an extra half of an hour of lunch for demonstrating proficiency on the Iowa Assessments. The school district requires that students take a number of core academic courses, if they wish to graduate and receive a diploma. This includes Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, Art, and Physical Education. The amount of academic credit needed to satisfy graduation requirements is determined by the school district.

All students are required by the district to enroll in four subject courses and a Physical Education course. However, the school compels Freshman and Sophomore students to schedule a full day of classes, to ensure satisfaction with district graduation requirements. Seniors have the option of having an "open period" during the first or last period of the school day. However, Juniors require parental permission to have an open period.

The district requires 2 semesters of Physical Education. Freshmen and Sophomores usually take their P.E. courses at the school. Juniors and Seniors have the option of taking alternative P.E. programs.

• Gregory Alan Williams, actor in films including Remember the Titans, Major League, Above the Law, In the Line of Fire and Old School. Appearances on TV shows including Baywatch, The West Wing, The Sopranos and Boston Public.
• Lorri Bauman, Class of 1980, first Women's NCAA Basketball player to score 3,000 points. One of five NCAA women basketball players to reach that milestone. Inducted into the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Pauline Brown Humphrey, Iowa cosmetologist and business woman
• Stephen Kline, artist, photographer, and designer of the $10,000,000 Florida State of the Arts License Plate. Recent works include his new Lines of Language technique, creating drawings from words. Early works include the 1961 Quill cover.
• Marilyn Maye, jazz and cabaret singer, 1966 Grammy nominee

• Des Moines Independent Community School District for other schools in the same district.
• List of high schools in Iowa

• Des Moines Public Schools Homepage
• East High School Homepage
• Des Moines Public Schools District History
• East High School Alumni Association and Foundation
• Photograph of the Bryant School building, first home of East High
• Photograph of the Webster School building, second home of East High