Wayzata High School
Wayzata High School is a comprehensive public high school in Plymouth, Minnesota, United States, a suburb of Minneapolis. The high school, operated by Wayzata Public Schools, had about 3711 students in grades 9 to 12 as of 10/1/23,[2] making it Minnesota's largest secondary school by enrollment. It is also Minnesota's largest secondary school by size, with an interior of 658,000 square feet (61,100 m2).[3][4] The district boundaries include all or part of eight municipalities: Corcoran, Maple Grove, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka, Orono, Plymouth, and Wayzata.[2] The school finished an expansion project in 2017 with the new capacity of 3,900. It is part of the Lake Conference. Scott Gengler is the principal.
| Wayzata High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
4955 Peony Lane , 55446 United States | |
| Coordinates | 45°2′44″N 93°30′35″W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Motto | "We're Here For You" |
| Established | 1855 |
| School district | Wayzata School District |
| Principal | Scott Gengler |
| Teaching staff | 177.82 (FTE)[1] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 3,505 (2021-22)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 19.69[1] |
| Color(s) | Royal blue and gold |
| Athletics conference | Lake Conference |
| Team name | Trojans |
| Website | www |
In 2015, Newsweek ranked the school 150th on its "List of the 500 Top High Schools in America".[5] U.S. News & World Report ranked the school 432nd among 21,000 schools nationally and 6th in Minnesota in 2021.[6]
History
The first school in the Wayzata area was established in around 1855. Classes were taught in homes until a one-room school was built near what is now the second green of the Wayzata Country Club. This school burned down (for unknown reasons) and a new school was constructed on what is now Wayzata's main street near downtown Wayzata.[7]
What are now the West and Central middle schools were each once the high school building. The West Middle School building served as the high school from 1940 to 1960. Central Middle School's campus was home to the high school from 1960 to 1997. The current Wayzata High School campus was completed in 1997 and classes began in the 1997–98 school year.[7]
On February 25, 2014, voters approved a referendum for a $109 million bond request to expand the high school and improve security and technology. Part of the provisions include the purchasing of adjacent land belonging to the Elm Creek Golf Course and the building of a new wing. Construction took place from 2014 to 2017.[8]
Academics
As of the 2015–16 school year, Wayzata High School offers 24 Advanced Placement classes and one Advanced Placement Pilot course (AP Accounting).[9]
The school also hosts the Minnesota PSEO program, allowing students in 11th and 12th grades to receive college credit.[10]
Wayzata High School has consistently exceeded the state and national average scores on the ACT.[11]
In 2014, the school began a district-wide technology program that issued each student a district-owned iPad.[12]
At the start of the 2016–17 school year, the school started a new support block called OurTime. It is designed to meet the students' academic needs during the school day. During this time, students receive academic support, participate in relearning, make up labs or tests and quizzes, study quietly, and collaborate with classmates on group projects. The block is 25 minutes and takes place between 2nd and 3rd period.
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
Wayzata is part of the Lake Conference and in the Minnesota State High School League. Wayzata was in the Classic Lake Conference before 2010–11. The school sponsors the following sports teams:
- Fall
- Girls’ Soccer
- Boys’ Soccer
- Cheer team
- Girls' cross country
- Boys' cross country
- Football
- Girls' swimming and diving
- Girls' tennis
- Girls' volleyball
- Winter
- Alpine ski racing
- Boys' basketball
- Girls' basketball
- Cheer team
- Dance team
- Gymnastics
- Boys' hockey
- Girls' hockey
- Nordic ski racing
- Boys' swimming and diving
- Wrestling
- Spring
- Softball
- Boys' golf
- Girls' golf
- Boys' lacrosse
- Girls' lacrosse
- Baseball
- Synchronized swimming
- Boys' tennis
- Boys' track and field
- Girls' track and field
Girls' cross country won the Nike NXN National Cross Country Championship in 2013.[13]
| Season | Sport | Championships |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Football | 2005, 2008, 2010, 2019 |
| Soccer, Boys' | 1985, 2005, 2017, 2022 | |
| Cross Country, Boys' | 1992, 1993, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022 | |
| Cross Country, Girls' | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2022 | |
| Swimming, Girls' | 2013, 2014, 2015 | |
| Soccer, Girls' | 1991, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2009, 2011, 2012 | |
| Winter | Basketball, Boys' | 1959, 2021 |
| Hockey, Boys' | 2016 | |
| Wrestling | 1941, 1951, 1952, 1953 | |
| Dance Team | 1978, 1980, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2019 (x2 Kick and Jazz) | |
| Skiing, Nordic Girls' | 1980, 2013, 2014, 2015 | |
| Swimming, Boys' | 2014 | |
| Spring | Golf, Boys' | 1994, 1998, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017 |
| Golf, Girls' | 2011 | |
| Synchronised swimming | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 | |
| Tennis, Boys' | 1993, 1999, 2013, 2014 | |
| Track and Field, Boys' | 1977, 1980, 1984, 1995, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018 | |
| True Team Track and Field, Boys' | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023 | |
| Track and Field, Girls' | 2007 | |
| Adapted Bowling | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 | |
| Total | [14][15][16] |
Clubs and activities
In the 2019 National Science Bowl Competition, Wayzata High School won the Final Championship against Dulles High School. The school also participated in the competition in 2011, 2014, 2018, and 2020.
Wayzata's quiz bowl team won both the NAQT Minnesota State Championship and Minnesota High School Quiz Bowl League in 2012, 2013, 2018, 2020, and 2021. It has performed well at the national level, placing T-8 in the High School National Championship Tournament in 2018 and 2021.[17]
Wayzata participates in the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League, holding the season champion title for 11 years (2007–2017) and producing many state individual champions. Several Wayzata students travel to the American Regions Mathematics League held in University of Iowa and Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament as members of the Minnesota All-State Mathematics Team.
The 9th grade Knowledge Master Open team won the national spring KMO in the 9th grade division in 2009.[18] The trivia team has been continued by two Questions Unlimited 3-2-1 teams, each composed of students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Wayzata's Volunteer Club serves as one of the premier volunteering clubs in the state, focusing on community development, education, and fostering relationships. Notable partnerships include elementary school carnival support, Salvation Army donations, and removal of invasive Buckthorn species.
Notable alumni
Politicians
- David Gaither (1975), former Minnesota state senator and Governor Tim Pawlenty's Chief of Staff[19]
- Betsy Hodges (1987), former mayor of Minneapolis[20]
- Amy Klobuchar (1978), U.S. senator representing Minnesota[21]
Athletes
- Heather Arseth (2011), swimmer in the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Dominique Barber (2004), NFL player
- Marion Barber III (2001), NFL player
- Dick Beardsley (1975), marathon runner
- Ariya Daivari (2007), professional wrestler
- Shawn Daivari (2002), professional wrestler
- François-Henri Désérable (2005), author and professional ice hockey player
- Andrew Donlin (2011), professional team handball player
- Joey Gerber (2015), professional baseball player
- Ben Hamilton (1996), NFL player[22][23]
- Tim Herron (1989), professional golfer[24]
- James Laurinaitis (2005), NFL player[25]
- Mike Muller (1991), NHL player
- Andrew Peterson (2003), former defender for the Columbus Crew
- Ryan Saunders (2004), head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves[26]
- A.J. Tarpley (2010), NFL player
- Patrick Weah (2020), professional soccer player
- Steve Wright (1977), NFL player, contestant on Survivor: Redemption Island
Entertainment and music
- David Bromstad (1992), interior designer and HGTV television show host
- Kimberly Elise (1985), actress
- Kirsten Gronfield (1996), actress
- Charles Nolte (1941), Broadway and film actor
- Benjamin Salisbury (1998), actor (The Nanny)
- Emily Tyra (2005), actress, singer and dancer
Other
- Andrew Tang (2018), chess grandmaster
Notable faculty
- Terry Steinbach (1980), former head baseball coach
- David Plummer (2013-2016), former head boys swim and dive coach
References
- "WAYZATA HIGH". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- "About - Wayzata Public Schools".
- Wayzata High School Construction
- "Wayzata High School - Kraus-Anderson".
- "America's Best High Schools 2015". The complete list of the 1,000 top U.S. schools. Newsweek. 2015.
- "Wayzata High in Plymouth, MN | Best High Schools | US News". Archived from the original on April 20, 2016.
- District Facts and History
- "Referendum".
- "Wayzata High School -- Curriculum".
- "Guidance and Counseling / PSEO and Advanced Placement". www.wayzata.k12.mn.us. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- "Why Wayzata? / Academic Excellence". Archived from the original on March 31, 2012.
- "iPads for all in Wayzata Schools |". sailor.mnsun.com. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- NikeCrossNationals.com - Nike Cross Nationals Official Site - NXN - Results - 2013 NXN Results
- "State Championships - Wayzata Public Schools". www.wayzataschools.org. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- "MNSHSL State Cross Country Meet November 2, 2013". Retrieved November 2, 2013.
- "Minus one shoe, Richfield's Ali runs to victory". StarTribune.
- "Wayzata High School Tournament Results". NAQT.
- "Announcements for Tuesday, December 11, 2012".
- "Gaither, David C."
- Kleven, Anna. "Mayor and interim superintendent visit college bound seniors". The Southerner.
- Amy Klobuchar reference Archived August 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Ben Hamilton reference
- Seattle Seahawks
- ""Getting schooled by Lil' Lumpy"". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- James Laurinaitis reference
- "Wayzata High School, Plymouth (MN) Basketball Players - RealGM".
External links
“Wayzata High School.” Wayzata Public Schools, https://www.wayzataschools.org/whs.