Affton High School

Affton High School is a public comprehensive high school in Affton, St. Louis County, Missouri that is part of the Affton School District.

Affton High School
Front of the Affton High School
Address
8309 Mackenzie Road Affton , Missouri United States
Coordinates	38.5594°N 90.3235°W / 38.5594; -90.3235
Information
Type	Comprehensive high school
Motto	"Finish Strong"
Established	1930
School district	Affton School District
Superintendent	Travis Bracht
NCES School ID	290291000009[1]
Principal	Deann Myers
Faculty	49.50 (FTE)[2]
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	782 (2018–19)[2]
Student to teacher ratio	15.80[2]
Color(s)	Purple and gold
Mascot	Cougar
Rival	Bayless Senior High School
Newspaper	The Cougars Tale
Website	ahs.afftonschools.net

History

Affton High School
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	8520 Mackenzie Rd.
Coordinates	38.5573°N 90.3218°W / 38.5573; -90.3218
Built	1937
Architect	George Ingham Barnett
Architectural style	Tudor Revival
NRHP reference No.	10000551[3]
Added to NRHP	August 12, 2010

The first high school classes in Affton were offered in 1930 at 8701 Mackenzie Road in the basement of the former McKenzie School, in a building that now serves as the district administrative office building. The first section of the original building, which was later named Mark Vogt High School, was constructed in 1936 at 8520 Mackenzie Road, and 1937 marked the first class to graduate from the new high school. The building is currently the Sanders Work Activity Center.

The current high school building was built on a 22-acre (89,000 m²) plot in 1955. A classroom and cafeteria addition was added in 1958. Ninth grade students were temporarily moved to McKenzie School in the fall of 1958, back to the Senior High in 1959, and into a new ninth grade center at Vogt School, after an addition was finished in 1961. The terra cotta cougar and bronze school seal, located in the lobby, were donated by the Classes of 1961 and 1962, respectively. An addition was added in 1963, and in 1965 a bond issue was passed to provide the high school with an auditorium, pool, library and additional classrooms. The "pod" area of the high school was added in 1969. Ninth grade students were moved back to the high school after the Vogt school was closed in 1978.

Prior to the start of the 2002/03 school year, new science labs were added to the science classrooms. In addition, business computer labs, FACS classrooms, Science classrooms and administrative offices were upgraded. This work was made possible by the passing of Proposition A in 2000. A new student commons addition was built on to the existing cafeterias and opened for the 2004-05 school year. The commons was made possible by a million-dollar donation from Affton High School alumni Bill ('63) and Nancy ('65) Thompson. A new athletic complex, which included a new football field, bleachers, all-weather track and lights made its debut at the start of the 2004/05 school year, with contributions from actor and alumnus John Goodman.

Scenes from the 2009 film Up in the Air were shot at Affton High School.[4]

On August 12, 2010, the original high school building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[5]

About 20 percent of the school is of Bosnian descent.[6]

Activities

For the 2013–2014 school year, the school offered 18 activities approved by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA): baseball, boys' and girls' basketball, sideline cheerleading, dance team, 11-man football, boys' golf, music activities, boys' and girls' soccer, softball, boys' and girls' swimming and diving, boys' and girls' track and field, boys' and girls' volleyball, and wrestling.[7] In addition to its current activities, Affton students have won several state championships, including:

• Girls' basketball: 1985[8]
• Ice Hockey: 1974-1975 State Champions
• Ice Hockey: 1999-2000 Wickenheiser Memorial Cup Champions

The school also has had two state individual champions in boys' swimming and diving.[8]

Notable alumni

• John Goodman: actor
• Derek Blasberg: fashion writer
• Markus Golden: New York Giants linebacker
• Bruce Rittmann: professor
• Tishaura Jones: St. Louis City treasurer
• Kristeen Young: musician

References

1. "Search for Public Schools - Affton High (290291000009)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
2. "AFFTON HIGH". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
4. 'Up In The Air' features St. Louis landmarks - Columbia Missourian
5. "National Register of Historic Places listings: Weekly list of actions taken on properties: 8/9/2010 through 8/13/2010". National Park Service. August 20, 2010. Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
6. https://www.stlbosnians.com/bosnian-studies-at-affton-high/
7. MSHSAA: Affton
8. MSHSAA: Championship Histories by Sport