Westside High School (Omaha)
Westside High School is the only high school of the Westside Community Schools district (also known as District 66 to local residents) of Omaha, Nebraska, United States.
Westside High School | |
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Front view of the Westside campus | |
Location | |
8701 Pacific St. Omaha, Nebraska, 68114-5298 | |
Information | |
Type | Public |
Established | 1951 |
Principal | Jay Opperman |
Faculty | 132.95 (FTE)[1] |
Enrollment | 1,964 (2017–18)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 14.77[1] |
Color(s) | |
Team name | Warriors |
Website | http://whs.westside66.org/ |
Student life
Modular schedule system
Westside has used a modular schedule since 1967. Each module, or "mod" (as known colloquially among WHS students), is either a 20 or 40-minute period used for classes or independent study time in an instructional materials center (IMC). This allows freedom in scheduling as classes can be 40, 60, or 80 minutes long, as needed for one-to-one, small group, large group, and laboratory instruction. Classes are taught in a similar format to many universities; students meet a large group lecture once per week and have small group recitations throughout the week. An average student has at least one or two full open mods per day, to be used for studying, interacting with teachers, eating lunch, or socializing. Juniors and seniors who have met specific requirements are eligible to apply for a pass that allows them to leave the building during open mods.[2]
Supreme Court Case
In 1985, Westside Senior Bridget Mergens was denied the ability to create an after-school Christian Bible club. The principal at the time rejected the idea since he said a religious club violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. In addition, the club lacked a school sponsor that was required when forming a club. Mergens argued that the district's decision was in violation of the federal Equal Access Act requiring that groups seeking to express messages containing “religious, political, philosophical, or other content” not be denied the ability to form clubs. In 1990,Westside Community Board of Education v. Mergens was heard by the Supreme Court. In an 8-1 decision, the court said that since the club did not study school curriculum, it was permitted under the Equal Access Act.
Extracurricular Activities
Westside athletic teams have won the following state championships.
State championships[3] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Season | Sport | Number of championships | Year |
Fall | Football | 3 | 1961, 1981, 1982 |
Tennis, boys' | 4 | 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983 | |
Golf, girls' | 1 | 1990 | |
Winter | Wrestling | 2 | 1976, 1977 |
Basketball, girls' | 3 | 1999, 2015, 2018 | |
Basketball, boys' | 1 | 1980 | |
Swimming, boys' | 23 | 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 2004, 2005, 2006 | |
Swimming, girls' | 13 | 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1996, 2012 | |
Spring | Golf, boys' | 5 | 1959, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1989 |
Track and field, boys' | 2 | 1967, 1975 | |
Soccer, boys' | 2 | 1998, 2004 | |
Tennis, girls' | 17 | 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012, 2014 | |
Baseball | 8 | 1972, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015 | |
Total | 82 | ||
Notable alumni
- Kurt Andersen, writer
- Brad Ashford, U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district (elected 2014)
- Bill Danenhauer, professional wrestler and football player/coach
- Clark Baechle, member of The Faint
- Dapose, member of The Faint
- Todd Fink, member of The Faint
- Pat Fischer, professional football player (Washington Redskins)
- Jack Gilinsky, member of rap and singing duo Jack & Jack
- Bennett Greenspan, businessman and entrepreneur
- Tim Halperin, musician, and Top 24 American Idol contestant (2011)
- Nick Hexum, member of 311
- Michael J. Hopkins, mathematician
- Jack Johnson, member of rap and singing duo Jack & Jack
- Jaime King, actress and model
- Terry Kiser, actor
- Joseph Limprecht, United States Ambassador to Albania
- Tim Mahoney, member of 311
- Nick Nolte, actor- class of 1959
- Pete Ricketts, 40th governor of Nebraska; former Chief Operating Officer of TD Ameritrade
- Heather Rizzuto, member of Mulberry Lane
- Rachel Rizzuto, member of Mulberry Lane
- Darin Ruf, professional baseball player
- Chad Sexton, member of 311
- Dave Stryker, American Jazz Guitarist
- Jacob Thiele, member of The Faint
- Virginia Lamp Thomas, lawyer and consultant
References
- "Westside High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- "Modular Schedule – Bell Schedule | Westside High School". Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- "Nebraska School Activities Association" (English). Retrieved 2012-06-26.