Seaman High School

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Coordinates: 39°08′05″N 95°40′18″W / 39.134635°N 95.671787°W / 39.134635; -95.671787
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Seaman High School
Seaman High School (2008)
Address
Map
4850 NW Rochester Road [1]

Topeka
,
Kansas
66617

United States
Coordinates39°08′05″N 95°40′18″W / 39.134635°N 95.671787°W / 39.134635; -95.671787
Information
School typePublic, High School
MottoPreparing Today's Students for Tomorrow's World
Established1920
School districtUSD 345 [2]
SuperintendentBrad Wilson[4]
CEEB code172920 [3]
PrincipalLaura Lyons [5]
Athletic DirectorSteve Bushnell [5]
Teaching staff93.50 (FTE)[6]
Grades9–12
GenderCoEd
Enrollment1,156 (2023–24)[6]
Student to teacher ratio13.28[6]
Color(s)  Cardinal Red
  Royal Blue
AthleticsClass 5A,[7]
District 3 [8]
Athletics conferenceUnited Kansas Conference [5]
MascotViking
Communities servedTopeka
WebsiteSchool Website

Seaman High School is a public secondary school in Topeka, Kansas, United States. It serves students from grades 9 to 12. It is operated by Seaman USD 345 school district, which covers 84 square miles of northern Topeka and rural Shawnee County, Kansas. The high school is one of the few in the world where the students operate a chartered bank.[10]

History[edit]

Seaman High School was designated a Blue Ribbon School in 1984.[11]

Seaman High School was founded in 1920, opening to students in grades nine through twelve on October 4 of that year. The school is named for Fred A. Seaman, who was integral in the school's founding and served as its first principal. Seaman High School's initial enrollment was 65 students, who were taught by seven faculty members. Seaman was one of the first three rural high schools in Kansas. Five students were in the first graduating class.[citation needed]

The Seaman Bank, the first high school bank in the United States, was founded in 1927.[10]

In November 1954, Seaman High moved into a new school located one-half mile west of the former school. Enrollment in 1958 was 483 students. Twenty-two teachers were on the faculty.[citation needed] In December 1970, the new high school at 4850 NW Rochester Rd was dedicated. The former structure at 1124 NW Lyman now houses Logan Elementary School.[citation needed] The school was selected as a Blue Ribbon School in 1984. The Blue Ribbon Award recognizes public and private schools which perform at high levels or have made significant academic improvements.

In January 2008, construction was completed of a freshman wing on the current building along with additions to the auditorium and the woods and metal shops. In August 2008, ninth grade, which had previously been moved to the Junior High level, was added back to the school.[citation needed]

In 2017, Seaman High hosted a "community conversation" discussing inappropriate online behavior, harassment, and threats.[12] Students were encouraged to report negative online behavior, and several student groups began to raise awareness around this issue.[13]

In 2018, Seaman High School's swim team became the first swim team in Topeka to win a state championship, since Topeka High School in 1934, winning by 150 points.[14]

In October 2020, research by Seaman High School's student newspaper revealed that Seaman had been a leader within the Ku Klux Klan. The district's board confirmed this and stated that they were "aware of Fred Seaman’s affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan through research conducted by our teachers and students" and are "proud of our teachers and students for taking a strong interest and stance in learning about and identifying historical figures."[15]

On November 8, 2021, the district's board voted unanimously on an "Option C"[16] between the decisions to either change the district name or keep it. This Option C would agree to remove "all references to Fred A. Seaman," including his "image and likeness," throughout the district in an attempt to divorce the community from the founder. However, both the name of the district, the middle school, the high school, district property, and merchandise would keep the name "Seaman," only under the assumption that the word no longer represents the man.

This decision was subjected to criticism by the Rename USD 345 Schools group, an assemblage of students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, and white students at the high school who were dedicated to changing the name of the district.[17] On November 19, 2021, students held a peaceful rally wearing red, titled "Wear Red Against Fred," in protest against the board's decision.

As of February 22, 2022 and the graduation of the class of 2022 in May of that year, the Rename USD 345 Schools group has remained silent. Since 2022, several long-time teachers have since left Seaman High School.

Extracurricular activities[edit]

The Vikings are classified as a 5A school, the second-largest classification in Kansas according to the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Throughout its history, Seaman has won several state championships in various sports.[citation needed]

Athletics[edit]

Seaman High School offers the following sports:[18]

Fall[edit]

  • Football
  • Volleyball
  • Boys Cross-Country
  • Girls Cross-Country
  • Girls Golf
  • Boys Soccer
  • Girls Tennis
  • Cheerleading

Winter[edit]

  • Boys Basketball
  • Girls Basketball
  • Wrestling
  • Boys Bowling
  • Girls Bowling
  • Winter Cheerleading
  • Boys Swimming and Diving

Spring[edit]

  • Baseball
  • Boys Golf
  • Boys Tennis
  • Girls Soccer
  • Girls Swimming and Diving
  • Softball
  • Boys Track and Field
  • Girls Track and Field

Activities[edit]

Seaman's activities include [citation needed]

Clubs[edit]

Seaman's clubs include [citation needed]

  • Book Club
  • Viking Voices (Writing Club)
  • FCA
  • French Club
  • German Club
  • Literary Magazine
  • Math Club
  • Sharp
  • Spanish Club
  • Spirit Club
  • FBLA
  • Young Democrats
  • Civic Engagement Club
  • GSA

Organizations[edit]

Seaman's organizations include [citation needed]

  • FBLA
  • FCCLA
  • FFA
  • Interact Club
  • Key Club
  • NGHS
  • NHS
  • SADD
  • SEAMAPP
  • International Thespian Society

Notable alumni[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ GNIS for Seaman High School; USGS; November 3, 2008.
  2. ^ USD 345
  3. ^ High School CEEB Code Search
  4. ^ Superintendent Website
  5. ^ a b c "School Search -- Topeka-Seaman HS". Kansas State High School Activities Association. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Seaman High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  7. ^ KSHSAA School Classification List
  8. ^ KSHSAA School District List Archived 2010-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Seaman High ACT Averages
  10. ^ a b Deines, Angela (January 24, 2010). "Bank draws students' interest". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  11. ^ "Blue Ribbon Schools" (English). Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  12. ^ Seaman High School's community conversation focuses on online behavior
  13. ^ Seaman H.S. case puts spotlight on sexting, raises widespread issues
  14. ^ Seaman takes home state swimming championship, first ever Topeka school to win
  15. ^ Fangman, Tristan; Gearhart, Madeline (October 16, 2020). "New research proves Seaman High founder's connection with KKK". Seaman News.
  16. ^ Capital-Journal, Tim Hrenchir, The Topeka (2021-11-09). "'No Great Option': Why a School District Named After a KKK Leader Is Keeping Its Name". Education Week. ISSN 0277-4232. Retrieved 2024-06-03.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Rename USD 345 Schools - Same History, Stronger Future". renameusd345schools.org. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  18. ^ School Athletic Website

External links[edit]

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