Type Laboratory school Director Dr. Janice Duncan Grades K–12 Phone +1 417-836-5124 Number of students 350 | Established 1908 Faculty 36 Enrollment 350 Mascot Blue Jays | |
Address 1024 E Harrison St, Springfield, MO 65897, USA Motto Civitas Discendo-"Citizenship through Learning" Similar Missouri State University, Central High School, Glendale High School, Kickapoo High School, Springfield Catholic Schools Profiles | ||
Greenwood laboratory school see the change
Greenwood Laboratory School is a comprehensive K-12 laboratory school affiliated with, and located on the campus of, Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.
Contents
Enrollment
The school has an enrollment of approximately 374 students, and about 30 or so faculty members. As of 2011, approximately 120 students were enrolled in the high school. The average graduating class is about 30 students. Parents are known to sign their children up on a waiting list to get in as soon as they are born.
Academics
The school offers the basic course offerings of any other high school and a comparable course credit system. Over 90% of the college's faculty members have Master's degrees and have an average of 9 years of experience at the school. From 2002 to 2008, the average ACT scores have ranged from about 25 to 26, exceeding state and national averages by 4 to 6 points. In addition, almost 100% of graduates go on to attend college. Greenwood is accredited by the North Central Association of Schools and meets the graduation requirements of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In addition, graduates receive a separate transcript from MSU for their advanced college coursework on campus at Missouri State University.
Graduation Exhibition
Students must master all components of this rigorous project including: a research paper on a current topic, a related service project in the community, and a final public presentation including public speaking, a media presentation called a Gamma comparing the search topic to the service learning experience and a Q & A session. Students are responsible for getting a three-person committee to advise them on their project. This committee assesses the public speaking component and the Gamma/media presentation component. A separate writing committee assesses all students written components.
Public Affairs Diploma
Students can receive a "Public Affairs Diploma" by meeting certain criteria. The diploma is designed to engage students in community service projects over the course of their high school years. The Public Affairs Scholars Diploma will be awarded to all Greenwood graduates based on: 23 units of credit earned, 4 Scholars Merits earned in “designated” courses during the 4-year high school experience. Successful completion of the Graduation Exhibition In addition to the graduation requirements listed above, the Greenwood student may choose to work toward the completion of the Public Affairs Honors Diploma. This diploma will be awarded to students who meet all requirements for the Scholars Diploma and also earn four additional Honors Merits during their secondary school experience. Scholars Merits and Honors Merits will be awarded based on significant volunteering and/or service learning activities. Greenwood graduates may attain additional honors endorsements in the area of sciences, mathematics, public affairs as well as other fields of study. Service learning is a teaching method that combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. Effective service learning activities meet the following guidelines as identified by the Seven Best Practices for Service Learning—adapted from the Maryland Student Service Alliance.
Activities
The Greenwood Lab School mascot is the Blue Jay and the school colors are blue and white, with black or red serving as accent colors. Activities offered include speech & debate, basketball, golf, soccer, tennis, cross country, track & field, concert band, concert choir, cheerleading, Spanish club, math club, National Honors Society, and student council. Football was formerly a sport until the early 1990s when soccer was given preference over football. Girls Soccer was started in 2007.
Boys Soccer
Soccer has been Greenwood's most notable sport since its inception in 1990 when it began as a club team. In the 1990s, Boys Soccer was coached by Jan Stahle who is a Greenwood Alumni. From 1992 to 1999 Greenwood Boys Soccer fielded a team in the District Championship Game with 7 consecutive District Championships from 1992 to 1998. In 1992 and 1998 the team made it to the State Quarterfinals. From 1993 to 1997, Greenwood Boys Soccer made it to the State Championship round, placing 4th in 1993, 3rd in 1994, and 2nd in 1995–1997. During the 1996 season, Greenwood Boys Soccer had a National Record of 23 consecutive shutouts. In 2005, Greenwood Boys Soccer returned to its old form posting a 15-9-4 record, a District Championship, and a 3rd Place finish in the State Championship round. In 2009, senior Chris Aiken broke the long-standing career goal scoring record which was previously held by John McQueary since 1997. The record was broken again in the 2010 season, by senior Stuart Beezley with 104 goals. On the final game of the 2010 season, seniors Jordan Johnston and Ben Whitlock set the record for most docking attempts at midfield during a match.
Boys Football
Football was Greenwood's most notable sport until it was taken away in 1996. In the decade of the 1980s Greenwood became one of the most dominant small school programs in the State of Missouri. They went on to win the cities first football state championship in 1981. Anthony Frazier won the Springfield Quarterback Club's MVP and top Quarterback award in 1981. Coach Paul Mullins won Coach of the Year honors in 1985 and 1986 from the Springfield Quarterback Club. Coach Mullins was inducted to the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992.
Boys Basketball
Greenwood has a storied Boys Basketball Program dating back to the founding of the school. Coach J.H. "Speedy" Collins was coach from 1924 until 1964 and guided the Bluejays to 13 Basketball Championships. In 1942 Greenwood was the State Champion for Class B, when Coach J.H. "Speedy" Collins guided the Boys to a 26-4 record and a Championship Victory over Hopkins High, with a final score of 45-41. Coach Larry Atwood led the team to two State Runner Up finishes in Class 1A in 1980 and 1982. Coach Atwood also was awarded Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1982 by the Springfield Tip-Off Club. Anthony Frazier who was a key piece to the 1982 runner up finish was awarded the Springfield Tip-Off Club Player of the Year award that year. Coach Mark Fisher guided the Bluejays to a Runner Up finish in Class 1A in 1991. Monte Marsh who was part of that team, was the 1991 Springfield Tip-Off Club Player of the year. Coach Fisher was a Two-Time Winner of the Springfield Tip-Off Club Coach of the Year Award in 1991 and 1999. The 1990s was highlighted with intense rivalries with Springfield Catholic High School and Sparta High School. Trevyor Fisher who played for his Father, was the Springfield Tip-Off Club Player of the Year in 2000, later went on to play for the Missouri State Bears, and currently serves as their Director of Basketball Operations.
Boys Golf
Greenwood Lab School has the honor of being the alma mater of American Golf great Payne Stewart. Stewart graduated from GLS in 1975 after a stellar prep career of playing for the Blue Jays. Although he never won an individual state H.S.title, Payne's legendary style and technique lives forever at Greenwood and around the world. No team in the Blue Jays history had won a state championship until the spring of 2009. That team was led by Senior Captain Patrick Connor who was a 2 time all state performer, 3 time all district performer, and was a part of 3 district championship teams. The 2009 state team was anchored by phenomenal play by sophomore standout Andy "Calvin" Godwin. Godwin won the school's first individual title for Class 1 since Alan Rosen in 1986. The 2009 state tournament was held at Twin Oaks Country Club in Springfield, Missouri. Other members of the 2009 state championship team were Senior Josh Burk, Junior Evan Stelzer, Junior Ian Loyd, and coached by Darren Taylor.
High School Band
Greenwood has had a High School Band for many years, but did not achieve consistent success until the arrival of current Band Director Richard Ruhe in 1991. In the time Mr. Ruhe has been band director the band has accomplished:
Alumni
Professional golfer Payne Stewart is an Alumnus of Greenwood. He competed on the school's football, basketball and golf teams. In 1971, Payne’s freshman year, he was a medalist at the Southwest Missouri State University High School Relays, and in 1973 he led the team to a title at the same event. He went on to win two U.S. Open (golf) championships and the 1989 PGA Championship.
Joe Haymes (1907–1964) was an American jazz bandleader and arranger who also attended Greenwood.
Billy Long (1955–Present) Class of 1973, Currently the 7th District Congressman from Missouri, is a prominent auctioneer, realtor, radio personality, and Greenwood alum who announced his run for Missouri's 7th congressional district seat for 2010. Billy won the Republican Nomination for the seat in August 2010.