Platte Canyon High School

Remodeling

Platte Canyon School originally housed all grades, K through 12, in a one-story, long building. Grade school students were in one half of the building, while junior high and high school students were in the other half. Entry was in the middle with school offices located inside the front door, and the original gym located straight back.

During 1965 and 1966, a small new two-story building was constructed. Some of the new classes offered included Home Economics and Shop. The kitchen and lunchroom were also located in the new building.

Remodeling and construction took place several years ago. This construction led to the annexation of the middle and high schools into a larger building commonly known as the West Building. The former high school became the East Building, now functioning primarily as the district office. The East Building also contains two high school gyms, the auditorium, the swimming pool and the old track field.

A newer track and football field were created with the new school. This field is actually on the opposite side of Highway 285. Access to the field is gained by way of an old railroad bridge spanning the highway. A new baseball field was also planned, but lack of funds and a decreasing enrollment rate had placed those plans on hold. As of late 2010 a softball field had been completed, but not the baseball field.

Student population per grade climbed to a peak of about 90 students per class before beginning an eventual decline during the construction of the new school building.

Inflated price of education

Due to a lack of sufficient funds, the school has recently begun a search to find new sources of money. For instance, student parking was free to all in 2001, but in the 2004 school year, a fee of $50 per year was implemented. To participate in an after-school activity in 2001, a student was expected to pay $85, whereas the same activities were $35 in 2003.

Although the school is public, students wishing to enroll at Platte Canyon High can purchase an "Activities Card" for $35. A new card must be purchased at the beginning of each school year. The card grants the student free or discounted access to dances, sporting events, and performances at the school. The funds from card fees are used to support such student activities.

Even the modest pricing of school lunch has climbed in the last few years. The cost of a pint of milk jumped from twenty-five cents to thirty-five cents within a short time span, while the overall cost of an average lunch was $2 and rising as of 2004.

Over time, the school's lack of funds has meant the closure of several classes and clubs, including home economics, wood shop, German, drafting and boys' swimming.

The Marge E. Hudak Pool, located in the school's East Building, had been another part of the school in constant jeopardy. However, in 2005 a referendum was approved by the residents of the school district to provide the pool with an annual budget sufficient to maintain its programs. The Friends of the Pool Inc, a 501(c)3 tax exempt corporation, was formed to raise funds in support of the pool.

Athletics

Platte Canyon High School is a member of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) and the Frontier League. The Platte Canyon Huskies participate in 2A football (Colorado Conference) and 3A Frontier League basketball, baseball, cheer, cross country, speech and debate, softball, track & field, volleyball, wrestling, along with 4A Inter-League girls' swimming and 5A State League alpine skiing.

2006 hostage crisis

On September 27, 2006, a "hostage situation" was reported at 11:40 a.m. local time (1740 UTC) at the high school. Duane R. Morrison, 53, of Denver, reportedly said that he had a bomb. He had taken six students as hostages in a second-floor room and released four of them while keeping the other two; each of the six hostages was female. Once SWAT members approached, one of the female hostages, identified as 16-year-old Emily Keyes, was shot and critically wounded. She was taken away by a helicopter, and was later declared dead from her injuries. The hostage-taker then shot and killed himself. The other female was not wounded.