Type Public, grades 9–12 Superintendent Dale Herl Nickname Bruins Mascot Bears | Established 1888 Color(s) Blue and gold Phone +1 816-521-5355 Principal Mike Becker | |
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Enrollment 1491 (September 22, 2013) Address 1223 N Noland Rd, Independence, MO 64050, USA District Independence Public School District Similar Independ School District, Truman High School, Fort Osage High School, Raytown High School, Winneton High School | ||
William Chrisman High School is a high school located in Independence, Missouri, United States, as part of the Independence School District. The school was founded in 1888 and was known as Independence High School. The first building was located at the intersection of Pleasant and Truman Road, the current location of the Palmer/Central Office Building. It is from this location that President Harry S. Truman, First Lady Bess Truman, and Truman White House Press Secretary and Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Griffith Ross graduated from in 1901.
Contents
- Demographics
- House system
- Sports and Activities
- Fall
- Winter
- Fall and winter
- Spring
- Year Round
- Competitive Debate and Forensics
- Major Events
- Yearly events
- Notable alumni
- References
In 1917 the Independence School District passed a levy and bond to build a new high school building. Margaret Chrisman Swope offered to sell the district land for the new school at the southeast corner of Union and Maple for $1 in exchange for naming the school after her father, William Chrisman. Chrisman had served as a member of the first school board in 1866 and was also a prominent lawyer and banker in the community. The new building opened in 1918 as William Chrisman High School. The high school moved to its current site in 1956, at the northeast corner of Noland Road and U.S. Route 24 (Independence Avenue), when a major addition was added to Ott Elementary School and the building was converted into the high school. Since that time the building has undergone numerous additions.
Demographics
William Chrisman is home to 1491 students from Independence, Missouri and part of Sugar Creek, Missouri (as of the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year). The student population's racial breakdown is: 72.5% white, 12.6% black, 9.1% Hispanic, 0.7% Asian, and 0.3% Native American.
House system
As of the 2007–2008 school year, all high schools in the Independence School District started a “house system”. The house system is a classification of students into five houses. At the end of the 2009-2010 year, it was announced the school would only have four houses, (former houses 1, 2, 3, and 5). In the fall of 2010 the school adopted bear names for the houses. House One became the Grizzly House. House Two became the Panda House. House Three became the Kodiak House. And House Five became the Polar House. House Four was dissolved at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
Sports and Activities
William Chrisman is a member of the Suburban Kansas City- White, a division of the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference League, which realigns/changes every two years. Consisting of high schools: William Chrisman, Oak Park, Raytown, Fort Osage, Liberty North, and Staley William Chrisman also plays Truman, and Van Horn, which are also part of the Independence School District.
Fall
The William Chrisman Bears compete in the following fall sports: Boys: cross country, football, soccer, swimming; Girls: volleyball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis.
Winter
The William Chrisman Bears compete in the following winter sports: Boys: basketball, wrestling; Girls: basketball, swimming.
Fall and winter
The William Chrisman Bears compete in the following art sports: Boys & Girls: dance team.
The dance team, initially created as a drill team, is still traditionally called the Beartrackers. The team is co-ed and performs routines to music mixes of each generation during summer camps, the high school's larger sporting events' break times, class assemblies, parades and end of the season competitions.
Spring
The William Chrisman Bears compete in the following spring sports: Boys: baseball, golf, tennis, track & field; Girls: soccer, track & field.
Year Round
The William Chrisman Bears compete in the following year round sports and activities: Competitive Debate and Forensics and Scholar Bowl.
Competitive Debate and Forensics
The William Chrisman Competitive Debate and Forensics team has a long history under phenomenal coach Margaret Meredith from the late 1940's to 1975. During her tenure, she saw numerous national qualifiers and two national champions in their respective events. Since her tenure ended, the team has been coached by multiple teachers.