Tahoma High School Explained

Tahoma High School should not be confused with Mount Tahoma High School.

Tahoma High School
Motto:Future Ready
Established:1927
Type:Public high school
Principal:Judy Beliveau
Teaching Staff:124.02 (FTE)
Ratio:22.50
Enrollment:2,790 (2022–23)[1]
Grades:9-12
Streetaddress:23499 SE Tahoma Way
City:Maple Valley
State:Washington
Zipcode:98038
Country:United States
Coordinates:47.3581°N -122.0323°W
District:Tahoma School District
Campus:Suburban
Colors: Blue and Gold
Nickname:Bears

Tahoma High School (THS) is a public high school serving grades nine through twelve, and is the only high school in the Tahoma School District. The school provides for citizens in southeast King County, and has been housed in multiple buildings, the current one being a three-story structure in Maple Valley built in 2017.

Overview

Tahoma High School is a suburban campus located near the intersection of two major state routes, Maple Valley Highway (SR 169) and Kent-Kangley Road (SR 516). It is close to Maple Valley Town Square, colloquially known as Four Corners, a major retail area of Maple Valley located at the intersection.

Tahoma High School serves the entirety of Maple Valley and Hobart, portions of Renton, Covington, Ravensdale, and Black Diamond, and a significant area of unincorporated King County.[2] The school is bordered by Enumclaw Senior High School to the south, Mt. Si High School to the east, Liberty High School to the north, Hazen High School to the northwest, and Kentlake High School to the west.[3]

History

The first large public school building in the Maple Valley area to serve secondary students was the Maple Valley Grade School, which opened in 1920 and housed grades one through twelve. In 1926, the Taylor, Hobart, and Maple Valley school districts merged to create a cooperative high school district and purchased a parcel of property for the construction of a dedicated local secondary school. This school, known as TaHoMa High School, opened in 1927 and held both junior and senior high students of the area for many years. After several remodels, this first TaHoMa High School building became Tahoma Middle School.[4]

A new building opened in 1974 as an open concept high school, while the previous building remained as the district's junior high. The open concept design proved unsatisfactory to the faculty at the time, and temporary walls were constructed early in the school building's life. In 1999, an intensive remodel of the Tahoma Senior High School building commenced. Following voter approval of a $10 million, four-year Instructional Technology Levy in 2006, the Tahoma School District outfitted the campus with wireless internet service, Activboard digital whiteboards, and upgraded computer labs.[5]

The building faced struggles with overcrowding throughout the 21st century as Maple Valley experienced rapid growth. The district installed 17 portable classrooms, many of which were purchased for $1 from the neighboring Kent School District. These dilapidated rooms helped to drive voters to approve a $195 million bond in 2015 to build a new high school for the community.[6] Ground was broken in June 2015, it was completed in July 2017, and it opened for the 2017–2018 school year. The previous Senior High building was converted to Maple View Middle School, while the first district high school building was converted to Tahoma Elementary School.[7]

Academics

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction reported the school's graduation rate as 91.3% for the 2016–17 school year,[8] while the statewide graduation rate was reported as 75.0%.[8]

The school offers a variety of tech prep, honors, Advanced Placement, and "College in the High School" courses from the University of Washington and Central Washington University, in addition to the district's school board-approved curriculum. A Running Start program is available through the nearby Green River College campus in Auburn. Tahoma High School's Outdoor Academy program, which integrates Health and Fitness, Science, and Language Arts, has received recognition statewide for its work in changing the concept of Physical Education.[9]

Tahoma also participates in the annual We The People civics competition, led by teacher Gretchen Wulfing.[10] The team has won the Washington state championship every year since 2013, subsequently attending competitions in Washington, D.C., and placing in the top 10 teams nationwide in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022.[11]

Tahoma also houses the First Robotics Competition team, Bear Metal, who has been historically successful since its founding in 2007.[12]

Athletics

THS has been a part of the Cascade Division of the North Puget Sound League since the 2016–17 school year.[13] They were previously members of the South Puget Sound League.

Tahoma students participate in the following sports and athletic activities:

Tahoma Orienteering Club, the school's orienteering team, has also seen national success.[14]

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tahoma Senior High School. National Center for Education Statistics. June 20, 2024.
  2. Web site: Tahoma Senior High School Maple Valley, WA School Boundaries Map & School Profile.
  3. Web site: Archived copy . 2019-05-31 . 2018-10-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181029152434/http://www.k12.wa.us/SchFacilities/maps/SchoolDistrictsESDsWithCounties.pdf . dead .
  4. Tahoma School District. (2004). Tahoma Middle School Dedication [Brochure]. Maple Valley, WA: Kevin Patterson.
  5. Web site: Archived copy . 2019-05-31 . 2012-10-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121029145409/http://k12.wa.us/safs/PUB/LEV/0607/levy06.pdf . dead .
  6. voteyestahoma.com/frequently-asked-qs/
  7. Web site: Groundbreaking set for June 5 - Tahoma High School. Maple Valley Reporter. 17 April 2015 .
  8. Web site: Home - Washington State Report Card. washingtonstatereportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us.
  9. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/southeastkingcountynews/2004121281_outdoor13s0.html
  10. https://www.covingtonreporter.com/news/tahoma-high-teacher-gretchen-wulfing-named-state-civics-educator-of-the-year/
  11. http://www.civiced-wa.org/we-the-people.html
  12. Web site: Bear Metal - Team 2046 . 2022-07-02 . The Blue Alliance . en.
  13. Web site: North Puget Sound League reforms after 26-year hiatus - Kent Reporter . 2016-08-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160919005009/http://www.kentreporter.com/sports/367006581.html?mobile=true . 2016-09-19 .
  14. Web site: COC. 2020-02-12 .
  15. Web site: 2020-05-04. What's in the water in Maple Valley? 'The Voice' contestant Zan Fiskum follows in musical footsteps of Brandi Carlile and Benicio Bryant. 2022-02-11. The Seattle Times. en-US.
  16. Scanlon, Tom (January 20, 2005). "Brandi Carlile: ready for her breakthrough". The Seattle Times
  17. Walker, Erick (August 20, 2008). "Seahawk Omare Lowe is back home with new team". The Covington Reporter
  18. Walker, Erick (February 23, 2007). "World champ's life has been a fight for survival". The Seattle Times
  19. Hill, Kris (June 22, 2011). "From winless to king of the hill| Covington/Maple Valley Male Pre Athlete of the Year: Tayler Saucedo". The Covington Reporter
  20. Web site: Cotterill. TJ. April 21, 2016. Tahoma's 4x100 relay team, Olympic-hopeful Princess Joy Griffey are fast company. February 10, 2021. The News Tribune.