Wayzata High School

Wayzata High School
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
4955 Peony Lane Plymouth , Minnesota 55446 United States
Coordinates	45°2′44″N 93°30′35″W / 45.04556°N 93.50972°W / 45.04556; -93.50972Coordinates: 45°2′44″N 93°30′35″W / 45.04556°N 93.50972°W / 45.04556; -93.50972
Information
Type	Public
Motto	"We're Here For You"
Established	1857
School district	Wayzata School District
Principal	Scott Gengler
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	3669 (2019–2020)
Color(s)	Royal blue and gold
Athletics conference	Lake Conference
Team name	Trojans
Website	www.wayzataschools.org/whs

Wayzata High School is a comprehensive public high school located in Plymouth, Minnesota, United States, a suburb of Minneapolis. The high school, operated by Wayzata Public Schools, has approximately 3600+ students in grades 9 to 12 (2019),^[1] making it the largest secondary school by enrollment in Minnesota. It is also the largest Minnesota secondary school by size, with an interior of 658,000 square feet (61,100 m²).^[2][3] The district boundaries include all or part of eight municipalities: Corcoran, Maple Grove, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka, Orono, Plymouth, and Wayzata.^[1] The school finished an expansion project in 2017 with the new capacity of 3,900. The school is part of the Lake Conference. Scott Gengler is the Principal.

In 2015, Newsweek ranked the school at 150th on its "List of the 500 Top High Schools in America".^[4] U.S. News and World Report ranked the school at #614 among 21,000 schools nationally and #8 in Minnesota.^[5]

History[]

The first school in the Wayzata area was established in around 1855. Classes were taught in homes until a one-room school was built near what is now the second green of the Wayzata Country Club. This school burned down for unknown reasons and a new school was constructed on what is now the main street of Wayzata.^[6]

What is now the West and Central middle schools have both once been the high school building. The West Middle School building served as the high school from 1940 to 1960. Central Middle School's campus was home to the high school from 1960 to 1997. The current Wayzata High School campus was completed in 1997 and classes began in the 1997–98 school year.^[6]

On February 25, 2014, voters approved a referendum for a $109 million bond request to expand the high school and improve security and technology. Part of the provisions include the purchasing of adjacent land currently belonging to the Elm Creek Golf Course and the building of a new wing. Construction began in fall 2014 and lasted until 2017.^[7]

Academics[]

As of the 2015–2016 school year, Wayzata High School offers 24 Advanced Placement classes and 1 Advanced Placement Pilot course (AP Accounting).^[8]

The school also serves host to the Minnesota PSEO program, offering students of 11th and 12th grade to receive college credit during their high school years.^[9]

Wayzata High School has consistently exceeded the state and national average scores on the ACT.^[10]

In 2014, the school began a district-wide technology program which issued each student a district-owned iPad.^[11]

At the start of the 2016–2017 school year, the school started a new support block called myTime. It is designed to meet the academic needs of students during the school day. During this time, students will receive academic support, participate in relearning, make up labs or tests and quizzes, study quietly and collaborate with classmates on group projects. Students can be assigned by a teacher(s)that may need reteaching or assistance in making up missing work. If they are not assigned they can self-select, meaning that they can select where and what to work on during myTime. The block is 35 minutes and takes place between 1st and 2nd period.

Extracurricular activities[]

Athletics[]

Wayzata is part of the Lake Conference and in the Minnesota State High School League. Wayzata was in the Classic Lake Conference prior to the 2010-2011 athletic year. The following sports teams are sponsored by the school:

Girls' cross country won the Nike NXN National Cross Country Championship in 2013.^[12]

Clubs and activities[]

In the 2019 National Science Bowl Competition, Wayzata High School won the Final Championship against Dulles High School. The school has also participated in the competition in 2011, 2014, 2018, and 2020.

Wayzata's quiz bowl team won both the NAQT Minnesota State Championship and Minnesota High School Quiz Bowl League in 2012, 2013, 2018, 2020, and 2021. They have performed well on the national level, placing T-8 in the High School National Championship Tournament in 2018 and 2021.^[16]

Wayzata participates in the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League, holding the season champion title for 11 years (2007–2017) and producing many state individual champions. Several students from Wayzata travel to the American Regions Mathematics League held in University of Iowa and Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament as members of the Minnesota All-State Mathematics Team.

The 9th grade Knowledge Master Open team won the national spring KMO in the 9th grade division in 2009.^[17] The trivia team has been continued by two Questions Unlimited 3-2-1 teams, each composed of students in grades 9, 10, and grades 11, 12.

Notable alumni[]

Politicians[]

• Amy Klobuchar, (1978), U.S. Senator (DFL) representing Minnesota^[18]
• David Gaither (1975), former Minnesota State Senator, and former Governor Tim Pawlenty's Chief of Staff^[19]
• Betsy Hodges (1987), former Mayor of Minneapolis serving office from 2014 to 2018^[20]

Athletes[]

• Mike Muller (1991), 2nd round pick in 1990 NHL entry draft, former player for Minnesota Golden Gophers and Moscow Dynamo
• Marion Barber III (2001), former running back for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and retired NFL running back
• Dominique Barber (2004), former safety for University of Minnesota, drafted by Houston Texans, and is currently a free agent
• François-Henri Désérable (2005), French author and professional ice hockey player
• Andrew Peterson (2003), former defender for the Columbus Crew
• Dick Beardsley (1975), marathon runner, 2nd place in 1982 Boston Marathon
• Ben Hamilton (1996), drafted by the Denver Broncos^[21] in 2001, signed with the Seattle Seahawks^[22] in 2010
• Shawn Daivari (2002), professional wrestler
• Ariya Daivari (2007), professional wrestler
• James Laurinaitis (2005), Linebacker, Ohio State Buckeyes, 2006 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Winner,^[23] drafted by St. Louis Rams
• Tim Herron (1989), professional golfer.^[24]
• Steve Wright (1977), former NFL Lineman and contestant on Survivor: Redemption Island
• A.J. Tarpley (2010), retired Linebacker, Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL)
• Heather Arseth (2011), swimmer in the 2012 Summer Olympics
• Ryan Saunders (2004), head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves^[25]
• Andrew Donlin (2011), professional team handball player
• Joey Gerber (2015), professional baseball player for the Seattle Mariners
• Patrick Weah (2020), professional soccer player for Minnesota United of the MLS

Entertainment and music[]

• Charles Nolte (1941), American Broadway and film actor
• Benjamin Salisbury (1998), former child actor^{[citation needed]}
• Kirsten Gronfield (1996), actress^{[citation needed]}
• Kimberly Elise, (1985), actress (John Q, The Manchurian Candidate)
• David Bromstad (1992), interior designer and HGTV television show host
• Emily Tyra (2005), actress, singer and dancer, Code Black television series

Other[]

• Andrew Tang (2018), chess grandmaster playing for the Minnesota Blizzard of the PRO Chess League

Notable faculty[]

• Terry Steinbach (1980), former head baseball coach
• David Plummer (2013-2016), former head boys swim and dive coach

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Wayzata Public Schools District Official Website