Lindbergh High School (Missouri)

Lindbergh High School is the high school of the Lindbergh School District. It is in Sappington,^[1][2] an unincorporated area in Saint Louis County, Missouri, in the suburbs of Saint Louis. Each year the high school graduates over 420 students, with the most recent graduating class having 495 students^[3]. The school district encompasses Crestwood, Sunset Hills, Concord, and parts of Fenton, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, Affton, and other surrounding localities in St. Louis County.

History

The school district was founded in 1949 but the first schools appeared in the district as far back as 1939. The high school was originally named Grandview. Its mascot was the Griffin and the school colors were maroon and gold. During the high school's first academic year in 1950-51, classes were held in the basement and boiler room of the district's Sappington School elementary building. Construction began on the new high school in 1951, and classes began at the site in September of that year, even though the building was still under construction.

The school district decided that the name Grandview sounded too much like a rest home, so in April 1952, the school was renamed Lindbergh, after world-acclaimed pilot Charles Lindbergh. Its students became the Flyers and the school colors became green and gold. The mascot later became Lindy, sporting a chicken or eagle-like costume. In the fall of 2007, Lindy sported a new look: A black eagle, sporting a flight jacket, aviation cap and aviation goggles, as part of The Green Machine, a student spirit organization known for its rowdy antics. In 1957 the district also adopted the name, becoming the Lindbergh School District. Several new school buildings were created over the following years, several of which later closed as a result of a declining student population.

Lindbergh High School became the largest high school in the state of Missouri during the 1970s, enrolling over 4,200 students. Over the past three decades, the district's population waned (and aged, leading to childless senior citizens), causing the student body to drop significantly over the years. Lindbergh was the first school in Missouri to offer the International Baccalaureate program. In 1995 the school received $25 million for construction and improved facilities through the approval of bond measure, Proposition R. In 2000 and 2003 similar propositions were passed, giving the school additional revenues for improvements of infrastructure and facilities.^[4]

Student organizations

Lindbergh Liberals, Gay-Straight Alliance, National Honors Society, Tri-M, Improv Troupe, Environmental Club, Mock Trial, DECA, Thespian Society, Youth in Government, Key Club, RAD, Strolling Strings, The Spirit of Saint Louis Marching Band, a nationally recognized yearbook since 2016, and a nationally acclaimed student council.

The Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band participated in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California for the third time on January 1, 2018.^[5]

Recognition and awards

• In 1996, Lindbergh's student newspaper, Pilot Newsmagazine , was recognized by the National Scholastic Press Association with a Best of the Net award (now known as the Online Pacemaker). .
• In 2000, The Lindbergh Spirit Yearbook received an Interactive Yearbook Pacemaker
• In 2005, The Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
• In 2005, Lindbergh's student television station, KLHS-TV, was nominated for the National Scholastic Press Association Broadcast Pacemaker. https://web.archive.org/web/20060917082313/http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/winners/bpm05.html]
• In 2005 the school was ranked #925 in Newsweek Magazine's "1000 Best High Schools in the Country” list.^[6]

• In 2006 LHS was recognized again on the list of "1000 Best High Schools in the Country”, improving its ranking to #679, and #733 of all schools in the nation.^[7]

• In 2006, the school's Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band won the annual Greater St. Louis Marching Band Festival (GSL) in the Gold Division with a score of 79.85.
• In 2006, the school district was recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and awarded their "Distinction in Performance" award.^[8]

• In 2007, Lindbergh's Mock Trial team took second place in the Missouri state finals. [site=http://bamsl.org/education/MockTrial/Mock+Trial+Homepage.html site=http://bamsl.org/education/MockTrial/Mock+Trial+Homepage.html] Check |url= value (help). Retrieved May 26, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
• In 2008, Lindbergh was distinguished with eleven National Merit Finalists and five Commended students in the 2008 competition. .
• In 2011, The Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band again participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade. They also placed 11th at the annual Bands of America Super Regional Event in Saint Louis.
• In 2013, Lindbergh Varsity Flyerettes placed 3rd in High Kick and 4th in Pom at the National Dance Team Championship in Orlando, Florida, sponsored by the Universal Dance Association.
• In 2017, the Lindbergh theatre program was nominated for best orchestra and best leading actor for their performance of Chicago.
• In 2018, The Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band was again invited to participate the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Notable alumni

• Joe Boever, baseball player
• Brock Bond, baseball player^[9]
• Jan Garavaglia, medical examiner and television personality
• Josh Outman, baseball player
• Ariane Rinehart, actress and performer
• Philip Sneed aka Moon Valjean, Platinum recording artist with Story Of The Year (band), Goldfinger (band), Greek Fire (band) Radio Co-Host/Producer on The Rizzuto Show KPNT
• Jason Davis, NFL full back

References

External links

• Lindbergh High School website
• Lindbergh High Alumni Association