Decatur High School (Federal Way, Washington)

Decatur High School is an American secondary school teaching grades nine through twelve. A part of the Federal Way School District, it was founded in 1971 in Federal Way, Washington.The graduating classes of 1973-1976 were schooled in the Illahee Middle School building. The school was built in 1976, renovated in 1987, then again remodeled in 2002.

Decatur High School
Address
2800 SW 320th St

Federal Way
,
Washington

United States
Information
TypePublic secondary
Established1971
School districtFederal Way School District
PrincipalJamie Tough [1][2]
Teaching staff64.10 (FTE)[3]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,440 (2018-19)[3]
Student to teacher ratio22.46[3]
CampusSuburban
Color(s)            
Navy Blue, Gold, Orange
MascotGolden Gator
WebsiteDecatur H.S.

Although sometimes assumed to have been named after Commodore Stephen Decatur, a War of 1812 and the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War naval hero, the school is in fact named after the USS Decatur, a ship named for Stephen Decatur that assisted settlers during the 1856 Battle of Seattle.

Decatur was originally built as an "open concept" high school, where students were encouraged to study at their own pace in an open environment. Within the framework of this concept, there were few permanent walls built in the school's original structure. However, this experimental approach was scrapped after the 1976-77 school year when it was discovered that not all high school students were self-motivated enough to meet the district's education standards.

Student life

Approximately 1,650 students attend the school.

Academic and Student Programs
  • Advanced Placement (AP) courses
  • Anime Club
  • Annual/Yearbook
  • Associated Student Body
  • Athletic training
  • Band: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band,
  • Badminton Club
  • Book Club
  • Chess Club
  • Cheerleading
  • Choir (Jazz, Concert, and Women's)
  • Creative Writing Club
  • Dance/Drill
  • Distributive Education Club of America (DECA)
  • Drama
  • Driver’s Education/Traffic Safety Classes
  • Fashion Club
  • FOCUS Photography Club
  • French Club
  • Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
  • Future Community Career Leaders of America (FCCLA)
  • Future Farmers of America (FFA)
  • Gator Aide (Tutoring)
  • Gator Nation
  • Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
  • Honor Society
  • Horticulture
  • Ignite Mentors
  • International Club (Gators Taking Action)
  • Key Club
  • Leadership
  • Math Team
  • Newspaper
  • Orchestra
  • Odyssey of the Mind, Division III
  • Reach Club
  • Skills U.S.A.
  • Special Education (consultant, Inclusion, resource room and self-contained)
  • Speech
  • SPSL sports – all programs
  • Study Club
  • VICA
  • We ACT

Athletics

Decatur is part of the Olympic Division of the 4A North Puget Sound League in Washington's West Central District.[4] From 2008-09 to 2015-16, Decatur was part of the South Division of the 3A South Puget Sound League. Recent team finishes in State Championships include:

  • 1st in '01 and '02 in boys' soccer, at one point the team was ranked 7th('01) and 2nd('02) in the entire nation. 1989 3rd in state boys' soccer.
  • Dance/ Drill Team 2014 State Champions, 2015 Contest of Champions National Champions, 2015 4A double State Champions 2013 USA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS (Kick, Small Military, and Medium Military),2012 USA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS (kick),1st in '13 (Military),2nd in '07, '11, and '12 (military), 3rd in '06 and '09 (military), 4th in '05, '08, '10(military), and 1ST IN '10 (POM),2nd in '13 (Pom), 2nd in '11(kick) and 3rd in '11(pom), 1st in '12,'13 (kick) for the Dance/Drill Team
  • 5th in State Girls' Basketball
  • 1st in 2003 and '05, 3rd in '04, 4th in '02, and 7th in '01 and '06 for Boys' Swim and Dive
  • 2nd in '04, 3rd in '05, and 4th in '00 for Boys' Tennis
  • 2nd in 1996 for Boys' Basketball
  • 3rd in '00 for Girls' Tennis
  • 1st in '10 for Girls' Tennis
  • 3rd in '04 for Girls' Track and Field
  • 4th in '05, 5th in '00, and 7th in '06 for Girls' Swim and Dive
  • 1st in '04 and '11 and 2nd in '17 for Cheerleading
  • 1st in '12 for fastest wrestling tournament, Joe Smith (Tacoma) 34 second pin, Zach Sexton (Cascade) 24 second pin, Gary Harbrough (Mukilteo) 46.3 second pin.
  • Semi Finals in '08 for Boys' Basketball lost to Federal Way High School

Other sports are Football, Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Gymnastics, Fastpitch Softball, Volleyball, Soccer, Wrestling and Golf.

Decatur's main rivals are the Federal Way Eagles and the Thomas Jefferson Raiders

Notable alumni
  • Roberto Bergersen, former professional basketball player
  • Anita Callery, First student to complete graduation requirements (Junior year, 1972) using original school "open concept" structure.
  • Rich Cho, General Manager of the Charlotte Hornets
  • Benson Henderson, professional Mixed Martial Artist, former WEC and UFC Lightweight Champion.[5] Currently competing with Bellator MMA.
  • Ciaran O'Brien, professional soccer player
  • Apolo Anton Ohno, 8 time Olympic medalist
  • Bill Radke, host of Seattle's KUOW-FM's The Record and Week In Review
  • Jason Stiles, American football player
  • John McMullen, national talk show host and program director at Sirius Satellite Radio
  • Daniel Hackett ‘Kid Culture’ (Grammy Nominated Producer), has worked with Justin Bieber and YBN Cordae

References
  1. "Decatur High School / Homepage". www.fwps.org.
  2. "Washington State Report Card". reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us.
  3. "Decatur High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  4. "North Puget Sound League reforms after 26-year hiatus - Federal Way Mirror". 29 January 2016.
  5. "Benson Henderson - Official UFC® Fighter Profile". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2018-03-20.

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