East High School (Des Moines, Iowa)

East was established in 1861,[3] but the current school building was not built until 1911. A new student center was added in 1955, with a new gymnasium, band and tech rooms, and a new cafeteria (which has since been replaced). The South Wing, which houses the school's library, was built in 1968, and the North Wing addition followed in 1973. A renovation of this building was completed on January 4, 2006.

East High is located on East 14th Street (also known as US Highway 69) in Des Moines, close to Interstate 235. There is ample grass-covered recreation space, as well as parking, to the west and north of the main building. There is an annex a block away from the main campus.

While the East High building is one large building, it is divided into six areas:

• Main Building (1912, renovated 2005). Four stories high, the first floor houses Special Education, Speech, Foreign Language, and Home Economics classes. The second floor is home to the auditorium, counselours offices, and History and Drama classes. The third floor houses general English and Math classes. The fourth floor holds the art rooms and Special Education classes. Before a 2005 renovation, these floors were known as the basement, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors.
• East Wing (1955). Home to the main gymasium, the weight room, and Technology Education classes.
• North Wing (1968). The second floor holds Mathematics classrooms and counseling offices, and the third floor is Economics and Computer Sciences. No first floor.
• South Wing (1973, renovated 2003). The first two floors are occupied by the East High Library, while English classrooms take up the whole of the third floor.
• Connector Building (2005). The first floor, also known as the student center, houses offices and the cafeteria. The second floor is home to more History classes, while all the schools' Science classes are on the third floor.
• Performing Arts Wing (2006). The newest building, home to Band and Orchestra rooms and an auxiliary gymnasium that also serves as a community center as well.
• Walker Building Annex. Beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, all freshmen classes were moved to the Walker Annex, located one block away from the main campus. Freshmen attend physical education, chorus, band, and orchestra classes on the main campus, but attend their basic science, math, English, and history courses in the Walker building. However beginning in 2012, freshman classes were switched back in the main building. The Walker Annex is now used for students with academic and attendance problems.

As of the 2005-2006 school year, there are 2,115 students[4] enrolled at East, which makes the school one of the largest in Iowa (Lincoln High ranks above East with 2,126 students). 65.8% of the student body is White (European-American) descent[5] (down from 66.7% in the 2004-2005 school year[6]). The leading ethnic group by enrollment is that of African-American (Black) descent, and they are followed by Latino, Asian, and Indian (Native American or Alaskan Native).[5]

The school day is split into four periods of course instruction on an alternating A day/B day schedule. There are four lunches, over the period of two and one half hours. Students can earn an extra half of an hour of lunch for demonstrating proficiency on the Iowa Assessments. The school district requires that students take a number of core academic courses, if they wish to graduate and receive a diploma. This includes Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, Art, and Physical Education. The amount of academic credit needed to satisfy graduation requirements is determined by the school district.

All students are required by the district to enroll in four subject courses and a Physical Education course. However, the school compels Freshman and Sophomore students to schedule a full day of classes, to ensure satisfaction with district graduation requirements. Seniors have the option of having an "open period" during the first or last period of the school day. However, Juniors require parental permission to have an open period.

The district requires 2 semesters of Physical Education. Freshmen and Sophomores usually take their P.E. courses at the school. Juniors and Seniors have the option of taking alternative P.E. programs.

• Gregory Alan Williams, actor in films, including Remember the Titans, Major League, Above the Law, In the Line of Fire and Old School. Appearances on TV shows including Baywatch, The West Wing, The Sopranos and Boston Public.
• Lorri Bauman, Class of 1980, first Women's NCAA Basketball player to score 3,000 points. One of five NCAA women basketball players to reach that milestone. Inducted into the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Stephen Kline, artist, photographer, and designer of the $10,000,000 Florida State of the Arts License Plate. Recent works include his new Lines of Language technique, creating drawings from words. Early works include the 1961 Quill cover.

• Des Moines Public Schools for other schools in the same district.

• Des Moines Public Schools Homepage
• East High School Homepage
• Des Moines Public Schools District History