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'Columbine' Colorado state flower pictured right: "School has history of excellence Columbine academics, athletics win praise" :By Lori Tobias Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer:'Go to rockymountainnews.com for more extensive info.' Columbine High School is considered one of the best all-around academic and athletic schools in the state, providing education for 1,800 students. "I've worked in any number of communities in my career and there's not a community I am more fond of," said Terry Conley, Columbine High School principal from 1975 to 1980, now executive director of high school education for Cherry Creek Schools. The tan block and glass school sits on a hill next to Clement Park in southeast Jefferson County. "It's probably the most beautiful school in the county," said Linda Anderson, who taught at Columbine several years ago and now directs an internship program for Jefferson County schools. "The facility is fantastic. It's the sort of place you'd love to send your kids." Named after the state flower, Columbine is known for its high-achieving students, its winning basketball and soccer programs, and its most famous alumni: rock musicians Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Columbine opened in 1973 and underwent a $13.4 million renovation in 1995. Its motto is "Stretch for Excellence," its mission statement "(to) ... teach, learn and model life skills and attitudes that prepare us to work with people, prepare for change, think critically, act responsibly, and live in harmony with others in our environment." Eighty-five percent of its graduates attend two- or four-year institutions, with many going on to attend major universities and head major companies. A perennial contender for state championships in many sports, the school won the class 5A boys' basketball championship in 1997 and boys' soccer championships in 1986 and 1993. The soccer team was also the state runner-up in 1996 and 1998, and the boys' baseball team won the championship in 1987. Special programs offered at Columbine include forensics, debate, publications and many others. "It's an exceptionally fine community," Conley said. "The parents are phenomenal, very supportive, very involved ... who really value education, value doing things right." |
