Golden High School is a secondary school located in Golden, the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Jefferson County Public Schools district.

Golden High School
Address
Map
701 24th Street

80401

United States
Coordinates39°44′36″N 105°12′41″W / 39.7434°N 105.2115°W / 39.7434; -105.2115
Information
TypePublic secondary
Established1873 (151 years ago) (1873)
School districtJefferson County Public Schools
CEEB code060670
PrincipalJohn Graham
Staff66.84 (FTE)[1]
Grades9 to 12
Enrollment1,416 (2022-23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio21.18[1]
Color(s)Maroon and white
  
Fight songGolden Demons' Fight Song
MascotDemons
RivalWheat Ridge High School
Websitegolden.jeffcopublicschools.org
Golden High School
Old Golden High School
Golden High School is located in Colorado
Golden High School
Golden High School is located in the United States
Golden High School
Location710 10th Street, Golden, Colorado
Coordinates39°45′30″N 105°13′23″W / 39.7582°N 105.2230°W / 39.7582; -105.2230
Arealess than one acre
Built1924
Built byBuckman and Axtell
ArchitectEugene G. Groves
Architectural styleBeaux-Arts
NRHP reference No.97000229[2]
Added to NRHPMarch 14, 1997

History

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Background

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The South School, Golden, Colorado, when it originally served all of Golden School District #1. Photo taken around 1874.

South School was established in 1873 for primary, intermediate, and grammar education. It began offering high school education in 1873, the first school of its kinds in the state, and had a graduating class by 1889. In 1892, the high school was located within the walls of South School. It offered a theater program, a now long-standing tradition, by 1895 when it produced Charley's Aunt.[3] The North School building was constructed in 1880 due to the increased population in the area.[4]

Golden High School (1924–1956)

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The Golden High School was completed in 1924, consolidating high school education previously provided by the North and South Schools. The school was designed by Eugene G. Groves and built by Buckman and Axtell. Modern for its time, the Beaux-Arts style building had a convenient layout and fireproof construction. The building housed a library, study hall, inset lockers, and a balcony in the gymnasium. It served as a high school until 1956, when a new high school was built. The building then became the Golden Junior High School. An addition was added in 1965 that maintained the historic view of the building along Washington Avenue. It operated as a junior high school until May 1988, when it was declared a surplus by the Jefferson County Public Schools. It was acquired by the Colorado Mountain Club and American Alpine Club in 1993 to serve as their headquarters. The former school building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 14, 1997.[4]

Golden High School (1956–2008)

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A high school building was constructed in 1956[4] at the corner of 24th and Jackson streets. It was a combination of buildings that fell into disrepair. When the new high school building was constructed in 2008, the site was made into a parking lot for the new high school.[5]

Golden High School (2008-Present)

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External images
  Golden High School image, 1964 yearbook
  Front of Golden High School, built in 2008
  One of the Golden High School buildings and the mountains

A new school building was completed in August 2008.[6] The 188,000-square-foot campus was built for $33 million. There are two separate buildings. One has 60 classrooms and labs and a library, the other hold the cafeteria, gym, an auditorium and a shop classroom.[5]

Attendance zone

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The attendance zone of the school includes, besides Golden:[7] West Pleasant View[8]

Education

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Golden High School is a public high school, teaching grades nine through twelve. It is accredited by the Colorado State Department of Education and is rated as a performance school. The school calendar is based upon two 18-week semesters. Golden High School offers a comprehensive curriculum, including college prep classes, engineering, culinary, woodworking, metalworking, and a variety of classes in fine and performance arts. It offers AP and honor courses, as well as a few courses that earn transferable college credit. Students generally take six classes at a time, but could take seven classes a semester. The student enrollment for the 2015–2016 school year was approximately 1,250 students.[6]

Special programs

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Special programs include:[6]

  • GHS offers a unique Senior Seminar program to seniors second semester. Students are selected through a competitive application process to spend the semester in an experiential learning environment.
  • Each Spring GHS offers juniors the chance to participate in Junior Rafting Trips.
  • GHS is the coordinating school for an annual Summer Field Biology trip to Hawaii.
  • Spanish students have the opportunity to study in Spain each summer at the University of Salamanca.

Performance Groups

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Stage Right Productions is Golden's student theater group. They perform full plays, one-act plays, and musicals every semester.[9] They are registered as Troupe 2681 within the International Thespian Society and have been a thespian troupe since the 1970s. 2023 will be their 50th year as an organization.[10]

The Screamin' Demons Improv Team is Golden's official improvisational comedy group. They rehearse and perform under the umbrella of Stage Right Productions.

Traditions

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The Hand Jive

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The "Hand Jive" is a choreographed dance that Golden students and faculty perform during assemblies and sports games. The Hand Jive is performed along with the song Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode. The tradition started around the time the song was released in 1981.[11]

Golden High Alumni Foundation

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The Golden High Alumni Foundation provides grants and scholarships to Golden High School students. While attending high school, students can apply for grants for educational camps, conferences, trade and vocational programs, sports programs, trips, and other programs. The foundation also offers scholarships to Colorado-based colleges or trade schools.[12]

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "GOLDEN HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. ^ Golden Pioneer Museum (2002). Golden, Colorado. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 101, 103, 105, 106. ISBN 978-0-7385-2074-2.
  4. ^ a b c John W. Jenkins (March 14, 1997). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Golden High School". National Park Service. Retrieved June 29, 2018. With accompanying photos
  5. ^ a b Schrader, Ann (August 12, 2008). "Hi, school: new one in Golden". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Golden High School" (PDF). Jefferson Public Schools. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  7. ^ "High Schools". Jeffco Public Schools. Retrieved 2020-03-28. - Golden High detail
  8. ^ "West Pleasant View Map" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  9. ^ "Stage Right Productions". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  10. ^ "Stage Right Productions - FAQ's". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  11. ^ New, Danny (2023-02-07). "Golden High School has a decades-old tradition with a classic Depeche Mode song". Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH). Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  12. ^ "Golden High School Alumni Foundation". www.goldenhighalumni.org. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  13. ^ "Meet PARADE's All-America High School Soccer Team". Parade Magazine. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  14. ^ Frei, Terry (16 June 2010). "Golden's Horan, a soccer prodigy, battles despite prestige on national soccer scene". Denver Post. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  15. ^ Axisa, Mike (February 4, 2009). "Prospect Profile: Mark Melancon". Riveraveblues.com. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  16. ^ Gary Cohen (October 2014). "Tyler Pennel Interview". Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  17. ^ Post, Kristen Browning-Blas | The Denver (2009-10-18). "Bill Phillips explores the power of transformation". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  18. ^ "Denver and Colorado Preps High School Sports - The Denver Post". extras.denverpost.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  19. ^ "Denver and Colorado Preps High School Sports - The Denver Post". extras.denverpost.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
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