East High School is a historical public high school located in the City Park neighborhood on the east side of

Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

, Colorado, United States. It is part of the

Denver Public Schools The Denver County School District No. 1, more commonly known as the Denver Public Schools (DPS), is the public school system in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States. History In 1859, Owen J. Goldrick established the Union Scho ...

system, and is one of four original high schools in Denver. The other three are

West West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some ...

North North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north ...

, and

South South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...

History

East High opened in 1875 and was the first high school in

. The first graduating class was in 1877. In 1889, it moved to 19th and Stout Street because of the need for more room. This location is now referred to as "Old East," and could accommodate 700 students. The architect for the current facility was Denver native George H. Williamson, himself an 1893 graduate of "Old East" High. Williamson won national recognition for his design of the "new" East, which has a high

clock tower Clock towers are a specific type of structure which house a turret clock and have one or more clock faces on the upper exterior walls. Many clock towers are freestanding structures but they can also adjoin or be located on top of another buildi ...

modeled after

Independence Hall Independence Hall is a historic civic building in Philadelphia, where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted by America's Founding Fathers. The structure forms the centerpi ...

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

. In early 1991, the East High building was declared an official Denver Historic Landmark by the Denver Landmark Commission and the Denver City Council. In July 2005, a music video for the song "

Over My Head (Cable Car) "Over My Head (Cable Car)" (originally performed simply as "Cable Car") is a song by American rock band the Fray. It was released in October 2005 as the lead single from their debut album ''How to Save a Life'' (2005) and hit the top 10 on the ' ...

", by The Fray was filmed in East High. East High has been repeatedly honored as one of America's top high schools. It was honored in 1957 as one of the country's top high schools and subsequently selected in 1968 as one of America's Top Ten Schools. In 2000 ''Newsweek'' recognized East as one of America's top hundred public high schools. In 2008, ''Newsweek'' again recognized East in its annual list of the country's "Top High Schools". It is ranked 23rd out of Colorado high schools and 974th nationally by ''U.S. News'' "Best High Schools".

Demographics

As of the 2020–2021 school year, East High School has a total enrollment of 2,579 students in grades nine through twelve.East High School Demographics
Denver Public Schools. Accessed 3 November 2021 * White: 52.3% * Hispanic/Latino: 21.5% * African American/Black: 16.2% * Multiple Races: 6.6% * Asian & Pacific Islander: 2.9% * American Indian: <1%

Athletics

East High is ranked 3rd in the State of Colorado for greatest amount of State Championships with the Angels holding 98 total state championships; 90 in boys teams and 8 in girls teams. Additionally, teams representing Denver East outside of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) as club teams have accumulated 11 combined state championships bringing the high school's count to 109 1st-place finishes since the early 1900s. In 2007, the boys' basketball team was named the top-ranked team in the state by '' RISE Magazine'' and ''

Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence tw ...

'', and finished the season with another 5A state championship win, topping a season with a 22–3 record.

Academics and activities

Constitutional Law

Constitutional Law, or "Con-Law" as most Angels refer to it, is a large part of the academic extracurricular setting at East. The team, usually composed of 11th and 12th graders, has continuously traveled to Washington D.C. to compete in the Center for Civic Education's national "We the People: The Citizens and the Constitution" competition. This competition involves on average 54 other teams who have qualified by winning their state's competition and totals to around 300 students. The team has won 5 national titles with the most recent being in April 2019. Other national titles include 2009, 2008, 2007, and 1992.

Model United Nations

Model United Nations Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an educational simulation in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. At a MUN conference, students work as the representative of a count ...

has been an active club at Denver East since the early 1980s. In recent years they have traveled to many conferences ranging from ones in Colorado, to ones at the national and international level. In February 2019, the team took 11 students to Birkerød, Denmark to compete against 400 other students, returning two 1st place or Best Delegate international recognitions. As well in 2019, East's Model U.N. team hosted a conference at Denver East High School that brought in over 200 competitors from 29 schools. In 2020, East traveled to Mexico City, Mexico for their 2nd international competition fielding 13 students and returning 5 international recognitions.

Notable alumni

* Norman R. Augustine, aerospace businessman; Under Secretary of the Army 1975–77; currently serves as chairman of the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee *

Philip Bailey Philip James Bailey (born May 8, 1951) is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers (along with group founder Maurice White) of the band Earth, ...

, member of Earth, Wind & Fire; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame * Jean Knight Bain, state legislator * R. Stephen Berry, chemistry professor *

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head coach of the

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* Jerome Biffle,

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gold medalist at the 1952

Olympics The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a vari ...

* Joan Birkland, Colorado state women's amateur golf and tennis champion *

Ward Bond Wardell Edwin Bond (April 9, 1903 – November 5, 1960) was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 200 films and starred in the NBC television series ''Wagon Train'' from 1957 to 1960. Among his best-remembered roles are Be ...

, film actor *

Joe Barry Carroll Joe Barry Carroll (born July 24, 1958) is an American former professional basketball player who spent ten seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After retiring from basketball, he became a wealth advisor, philanthropist, artist, a ...

, NBA All-star *

Neal Cassady Neal Leon Cassady (February 8, 1926 – February 4, 1968) was a major figure of the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the psychedelic and counterculture movements of the 1960s. He was prominently featured as himself in the "scroll" (first d ...

(attended for a short time), Beat generation icon; model for character Dean Moriarty in

Jack Kerouac Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac (; March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969), known as Jack Kerouac, was an American novelist and poet who, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, was a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Of French-Canadian an ...

's novel ''

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'', played a prominent role in the counter-culture of 1960s *

Herrick Chapman Herrick Chapman is a prominent historian of France. Since 1992 he has been employed at New York University, where he is Professor of History in the Department of History and Institute of French Studies. Professor Chapman was educated at the Uni ...

, associate professor of History and French Studies,

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(1992–present) *

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, actor * Dan Cohn-Sherbok, Professor Emeritus of Judaism, University of Wales *

Judy Collins Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer-songwriter and musician with a career spanning seven decades. An Academy Award-nominated documentary director and a Grammy Award-winning recording artist, she is known for her ec ...

, folk and standards singer and songwriter * Harlon L. Dalton, professor of law,

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Larry Dunn Larry is a masculine given name in English, derived from Lawrence or Laurence. It can be a shortened form of those names. Larry may refer to the following: People Arts and entertainment *Larry D. Alexander, American artist/writer *Larry Boone ...

, member of Earth, Wind & Fire; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame * Bruce Egloff, former MLB player (

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central division. Since , they have ...

) *

Barry Lersch Barry Lee Lersch (September 7, 1944 – October 4, 2009) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (–) and St. Louis Cardinals in (). A right-hander, he was born in Denve ...

, former MLB pitcher (

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) and ( St Louis Cardinals) * Mamie Eisenhower, wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower;

First Lady of the United States The first lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is the title held by the hostess of the White House, usually the wife of the president of the United States, concurrent with the president's term in office. Although the first lady's role has never ...

from 1953 to 1961 *

Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films including '' The Thi ...

, was expelled from East High School; went on to become one of the most famous silent movie stars of all time *

Edwina Hume Fallis Edwina Hume Fallis (November 15, 1876 – September 14, 1957) was an American educator, writer, poet, and toy designer. Her memoir for children, ''When Denver and I Were Young'' (1956), went through two printings, and she published over 100 poems ...

, educator, writer, and toy designer * Bryan Fogel, playwright and author *

Bill Frisell William Richard Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is an American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger. Frisell first came to prominence at ECM Records in the 1980s, as both a session player and a leader. He went on to work in a variety of contexts ...

, jazz guitarist * Miriam Goldberg, newspaper publisher and editor * Pam Grier, actress *

Peter Groff Peter C. Groff (born April 21, 1963) is a former member of the Obama administration and a former Colorado legislator and President of the Colorado Senate. An attorney, public servant, and political veteran, Groff was elected as a Democrat to t ...

, first African-American President Pro Tem of the

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* Regis Groff, East history teacher, 20-year member of the

*General Irving Hale, Spanish–American War veteran * Ronnie Harrell (born 1996), basketball player for Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the

Israeli Basketball Premier League Ligat HaAl ( he, ליגת העל, lit., ''Supreme League or Premier League''), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is the top-tier level league of professional competition in Israeli club basketball, making it Israel's primary basketball c ...

* Christopher A. Hart, 13th Chairman of the

National Transportation Safety Board The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and inci ...

* General Robert T. Herres, first Vice Chairman of the

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Daniel Walker Howe Daniel Walker Howe (born January 10, 1937) is an American historian who specializes in the early national period of U.S. history, with a particular interest in its intellectual and religious dimensions. He was Rhodes Professor of American Histo ...

, Pulitzer Prize for History; Rhodes Professor of American History Emeritus at

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

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; Professor of History Emeritus at the

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* Cobe Jones, former MLB player (

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) * Jamie Laurie (aka Jonny 5), singer/songwriter for The Flobots *

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary '' Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film c ...

, silent film actor * Hattie McDaniel, actress; first African American to win an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

, for her performance in '' Gone with the Wind'' * Stephen L.R. McNichols, Colorado

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

(1957–1963) *

Ron Miles Ronald Glen Miles (May 9, 1963 – March 8, 2022) was an American jazz trumpeter, cornetist, and composer. He recorded for the labels Prolific (1986), Capri (1990), and Gramavision. His final album, ''Rainbow Sign'', was his first on the Blu ...

, jazz trumpeter, cornetist and composer *

T. J. Miller Todd Joseph Miller (born June 4, 1981) is an American actor and comedian. In 2008, he made his acting debut in ''Cloverfield'', and from 2010 to 2014, he voiced Tuffnut Thorston in the first two ''How to Train Your Dragon'' films. From 2014 to ...

, comedian and actor, known for his role in the show

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and the 2014 film '' Big Hero 6'' * Yvie Oddly, winner of the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race * David Oliver, professional track athlete * Antoinette Perry, stage actress; namesake of the

Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

* Dianne Reeves, jazz vocalist (graduated from George Washington HS in Denver) * Reese Roper, singer/songwriter for

Five Iron Frenzy Five Iron Frenzy is an American band formed in Denver, Colorado, in 1995. Best known for playing ska punk music characterized by an offbeat sense of humor and prominent Christian themes, Five Iron was one of the pioneering figures of the Chris ...

Brandon Shaffer Brandon Shaffer (born March 22, 1971) is the former President of the Colorado State Senate. He represented Senate District 17, which encompasses the cities of Longmont, Lafayette, Erie, and Louisville. Shaffer, a lifelong Democrat, was first e ...

, President of the

* Sidney Sheldon,

-winning writer; created ''

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'' (1963–66), ''

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'' (1965–70) and '' Hart to Hart'' (1979–84); best-selling novels include '' Master of the Game'' (1982), '' The Other Side of Midnight'' (1973) and '' Rage of Angels'' (1980); the seventh best selling fiction writer of all time * George Gaylord Simpson, paleontologist and evolutionary biologist *

Maurice Rose Maurice Rose (November 26, 1899 – March 30, 1945) was a career officer in the United States Army who attained the rank of major general. A veteran of World War I and World War II, Rose was commanding the 3rd Armored Division when he was kil ...

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in the

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during

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and a

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veteran. General Rose was at the time the highest ranking Jew in the U.S. Army. Rose Medical Center in

Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

, was named in his honor. * Robert F. Smith, businessman, investor, and philanthropist. *

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and member of the

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mission * Donnette Thayer, songwriter, singer * Edward D. White Jr., architect based in Denver, whose forty-year practice (1955–1995) focused on contemporary architecture and historic preservation *

Paul Whiteman Paul Samuel Whiteman (March 28, 1890 – December 29, 1967) was an American bandleader, composer, orchestral director, and violinist. As the leader of one of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s and early 1930s, W ...

, jazz composer and

bandleader A bandleader is the leader of a music group such as a rock or pop band or jazz quartet. The term is most commonly used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues o ...

* Stan Williams, former MLB player (

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, St. Louis Cardinals,

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) *

Andrew Woolfolk Andrew Paul Woolfolk II (October 11, 1950 – April 24, 2022) was an American saxophonist. Woolfolk was a longtime member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire from 1973 to 1985, and from 1987 to 1993. He also collaborated with artists such as Deniece ...

, member of Earth, Wind & Fire; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame * Bernard Wrightson, Olympic springboard diving gold medalist * Jean Yancey, women's small business consultant and motivational speaker, inducted into Alumni Heritage Hall * Nicholas Chavez, daytime emmy award winning tv actor, known for his role of Spencer on

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References

High schools in Denver Educational institutions established in 1875 National Register of Historic Places in Denver Clock towers in Colorado Public high schools in Colorado School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado 1875 establishments in Colorado Territory {{authority control