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Shawnee Mission Northwest High School

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Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
Image
Location
Map
12701 West 67th Street[1]

Shawnee
,
Kansas
66216

United States

39°00′24″N 94°43′58″W / 39.006637°N 94.732846°W / 39.006637; -94.732846
Information
School typePublic, High School
Established1969
School district
Shawnee Mission USD 512
CEEB code172771[2]
Lisa Gruman
Teaching staff
97.30 (on an FTE basis)[3]
Grades9–12
Gendercoed
Enrollment1,619 (2023-2024)[3]
Student to teacher ratio
16.64[3]
Campus type
Suburban
Colors  Orange
  Black
  White
AthleticsClass 6A[4]
District 2[5]
Athletics conference
Sunflower[6]
NicknameCougars
RivalShawnee Mission North High School Shawnee Mission East High School
NewspaperThe Northwest Passage
YearbookThe Lair
Communities served
Shawnee Mission
Websitesmnorthwest.smsd.org

Shawnee Mission Northwest High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Shawnee, Kansas, United States, serving students in grades 9-12. It is one of five high schools operated by Shawnee Mission USD 512 school district. The school colors are orange, black, and white. The school population is approximately 1,850 students. The current principal is Lisa Gruman.

Shawnee Mission Northwest was founded in 1969 in order to help educate the increasing number of students due to the emerging population of Shawnee Mission. The school launched the International Baccalaureate program at the start of the 2008–2009 school year. Shawnee Mission Northwest is a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association and offers a variety of sports programs. Athletic teams compete in the 6A division and are known as the "Cougars".

History

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Shawnee Mission Northwest High School was established in 1969 to help educate the increasing populations of Shawnee and Overland Park, Kansas. In 1998, a mural of evolution was painted near the science rooms in the school which created controversy throughout the school and the city. The mural depicted many things including DNA, cells, photosynthesis, and a four chambered heart. In addition to this, the mural also depicted in a series of walking figures, the evolution of man, from a hunched-over, hairy, apelike creature to the modern man. The mural offended many students and their parents and a large debate was held concerning whether to paint over the mural. As of 2025, the mural has been repainted by the school’s Murals Club

Academics

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Image
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School was designated a Blue Ribbon School in 2001.[7]

In 2001, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School was selected as a Blue Ribbon School. The Blue Ribbon Award recognizes public and private schools which perform at high levels or have made significant academic improvements. In 2008, Shawnee Mission Northwest launched the International Baccalaureate program for the 2008–2009 school year.

Faculty

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In 2004, history teacher Dan Fullerton was named the 2004 Kansas Outstanding Teacher of American History by the Kansas Society Daughters of the American Revolution.[8]

In 2005, social studies teacher Ron Poplau was named a Disney Teacher Award Honoree.[9]

Extracurricular activities

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Athletics

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The Cougars compete in the Sunflower League and are classified as a 6A school, the largest classification in Kansas according to the KSHSAA. Throughout its history, Shawnee Mission Northwest has won many state championships in various sports. Many graduates have gone on to participate in Division I, Division II, and Division III athletics. Spanning from 1994 to 2007, the Northwest boys varsity cross-country team won the state title for fourteen consecutive years and nineteen years overall.[10] The Northwest boys basketball team triumphed over Wichita Heights in the 2024 state championship finals, marking the first state title in school history for basketball.[11] They won again next year in the 2025 state championship against Olathe North High, marking a back-to-back championship reign.[12]

State championships

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State Championships[13]
SeasonSportNumber of ChampionshipsYear
FallFootball11981
Gymnastics, Girls81985, 1986, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2010
Volleyball11988
Soccer, Boys41990, 1993, 1998, 1999
Cross Country, Boys201977, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012
Cross Country, Girls131980, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2011
Spring Basketball, Boys22024, 2025
Golf, Boys21985, 1989
Golf, Girls21998, 1999
Track & Field, Boys32002, 2011, 2012
Tennis, Boys11997, 2002
Baseball31990, 1991, 1993
Softball61976, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003
Total66

School newspaper and yearbook

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The school newspaper is The Northwest Passage and the yearbook is The Lair. The Passage, Lair, and the journalism website have received national recognition at journalism conventions across the country, including awards like the Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Pacemaker awards from the National Scholastic Press Association.

Notable alumni

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See also

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Other high schools in Shawnee Mission USD 512 school district

References

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  1. ↑ GNIS entry for Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; USGS; November 16, 2006.
  2. ↑ High School CEEB Code Search
  3. 1 2 3 "Shawnee Mission Northwest High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  4. ↑ "KSHSAA School Classification List" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 12, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  5. ↑ KSHSAA School District List Archived 2010-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "School Search - Shawnee Mission Northwest HS". Kansas State High School Activities Association. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Blue Ribbon Schools" (English). Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  8. ↑ "NW Teacher Receives State Honor". Kansas City Star. February 16, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Ronald Poplau Shawnee Mission Northwest School, Shawnee, KS" (PDF).
  10. ↑ Martin, Francine (April 26, 2009). "KSHSAA Cross Country". Kansas State High School Activities Association. Archived from the original on August 20, 2003. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  11. ↑ Green, PJ (March 9, 2024). "KC-area high schools bring home 2024 state basketball championships".
  12. ↑ https://www.kansascity.com/sports/high-school/article302159729.html
  13. ↑ "State Records & State Champions". Archived from the original (English) on April 21, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Voice of the Utah Jazz and K-State alumnus to visit K-State". www.k-state.edu.
  15. ↑ "Willie Fritz - Head Coach - Staff Directory". Sam Houston.
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