Bethel High School (Washington)

Bethel High School is a public high school located in Spanaway, Washington. It is one of four high schools in the Bethel School District, is the district's oldest, having been founded in 1952.[2]

Bethel High School
Address
Map
22215 38th Avenue East

,
98387-6828

United States
Coordinates47°03′15″N 122°22′40″W / 47.05417°N 122.37778°W / 47.05417; -122.37778
Information
TypePublic secondary
Established1952
School districtBethel School District
PrincipalChristy Rodriguez
Faculty88[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,739 (2022-23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio20:1
CampusSuburban
Color(s)Crimson, Gray & Black
     
MascotBisons
Website[1]

Academics edit

AP classes offered are Statistics, Calculus, Psychology, Literature and Composition, Language and Composition, Government and Politics, and Biology.

Athletics edit

Bethel is part of the Bethel School District along with Spanaway Lake High School and Graham-Kapowsin High School. Bethel competes in the Pierce County League (PCL) 3A in Washington's West Central District.

History edit

During the 1983 elections for student council, student Matthew Fraser delivered a sexually suggestive speech while nominating a classmate for student council vice president.[3] Fraser was suspended from Bethel High School for three days, but filed a lawsuit against the school board, alleging that the suspension violated his First Amendment right to free speech.[4] The case was ultimately granted certiorari by the Supreme Court of the United States, which held in the landmark decision Bethel School District v. Fraser (1986) that it does not violate the First Amendment for public schools to punish students for lewd or indecent speech.[5]

Notable alumni edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Bethel High School". Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Bethel High School changing mascot from Braves to Bison". KING 5 Washington. November 17, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  3. ^ Denton, Jake (June 11, 2019). "Are Racist Yearbook Photos Protected Student Speech?". Pacific Standard. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Bethel School District v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986)
  5. ^ "Court Backs School on Student's 'Vulgar' Speech". The New York Times. July 8, 1986. p. 18. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  6. ^ "Bethel steps closer to title". The Seattle Times. January 31, 2001. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  7. ^ Marmor, Jon (September 2010). "Mariners' Mike Blowers went from the diamond to the booth". University of Washington Magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  8. ^ Manley, Jon (April 22, 2020). "Bethel grad, Boise State's Ezra Cleveland ready for NFL draft". The News Tribune. p. 9. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  9. ^ Rockne, Dick (February 25, 1990). "Race From Obscurity – Daytona Win Puts Cope In Spotlight". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  10. ^ Kawada, Eijiro (September 17, 2004). "Olympian Morgan Hicks gets homecoming parade". The News Tribune. p. 16. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  11. ^ Condotta, Bob (March 22, 2015). "Former Husky Caesar Rayford badly wants another shot in the NFL". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  12. ^ Danzer, Paul (November 21, 2013). "Story back on track to climb UFC ladder". The Columbian. Retrieved April 26, 2023.