Washington High School of Information Technology

Washington High School of Information Technology (formerly Washington High School) is a magnet high school located in the Sherman Park neighborhood on the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It is one of the oldest schools in the Milwaukee Public Schools system, and was founded in 1911.

Washington High School of Information Technology
Address
Map
2525 North Sherman Blvd.

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Coordinates43°03′55.0″N 87°58′05.5″W / 43.065278°N 87.968194°W / 43.065278; -87.968194
Information
TypePublic (magnet) secondary
Established1912
OversightMilwaukee Public Schools
Teaching staff40.40 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment632 (2017-18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio15.64[1]
Color(s)purple and gold
NicknamePurgolders
Websitewww5.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/school/whsoit/

In September 2005 Washington was divided into three "schools within a school," which are divided among the school's four floors. These are the School of Law, Education, and Public Service; Washington High School of Expeditionary Learning; and Washington High School of Information Technology. In June 2010, LEAPS closed and was combined with EL and renamed Washington High School. The Washington High School of Information Technology, which continues the legacy of the Career Specialty Program begun in 1976, has continued to operate.

In June 2011 the combined LEAPS and EL school was closed and merged into Washington High School of Information Technology, thus creating a single school again.

Athletics

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Washington's athletic teams are known as the Purgolders, named for the school's colors of purple and gold. It competes in the Milwaukee City Conference.

Washington has garnered four boys basketball Division 1 state titles since 1985. It is part of an intense three-way rivalry with Rufus King High School and Vincent High School. These schools have accounted for 14 of the last 23 state titles in Division 1 boys basketball.

The girls' basketball team is one of three Milwaukee City Conference girls teams to have won a WIAA state title (Harold S. Vincent High School and Riverside University High School are the others), having done it five times, a Division 1 record. They also won three consecutive state titles (1994, 1995 and 1996).

Washington won the state championship in boys' cross country in 1930 and 1935 and tied for the championship with Bay View High School in 1932 in single-division contests, won the 1952 championship in the larger of two divisions, and won the 1964 championship in the largest of three divisions.[2]

 
Washington High School in 2023

Demographics

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  • 77% Black, 774 students
  • 15% Asian/Pacific Islander, 150 students
  • 8% Hispanic, 80 students
  • 0% American Indian/Alaska Native, 2 students

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "WHS Information Technology". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  2. ^ 2019 State Cross Country Meet Souvenir Program. Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. November 2, 2019. p. 25.