Walter Reuther Central High School
Type	Public/Alternative
Principal	Karen Walters
Vice Principal	Andrew Baumgart
Dean	Steve Plato
Location	Kenosha Kenosha, Wisconsin Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,... , Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... , USA
Campus	Urban
Enrollment	572 (2009-2010 school year)
Average Class Size	18
Faculty	64
Sports	Boys and Girls Basketball
Colors	Purple and Black
Mascot	Bulldogs
Homepage	Walter Reuther High School

History

Walter Reuther Central High School was named for United Auto Workers

United Auto Workers

The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...

 leader Walter Reuther

Walter Reuther

Walter Philip Reuther was an American labor union leader, who made the United Automobile Workers a major force not only in the auto industry but also in the Democratic Party in the mid 20th century...

. This classic limestone structure, designed by John Chubb, was built between 1924 and 1927 and occupies a massive block-square. The high school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

 as one of the structures comprising Kenosha’s Civic Center Historic District, including the Kenosha Public Museum and Kenosha County Courthouse. When built, it was called Kenosha High School; Central High School is the name engraved in its namestone. It later became Mary D. Bradford High School. A major remodeling project was completed in 1993 at an approximate cost of $3,500,000.

The original Reuther Central High School was started in a then newly purchased UW Extension Center located at 39th Avenue and Washington Road. The Walter Reuther Central High School was designed as a magnet school for alternative education. In 1979, upon completion of the addition and remodeling at this site, the students and faculty of Reuther Central High School took up residence in the former Mary D. Bradford High School located on Sheridan Road and 57th Street. At the same time
in 1979, the students of the former Mary D. Bradford High School took up residence in the newly completed Bradford High School located at 39th Avenue and Washington Road. Since that time,
Reuther Central High School has undergone several changes to accommodate curriculum and their style of teaching.

The building features a neo-classic auditorium of 1,400 seats with commissioned original oil paintings by Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

 artist Gustave Brandt, including a 44-foot fresco over the proscenium

Proscenium

A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...

 symbolizing Kenosha history over a century and emphasizing the arts and sciences. The 1926 school yearbook explained that the panel "shows the High School as the culmination of the ideals of such educators as Col. (Michael) Frank (considered the father of Wisconsin's public-school system), Col. (John) McMynn (the school's first principal) and Mrs. (Mary D.) Bradford (the former superintendent of Kenosha public schools); a high school with a curriculum varied enough to fit the needs of all classes of students and one which will place Kenosha among the first of the cities of Wisconsin in education."

Two large allegorical canvases next to the organ screens illustrate physical training and mental training, with smaller canvases along the balcony edge portraying educational subjects. The auditorium features two backlit, leaded stained-glass ceilings over the orchestra floor and balcony.

About

Reuther Central High School is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...

 and is one of 9 high schools in the Kenosha Unified School District

Kenosha Unified School District

Kenosha Unified School District serves the city of Kenosha, the Town of Somers and the village of Pleasant Prairie. KUSD is overseen by a school board of seven elected members whose president is Mary Snyder...

. It is an alternative education school that serves 572 students in grades 9-12.

Alternative schools are public schools that offer nontraditional education for students whose needs cannot be met in a regular, special education, or vocational school. While alternative schools are distinct from regular, special education, and vocational schools in their teaching approach or classroom environment, they can provide similar services and/or curriculum for students. Alternative schools include schools for potential dropouts, residential treatment centers for substance abuse, schools for chronic truants, and schools for students with behavioral problems.

School Characteristics

Source of following data: CCD Public school data 2007-2008 school year

Grade Span: 9 - 12
Type: Other/alternative school
Status: Currently operational
Charter: no
Magnet: no
Title I School: yes
Title I School-Wide Program: yes
Free lunch eligible: 256
Reduced-price lunch eligible: 42
Total Students: 547
Classroom Teachers (FTE): 22.7
Student/Teacher Ratio: 24.1


Enrollment Characteristics

Grade:	9	10	11	12
# Enrolled	113	97	202	135

Race/Ethnicity:	American Ind/Alaskan	Asian	African American	Hispanic	Caucasion
# Enrolled	7	4	136	89	311

Gender:	Male	Female
# Enrolled	247	300

Note: Details may not add to totals.

Academics

Reuther currently houses 7 different academic programs for high school students. All of their students are required to meet the same academic standards as the other high school students in their district, and are expected to fully participate in the programs in which they are enrolled.

Accelerated Independent Study (AIS)

The AIS program gives students a unique opportunity to complete high school courses at a faster pace than traditional high school classes. Under the guidance of a team of AIS instructors, students work independently using computer-based curriculum, and a complement of course-related projects and assignments. Students receive credit once they demonstrate mastery of the course content. This program allows credit-deficient students the opportunity to graduate from high school on time, or perhaps even early.

Credit Recovery Program for 9th Grade

The 9th Grade Credit Recovery Program is a one year program that targets first time ninth grade students who did not earn enough credits to be promoted into tenth grade. The program has strict academic, behavioral, and attendance requirements. To ensure the success of each student enrolled, there must be total commitment by students and parents. All assignments must be completed in a manner acceptable to the individual instructor in order to receive credit. Students are expected to be active in the learning process. Up to 10 credits can be earned during the school year if the student meets all program requirements.

Expeditionary Learning (EL)

This high school program has adopted EL as a primary instructional method. EL is a New American Schools design that is based upon Outward Bound, an adventure and service-based education program founded by Kurt Hahn. In these schools students learn to take responsibility to achieve their personal best. EL is built around ten design principles and 5 core practices that grow out of the work of Hahn and other educational leaders.

Teachers design their own learning expeditions that align with district and state standards. Harnessing the power of adventure and discovery, expeditions lead students to become more motivated in their academic work and develop perseverance and self-discipline. These investigations inspire and compel students to learn reading, writing, mathematics, and other skills and content they need to produce high quality, original work.

Leading Individuals to Choose Success (LINCS)

As part of the expansion to provide additional educational opportunities for students at Reuther Central High School, LINCS, was started. LINCS is a program based on the belief that all students can learn and can experience success. The program is tailored to provide individualized instruction based on the needs of each student. The students work closely with the staff to identify curriculum needs, create a schedule, and set a timeframe within which to complete all necessary assignments in order to graduate.

The Reuther Education At-Large (R.E.A.L.)

The R.E.A.L. Program is an alternative, work-study program for students who have not experienced success in other programs and are in danger of not graduating “on time”. It is a place to start anew. It is open to students who are at least 16 years of age, and who have attended two years of high school. The program concentrates on learning academic skills in practical situations, as well as the skills needed for success in the work place and to be an independent adult.

Transition Program

The Transition Program is designed to reengage struggling regular education students. It targets students with health issues that have prevented them from attending a traditional high school program. Homebound students may be placed in Transition prior to being returned to a traditional schedule. Transition provides a curriculum that allows students to earn credits at an accelerated pace.

School Age Parent Program (SAPAR)

The SAPAR Program is designed to help pregnant students learn about prenatal /postnatal care, child development, and parenting skills. Students also learn how to make decisions that will affect their future and the well-being of their child. Academic credit is earned through a computer-based program (Plato). Pregnancy/parenting cources offered include: Child Development, Human Biology, Physical Education, and Parenting. Community agencies support the program. The SAPAR Program serves students at the high school level.