Highland Park History
Our current Highland Park High School building was built in 1951 and is the third high school building since Highland Park was established in the late 1800s. On August 1, 1959, Highland Park schools officially became a part of the Topeka Public School system and has been a staple not only for Topeka Public Schools but for our Highland Park Community as a whole.
At Highland Park, diversity is a strength and the high school makeup reflects this. 41.3% of students are Hispanic, 27.9% African-American, 21.3% White and 9.5% other ethnicities.
In the last three years, we have seen an increase in our 5-year graduation cohort rate. The dropout rate continues to decrease while enrollment is on the rise. ACT participation has risen and a focus on college visits remains a priority.
Graduates include astronaut Ron Evans, biochemist Dr. Julius Rebek, Jr., Olympic wrestler Melvin Douglas, and a host of exemplary business people, coaches, educators, and others, our students have many role models to inspire them to “get there from here.”
Supported by a School Improvement Grant, we are highly optimistic about the future of our students. Our goals include improved assessment scores, improved community relationships, an enhanced curriculum, and the empowerment of students to utilize their academic resources and achieve their potential. We are creating a culture of success one day, one step, and one student at a time.