Joel E. Ferris High School
Public high school in Spokane, Washington, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joel E. Ferris High School (commonly known as Ferris High School) is a four-year public high school in Spokane, Washington, part of Spokane Public Schools. In southeast Spokane's Southgate neighborhood, it was built at a cost of $3,235,861 and opened on September 3, 1963.[3] The school was named in 1961 for Joel E. Ferris (1874–1960),[4][5] a banker and civic leader in Spokane. Joel Ferris was a member of the Spokane Park Board, Spokane Finch Arboretum Committee, and a number of educational boards and historical societies in eastern Washington.[6]
| Joel E. Ferris High School | |
|---|---|
Ferris High School from 37th Avenue | |
| Location | |
 | |
3020 East 37th Avenue , 99223 United States 47°37′11.1″N 117°21′57.1″W | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Motto | Excellence for everyone |
| Established | 1963 |
School district | Spokane Public Schools District 81 |
| Superintendent | Adam Swinyard |
NCES School ID | 530825001385[1] |
Principal | John O'Dell |
Teaching staff | 89.55 (FTE)[1] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 1,674 (2023-2024)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 18.69[1] |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Scarlet & Silver |
| Athletics | WIAA Class 3A, District VIII |
Athletics conference | Greater Spokane League[2] |
| Mascot | Sammy Saxon |
| Yearbook | The Exeter |
| Elevation | 2,350 ft (716 m) AMSL |
| Website | spokaneschools |
The school colors are scarlet and silver and the mascot is a Saxon.
The school is also the location of the studios of KSPS-TV, a PBS member station owned by the school board, which serves eastern Washington and surrounding states, as well as enjoying significant viewership in the province of Alberta, Canada.[7]
Beginning in 2005, the school underwent a major redevelopment, designed by NAC Architecture, with nearly the entire campus having been rebuilt. The project took most out of the school district's 320 million dollar project for all schools. [8] [9]
Sports
Ferris competes in WIAA Class 3A and is a member of the Greater Spokane League in District Eight.
State championships
Source:[10]
- Boys basketball: 1994, 2007, 2008
- Boys cross country: 1968, 1980, 1981, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009
- Girls cross country: 1980, 1991
- Football: 2010
- Boys golf: 1999
- Girls golf: 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001
- Boys soccer: 1998
- Boys tennis: 1975
- Volleyball: 1997
Recognition
- Bands and Choirs: San Francisco Heritage Festival Sweepstakes Champions 2017
- Bands and Choirs: San Francisco Heritage Festival Sweepstakes Champions 2014[11]
- 4A Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival Champions 2011
- GRAMMY Signature School for the 1998–99 school year
- Marching Band and Drill Team: 1997 Tournament of Roses Rose Parade
- Newsweek top 1300 high schools in 2008[citation needed]
Notable alumni
- Drew Henry (class of 2009): Founder Revival Tea Company
- Connor Halliday (class of 2010): Washington State football quarterback; holds NCAA record for most pass attempts and passing yards in a game
- Ryan Lewis: producer and DJ who performs alongside Macklemore; attended the school for his freshman and sophomore years
- Alex Prugh (class of 2003): professional golfer, Web.com and PGA Tour
- Leonard Christian: member of the Washington House of Representatives
- Jeff Robinson (class of 1988): defensive end, tight end, long snapper for 16 NFL seasons (1993–2009)
- Wayne Tinkle (class of 1984): professional basketball player in Europe, head coach at Oregon State University
- Austin Washington (class of 2004): professional soccer player[12]
- George Yarno (class of 1975): guard for ten NFL and two USFL seasons (1979–89)
- John Yarno (class of 1973): center for NFL's Seattle Seahawks (1977–82)
- Gary J. Volesky (class of 1979): United States Army Major General and commander of 101st Airborne Division[13]
- Andrew Kittredge (class of 2008): MLB pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
- Jonathan Parker (Class of 1998): Chairman, Idaho Republican Party
- Colleen Melody: Justice, Washington Supreme Court[14]