Classen School of Advanced Studies

{{distinguish|Northwest Classen High School}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox school | name = Classen School of Advanced Studies thumb | caption = High School | address = 1901 North Ellison Street/3100 N Kelly ave | city = Oklahoma City | state = Oklahoma | district = Oklahoma City Public Schools | zipcode = 73106/73111 | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|35.4881150|-97.5328171|format=dms|display=inline,title}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1091397 |title=Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report |accessdate=2007-11-20 |date=1979-12-18 |work=Geographic Names Information System |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey }}</ref> | superintendent = Dr. Jamie C. Polk | principal = Lorenzo Alferos (Middle School) Milton Bowens (High School) | teaching_staff = 47.10 {{FTE}}<ref name=NCES/> | staff = | ceeb = 372651 | us_nces_district_id = {{NCES District ID|4022770|district_name=Oklahoma City|access_date=June 15, 2025|do_not_render|do_not_show_link|ref_name=nces_district}} | us_nces_school_id = 402277001885 <ref name="NCES"/> | ratio = 17.10<ref name=NCES/> | type = | fundingtype = Public | schooltype = magnet high school | enrollment = 810 (9-12) (2023-2024)<ref name=NCES>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&Zip=73106&Miles=20&DistrictType=1&DistrictType=2&DistrictType=3&DistrictType=4&DistrictType=5&DistrictType=6&DistrictType=7&NumOfStudentsRange=more&NumOfSchoolsRange=more&ID=402277001885|title=CLASSEN HS OF ADVANCED STUDIES|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|accessdate=June 15, 2025}}</ref> | grades = 5-12<ref name=NCES/> | campus = Urban | campus_size = | campus_type = | athletics = Basketball, baseball, cross country, football, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, track | athletic_conference = OSSAA Class 5A | motto = ''Qui non proficit deficit'' | accreditation = | nickname = Comets | colors = Royal blue and gold {{Color box|Blue|border=darkgray}}{{Color box|Gold|border=darkgray}} | yearbook = | publication = | newspaper = | opened = | established = | founded = 1919 (reopened as Classen SAS in 1994) | USNWR_ranking = 926 <ref name= USNWR>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/oklahoma/districts/oklahoma-city-public-schools/classen-high-school-of-advanced-studies-156036#:~:text=Classen%20High%20School%20of%20Advanced%20Studies%20is%20ranked%20first%20within,total%20minority%20enrollment%20is%2070%25.|title=CLASSEN HIGH SCHOOL OF ADVANCED STUDIES|accessdate=September 5, 2024}}</ref> | status = | closed = | footnotes = | picture = | website = https://csashs.okcps.org/ }}

'''Classen School of Advanced Studies''', often referred to as '''Classen SAS''', '''CSAS''' or simply '''Classen''', are 2 public speciality schools serving students in grades 5–12 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It consists of Classen SAS Middle School and Classen SAS High School @ Northeast. The Oklahoma City Public Schools program participates in the IB Diploma Programme<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibo.org/school/000841/ |title=Classen School of Advanced Studies |accessdate=2007-11-20 |publisher=International Baccalaureate Organization }}</ref> and offers fine arts courses as well, offering art, drama, and music classes to any qualifying student.

Classen SAS High School @ Northeast is known as one of the state's premier high schools in academics, and has been ranked among the top 100 public high schools in America by the Challenge Index, as measured by the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2007 divided by the number of graduating seniors. The index is published annually in the ''Washington Post'' and ''Newsweek''. It was ranked 14 in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/education/2009_NEWSWEEK_TOP_SCHOOLS.html|title=The Top of the Class |work=Newsweek }}</ref>

As Classen High School, the basketball team won state championships in 1929, 1934, 1937, 1948, 1950, 1975, and in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ossaa.com/Sports/Basketball/HistoryofBasketball.aspx |title=History of Basketball |accessdate=2012-02-18 |publisher=Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007081746/http://ossaa.com/Sports/Basketball/HistoryofBasketball.aspx |archive-date=2010-10-07 }}</ref> In 1995, Classen SAS won the Class B State Championship in Academic Quiz Bowl and in 1996, Classen SAS was the Class 3A State Runner-Up in Academic Quiz Bowl. It is currently a Division 5A school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2024/04/24/oklahoma-high-school-football-2024-2025-classifications-ossaa-private-school-rule-14/73443987007/ |title= Which Oklahoma high school football teams are moving to different classifications in 2024 |accessdate= September 6, 2024|publisher= The Oklahoman}}</ref>

==History== Classen Junior High School opened in 1919, immediately following the close of World War I, making it the oldest high school building in Oklahoma City Public Schools. The land was part of an area being developed by the early Oklahoma City real estate developer, Anton H. Classen. A total of 6.33 acres was purchased by the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education for $55,100. The building was constructed at a cost of $420,500 by the Holmboe Construction Company.

The two story brick building was enlarged in 1921, 1923, 1925, 1934 and 1957. In 1925, Classen opened its doors to high school students and changed its name to Classen High School. Due to declining enrollment, Classen High School closed in 1985 and the building became a 5th-year center. In 1994, the Classen School of Advanced Studies opened with an enrollment size of 647, covering grades 6-10. Its first graduating class was graduated in May 1997.

===Northeast High School=== '''Northeast High School''' was a public high school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was merged with and subsumed into Classen School of Advanced Studies which took over its building. The school's student body was predominantly African American.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://freepressokc.com/northeast-high-school-alumni-see-takeover-in-okcps-merger-plan/ | title=Northeast High School alumni see "takeover" in OKCPS merger plan | date=14 June 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://freepressokc.com/okcps-abandons-custom-listening-alumni-current-student-body/ | title=OKCPS abandons custom of listening to alumni and current student body | date=15 June 2019 }}</ref>

==Extracurricular activities== Classen SAS fields teams in OSSAA-sanctioned competition in basketball, baseball, football, softball, golf, dance team, cross country, soccer, tennis and volleyball, and track.

Clubs and organizations at the school include: Ambassador Corp, Asian Club, Builders Club, Black Student Union, Cheerleaders, Earth Club, French Club, German American Partnership Program (GAPP), German Club, Key Club, Latino Club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, Modern Music Masters (Tri-M Music Honors Society), Native American Club, Orchestra, Pep Band, Science Club, Spanish Club, Student Council, Thespian Society, Visual Arts Club, UFO, Young Democrats, Latin Club, Classen Choral Society, Comets Demand Action (safety group), Band Boosters (band council), Gender-Sexuality Alliance, Fireballs (pep club), Mock Trial, Bike Club, Culinary, E Sports, Girl Up, Club Med, and Young Libertarian.

==Notable alumni== {{More citations needed section|date=November 2012}}

===Classen High School=== {{main category|Classen School of Advanced Studies alumni}} *Jim Barnett, professional wrestling promoter<ref name="Oklahoma">{{cite web|url=https://www.oklafan.com/bios/view/1419/|access-date=January 4, 2023|title=Jim Barnett|website=OklaFan.com}}</ref> *Jerrie Cobb, aircraft pilot and member of the Mercury 13.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cobb, Geraldyn M. {{!}} The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CO010 |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=www.okhistory.org}}</ref> *Wayne Coyne, guitarist, lead singer, and songwriter of rock band The Flaming Lips<ref>{{Cite web |title=OK Music Trail: Flaming Lips Itinerary |url=https://www.travelok.com/music-trail/itineraries/the-flaming-lips-itinerary |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=TravelOK.com - Oklahoma's Official Travel & Tourism Site |language=en-US}}</ref> *Admiral William J. Crowe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1985–1989.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joint Chiefs of Staff > About > The Joint Staff > Chairman > Admiral William James Crowe, Jr. |url=https://www.jcs.mil/About/The-Joint-Staff/Chairman/Admiral-William-James-Crowe-Jr/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=www.jcs.mil}}</ref> *Jimmy Edwards, professional football player<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=EDWARJIM01 |title=Jimmy LaRoy Edwards |publisher=databaseFootball.com |accessdate=November 26, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012194051/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=EDWARJIM01 |archive-date=October 12, 2012 }}</ref> *Edith Kinney Gaylord, journalist, founder of Inasmuch Foundation and Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gaylord, Edith Kinney {{!}} The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=GA026 |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=www.okhistory.org}}</ref> *David Hall, former governor of Oklahoma<ref>{{Cite web |last=Munn |first=Scott |title=Tributes: Former Gov. David Hall played for Classen's state title team in 1948 |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/2016/05/31/tributes-former-gov-david-hall-played-for-classens-state-title-team-in-1948/60671098007/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hall, David {{!}} The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=HA007 |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=www.okhistory.org}}</ref> *Van Heflin, actor{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} *Henry Iba, prolific former basketball coach, and coach at Classen High School and later at Oklahoma State University<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iba, Henry P. {{!}} 1965 |url=https://oklahomahof.com/member-archives/i/iba-henry-p-1965 |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=oklahomahof.com |language=en}}</ref> *Patience Latting, first woman to serve as Mayor of Oklahoma City, first female mayor of a major American city.<ref name=okheritage>{{cite news|title=Patience Sewell Latting biography |url=http://www.oklahomaheritage.com/Portals/0/docs/Patience%20Sewell%20Latting.pdf |work=Oklahoma Heritage Association |accessdate=2013-01-17}}</ref> *Jack McCracken, amateur basketball player, 1962 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, 6x AAU All-American, 3x AAU Champion with the Denver Nuggets, named greatest AAU player of all time in 1939<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oklahoman Jack McCracken helped revolutionize roundball |url=https://www.okgazette.com/news/oklahoman-jack-mccracken-helped-revolutionize-roundball-2961903 |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=okgazette.com |language=en}}</ref> *Cleta Mitchell, conservative lawyer, former Democratic legislator.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OU Alumni in D.C. Series: Cleta Deatherage Mitchell {{!}} OU Law |url=https://law.ou.edu/news-and-media/ou-alumni-dc-series-cleta-deatherage-mitchell |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=law.ou.edu}}</ref> *James H. Norick, former mayor of Oklahoma City<ref>{{cite news|title=JAMES NORICK Obituary|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/oklahoman/obituary.aspx?n=james-norick&pid=174336367|accessdate=March 8, 2015|work=The Oklahoman|via=Legacy.com|date=March 8, 2015}}</ref> *Dale Robertson, movie and television actor<ref>{{Cite web |title=Robertson, Dale L. {{!}} 1979 |url=https://oklahomahof.com/member-archives/r/robertson-dale-l-1979 |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=oklahomahof.com |language=en}}</ref> *Claude Weaver III, World War II ace<ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Walsh|title=The Youngest Ace |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3901/is_200607/ai_n17176611/ |work=Air Classics |date=July 2006 |accessdate=2007-11-20 |quote=Claude Weaver III was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on 18 August 1923. He dropped out of Classen High School midway through his twelfth grade studies so that he could join the RCAF. }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.okcps.org/Domain/80}}

{{Oklahoma City PS}}

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Category:Educational institutions established in 1994 Category:Public high schools in Oklahoma Category:International Baccalaureate schools in Oklahoma Category:Public middle schools in Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma City Public Schools Category:Magnet schools in Oklahoma Category:1994 establishments in Oklahoma