Columbine High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Columbine High School |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 |
|
| Address | |
|
6201 South Pierce Street
, Colorado
80123
United States
|
|
| Coordinates | 39°36′14″N 105°04′27″W / 39.60389°N 105.07417°W |
| Information | |
| Other name | CHS |
| Type | Public high school |
| Established | 1973 |
| School district | Jefferson County R-1 |
| NCES School ID | 080480000707 |
| Principal | Scott Christy |
| Teaching staff | 85.84 (on a FTE basis) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 1,667 (2023–2024) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 19.42 |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Navy blue and silver |
| Mascot | Rebel |
| Nickname | Rebels |
 The library built after the massacre. |
|
Columbine High School (CHS) is a public high school located in Columbine, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Jefferson County Public Schools district. The school is well-known for a tragic event that happened there in 1999.
Contents
School History
Columbine High School first opened its doors in 1973. It was built to hold about 1,652 students. The school got its name from the area around it, Columbine. This area was named after the beautiful state flower of Colorado, the columbine.
The school's first principal was Gerald Difford. The first group of students to graduate from Columbine High School was in 1975. Students from other local schools helped choose the school's colors when it first opened.
Over the years, the school has been updated several times. In 1995, a new cafeteria and library were added. More changes happened in 1999 and 2000, with updates to hallways and the cafeteria. In the early 2000s, a new library called the HOPE Columbine Memorial Library was built. A special memorial was also created on the school grounds.
The 1999 Tragedy
On April 20, 1999, Columbine High School experienced a very sad event. Two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, caused a mass shooting. They killed 13 people, including 12 students and one teacher. Many others were also hurt. The two students then took their own lives in the school library.
This event was a major news story around the world. It made Columbine High School a well-known name. After the shooting, students finished their school year at a nearby school, Chatfield Senior High.
The school's library, where many of the deaths happened, was later taken down. This area was turned into a memorial space. A new, larger library was built on a different part of the campus. It was dedicated to remembering those who were lost.
Even years later, some people who are interested in the tragedy visit the school. In 2019, the head of the school district suggested rebuilding the school. This was to make it more secure and to help reduce the unwanted attention.
One of the people who survived the 1999 shooting was Anne Marie Hochhalter. She passed away in February 2025. Her death was caused by complications from the injuries she received during the shooting. This made her the 14th official victim of the Columbine High School tragedy.
2012 Incident
On February 13, 2012, an incident occurred at the school. A 14-year-old female student attacked two other students with a hammer. A 16-year-old boy was hurt while trying to stop the attack.
2019 Safety Concern
In April 2019, there was a safety concern involving an 18-year-old named Sol Pais. She traveled to Colorado and bought a shotgun and ammunition. The FBI learned that she was very interested in the 1999 Columbine shooting.
Because of this, the FBI warned the public about a possible threat. They were worried about a copycat event happening around the 20th anniversary of the 1999 tragedy. Columbine High School went into lockdown on April 16, 2019. Many schools in Colorado closed the next day to keep students safe.
It was later discovered that Sol Pais had already passed away before the public search for her began. She had taken her own life near Mount Evans.
2025 Fire Incident
On February 26, 2025, a small fire happened in the school's woodshop classroom. It started in a wood dust collector and spread into the ventilation system. The school was evacuated, and firefighters quickly put out the fire. Two firefighters had minor injuries.
School Location
Columbine High School serves students who live in the Columbine CDP area.
Famous Alumni
Many notable people have attended Columbine High School. Here are a few:
- Darrel Akerfelds – A professional baseball pitcher who played for several teams.
- Sera Cahoone – A talented singer-songwriter.
- Skip Ewing – A well-known country songwriter and artist.
- Wes Hart – An MLS player who played for the San Jose Earthquakes.
- Allan Kayser – An actor famous for playing "Bubba" in the TV show Mama's Family.
- Sue Manteris – A newscaster on Las Vegas TV.
- Todd Park Mohr – The guitarist and vocalist for the band Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
- Patrick Neville – A politician.
- Carlos Samour - An Associate Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court.
- Jeanie Schroder – A member of the music group DeVotchKa.
- Longmont Potion Castle – A comedian and musician known for his prank calls.
- Woody Kincaid – An American long-distance runner.
People Connected to the 1999 Tragedy
Individuals Involved
- Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold – The two students responsible for the 1999 shooting.
Victims Remembered
- Rachel Scott – The first victim killed in the 1999 tragedy. A youth program called Rachel's Challenge was created in her memory.
- Cassie Bernall – One of the 13 victims killed in the 1999 tragedy.
- Austin Eubanks – A survivor of the shooting who later became a speaker on recovery.
- Anne Marie Hochhalter — A survivor who passed away in 2025 from her injuries, becoming the 14th victim.
See also
- Columbine (book)
