Sumner Academy of Arts & Science facts for kids

Sumner Academy of Arts and Science is a special kind of public high school called a magnet school in Kansas City, Kansas. It's run by the Kansas City USD 500 school district. The school is named after Charles Sumner, who was an important leader against slavery.

Sumner Academy started in 1905 as Sumner High School. At that time, schools were separated by race in many places. Sumner High School was created as a school for Black students. It focused on preparing students for college, but also offered training for jobs. The school's main building, which has a cool Art Deco style, was built in 1937. Over the years, more parts have been added. In 1978, Sumner High School changed into what it is today: a magnet school for students who are highly motivated and good at academics.

History of Sumner Academy

How Sumner High School Began

Sumner High School opened in 1905. Before that, there was a lot of tension in Kansas City, Kansas, about schools being separated by race. In 1904, after a difficult event, white students prevented Black students from entering the high schools. This led to a situation where Black students had to attend classes at different times.

To solve this problem, some citizens asked the Kansas government to allow separate high schools. On February 22, 1905, a law was passed that allowed a separate high school for Black students in Kansas City, Kansas. This is how Sumner High School became the first officially segregated high school in Kansas. Students from other schools moved to the new Sumner High.

Choosing the Name Sumner

The first name for the school was Manual Training High School. However, the Black community didn't like this name. They chose "Sumner" instead, to honor Charles Sumner (1811–1884). Charles Sumner was a U.S. Senator who strongly opposed slavery. He also fought for the rights of Black people after the American Civil War.

Sumner's Buildings and Changes

In 1932, land was bought for the current Sumner Academy campus. The main buildings you see today started being built in 1937.

In 1978, Sumner High School officially closed. This was part of a court order to end school segregation. Students were reassigned to different schools, and all students in the district could choose to attend the new school. That's when it reopened as 'Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences'. It became a special magnet school for students who are very motivated and talented in their studies.

Awards and Celebrations

Sumner Academy has won many awards. In 2003, it received the U.S. Department of Education's NCLB – Blue Ribbon Schools Award. This award recognizes schools for high test scores. Only four schools in Kansas earned this honor that year.

In 2005, Sumner celebrated its 100th anniversary. This marked a century since students first walked through its doors.

Academics at Sumner Academy

Sumner Academy expects its students to meet high standards for behavior and grades. To get into Sumner, students must receive an acceptance letter. Once enrolled, they need to keep a GPA of 2.5 or higher to stay at the school.

Sumner Academy was designated a Blue Ribbon School in 1984 and 2003.

The school has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School twice, in 1984 and 2003. This award goes to public and private schools that perform very well academically.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program

One reason for Sumner Academy's strong academics is its participation in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. This program is known for its challenging courses. Sumner started offering IB classes in 1987.

The academy offers 20 different IB classes. More than one-third of the teachers have special IB training. While only juniors and seniors can take IB classes, the program influences all grade levels. Ninth and tenth graders often take "pre-IB" courses to get ready for future IB work. Almost all students at Sumner Academy (97 percent) participate in the IB program.

Extracurricular Activities

Sumner Academy's sports teams are called the Sabres (boys) and Lady Sabres (girls). They compete in the 5A classification, which is set by the KSHAA (Kansas State High School Activities Association).

Football Success

The Sumner Academy football team has had some great seasons. In November 2008, they made it to the Kansas State playoffs for the first time in ten years. In 2010, they had their best record ever, winning 9 games and losing only 2. They also won the Kansas City, Kansas League Championship for the first time in 20 years. They won the KCK League Championship again in 2009.

Wrestling Achievements

Sumner Academy's wrestling team has also seen success. They were recognized as league champions in 2009 and 2014. Individual wrestlers have won state championships. Donte Boose won the 4A 126lb state championship in 2014. Emmanuel Browne won the 4A 120lb state championship in 2015 and then the 4A 126lb state championship again in 2016.

Bowling Champions

The Lady Sabres bowling team won back-to-back 4A girls bowling state championships in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, Sarah Ottens won the individual 5A girls state championship. Christian Smith won the 5A state boys individual bowling championship in 2009.

Scholars Bowl

Sumner Academy won the 2003 Class 5A Scholars Bowl state championship. This shows their strength in academic competitions.

Boys' Basketball Victories

Sumner High School won the 4A Kansas State High School Activities Association boys basketball championship in 1969.

Sumner Academy has won four more boys basketball championships: in 1998, 2000, 2010, and 2011.

Competitive Speech and Debate

The Sumner Academy Competitive Speech team (also known as Forensics) has won many KSHSAA state championships. They won the 4A Speech state championships in 1998, and from 2012 to 2016. They continued their winning streak in 5A Speech state championships in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. The team also won a KSHSAA 4A Debate championship in 2015 and placed 2nd in the KS Class 5A State Debate Championship tournament in 2024.

Track and Field

The Sumner High School boys track & field team won the 4A outdoor state championships in 1975, 1976, and 1977. They also won indoor championships in 1969 and 1970. The Sumner Academy boys track & field team won back-to-back KSHSAA 4A team championships in 1998 and 1999.

Architecture of Sumner Academy

The Original Art Deco Building

By 1937, Sumner High School needed more space. The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA), a program from the New Deal era, gave money to build a new school. The architect, Joseph W. Radotinsky, designed the building in the Art Deco style. This style was popular for public buildings at the time.

The most noticeable part of the building is its central entrance tower. The outside is made of two shades of brick with limestone details. The building was finished in 1939, and classes started there in January 1940.

Campus Expansions and Upgrades

Over the years, the Sumner campus has grown:

• In 1964, a field house and athletic field were added.
• In 1975, a new gymnasium, cafeteria, and student center were built.
• In 1978, when the school became Sumner Academy, classrooms, the library, and science rooms were renovated.
• In 1985, the library was made larger.
• In 2002, voters approved money to add air-conditioning, improve technology, and make other upgrades to schools. Sumner was part of this project.
• In 2005, Sumner was recognized as a historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Register of Historic Kansas Places.

The West Wing Addition

In 2010, a new wing was added to the school. This new part includes modern technology in all its classrooms. The rooms are large, with carpeted floors, and can hold many students. The west wing also has new lockers and bathrooms.

Notable Alumni

Many successful people have graduated from Sumner High School and Sumner Academy:

• William Patrick Foster: A famous band director and leader in music education.
• Fernando J. Gaitan Jr.: A senior United States district judge.
• Paul Graham: A former head basketball coach for a college team.
• Leonard Gray: A former NBA basketball player.
• Lea Hopkins: An activist for LGBT rights.
• Harold Hunter: The first African American to sign a contract with an National Basketball Association (NBA) team.
• Carmell Jones: A talented jazz trumpet player.
• Delano Lewis: An attorney, businessman, diplomat, and former United States Ambassador to South Africa.
• John McClendon: The first African American head coach in any professional sport. He is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Charles Wilber "Bullet" Rogan: A famous baseball player and manager for the Kansas City Monarchs. He is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

See also

• List of high schools in Kansas
• History of African Americans in Kansas