History
The City
Lincoln,
the State Capitol of Nebraska, has an approximate population of 248,000. It is
the home of the University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University,
Union College, Southeast Community College, and several private vocational- technical
schools. The business of the city centers on government, education, insurance, banking,
and light industry.
History
Lincoln
High School was founded in 1871 and is the oldest of the six public
comprehensive high schools in the city. The building was opened in 1915 with
major additions completed in 1927, 1957, 1985 and 1996, and a current building project
will be completed in the spring of 2010. In over 135 years of community
service, more than 40,000 students have graduated from LHS. The school colors
are red and black and the mascot is the “Links”.
Size
Lincoln
High school serves approximately 1600 students in grades 9 through 12. 35
percent of the students live outside the Lincoln High attendance area and have
chosen to attend Lincoln High. It has 140 certified staff members; over 60
percent have advanced degrees. Lincoln
High also has 75 support staff members who help with the operation of the
building each day.
Accreditation
Lincoln High School is accredited by the North
Central Association and is accredited by the
Nebraska State Department of
Education.
Courses and Programs Lincoln
High School offers over 200 courses in 12
different departments. Programs are available for students who plan to attend
college and those who want to join the work force. LHS provides Tech Prep courses
and students also may take college courses on the university and community
college campuses. LHS serves students with almost every level of special education
handicap as well as gifted students, and students with limited English speaking
ability. Special programs exist for students who are parents and have children
of their own in the Student Child Learning Center. The SCIP program is a
support system for students who have problems with substance abuse. There is a
student assistance team as well as tutoring for students who need special help.
A program using computer assisted instruction is available for students who
might benefit from an alternate approach. Some students are able to spend part
of their day at the Arts & Humanities Focus School, the Science Focus
School or the Technology Focus School.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme
The
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a challenging two year curriculum
for Juniors and Seniors. It leads to a qualification that is widely recognized
by the world’s leading universities. Students
in grades 9 & 10 can select Pre IB classes to prepare them for their Junior
and Senior Year. Lincoln High School was named an IB school in 2008. LHS is one of only two high schools in
Nebraska to be named an IB School.
Student Demographics
The student body is made up of 62% European American,
17% African American, 7% Asian American, 11% Hispanic American, and 3% Native
American students. Over 50% of Lincoln High Students qualify for Free or Reduced
lunch. LHS has about 140 students in ELL (English Language Learner) classes.
The LHS student body speaks at least twenty different languages. The largest group
speak Spanish (43%) and the next three largest groups speak Arabic, Vietnamese,
and Kurdish.
Test Scores
Most
students in Nebraska take the ACT for college admission. Of the 2008 LHS graduates
of LHS, 145 (45%) took the ACT and 25 took the SAT. The mean composite score
for LHS graduates who took the ACT Assessment during their junior or senior
year was 23.3 The mean SAT scores for the 2008 LHS seniors who took the SAT
during their high school years were 600 writing, 638 reading, and 608 math.
Credits and Grading
The school uses a two semester system with a few
quarter courses offered. Students receive 5 credits for a semester class and
2.5 credits for a quarter class. Each semester class has about 90 school days
and each class meets daily for 50 minutes. Most students take seven classes each day.
Grading Scale
Grades are awarded on the following scale:
A=4 C=2
Incomplete=Inc.
B+=3.5 D+=1.5
Conditional=Con
B=3 D=1
Satisfactory=S
C+=2.5 F=0
Unsatisfactory=U
Withdrew=W
The
cumulative grade point average and class rank are recomputed at the end of each
semester. A total of 220 credits are needed in grades 9 through 12 for the graduating
class of 2009. After that, 230 credits will be needed. Designated courses are
given additional weight because of the rigor of the course. (for example A=5,
B+=4.5, etc.) Students need to pass a graduation demonstration in math, reading,
and writing.
Official Transcript
An official Lincoln High School transcript is a
copy of the student’s confidential cumulative scholarship record. It carries the
raised school seal along with the date of issuance and the signature of a
school official. Authorized recipients of a transcript may not release any information
unless they have obtained prior written consent of the parent or the student if
the student is of legal age.
Technology
Lincoln
High School integrates technology into many classes using both Macintosh and PC
platforms in over a dozen labs. All classrooms and labs are wired for Internet
access. Computers in much of the building can be connected wirelessly. Students
can take classes in computer programming, multimedia presentations, web page programming,
desktop publishing, computer aided drafting, electronics, graphic
communication, and journalism. Many individual classroom computers with
Internet access are available.