The first school in Peabody was organized in 1871. The first school building, two limestone rooms, was built in 1872 on the northeast corner of Maple and 2nd.[10] The first high school classes were taught in 1879, and the first graduation class in 1881 consisted of 2 students.[11] As the student population grew, the school building was expanded. In 1883, a six room addition was erected. In 1901, a four room addition was erected, bringing the linestone school to a total of twelve rooms on two floors.[12] Before fall of 1923, all grades attended this school. It was closed after the current elementary school was built in 1974 then it was demolished.
20th centuryedit
In 1923, a two-story brick high school was built at 900 North Walnut Street for grades 9 to 12.[13][11]
In 1945, the School Reorganization Act in Kansas caused the consolidation of thousands of rural school districts in Kansas.[14]
In 1946-1947, many one-room rural schools consolidated into the Peabody school district.[15][11]
In 1953, the Brown Building was built across the street east of the 1923 high school to house a larger gymnasium, band / lunch room, and vocational agriculture rooms.[11]
In 1963, the School Unification Act in Kansas caused the further consolidatation of thousands of tiny school districts into hundreds of larger Unified School Districts.[16]
In 1965, the Burns and Summit school districts were unified with Peabody to form the Unified School District 398.[11][17][18][19] The Burns High School in Burns, Kansas was closed, as was the rural Summit school that was located between Peabody and Burns.
In 1997, the current high school was built (and attached) to the south side of the existing Brown Building at 810 North Sycamore Street. Soon afterward, the former 1923 high school across the street was demolished and converted into a football practice field. The Burns Grade School, which included a junior high, was closed in Burns, Kansas.
21st centuryedit
Currently all students in the USD 398 district attend the high school and grade school in Peabody.
Historical school namesedit
Peabody High School (prior to 1965)
Peabody-Burns High School (1965 to 1997)
Peabody-Burns Junior/Senior High School (1997 to current)
Academicsedit
The high school marching band is well known in competitions, and especially popular in regional parades. The high school is a member of T.E.E.N., a shared video teaching network, started in 1993, between five area high schools.[20]
Enrollmentedit
In the 2010–2011 school year, Peabody-Burns Junior High School had an enrollment of 63 students, and Peabody-Burns High School had an enrollment of 105 students.[21]
Extracurricular activitiesedit
The sports offered are Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Cheerleading, Football, Golf, Softball, Track, Volleyball, Wrestling. The mascot is a Warrior. All high school athletic and non-athletic competition is overseen by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. For 2010/2011 seasons, the football team competes as Class 8 Man - Division I in the Wheat State league.[22]
State championshipsedit
Peabody-Burns High Schooledit
After 1964-1965 Peabody / Burns / Summit school districts consolidated into USD 398.
Decades ago, Principals use to teach class in addition to their administrative roles. The notes columns lists other jobs held within the same school district (not exhaustive, and may be missing some information).
Warren A. Bechtel (1872–1933) (class of 1891), founder of Bechtel engineering and construction company. In 1925, Warren, his three sons, and his brother joined together to form the W.A. Bechtel Company, and was one of the Six Companies, Inc. that constructed the Hoover Dam.
^"A Brief History of Peabody's Wonderful Educational Advancements". Peabody News. 1901. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14.
^ abcdefgPeabody : The First 100 Years; Peabody Historical Society; Peabody Gazette-Herald in Peabody, KS; 123 pages; 1971.
^A Brief History of Peabody's Wonderful Educational Advancements; Peabody News; 1901.
^Using New Gym Now - New Building Fast Nearing Completion; The Peabody Gazette-Herald; December 28, 1922.
^Your School District: The Report of the National Commission on School District Reorganization; National Education Association; 286 pages; 1948.
^School District Reorganization Notice of Hearing; The Peabody Gazette-Herald; January 10, 1946.
^"Administration of Unified School Districts in Kansas" (PDF). Kansas State Department of Public Instruction. January 1967. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 10, 2020.
^Unification Petition Is Approved; The Peabody Gazette-Herald; February 4, 1965.
^To Unify This Year; The Peabody Gazette-Herald; June 10, 1965.
^USD 398 Begins First Year; The Peabody Gazette-Herald; August 26, 1965.
^"Fran-tic Climb; The Topeka Capital-Journal; November 1, 2003". Archived from the original on November 19, 2003. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
^"Wife helps Franchione balance life on, off the football field; AggieSports; December 26, 2004". Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
^ abcTeam camaraderie still exists after decades; Peabody Gazette-Bulletin; May 18, 2011.
^"Astronaut on NASA launch attended school in Peabody". Peabody Gazette-Bulletin. October 17, 2018. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
^"A Brief History of Peabody's Wonderful Educational Advancements". Peabody News. 1901. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
^Arbuthnot Drug history; Belleville Telescope; September 14, 1989; Page 36.
^Wife helps Franchione balance life on, off the football field; AggieSports; Published December 26, 2004.
^Society of 1895 Honorees for 2011; Wichita State University Foundation.
^"Two PHS grads serve top office of the land; Peabody Gazette-Bulletin; February 12, 2003; Page 1 and 9". Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
Follow-up study of the male graduates of the Peabody High School from 1951 to 1966; Gary L. Jones; Kansas State University; 56 pages; 1967.
Peabody : The First 100 Years; Peabody Historical Society; Peabody Gazette-Herald in Peabody, KS; 123 pages; 1971. (contains school history)
The Women of Peabody; Peabody Historical Society; Mennonite Press in Newton, KS; 250 pages; 2010; LCCN 2010928692. (contains memories from some former school teachers)
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peabody-Burns High School.
School
District Website
USD 398 School District Boundary Map, KDOT
Peabody City Map, KDOT
Alumni
List of Peabody High School Alumni from 1881 to 1913
1936 Peabody High Senior Class
Historical
1901 photo of Peabody Board Of Education for District 12 of Marion County, D.F. Rhodes / A.N. Eaton / J.O. Moffett / W.M. Irwin / F.E. Butler / T.M. Potter.