Classen School of Advanced Studies


Classen School of Advanced Studies is a public speciality school serving students in grades 6-12 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma City Public Schools program participates in the IB Diploma Programme and offers fine arts courses as well, offering art, drama, and music classes to any qualifying student.
Classen 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.
As Classen High School, the basketball team won state championships in 1929, 1934, 1937, 1948, 1950, 1975, and in 1980. 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 4A school.

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 as well, 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. Josie Cao and Minh Truong were both the first valedictorians of Classen SAS and was selected as the student of the year in 1997.

Curriculum

Classen SAS is accredited by the North Central Association of Schools and adheres to a college preparatory curriculum. Students joining the school must choose a major; students wishing to earn an IB Diploma become IB majors, while students studying fine arts must choose a specific field of study for their major. The latter are usually simply referred to as VPA majors. Students may choose to switch their majors at a later date, although this is not always encouraged due to the IB Program's stringent course requirements. Students may choose classes regardless of their major; for example, an IB major student may attend an introductory music class, or a VPA major might attend an advanced math class, such as honors, AP, or even one from within the IB Program. However, certain classes are required for each major. In order to graduate, students must all meet the standard curriculum set down by the Oklahoma City Public School board, and satisfy the requirements for their particular major. In addition, even though a VPA major has the option to take IB courses, they cannot test for the IB Diploma in high school since they are not officially enrolled with the Program.
As the IB Program only covers grades 11-12, IB majors in grades 6-10 are considered "pre-IB" and attend honors and AP classes to prepare them for the IB Program. Each of Classen's VPA Programs have won several awards each year, such as the choral program which has received superiors every year since the reopening. They have been invited to multiple competitions and commonly receive best in class. The Choirs have been asked to perform around the world including New York, Florida, California, Illinois, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, and places out of the country such as the Bahamas and Europe. The Theatre Department has won the Oklahoma State One-Act Play Contest for five years in a row. Concert and Jazz band have both won OSSAA superior honors as well. The Debate program has won many state and regional tournaments, sweeping 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in most competitions.

Available majors

Classen SAS fields teams in OSSAA-sanctioned competition in basketball, swim, baseball, softball, golf, dance team, cross country, soccer, tennis and volleyball. Football and track are offered cooperatively with U. S. Grant High School;
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, German Club, Key Club, Latino Club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Art Honor Society, National Honor 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, Band Boosters, Gay Straight Alliance, Fireballs, Mock Trial, Bike Club, Culinary, and Young Libertarian.

Notable alumni

Classen High School