Washington High School of Information Technology (formerly Washington High School) is a magnet high school located in the Sherman Park neighborhood on the north side of

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

, Wisconsin, United States. It is one of the oldest schools in the

Milwaukee Public Schools Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is the largest school district in Wisconsin. As of the 2015–16 school year, MPS served 75,568 students in 154 schools and had 9,636 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff positions. The system is one of the largest i ...

system, and was founded in 1911. In September 2005 Washington was divided into three "schools within a school," which are divided among the school's four floors. These are the School of Law, Education, and Public Service; Washington High School of Expeditionary Learning; and Washington High School of Information Technology. In June 2010, LEAPS closed and was combined with EL and renamed Washington High School. The Washington High School of Information Technology, which continues the legacy of the Career Specialty Program begun in 1976, has continued to operate. In June 2011 the combined LEAPS and EL school was closed and merged into Washington High School of Information Technology, creating a single school again.

Athletics

Washington's athletic teams are known as the Purgolders, named for the school's colors of purple and gold. It competes in the Milwaukee City Conference. Washington has garnered four boys basketball Division 1 state titles since 1985. It is part of an intense three-way rivalry with

Rufus King High School Rufus King International High School, or Rufus King, is a public Magnet school, magnet high school located on the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, part of the Milwaukee Public Schools district. The school is ranked the 1,658th best public high ...

and Vincent High School. These schools have accounted for 14 of the last 23 state titles in Division 1 boys basketball. The girls' basketball team is one of three Milwaukee City Conference girls teams to have won a WIAA state title ( Harold S. Vincent High School and

Riverside University High School Riverside University High School is a public high school located on the East Side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a college preparatory curriculum. It is a part of the Milwaukee Public Schools system. History Pre-1912 Starting in the early 1850 ...

are the others), having done it five times, a Division 1 record. They also won three consecutive state titles (1994, 1995 and 1996). Washington won the state championship in boys' cross country in 1930 and 1935 and tied for the championship with Bay View High School in 1932 in single-division contests, won the 1952 championship in the larger of two divisions, and won the 1964 championship in the largest of three divisions.

Demographics

*77% Black, 774 students *15% Asian/Pacific Islander, 150 students *8% Hispanic, 80 students *0% American Indian/Alaska Native, 2 students

Notable alumni

* Brian Burke, Wisconsin politician and legislator *

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scout * Lee S. Dreyfus, Governor of

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

* Michael Feldman, host of radio show ''

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'' * Earle W. Fricker, Wisconsin politician *

Pat Harder Marlin Martin "Pat" Harder (May 6, 1922 – September 6, 1992) was an American professional football player and official in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a fullback and kicker. Harder played college football for the Wiscons ...

, UW-Madison and

player *

Cy Howard Cy Howard (September 27, 1915 - April 29, 1993) was an American director, producer and screenwriter. Howard created ''My Friend Irma'', a top-rated, long-running radio situation comedy and media franchise. He won a Primetime Emmy Award in the ...

, writer, director and producer * Otto Junkermann, former Wisconsin State Representative, former Brown County Supervisor *

Norman R. Klug Norman R. Klug (June 9, 1905 – October 24, 1966) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and a president of the Miller Brewing Company. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended Washington High School before attending Marquette Universit ...

, Wisconsin politician *

Herb Kohl Herbert Hiken Kohl (February 7, 1935 – December 27, 2023) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and Democratic politician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served 24 years as a United States senator from Wisconsin, from 1989 to 2013, and ...

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, actor *

John Allen Paulos John Allen Paulos (born July 4, 1945) is an American professor of mathematics at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has gained fame as a writer and speaker on mathematics and the importance of mathematical literacy. Paulos write ...

, writer, speaker, mathematics professor * Stan Pelecky, Wisconsin politician * Lois Plous, Wisconsin politician * Jack (Jackie) Porter, WHS, Class of 1962---sociologist, writer, and political activist * Mark Ryan, Wisconsin politician *

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, former Commissioner of

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* Milton Shadur, United States judge * Paul Sicula, Wisconsin politician *

Latrell Sprewell Latrell Fontaine Sprewell (born September 8, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Du ...

, former

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basketball player * Erwin G. Tamms, Wisconsin politician * Fred W. Vetter Jr.,

U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its origins to 1 ...

general *

Gene Wilder Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman; June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016) was an American actor, comedian, writer, and filmmaker. He was mainly known for his comedic roles, including his portrayal of Willy Wonka in ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Fa ...

, actor * Wayne F. Whittow, Wisconsin politician

References

{{authority control High schools in Milwaukee Educational institutions established in 1912 Public high schools in Wisconsin Magnet schools in Wisconsin 1912 establishments in Wisconsin North Side, Milwaukee