Once a Lobo Always a Lobo
Once a Lobo Always a Lobo
The shifting boundaries of Snowflake High School
This year, Snowflake High School turns 100 years old. During the past 100 years the school boundaries have shrunk as Navajo County has grown. Initially, Snowflake Union High School encompassed all southern Navajo County when the public high school district was formed in 1924.
By the mid 1960’s, students from Show Low, as the farthest south community, were still going to Snowflake High School.
In 1965, the Citizen’s Growth Committee was appointed by the school board to study the projected growth and future needs of Snowflake High School. A feasibility study was completed to determine the need for an additional high school in Show Low. The study looked at student enrollments in the elementary school districts (k-8) within Snowflake High School’s footprint.
After the 1966 study, the high school district purchased 25 acres of land in Show Low in contemplation of a second high school. The purchase was possible because the voters approved a bond to purchase the land. The bond also approved a new cafeteria and auditorium to be built at Snowflake High School.
A second feasibility study was completed in 1970 due to increased enrollment. A threshold of two consecutive years of 100 students or more from the proposed Show Low High School was met and the voters once again went to the polls to determine whether to build another high school. Snowflake and Taylor opposed the measure but Show Low’s vote won the day and a tax was implemented to create Show Low High School.
The high school in Show Low opened for classes in the fall of 1972. Freshman and sophomore students enrolled in the new high school. The upperclassmen continued to attend Snowflake. Snowflake’s assistant principal, Monty Harris, was appointed to open the new Show Low High School.
In 1974, a proposal was made to reorganize the school districts. The Union High School District, along with Snowflake-Taylor, Show Low, and Sitgreaves Elementary school districts were involved. The voters approved a measure to create two unified school districts. Snowflake, Taylor, Heber, and Overgaard made up the new Snowflake Unified School District. Show Low, Pinedale, Clay Springs and White Mountain Lake were part of the new Show Low Unified School District.
Snowflake High School lost even more students when Heber and Overgaard formed their own high school in 1988. Snowflake superintendent, Larry Brewer, accepted a position to be the new Heber/Overgaard superintendent. Monty Harris returned to Snowflake from being principal at Show Low High School to be the new Snowflake superintendent.
As Snowflake High School celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, the school has had a large impact on the growth and development of Southern Navajo County. Even though Snowflake High School’s boundaries are not as large as before, the population growth in Snowflake and Taylor has kept the school growing. For all the alumni of Snowflake High School – Once a Lobo, Always a Lobo!
This Article is sponsored by:
Are you looking to buy? SEI knows the local Snowflake/Taylor market and surrounding White Mountain area. Let them help you find the home of your dreams!
Are you looking to sell? SEI can help you get top dollar for your home.
Call: 928-243-0000
Visit: https://seirep.com/