The Creation of Snowflake High School
The Creation of Snowflake High School
The Events that Transpired to Make the High School a Reality
At the end of the 1921-22 school year, news broke that the Snowflake Academy would close its doors two years later, after the 1923-24 school year. It was hoped, but not certain that the school would continue as a public high school. At that time, the only feasible way to have a public high school was if a proposed high school district had at least 200 pupils or an assessed tax valuation of more than $250,000. The proposed Snowflake High School boundaries had neither. At that time, the only public high schools in Navajo County were Winslow and Holbrook. Neither of them had 200 students but they had high property tax valuations due to the railroad.
The proposed Snowflake Union High School would have a vast area that would fill the entire southern part of Navajo County all the way to White River. This area, however, did not have an assessed valuation more than the $250,000 required. The proposed high school district needed more valuable land in its boundary. Their idea to reach that value was to take a two mile stretch of the railroad line just west of Joseph City known as Manilla. This area would take a portion of Holbrook High School District. Holbrook agreed to relinquish it so long as the new high school was actually created. This 2-mile stretch and the valuation of the railroad property would give the new school district the tax valuation needed to open a high school. This area would be known as the Manilla Strip and was part of the high school district for many years.
The Snowflake Herald ran a headline on February 22, 1924 that stated, “Union High School Only Chance for High School.” The newspaper certainly was for the proposed Union High School. It urged voters with the following words, “If you want a high school, work for it, talk for it, vote for it, get your neighbors to the polls and be sure he is converted to vote right”.
The county board of supervisors agreed to include the Manilla Strip for the proposed Union High School. Then it was turned over to the voters to determine whether to create the Union High School District in order to open a new public high school. The vote went out and it was approved overwhelmingly, 484 in favor and 26 opposed to creating the Union High School District.
The next issue that arose was where to put the new high school. The pros to have the high school in Snowflake included that the Snowflake Stake (owner of the Snowflake Academy) offered to lease the existing high school to the school district for 99 years for merely upkeep. Other pros included having classes immediately because the facilities already existed, and keeping taxes low by not constructing a new high school. The cons to the Snowflake location included that it was not centrally located for the most southern areas of Navajo County including White River, Fort Apache Pinetop, and Lakeside. The Herald ran a headline, “If School Is Located Here No Bonding Is Necessary”.
At a later vote on March 15, 1924, the residents of the new Union High School District voted to keep the high school in Snowflake. Other options on the ballot were to place the high school in Taylor or Show Low. The Snowflake location edged out Taylor and Show Low.
The Snowflake Stake Academy closed its doors on May 9, 2024, graduating 15 students in their final year as a private religious school. The new Union High School District Board got to work, setting up transportation arrangements for students, retaining most of the Academy teachers, and setting out to visit each elementary district within the high school district. For those underclassmen students returning, their education continued as if there was no transition from a private to a public school.
For many years, the high school went by Union High School or UHS. The school teams sported a big U on their jerseys. The Herald quipped, “Oh you U. Hi Lobos,” after UHS defeated Eastern Arizona College in a basketball game.
Snowflake Union High School commenced in the fall of 1924. This summer, Snowflake High School is celebrating their centennial anniversary of being a public school. The boundaries for the high school have shrunk significantly over the years, but Snowflake High School continues to educate and prepare students for a productive and fulfilling life. The school has many notable alumni, which will continue to grow each year. Alumni are invited to return for the 100th Anniversary the weekend of Pioneer Day this July. To learn more and to register go to https://www.lobo100yrreunion.com.
Here is to many more years of Snowflake High. Oh you U. Hi Lobos!
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