Lawrence High School (Kansas)

Lawrence High School
Address
1901 Louisiana Street[1] Lawrence, Kansas 66046 United States
Coordinates	38°56′57″N 95°14′34″W / 38.949085°N 95.242871°W / 38.949085; -95.242871
Information
School type	Public, High School
Established	1857, 1954 (current building)
School district	Lawrence USD 497
CEEB code	171690[2]
Principal	Jessica Bassett [3]
Teaching staff	97.36 (FTE)
Grades	9 to 12
Gender	coed
Enrollment	1,575 (2020–21)[4]
Student to teacher ratio	16.18[4]
Campus type	Urban
Color(s)	Red and Black
Song	We Hail Thee Lawrence High School
Fight song	Stand Up and Cheer
Athletics	Class 6A[5]
Mascot	Chesty the Lion
Rival	Free State, Topeka
Newspaper	The Budget
Yearbook	The Red and Black
Website	lhs.usd497.org

Lawrence High School (LHS) is a public secondary school in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, operated by Lawrence USD 497 school district, and serves students of grades 9 to 12. The school is one of the two public high schools located in the city. Lawrence High enrolled 1,575 students in the 2020–2021 school year. The school colors are red and black and the mascot is the "Chesty Lion".

Lawrence High School was established in 1857 in order to help educate the growing population of Lawrence. The first classes were held in the basement of a Unitarian Church. Three years later, the school was relocated to 9th and Kentucky Streets. In 1923, a new high school was built at 14th and Massachusetts Streets and named Liberty Memorial High School while the 9th and Kentucky Street became Lawrence Junior High School. In 1930, the Lion was introduced as the school symbol and in 1946, it made its official debut as the school mascot. Lawrence High moved to its current location on Louisiana Street in 1954, and the Junior High moved in to 14th and Massachusetts Street, now Liberty Memorial Central Middle School. Lawrence High has been added on to and remodeled over the years, including a major bond issue remodel completed in 2021, bringing the 1950s building up to 21st century standards.

Lawrence is a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association and offers a variety of sports programs. Athletic teams compete in Class 6A and are known as the "Chesty Lions". Extracurricular activities are also offered in the form of performing arts, school publications, and clubs. Throughout its history, Lawrence High has won more state championships in athletics than any other high school in the state of Kansas.