Coolidge High School

Built in 1940 Coolidge High School stands proudly. It’s a testament to community spirit and perseverance. Coolidge High School wasn’t just built it was fought for. Residents of Manor Park and Takoma Park needed a new high school. Superintendent Frank W Ballou proposed building one. He suggested a location near Whittier School. Many residents supported the idea including North Dakota Senator Lynn Frazier. The school was initially called Northern Senior High School. A debate then erupted over its name. Some wanted to honor Calvin Coolidge the only former president without a school named after him. Others favored Northern High School. The Coolidge supporters won. The original design was deemed too factory-like. Local associations wanted a colonial style. The final design a modern Georgian Revival style is what we see today. Jeffress-Dryer Inc built Coolidge High School. The initial budget was reduced. A girls gymnasium was almost cut. The Takoma Park Citizens Association petitioned Congress. Extra funds were secured. Construction finished in February 1940. Coolidge High School opened its doors on September 23 1940. Thomas J Holmes its first principal didn’t complete his first year. He took a leave of absence to serve as an officer at Fort Meade. The school started with 31 teachers and 750 students. Coolidge High School quickly established athletic teams. The Colts its basketball team played their first game in a local YMCA. The delay was due to late-arriving hoops. Coolidge High School’s first ever football game was a loss. It was against John Handley High School. Their first home game however was a win against National Training School. The school’s 1946-1947 season was particularly successful. All its teams baseball basketball football golf rifle and archery won District championships. Coolidge High School’s stadium was a long time coming. It was finally built after years of planning and bureaucratic hurdles. President Harry Truman initially cut funding for it. The stadium was eventually completed. In 2007 a new football field with a digital scoreboard press box and public-address system opened. In 2010 Coolidge High School hired Natalie Randolph. She became the nation’s only female head football coach. Coolidge High School is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of community advocacy resilience and educational achievement. It continues to serve its community. It’s a place where history and progress intertwine. Coolidge High School stands as a testament to the power of community and the enduring pursuit of knowledge.