Peabody-Burns Junior/Senior High School

The first school in Peabody was organized in 1871. The first school building, two stone rooms, was built in 1872 on the northeast corner of Maple and 2nd.[8] The first high school classes were taught in 1879, and the first graduation class in 1881 consisted of 2 students.[9]

Former Burns High School in Burns. Currently it is the Burns Community Museum (2010)

In 1923, the first high school was built at 900 North Walnut Street for grades 9 to 12.[9] Prior to the opening of this high school, all grades went to the same school building.

In 1946–1947, the School Reorganization Act consolidated many one-room rural schools into the Peabody school district.[9]

In 1953, the Brown Building was built, across the street, to house a larger gymnasium, band / lunch room, and vocational agriculture rooms.[9]

In 1965, the Burns and Summit school districts were unified with Peabody to form Unified School District 398.[9] The Burns High School in Burns, Kansas was closed, as was the rural Summit school that was located between Peabody and Burns.

In 1997, the current high school was built (and attached) to the south side the existing Brown Building at 810 North Sycamore Street. Soon afterward, the former 1923 high school across the street was demolished and converted into a football practice field. The Burns Grade School, which included a junior high, was closed in Burns, Kansas.

Currently all students in the USD 398 district attend schools in Peabody.

• Peabody High School (prior to 1965)
• Peabody-Burns High School (1965 to 1997)
• Peabody-Burns Junior/Senior High School (1997 to current)

In the 2010–2011 school year, Peabody-Burns Junior High School had an enrollment of 63 students, and Peabody-Burns High School had an enrollment of 105 students.[11]

Debate:

• 1924, Class A.[12]

Football Stadium at Peabody City Park (looking south-west) (2010). These limestone bleachers, west and north walls, and various items in the park were built in 1938 by the WPA

The sports offered are Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Cheerleading, Football, Golf, Softball, Track, Volleyball, Wrestling. The mascot is a Warrior. All high school athletic and non-athletic competition is overseen by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. For 2010/2011 seasons, the football team competes as Class 8 Man - Division I in the Wheat State league.[13]

Boys Basketball:

• 1963, Class B, 1st Place, Head Coach Cal Reimer.[12][14]

Girls Basketball:

• 1913, Class ?, 2nd Place.[9]

Boys Football:

• 1977, Class 2A, 2nd Place, Head Coach Dennis Franchione.[12][15][16]

Boys Golf:

• 2001, Class S (sand), Mike Hurst (Medalist).[12]

Boys Cross Country:

• 2005, Class 2A, Andrew Topham (Individual).[12]
• 2006, Class 2A, Andrew Topham (Individual).[12]

Girls Cross Country:

• 1989, Class 2-1A, Laurie Miles (Individual).[12]

Girls Outdoor Track & Field:

• 2010, Class 2A, 400-Meter Dash, 56.58 Seconds, Lauren Pickens (Individual).[12]
• 1981, Class 2A, 800-Meter Run, 2:11.50 Seconds, Lucille Carson (Individual).[12]

Burns High School (prior to consolidating into USD 398)

• 1953, Class B, 1st Place, High School Boys Basketball, Head Coach Harvey Loy.[17][14]

Boys State Baseball:

• 1950 to 1960, Class B.[12]

Boys State Golf:

• 1984, 1986, 1991, Class S (sand).[12]

Decades ago, Principals use to teach class in addition to their administrative roles. The notes columns lists other jobs held within the same school district (not exhaustive, and may be missing some information).

List of notable faculty:

• Dennis Wayne Franchione (born 1951), head college football coach at Southwestern College, Pittsburg State University, University of New Mexico, Texas Christian University, University of Alabama, Texas A&M University, Texas State University. Head football coach of Peabody High School from 1976 to 1977.[29]
• C. M. Arbuthnot (1852-1920), physician, founder of Arbuthnot Drug Company, Principal in Peabody for two years.[30][31]

List of notable alumni:

• Class of 1994: Ethan Andrew Schmidt (1975-2015), assistant professor of history at Delta State University, American history author of “Native Americans in the American Revolution" (2015) and "The Divided Dominion: Social Conflict and Indian Hatred in Early Virginia" (2014).[32][33][34][35]
• Class of 1970: Rebecca Lee Ediger (born 1952), United States Secret Service agent, Special Award for Distinguished Service to the Executive Office of the President.[36][37]
• Class of 1963: Dick Myers (born 1945), Forward for 1965–66 Texas Western Miners men's basketball team, the team that inspired the 2005 book and 2006 film named Glory Road then was inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. Dick was a member of Peabody High School basketball team that placed 1st in B state playoffs in spring 1963.[38][39]
• Class of 1954: Ron Slaymaker (born 1936), member of 4 sports hall of fames, Emporia State University basketball coach, high school basketball and football coach.[40]
• Class of 1923: Lawrence David Slocombe (1905-1972), Kansas House of Representatives from 1956 to 1972, rancher, farmer, businessman.[41][42]
• Class of 1891: Warren Abraham Bechtel (1872–1933), founder of Bechtel Corporation. In 1925, Warren, his three sons, and his brother Arthur (from Peabody) joined together to form the W.A. Bechtel Company, and was one of the Six Companies, Inc. that constructed the Hoover Dam, then later became Bechtel Corporation (the 8th largest privately owned company in United States, as of 2017).

List of notable students who attended schools in Peabody, but graduated from another high school:

• Nick Hague (born 1975), NASA astronaut, Colonel in United States Air Force, deployed in Iraq War, test pilot at 416th Flight Test Squadron, teacher at United States Air Force Academy. Nick attended school in Peabody from 1982 to 1989 while his father was Principal of Peabody-Burns High School.
• Willard J. Madsen (born 1930), professor emeritus at Gallaudet University, sign language expert, author of two sign language text books, attended grade school in Peabody.[43][44]