Grants

Public school systems in America have struggled to fund many projects essential to educating our high school students. Friends of Northwest Classen has taken on this task. Since its founding in 2007, Friends of Northwest Classen High School Foundation has donated almost $3 million to the teachers, students, and facilities. The donations are grouped as follows:

Hudson Performance Hall: In conjunction with the Oklahoma City MAPS for Kids investment of $2.25 million, Friends invested $778,000 to bring the auditorium to modern performance hall standards making it one of the top facilities in Oklahoma City. This included a total renovation of the auditorium, dressing rooms, bathrooms and creating a Green Room, installation of a deluxe sound system, more powerful electric cables, new power grid, and LED stage lighting. Since the renovation, most Oklahoma City School District major events have been hosted by Northwest Classen.

Academies: Oklahoma City Public Schools have adopted a strategy of instituting academies in Oklahoma City High Schools. The academies marry the expertise of professionals in the academy fields with qualifying students. Friends of Northwest are involved in all areas of our academies, including funding and professional expertise. Northwest currently has a Health and Science Academy as well as an Academy of Human Growth and Development. Currently in the early stages of development are the Culinary and Media Academies at Northwest Classen. Each of these academies has advisory board meetings and hopefully will be up and running by the end of the 2024/2025 school year. This will further emphasize that NWC is the place for young adults to get an education to help make them productive members of our society. Math & Science: Calculators for advanced math and testing,

Health and Sciences Academy: There are two Health Academies in OKC Public Schools and the one at Northwest Classen is by far the most advanced and has shown the most success of any academy in Oklahoma City. With the involvement of Friends of Northwest and the Advisory board of the Health Academy In addition to lab furniture and equipment mentioned above, the involvement of the academy board also provides $30,000+ in summer internships for students in the Academy program; Lab coats, aprons, etc. for experiments and testing.

Fine Arts: Classical guitars, amplifiers, pianos & annual tuning, travel to Dallas, San Antonio, Austin for performances and competitions for band, guitar group, and entry fees for state competitions; storage devices for instruments and humidifiers for their protection; moveable dance bars, rejuvenation and remodeling of the Little Theater including LED lighting.

Athletics: Restoring all bleachers in the gym and painting the gym background; repairs and upgrades to the baseball, track, and soccer facilities along with creation of a Sports Wall of Honor (under construction); practice uniforms, shoes and jerseys, water and pregame meals when needed; overnight accommodations and meals for teams that are competing for championships; balls and practice equipment for all sports.

English, Social Studies and ESL: Textbooks, literature, Chromebooks, computers, iPads, overhead projectors, puzzles, maps, globes and testing tools; writing materials and travel to test and compete.

A new fund was established by the Class of 1963 to assist disabled students in honor of David Harrison, one of the first students with a disability to graduate from OKCPS