# Como Park Senior High School

Como Park Senior High School (CPSHS or commonly known as CPHS) is a public high school located in the Lake Como area of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, serving grades nine through twelve. Along with nine other public high schools, Como Park comprises the Saint Paul Public Schools. Newsweek ranked the school in their "List of the Top High Schools in America" for the fourth time in five years (2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010).

## History

Originally opened in 1957, Como Park Junior High School was converted into a senior high school in the fall of 1979, accepting students from the just closed Washington and Murray High Schools, both of which became junior highs that same year. The school originally began with only three classes - sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The freshman class was added in 1981. Construction was not completed when the school year began. The class of 1985 was the first four-year graduating class.

### Renovation

In early 2016, plans to renovate the Como Park facilities were drafted by a school design committee, with the final plans including redoing artificial turf on the schools sports field, a building addition and interior renovations to create compacity for 100 new students through new education spaces, and a 2-story addition to the building. The construction of these additions first broke ground through early and late 2017, with the returfing of the field being completed the same year while the other projects were not complete until fall of 2020.

## Education

Como Park's average score on the ACT exam was 21.2 compared to a state average of 22.6 and a national average of 21.1. 51.56% of students were considered proficient in reading while 22.08% were proficient in math. The school is currently meeting 83.9% of the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements but is not meeting AYP due to low proficiency in mathematics. Como Park has an AYP graduation rate of 96%.
Through the Minnesota state Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program, students are eligible to take classes at state colleges and universities.

## Enrollment

Como Park enrolled 1,163 students in its 2020–2021 school year. Of the enrolled, those identifying as African American and Asian students are tied for the plurality at 33%, while 20% identify as Caucasian and 10% as Hispanic. Additionally, American Indian students compose 1% of the population, along with 3% identifying as 2 or more ethnicities. A little more than half, 62%, qualified for Free and Reduced Price Lunch, a measure of poverty. 37% of the students are enrolled in English Language Learning, and 13% are enrolled in special education.

## Athletics

Cougar athletic programs compete in Class 4AA of the Minnesota State High School League.

### Fall sports

* Boys': Cross-Country, Football, Soccer
* Girls': Cross-Country, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Volleyball

### Winter sports

* Boys': Basketball, Hockey, Nordic Skiing, Swimming & Diving, Wrestling
* Girls': Alpine Skiing, Basketball, Gymnastics, Hockey, Nordic Skiing

### Spring sports

* Boys': Baseball, Golf, Tennis, Track & Field, Ultimate
* Girls': Badminton, Golf, Softball, Track & Field, Ultimate

### State championships

In 2013, Como Park's boys soccer team won the class A state title in a 2–1 victory against Hill-Murray, earning their first state championship title.

## Extracurricular activities
### Robotics

Como Park's robotics team, BEASTBOT#2855, has competed in the FIRST Robotics Competition since 2009. From its founding date until 2019, the team competed in the Minnesota 10,000 lakes regional, Minnesota State High School League State Championships, Minnesota Robotics Invitational, Lake Superior Regional and the Minnesota North Star Regional. At these events, they earned the Minnesota 10000 Lakes Regional Entrepreneurship Award in 2016, and in the same year came in first at the Minnesota Robotics Invitational as the backup robot. Due to lack of coaches, the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent distance learning, the team stopped operating in 2019, but came back to compete in the 2023 Minnesota 10,000 lakes regional, where they won the Team Spirit Award. In the 2024 season, the team made it to the third match of semi-finals, the furthest in the teams history.

## Notable alumni

* Lexii Alijai, rapper
* Josh Blue, stand-up comedian, winner of Last Comic Standing
* Andre Smith, former basketball power forward for North Dakota State University
* Jay Xiong, politician