Vinita High School
1912-1961
Vinita High School
1961-1971
Vinita High School
1971-present
  • September 18, 1899 - The Vinita Indian Chieftain newspaper announced the opening of a new public school system. On the first day, 343 pupils were enrolled.
  • The ninth year of study was added during the 1907-1908 school year, "for purposes of giving high school advantages." 
  • The first Senior class graduated in 1911.
  • The original Vinita High School was completed in 1912, and was located on the northeast corner of  West Canadian and Miller streets. 
  • Junior and senior high students moved into the new building from the former Willie Halsell College.
  • Attucks School was completed in 1917. Until school integration began in 1956, African American students attended school at Attucks.
  • Due to the growing student population, a new senior high school was needed by 1960. Ewing Halsell High School was completed in 1961. The senior high students moved into the new building, and remained there for ten years.
  • What is now Vinita High School  was built in 1971. By then, the original (1912) building had become unsafe and was torn down, except for the gymnasium, which is still used by Will Rogers Elementary.
  • A symbolic piece of the original 1912 high school was preserved. The "heritage stone" is located at the southeast corner of the present high school. It has the letters "VHS" written in Hornet blue, on a white background.
Yearbook Dedication 1944

A Tribute to Joe Breshears
Code of Conduct 1963

A Tribute to Rusty Rankin