Lawrence Free State High School
Lawrence Free State High School is a public high school in Lawrence, Kansas. It opened in 1997 to relieve overcrowding at Lawrence High School. It serves students in grades 9–12 and is part of Lawrence USD 497. The campus is urban. Colors are hunter green, garnet red, and silver, and the mascot is Freddy the Firebird. The school teams are called the Firebirds. The principal is Amy McAnarney. About 1,768 students attended in 2023–24, with about 83 full‑time teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of around 21:1. The school day runs from 8:00 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.
Athletics and activities
The Firebirds compete in the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) 6A division, in the Sunflower League, with Lawrence High School as a rival.
Beyond sports, Free State offers many programs in the arts and academics. The performing arts department has earned state recognition, and the choir, orchestra, and theatre programs are well known. The marching band won grand championships in 2000–2002. The Scholars Bowl team won the state championship in 2017, and in 2022 the debate team won a national championship at the Tournament of Champions.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:03 (CET).