About

Welcome Message from the Principal

Hello Viking Parents!

Thank you for joining us at FHHS! We understand that coming to a large high school can seem overwhelming with all of the information to learn, people to know, and places to locate. The FHHS parent action team has composed a new parent brochure on this website to assist you in this transition process and embrace the opportunities ahead. We believe the best educational experiences stem from partnerships between students, parents, and the school; the information provided here can assist us in building positive relationships with open communication at the center.

One key beginning point for the FHHS community is that high school is an extension of middle school. As students gain maturity and intellectual capacity, they will be given more opportunities to make choices, demonstrate independence, and show their emerging skills. This means encouragement and support from the home and school are as critically important as ever. High school students may not cheer on parent support or communicate appreciation for it, but the confidence in taking on new challenges it may produce can nurture achievement in growing minds.

We ask that you continue to monitor, support, and maintain high expectations for your student as the abilities to accept greater responsibility and challenge increase. We, too, will maintain high expectations for our students and will partner with you to help your child succeed. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, counselor, or administrator when you have questions or concerns. FHHS values your involvement as a key piece of the process of helping a student to learn.

This information guide is designed to help you do just that—get plugged in and get in the know. We wish you good luck and much success in your first year as a Viking!

Sincerely,
Dr. David Wedlock
Principal

Vision

The Francis Howell High School Community will provide a high quality educational experience that will result in students possessing the necessary knowledge and skills to become life-long learners and be positive contributors within their community.

The Francis Howell High School Community will provide an environment which develops a sense of personal and school pride, cultural awareness and tolerance.

Values

Staff - The FHHS Viking Staff commits to leading growth, building positive relationships, and honoring the dignity of all students, staff, parents, and community members by:

Staff Values
Respect	Beginning with the belief in the good intentions of others. Fostering inclusive learning environments that build a sense of belonging.
Integrity	Accepting and providing meaningful, timely feedback as a means of growth; seeking to build trust. Taking ownership in school-wide leadership opportunities.
Scholarship	Building students' necessary life skills, such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, citizenship, and honorable character. Providing engaging, real-world learning experiences in leading students to stretch to be their best. Following the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process through clear learning targets, data based decisions, and strategic professional development.
Empathy	Learning, teaching, and modeling ways of validating others perspectives. Building community by promoting feelings of physical and psychological safety.

Parents/Guardians - We will:

Parents/Guardians Values
Respect	Encourage and teach respect, integrity, tolerance, and responsibility.
Integrity	Discuss and monitor stretch goals and positive expectations with our children. Make a commitment to help our children make good decisions.
Scholarship	Build students' necessary life skills, such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, citizenship, and honorable character. Participate in school events, such as open house, parent/teacher conferences, etc. Partner with the FHHS staff to prepare our children for a meaningful post-high school experience.
Empathy	Create and support environments of honesty and trust among our children and the school staff. Encourage student involvement in school activities to build academic, social, and behavioral success.

Students - We will:

Students Values
Respect	Show respect for teachers, parents, community, peers, and ourselves.
Integrity	Take responsibility for learning and actions. Have a positive attitude.
Scholarship	Set and strive to reach stretch goals. Support and participate in school activities to build academic, social, and behavioral success.
Empathy	Learn and develop necessary life skills, such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, citizenship, and honorable character, to make healthy life choices and achieve success.

History of FHHS

Francis Howell High School has grown, expanded, and thrived since its founding in 1915. With its genesis in the Francis Howell family’s immigration to the rolling, rural, farming communities 30 miles west of St. Louis in 1800, the family assisted in the formation of 12 one room schools beginning in 1821, seven weeks after Missouri attained statehood. Their efforts culminated in the opening of the Howell Public School District and two year high school known as Francis Howell Institute in 1881. By 1915, consolidation with four schools created the new, four year Francis Howell High School. The small initial enrollment grew to 25 students in the Class of 1932, and today, 1850 students attend in grades 9-12. With 30 of the world’s languages spoken in student homes, the school rests in a rural community between the 8,398 acre Weldon Spring Conservation Area and the 6987 acre August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles County.

The 100 year long history of achievement in the Francis Howell community precipitates
industriousness and innovation. Francis Howell High School has received:

The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Award
The 2020 Missouri Gold Star Award
In 2017, Francis Howell High School received National Model Professional Learning Communities School recognition from Missouri’s Department of Education.
2011-Present, Advanced Placement District Honor Roll for simultaneously increasing access to AP for underrepresented students while also increasing the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher;
ACT’s 2008 Red Quill Award for application of student data in improving student and staff performance.

School Improvement Plan

Pyramids of Intervention

A pyramid of intervention is a tiered approach to prevention and intervention strategies to support students both academically and behaviorally. The pyramid uses a variety of strategies and techniques to help all students stay on the right track. The foundation of the pyramid offers Tier 1 supports for all students. Tier 2 interventions provide additional support for smaller groups of students who need more targeted help. Tier 3 provides the most intensive supports for individual students when Tier 1 and 2 interventions have been unsuccessful. Our schools review and update their pyramid on a regular basis to ensure new strategies are incorporated and all are aligned with best practice.

View the Pyramids of Intervention

Mission

Francis Howell High School is committed to working in partnership with the community (staff, students, parents, and community members) to provide a quality learning environment that promotes continuous improvement for students in achievement, attachment and awareness.

School Handbook

The student handbook summarizes District policy and contains general guidelines and information. Translated copies of this Handbook are available. Contact the school office.

View the Handbook