High school radio

Encyclopedia : H : HI : HIG : High school radio

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High school radio within the United States is almost as old as radio broadcasting itself. Simply defined as a radio station, with its studios located at a high school and usually operated by its students with faculty supervision, stations fitting this description existed in the mid-1920s. Little is recorded about these stations, but like other low-powered stations of the era, their programming would tend to be sporadic, with music and readings performed live by the station's performers - the era of playing records would not be established until the 1950s. The combination of the Great Depression of the early 1930s and new restrictions enacted by the Federal Communications Commission forced all of the high school stations off the air by 1934.

It would not be until the late 1940s, with the advent of the 88-108 MHz FM Radio band that renewed interest was shown in HS radio. The first HS station on FM was WHHS in suburban-Philadelphia in 1949. The station is still broadcasting today. As the FM band increased in listenership in the next few decades, the number of HS stations increased with it. By the 1970s, there were over 150 HS stations across the country. In addition to this number, there have always been untold numbers of unlicensed stations using carrier current (popular through the 1970s), extremely low power or "Part 15" stations, and closed circuit broadcasting. Many of the licensed stations are assigned to suburban school districts in a few large metro areas: Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle and to a lesser extent San Francisco and Cleveland. There have historically been very few H.S. stations in the Southeast.

While some HS stations became important training grounds for students who would go on to careers in broadcasting, the perception of HS stations as poorly programmed and supervised helped contribute to the downfall of many stations. After a steady decline in their numbers in the 1980s and '90s, the availability of LPFM licenses has renewed interest in HS radio, at least in rural areas where the LPFM license is most readily available.

Today's HS stations, particularly in rural areas, serve as de facto community radio stations when classes are not in session.

Difficulties of high school broadcasting

Many HS stations were first licensed in the 1970s on the FM band, just as the band was beginning to fill up and become crowded in many cities. As a result, HS stations tended to be low-powered (under one kilowatt) in most instances.

• The expense involved with maintaining broadcasting equipment.

• Among more powerful HS stations, especially in urban markets, the station's license could become very valuable. This would tend to tempt school administrators to sell the license, usually to a local college, or public or Christian radio broadcaster. Several HS stations have met this fate: KCDC, near Denver, operated sporadically for years before being sold to a public broadcaster. WYCS-FM, near Hampton Roads, Virginia, is now a Christian radio station. Several smaller stations have been transferred to colleges.

• Many of the lowest-powered stations that held "Class D" licenses had no legal protection against higher powered stations applying for their frequency, and thus many were simply forced off the air.

• Instructors or faculty involved with initially establishing the radio station leave or retire and the school is unable to find replacements. Disinterest then begins to build amongst the students.

• HS stations must air at least 12 hours daily, or they are left open for a third party to apply for a timeshare on the frequency, as in the case of 2004, when Hoosier Public Radio Corp. of Greenfield, Indiana, applied for such against seven HS and college radio stations in Indiana and Kentucky. In March 2005, the FCC ruled against HPR in the case of four of the affected stations, granting the affected stations renewed licenses. The cases in the other three stations are still pending.

• A general perception that radio technology is no longer as exciting to high school students as newer technologies such as the Internet. Many HS stations are now spending more time relaying public radio outlets than producing their own programming.

List of American high school radio stations

"Defunct" refers only to the stations themselves and not necessarily the schools that operated them. The dates listed often refer to the year when the station's license was formally revoked by the FCC, though in most cases the station had ceased broadcasting years before that.

This list only includes stations that were/are licensed by the FCC. No licensed HS stations are known to have existed in Alabama, Hawaii, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.

• KDHS-LP-95.5 Delta Junction - Delta H.S.

• KEAA-LP-97.9 Eagle - Eagle Community School.

• KAMP-LP-92.9 St. Michael - Anthony A. Andrews School.

• KRMH-89.7 Red Mesa - Red Mesa H.S.

• KGHR-91.5 Tuba City - Grey Hills H.S.

• KWXL-LP-98.7 Tucson - Pueblo Magnet H.S.

• KCAC-89.5 Camden - Camden Career Center.

• KZIG-89.9 Cave City - Cave City H.S.

• KCEA-89.1 Atherton - Menlo-Atherton H.S.

• KBSH-89.9 Borrego Springs - Borrego Springs H.S. (defunct)

• KBPK-90.1 Buena Park - Buena Park H.S. (station now operated by Fullerton College)

• KVHS-90.5 Concord - Clayton Valley H.S.

• KECG-88.1 El Cerrito - El Cerrito H.S.

• KGAR-LP-93.3 Lemoore - Lemoore Union H.S.

• KNBS-90.3 Manteca - East Union H.S. (defunct-1980)

• KAKX-89.3 Mendocino - Mendocino H.S.

• KBHI-88.9 Modesto - Beyer H.S. (defunct-1980)

• KSFH-87.9 Mountain View - St. Francis H.S.

• KOEN-89.7 Oceanside - Carlsbad H.S. (defunct)

• -91.9 Pebble Beach - Robert Louis Stevenson School (The largest student-run high school radio station in the country.)

• KRBH-LP-107.7 Red Bluff - Red Bluff H.S.

• KRVH-101.5 Rio Vista - Rio Vista H.S.

• KXHV-89.7 Sacramento - Sacramento H.S. (defunct-2003)

• KYDS-91.5 Sacramento - El Camino Fundamental H.S.

• KMTG-88.3 San Jose - Pioneer H.S.

• KSRH-88.1 San Rafael - San Rafael H.S.

• KTUO-99.1 Sonora - Tuolomne H.S. (defunct)

• KNHS-89.7 Torrance - North H.S. (defunct-1991)

• KVIK-91.5 Travis AFB - Vanden H.S. ''(defunct-1990)

• KBDG-90.9 Turlock - Turlock Union H.S. (station sold - now an ethnic broadcaster)

• KWHS-91.7 West Sacramento - Washington H.S. (defunct-1983)

• KCDC-90.7 Longmont - St. Vrain Valley Career Development Center (station sold in 2002, now a public radio station)

• KURA-LP-98.9 Ouray - Ouray H.S.

• KFBS-1260 Trinidad - School District No. 1 (1920s)

• WERB-94.5 Berlin - Berlin H.S.

• WQTQ-89.9 Hartford - Weaver H.S.

• WSLX-91.9 New Canaan - St. Luke's School.

• WBVC-91.1 Pomfret - Pomfret School.

• WDJW-89.7 Somers - Somers H.S.

• WWPT-90.3 Westport - Staples H.S.

• WMHS-88.1 Pike Creek - Thomas McKean H.S.

• WMPH-91.7 Wilmington - Mount Pleasant H.S.

• WTHS-91.7 Miami - Miami Technical H.S. (defunct)

• WGAG-89.3 Orlando - Oak Ridge H.S. (defunct-1989)

• WTHA-LP-107.1 Seaside - Seaside Charter School.

• WKPX-88.5 Sunrise - Piper H.S.

• WPFL-88.9 Winter Park - Winter Park H.S. (defunct-1982)

• WBHS-LP-106.7 Brunswick - Brunswick H.S.

• KIBQ-91.9 Idaho Falls - Idaho Falls H.S. (defunct-1980)

• KLHS-88.9 Lewiston - Lewiston H.S. (station transferred to Lewis & Clark State College in 2003, but is currently off the air)

• WBPR-88.5 Barrington - Barrington High School (defunct-1982)

• WRTE-89.5 Cahokia - Cahokia H.S. (defunct-1989)

• WLTS-1160 Chicago - Lane Tech High School (1920s)

• WBHI-90.7 Chicago - Bogan H.S. (defunct)

• WDGC-88.3 Downers Grove - Downers Grove North High School

• WEPS-88.9 Elgin - Elgin High School

• WDLJ-88.5 Evanston - Evanston Township High School (defunct)

• WHFH-88.5 Flossmoor - Homewood-Flossmoor High School

• WGHS-88.5 Glen Ellyn - Glenbard West High School (defunct)

• WGBK-88.5 Glenview - Glenbrook South High School

• WLTL-88.1 La Grange - Lyons Township High School

• WAES-88.1 Lincolnshire - Stevenson High School

• WRHS-88.1 Park Forest - Rich Twp. H.S. (defunct-1982)

• WMTH-90.5 Park Ridge - Maine East High School

• WARG-88.9 Summit - Argo H.S.

• WNTH-88.1 Winnetka - New Trier High School

• WHJE-91.3 Carmel - Carmel H.S.

• WDSO-88.3 Chesterton - Chesterton H.S.

• WJHS-91.5 Columbia City - Columbia City H.S.

• WGVE-88.7 Gary - Gary Area Career Center.

• WDHS-90.9 Gaston Wes-Del H.S. (defunct-1987)

• WRGF-89.7 Greenfield - Greenfield-Central H.S.

• WHCI-88.1 Hartford City - Blackford H.S.

• WHWE-89.7 Howe - Howe Military School (defunct)

• WVSH-91.9 Huntington - North H.S.

• WJEL-89.3 Indianapolis - North Central H.S.

• WBDG-90.9 Indianapolis - Ben Davis H.S.

• WEDM-91.1 Indianapolis - Warren Central H.S.

• WRFT-91.5 Indianapolis - Franklin Central H.S.

• WKPW-90.7 Knightstown - Knightstown H.S.

• WHSK-89.1 Kokomo - Central H.S. (defunct)

• WJEF-91.9 Lafayette - Jefferson H.S.

• WCYT-91.1 Lafayette Township - Homestead H.S.

• WBRO-89.9 Marengo - Crawford County H.S.

• WWDS-90.5 Muncie - Delta H.S.

• WWHI-91.3 Muncie - West H.S. (station sold to Ball State University-2004)

• WNAS-88.1 New Albany - New Albany H.S.

• WEEM-91.7 Pendleton - Pendleton Heights H.S.

• WETL-91.7 - South Bend - James Whitcomb Riley H.S.

• KDPS-88.1 Des Moines, Central Campus.
• KWDM-88.7 West Des Moines, Valley High School.

• KHHS-88.1 Hillsboro - Hillsboro H.S. (defunct-1980)

• WRHR-LP-95.3 Corbin - Corbin H.S.

• WBEH-89.3 New Orleans - P.G. Beauregard School (defunct).

• WBRH-90.3 and KBRH-1260 - Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge Magnet H.S.

• WMOS-95.3 Bath - Morse H.S. (Defunct)

• WBHS-91.9 Brunswick - Brunswick H.S. (Defunct-1981)

• WSHD-91.7 Eastport - Shead Memorial H.S.

• WBYQ-96.7 Baltimore - Dundalk H.S. (defunct)

• WSPH-88.1 Sparrows Point - Sparrows Point H.S. (Defunct-1979)

• WKHS-90.5 Worton - Kent County H.S.

• WHAB-89.7 Acton - Acton-Boxborough H.S.

• WPAA-91.7 Andover - Phillips Academy (defunct 2002)

• WBMT-88.3 Boxford - Masconomet Regional H.S.

• WBPV-90.7 Charlton - Bay Path Vocational H.S. (station sold to a religious broacaster)

• WIQH-88.3 Concord - Concord-Carlisle H.S.

• WGAJ-91.7 Deerfield - Deerfield Academy

• WCCT-90.3 Harwich Port - Cape Cod Regional Technical H.S. (sold to Cape Cod Community College-2003)

• WDBY-91.7 Duxbury - Duxbury H.S. (defunct)

• WHHB-99.9 Holliston - Holliston H.S. (license to be reviewed in coming months by FCC)

• WAVM-91.7 Maynard - Maynard H.S.

• WWTA-88.5 Marion - Tabor Academy

• WQLI-88.7 Newbury - Governor Dummer Academy (defunct)

• WNMH-91.5 Northfield - Northfield Mount Hermon School

• WRPS-88.3 Rockland - Rockland H.S.

• WSDH-91.5 Sandwich - Sandwich H.S.

• WBSL-91.7 Sheffield - The Berkshire School.

• WTBR-89.7 Pittsfield - Taconic H.S. (defunct)

• WYAJ-97.7 Sudbury - Lincoln-Sudbury H.S.

• WSRB-91.5 Walpole - Walpole H.S.

• WHSR-91.9 Winchester - Winchester H.S. (defunct)

• WAHS-89.5 Auburn Hills - Avondale H.S.

• WCHW-91.3 Bay City - Bay City Public Schools

• WBFH-88.1 Bloomfield Hills Andover H.S.

• WKDS-89.9 Kalamazoo - Norrix H.S. (now defunct)

• WEJY-97.5 Monroe - Monroe H.S. ''(station now operated by a community college)

• WRFK-LP-107.7 Mt. Pleasant - Mt. Pleasant Baptist Academy (defunct)

• WOVI-89.5 Novi - Novi H.S.

• WOPR-90.3 Oak Park - Oak Park H.S. (defunct)

• WOAS-88.5 Ontonagon - Ontonagon Area H.S.

• WBLD-89.3 Orchard Lake - West Bloomfield H.S.

• WOES-91.3 Ovid-Elsie - Ovid-Elsie H.S.

• WBBP-1260 Petoskey - Petoskey H.S. (1920s)

• WSDP-88.1 Plymouth - Plymouth-Canton H.S.

• WORW-91.9 Port Huron - Northern H.S.

• WOAK-89.3 Royal Oak - Royal Oak H.S. (defunct)

• WSHJ-88.1 Southfield - Southfield H.S.

• WMLZ-LP-107.9 Temperance - Bedford H.S.

• WPHS-89.1 Warren - Cousino H.S.

• WTSD-88.1 Waterford - Waterford H.S. (defunct)

• KBEM-88.5 Minneapolis - North H.S. (station still exists, but is no longer student-run)

• KDXL-106.7 St. Louis Park - St. Louis Park H.S. (station shares time with KUOM-FM, St. Louis Park, owned by the University of Minnesota) KUOM-FM is the FM simulcast of KUOM-770 AM, the student-operated station at the university.

• WALP-90.5 Corinth - Kossuth H.S. (defunct-1989)

• WPWS-LP-104.3 Piney Woods - The Piney Woods School

• KRHS-90.1 Overland - Ritenour H.S.

• KOMR-89.3 St. Louis - Mehlville H.S. (defunct-1979)

• KHTC-89.5 Helena - Helena Vo-Tech (defunct-1990)

• KPLR-LP-96.9 Poplar - Poplar H.S.

• KTGC-LP-101.3 St. Regis - St. Regis H.S.

• KDGZ-LP-98.3 Townsend - Broadwater H.S.

• KOCH-1160 Omaha - Central H.S. (1920s)

• KFOX-1210 Omaha - Technical H.S. (1920s)

• KGLH-91.5 Gerlach - Gerlach H.S. (defunct-1990)

• KPOT-LP-93.9 Jackpot - Jackpot Combined School.

• KLME-FM-88.1 Battle Mountain - Battle Mountain H.S. (defunct-1975)

• WSPS-90.5 Concord - St. Paul's School

• WPEA-90.5 Exeter - Phillips Exeter Academy

• WLLO-LP-102.9 Londonderry - Londonderry H.S.

• WAJM-88.9 Atlantic City - Atlantic City H.S.

• WBGD-91.9 Brick Twp. - Brick Twp. H.S.

• WBEK-88.1 Cherry Hill - Cherry Hill Twp. H.S. (defunct-1984)

• WCVH-90.5 Flemington - Hunterdon Central H.S.

• WRRH-88.7 Franklin Lakes - Ramapo Regional H.S. (defunct)

• WVHP-90.3 Highland Park - Highland Park H.S. (defunct)

• WLCR-89.7 Lawrence Twp. - Lawrence H.S. (defunct)

• WRMH-LP-101.7 Linwood - Mainland Regional H.S.

• WJSV-90.5 Morristown - Morristown H.S.

• WVPH-90.3 Piscataway - Piscataway H.S. (station is now shared between the high school, Livingston College, and Rutgers University)

• WWPH-107.9 Princeton Junction - West Windsor-Plainsboro H.S.

• WOGH-88.9 West Orange - West Orange H.S. (defunct-1981)

• WHPH-90.5 Whippany - Hanover Park Regional H.S. (defunct)

• WBXL-90.5 Baldwinsville - Charles W. Baker H.S.

• WXBA-88.7 Brentwood - Brentwood H.S.

• WBKT-93.3 Brockport - D.W. Field H.S. (defunct-1991)

• WCSQ-89.3 Central Square - Central Square H.S. (defunct-1991)

• WHHJ-88.9 Dix Hills - Half Hills Hollow East H.S. (defunct-1981)

• WELV-LP-107.9 Ellenville - Ellenville H.S.

• WSHS-90.3 Floral Park - Sewanhaka H.S (defunct-1964)

• WGMC-90.1 Greece - Olympia H.S.

• WSHR-91.9 Lake Ronkonkoma - Sachem North H.S.

• WBER-90.5 Monroe - Monroe School District BOCES

• WOSS-91.5 Ossining - Ossining H.S. (defunct-1998)

• WPOB-88.5 Plainview - John F. Kennedy H.S.

• WIRQ-104.7 Rochester - Irondeqouit H.S.

• WSCS-89.5 Sodus - Sodus H.S. (defunct-1990)

• WKWZ-88.5 Syosset - Syosset H.S.

• WUAW-88.3 Erwin - Triton H.S.

• WSEQ-LP-92.9 Hudson - South Caldwell H.S.

• WSER-LP-100.1 Lenoir - South Caldwell H.S.

• WRSH-91.1 Rockingham - Rockingham H.S.

• WHYC-88.5 Swan Quarter - Matamuskeet H.S.

• WAPS-91.3 Akron - Akron Public Schools.

• WKHR-91.5 Bainbridge - Kenston High School

• WCNE-88.7 Batavia - Clermont Northeastern H.S. (defunct 1979)

• WBHR-88.7 Bellaire - Bellaire H.S. (defunct-1989)

• WCWT-101.5 Centerville - Centerville H.S.

• WGXM-98.1 Dayton - Northridge H.S. (station now operated by the University of Dayton)

• WDEQ-91.7 De Graff - Riverside H.S.

• WGVO-91.5 Greenville - Greenville H.S. (defunct-1989)

• WHSS-89.5 Hamilton - Hamilton H.S.

• WKET-98.3 Kettering - Kettering H.S.

• WLMH-89.1 Morrow - Little Miami H.S.

• WNHS-LP-105.7 Newcomerstown - Newcomerstown H.S.

• WRCJ-89.3 Reading - Reading H.S. (defunct-1989)

• WSTB-88.9 Streetsboro - Streetsboro H.S.

• WKTL-90.7 Struthers - Struthers H.S.

• WABR-1140 Toledo - Scott H.S. (1920s)

• WXTS-88.3 Toledo - Scott H.S.

• WUHS-91.7 Urbana - Urbana H.S. (defunct-1989)

• WLHS-89.9 West Chester - Lakota H.S.

• WUHS-LP-96.9 West Union- West Union H.S.

• KCHC-91.7 Central Point - Crater H.S. (defunct-1981)

• KHMS-1420 AM Coos Bay - Marshfield H.S.

• KEPO-92.9 Eagle Point - Eagle Point (defunct)

• KRVM-91.9 Eugene - Eugene School District 4J.

• KFSL-LP-99.5 Fossil - Wheeler H.S.

• KPAI-LP-103.1 Paisley - Paisley H.S.

• KZSO-LP-106.5 Sisters - Sisters H.S.

• KBPS-1450 AM Portland - Benson H.S.

• WASD-88.1 Exeter - Wyoming Area H.S. (defunct)

• WRSD-97.3 Folsom - Ridley H.S.

• WZZE-94.9 Glen Mills - Glen Mills School.

• WHHS-99.9 Havertown - Haverford Twp. H.S.

• WMSS-91.1 Middletown - George W. Feaser H.S.

• WCVY-91.5 Coventry - Coventry H.S.

• WJHD-90.7 Portsmouth - Portsmouth Abbey School.

• WCEW-90.9 Charleston, South Carolina - C.E. Williams Middle School (defunct-1988)

• WCSK-90.1 Kingsport - Kingsport City School District.

• WKCS-91.1 Knoxville - Fulton H.S.

• WQOX-88.5 Memphis - Craigmont H.S.

• WIKU-91.3 Pikeville - Bledsoe County H.S. (defunct-1988)

• WQTR-LP-106.1 Savannah - Hardin County H.S.

• WMTN-LP-94.1 Sewanee - St. Andrews-Sewanee School

• KRSM-93.3 Dallas - St. Mark's School of Texas (defunct-1997)

• KQAT-LP-104.9 Hallsville - Hallsville H.S.

• KEOM-88.5 Mesquite - Mesquite Independent School District.

• KPHS-90.3 Plains - Plains H.S.

• KGVH-91.7 Gunnison - Gunnison Valley H.S. (defunct)

• KSME-90.7 Manti - Manti H.S. (defunct)

• KMTP-91.1 Mount Pleasant - North Sanpete H.S (defunct)

• KOHS-91.7 Orem - Orem H.S.

• KPWN-90.9 Parowan - Parowan H.S. (defunct)

• KPGR-88.1 Pleasant Grove - Pleasant Grove H.S.

• KUHS-90.9 Roosevelt - Union H.S. (defunct)

• KUIB-89.1 Vernal - Uintah H.S. (defunct)

• WVEP-88.3 E. Montpelier - U-32 H.S. (defunct-1981)

• WYTC-LP-89.1 Hyde Park - Lamoille Union H.S.

• WFOS-88.7 Chesapeake - Chesapeake Public Schools

• WHCE-91.1 Highland Springs - Highland Springs H.S. (defunct-2003)

• WVLS-89.7 Monterey - Highland H.S.

• WBBW-1350 Norfolk - Ruffner H.S. (1920s)

• WSCE-LP-95.7 Woodstock - Central H.S.

• WYCS-91.5 Yorktown - York County H.S. (station sold to religious broadcaster)

• KAHS-LP-106.5 Aberdeen - Aberdeen H.S.

• KASB-89.3 Bellevue - Bellevue H.S.

• KGHP-104.5 Gig Harbor - Peninsula H.S.

• KTCV-88.1 Kennewick - Tri-Cities Vocational Skills Center

• KMIH-104.5 Mercer Island - Mercer Island H.S.

• KUBS-91.5 Newport - Newport H.S.

• KNHC-89.5 Seattle - Nathan Hale H.S.

• KFIO-1110 Spokane - North Central H.S. (1920s)

• KVTI-90.9 Tacoma - Clover Park Vo-Tech.

• KYVT-88.5 Yakima - Yakima Valley Tech Skills Center.

• WCKV-89.5 Ceredo - Ceredo-Kenova H.S. (defunct-1993)

• WFGH-90.7 Fort Gay - Fort Gay H.S.

• WRSG-91.5 Middlebourne - Tyler Consolidated H.S.

• WPHP-91.9 Wheeling - Wheeling Park H.S.

• WBSD-89.1 Burlington - Burlington H.S.

• WGBP-90.7 Green Bay - Premontre H.S. (defunct-1982)

• WLXS-LP-101.5 La Crosse - School District of La Crosse

• WYMS-88.9 Milwaukee - Milwaukee Public Schools (station is no longer student-run)

• WESD-94.7 Schofield - D.C. Everest H.S. (defunct-1988)

• WSHS-91.7 Sheboygan - Sheboygan H.S.

• KYDZ-90.1 Cody - Cody H.S. (defunct-1997)

• KJHB-LP-97.7 Jackson - Jackson Hole H.S.

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See also

• List of high school radio stations in Canada

• List of unlicensed high school radio stations - Carrier current, Part 15, streaming audio, etc.

• List of fictional high school radio stations - Stations from television shows, movies, etc.

 

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