Editing Hiawatha, Kansas (section)

== Education ==
The community is served by [[Hiawatha USD 415]] public school district.

=== Hiawatha High School ===
Hiawatha High School (HHS) teaches grades 9-12, and is located at 600 Red Hawk Drive. Their mascot is the Red Hawks (changed from Redskins after 2000), and the school colors are red and blue.

The campus lies on the far east side of Hiawatha. The architecture is in circular form, with a domed circular gym nicknamed "The Roundhouse." The classrooms are connected in "pods."

"West Campus" is a separate set of buildings for agricultural and industrial arts classes. Memorial Stadium lies north of the school and a prairie trail area and practice field is east of the main school.

In athletics, HHS is class 3A, and has won two girls basketball state championships in 1978 and 1979, a state football championship in 1980, and a girls cross country state championship in 2017. The Red Hawks are a member of the [[Big 7 League]], with a total of eight teams in northeast [[Kansas]]. Athletics include football, volleyball, boys' and girls' cross country, boys' and girls' basketball, power lifting, boys' and girls' track and field, softball, baseball, boys' golf, and Scholar's Bowl.

Other activities and organizations include cheerleading, Color Guard, Dance Team, journalism, Yearbook, Gifted-Talented Program, [[National Honor Society]], Red Hawk Club, Kansas Association for Youth, International Club, Student Council, Red Hawk Reader's Club, Biology Club (travels to the [[Bahamas]] annually), [[National FFA Organization]], [[Business Professionals of America]], Family Career and Community Leaders of America, and [[Fellowship of Christian Athletes]]. The school has a greenhouse at West Campus and a weightroom.

=== Hiawatha Middle School ===
* Grades 5-8
* Located at 307 S. Morrill Avenue
* Mascot: Red Hawks (changed from Warriors after 2000)
* Colors: Red & Blue (changed from Burgundy & White after 2008)

HMS was erected in 2000 after moving from Robinson Middle School in Robinson, Kansas. The school lies on the east side of Hiawatha, just south of the high school. The school is divided into 4 sections, by grade level. HMS has an advanced Life Skills technology classroom and a modern gym. There is a Gifted-Talented program along with Title Math and Reading. There is a softball field to the south of the school and a practice field and track west of the school. The Hiawatha Hawks are a member of the Big 7 League, with a total of six teams in northeast Kansas. Athletics include cross country, football, volleyball, wrestling, boys' and girls' basketball, and track and field. Scholars' Bowl and [[gymnastics]] are also available.

=== Hiawatha Elementary School ===
* Grades K-4
* Located at 600 Miami Street
* Mascot: Red Hawks (Changed from Braves after 2000)

HES is in north central Hiawatha and has been for many years. The school starts kids out in [[Kindergarten]] and graduates them after 4th grade. The school is divided into halls for each grade level. HES has many school programs including Title Reading, Speech, Gifted-Talented, and Extended Learning. The [[playground]] is modern with new [[Physical fitness|fitness]] equipment for children.

=== Mascot ===
In December 2000, the Hiawatha USD 415 School District voted 4-3 to eliminate the [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] mascots from the schools. The high school had the nickname 'Redskins', similar to 'Indians' when the school was in its early years. The middle school was the 'Warriors' and the elementary school, the 'Braves'.

The District received much praise for its transition, including the [[National Congress of American Indians]] and organizations as far away as [[Washington, D.C.]] After narrowing down many potential new nicknames, the high school decided to retain its red pride, renaming itself the 'Red Hawks'. The middle school obtained the name 'Hawks' and the elementary school, 'Junior Hawks'.