The school was established in the 19th century, moving into its own building in 1891 with an 1897 addition coming subsequently, and joining the Kansas City school system in 1898 as
Westport was annexed to Kansas City. The high school was across the street from
Westport Middle School and it opened in the fall of 1908. It was considered the finest school in Kansas City and among the finest in the county, at a cost of nearly $500,000, and built of stone and vitrified brick. Westport High School was the last school to become
Achievement First in 2009-2010. The purpose was to prepare students for post-secondary education and high-quality careers.
Primitivo Garcia Primitivo Garcia was a 23 year old
Mexican immigrant attended night classes at Westport High to learn English and become an American citizen. As class was letting out on November 15, 1967, a pregnant teacher, Margaret Kelso was attacked on the street by a gang of teenagers who stole her purse. Garcia and his brother Alfredo pulled the attackers off the woman and began fighting. Primitivo was shot once by the assailants and later died in the hospital from his wounds. His bravery was widely praised by the city and on the 25th anniversary of his death, a elementary school was named in his honor.
School closing Westport High closed on June 3, 2010, because of school district Superintendent John Covington's right-sizing plan to close almost 30 schools. Mr. Harold Hawkins was the last principal of Westport High due to the school closing. He was called out of retirement to become principal on April 7, 2009. After Westport closed in 2010,
Southwest Early College Campus took the attendance zone of Westport.
Transformation into apartment complex In April of 2024, the building reopened as a luxury apartment complex called Residences at Park 39 with 138 units. The former high school is part of a 16-acre mixed use development called Park 39. Westport Middle School has been converted into office space as part of the Park 39 project.
Yearbook The Herald was the name of the school yearbook. The 2007-2008 yearbook was the first yearbook to be a DVD. The 2008-2009 yearbook was the second yearbook to be a DVD and the first in HD.
Newspaper The Weekly Crier was the name of the school newspaper.
Student activities •
Student Council •
National Honor Society •
JROTC •
Drill Team •
Choir •
Debate •
Cheerleading •
Tutoring •
Various stage activities Westport's last ROTC programs or drill teams were in the mid to late 1960s. There was a chapter of the Future Teachers of America. ==Principal ==