Sumner High School

Alumni are fighting to keep Sumner High School open after it was damaged by the May tornado. They are optimistic that the historic school will be fully restored.

Seven public schools in north St. Louis were damaged during the May tornado. Sumner High School suffered significant roof damage and is closed this fall. Its alumni are worried that the district may prolong the repairs and that students may never return.

Members of the touring company of “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” worked with students at Sumner High School, whose list of alumni includes the late queen of rock 'n' roll and other luminaries.

The pioneering vocalist, who played a pivotal role in the history of rock and soul music, had suffered a litany of health issues in recent years.

The center is funded by federal COVID relief money.

Rep. Cori Bush held a listening session Monday for high school students. She vows it's only the first such forum. She’s calling the initiative Congress in Your Classroom.

The newest iteration of the historic Sumner High School choir had a successful performance in December and has big plans for next year.

For choral conductor Maria Ellis and her students, convening historic Sumner High’s first choir in decades has proved to be a challenging task — but also full of reward. “St. Louis on the Air” checks in with the choir as it prepares for a winter concert.

As Maria Ellis waited Monday afternoon to meet her students and help kick off a brand-new arts and activism focus at the recently saved school, Chuck Berry tunes played quietly through a speaker.

The school board approved a new effort to reinvigorate Sumner's declining enrollment, rather than close the historic school.