R. A. Long High School is the oldest high school serving the city of Longview, Washington. It was erected in 1927, three years after the city of Longview was incorporated. The total student enrollment at the end of the 2015-2016 school year was 890. The school is named for the city's founder, Robert A. Long, a wealthy timber baron from Missouri. Their mascot, the Lumberjack, was so named due to the area's reliance on the timber industry. Some have tried to ascribe the name "Lumberjill" to female students and sports teams. The school is on the city Historical Register, with the following inscription: "This school, a gift to the City of Longview by Robert A. Long, was designed by William B. Ittner. The two story Corinthian columns and clock tower dominates the Georgian Revival style. The 900-seat auditorium serves as an educational and cultural center. The building and grounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places."Student body and curriculumEvery senior at R. A. Long is required to complete a senior project consisting of a research paper and a senior oral presentation. Seniors must have a minimum of 24 hours of community service and at least 12 service to school points in order to graduate.Many classes and programs in the Longview school district are shared between both R. A. Long and Mark Morris High School, such as the Dana Brown Mainstage Theatre program, higher level math, science, language classes, and the orchestra.In the past, it has been a tradition at R. A. Long for graduating seniors to hand off a small token or gift to the current principal, often taking the form of a monetary sum based on the year, paper cups from local fast-food restaurants, or playing cards with Mitchell.
