Okemos High School

Okemos High School is a public high school in Okemos, Michigan, United States. It is the only high school in the Okemos Public Schools district. It is located southeast of the main campus of Michigan State University, between Bennett and Jolly Roads on the North and South, and Hulett and Hagadorn Roads on the East and West. The current building was completed in 1994, replacing the now Chippewa Middle School building as the district's high school. Former students of Chippewa 7-8 School comprise the school's student body.

Okemos High School
The school in September 2015
Address
2800 Jolly Rd

Okemos
,
Michigan
48864

United States
Coordinates42°41′04″N 84°27′22″W
Information
School typePublic
School districtOkemos Public Schools
SuperintendentJohn Hood
PrincipalAndrea Hallead[1]
Faculty74.16 (FTE)[2]
Grades9-12
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment1,396 (2018–19)[2]
Student to teacher ratio18.82[2]
Color(s)Maroon & Light Blue
  
Athletics conferenceCapital Area Activities Conference
NicknameWolves
NewspaperThe OHS Press
Websitewww.okemosk12.net/Domain/14

Academics

An extensive Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum is in place, in which 59% of students participate.[3] To ensure high quality, admission to AP courses requires high achievement in prerequisite classes and a committee approval.

Okemos High School was ranked 13th in the state of Michigan in U.S. News & World Report's 2021 list of "America's Best High Schools".[3] The student to teacher ratio at Okemos High School is 19 students to 1 teacher.

Okemos High School is recognized by NCA (North Central Association of Colleges and Schools) as an accredited public high school.[4]

Extracurriculars

The Okemos High School quiz bowl varsity team is consistently a top performer nationally; in 2016, 2017, and 2018, they qualified for NAQT nationals held in Dallas, TX (2016),[5] in Atlanta, GA (2017[6] and 2018[7]), and virtually (2021). Okemos High School finished 53rd nationally in Quiz Bowl in 2016[5] and 25th in 2017.[6]

Okemos High School offers band, choir and orchestra in the performing arts section. The top orchestra is Philharmonic,[8] the top band is SWE (Symphonic Wind Ensemble),[9] and the top choir is Someko.[8] Okemos has many performers qualify for the All-State orchestra.[10]

The Okemos High School theatre program is another popular extracurricular activity in the performing arts section. The school typically puts on three shows each year including a spring musical.[11]

Notable alumni

Athletics

The mascot has been a topic of debate since the mid-1990s. The school agreed in 2004 to phase out Chieftains in favor of Chiefs. In 2021, the school board voted unanimously to drop the Chiefs mascot entirely. "Wolves" was voted on and selected as the new mascot name, then approved by the school board.[13] The main issue is funding the change, leading to an anticipated 2023 date for completing it.[14]

Okemos fields teams for both boys and girls in many sports. The Chiefs are a member of the Capital Area Activities Conference. State Championship winners are listed below. The following sports are offered:[15][16]

  • Baseball (boys)
  • Basketball (girls & boys)
    • Girls State champions - 1981[17]
    • Boys state champions - 1981, 1982[18]
  • Cheerleading (girls-sideline)
  • Cross Country (girls & boys)
    • Boys state champions - 1986[19]
  • Football (boys)
  • Golf (girls & boys)
    • Boys state champions - 1976[20]
  • Hockey (boys)
  • Lacrosse (girls & boys)
    • Girls state champions - 2009, 2010[21]
  • Skiing (girls & boys)
    • Boys state champions - 1977[22]
  • Soccer (girls & boys)
    • Girls state champions - 2006, 2012[23]
    • Boys state champions - 1984, 2004, 2021[24][25]
  • Softball (girls)
    • State champions - 1999[26]
  • Swimming (girls & boys)
    • Girls state champions - 1980[27]
  • Tennis (girls & boys)
    • Girls state champions - 1983, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001[28]
    • Boys state champions - 1986, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2017, 2020 (D1)[29]
  • Track (girls & boys)
    • Boys state champions - 1928, 1930, 1937[30]
  • Volleyball (girls)
  • Water Polo (not MHSAA sanctioned) (girls & boys)
    • Girls state champions - 2010, 2011, 2014[31]
    • Boys state champions - 2018[32]
  • Wrestling (boys)
    • State champions - 1965, 1966, 1967[33]

References
  1. "Okemos principal resigns after just months of working in the position". WLNS 6 News. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021. ...superintendent John Hood has named Andrea Hallead as interim principal, effective November 1, 2021 through the end of this school year.
  2. "Okemos High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  3. "Okemos High School". U.S. News. 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  4. "AdvancED - Institution Summary". advanc-ed.org. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  5. "NAQT - 2016 High School National Championship Tournament - Team Standings". www.naqt.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  6. "NAQT - 2017 High School National Championship Tournament - Team Standings". www.naqt.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  7. "NAQT - University of Michigan Autumn Classic - Team Standings". www.naqt.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  8. "Guide to curriculum" (PDF). www.okemosk12.net. 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  9. "Band handbook" (PDF). www.okemosk12.net. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  10. Serkaian, Caroline. "Six students selected as All-State Band and Orchestra members". ohspress.net. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  11. "Okemos High School Theatre Department". Okemos High School Theatre Department. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  12. Paulson, Steven K. (February 14, 1997). "JonBenet prosecutor vents anger". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. p. 4A. Retrieved January 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Harper, Jace. "'Chiefs' no more -- Okemos Public Schools officially change mascot nickname". wilx.com. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  14. Mark Johnson (May 24, 2021). "'Chiefs' no more: Okemos school board votes to nix nickname, adopt replacement by 2023". Lansing State Journal.
  15. "MHSAA > Schools". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  16. "Okemos Chiefs Athletics". Okemos Chiefs - Okemos High School Sports. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  17. "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  18. "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  19. "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  20. "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  21. "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  22. "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  23. "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  24. Buddy, Kellan. "Okemos claims D1 boys soccer state title". WILX 10. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  25. "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  26. "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  27. "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  28. "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  29. "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  30. "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  31. MWPA Webmaster. "Michigan Water Polo Association". michiganwaterpolo.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  32. MWPA Webmaster. "Michigan Water Polo 2018 Standings Association". michiganwaterpolo.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  33. "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.