Baker High School, is located in the western part of Mobile, Alabama

Mobile, Alabama

Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...

, and is a public high school operated by the Mobile County Public School System

Mobile County Public School System

Mobile County Public School System is a school district based in the Mobile County Public Schools Central Office Campus in an unincorporated area in Mobile County, Alabama United States....

. They educate students in grades 9

Ninth grade

Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....

-12

Twelfth grade

Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...

.

History

Baker School, established in 1903, was originally a one classroom school for grades 1-12. In 1927, the school became an official part of the Mobile Public School System. This change brought new buildings to the campus. In 1930, the building right of the original school house would serve as the main building. The school received so much growth to the extent that a state-of-the-art building had to be built behind the historic structure. In the 1960s the school was split in two with a lower and upper class levels. Also, new buildings were built with the lower elementary school absorbing the original building, and a 2-story building built for the high school. Later, with the reform of Baker districts, the elementary school would be renamed and moved to Snow Road and the elementary school buildings became of Causey Middle School. Causey was later moved to Snow Road, and the Causey Buildings were once again added as part of Baker High School. In early 2008, the school system decided to destroy the 107-years-old building. The old "annex" still remains that was once Baker school.

Building

The current main building was built in the late 1970s to accommodate a growing West Mobile population. The building was built as a Bomb/Storm Shelter with no exterior windows in the original design. The walls are steel reinforced concrete. A concourse connects the main structure to the gym and new auditorium. The school was remodeled starting in 2001 and ending in 2004. The gym was expanded 40 yards, an auditorium was built, the main building was repainted, walls replaced, a sprinkler system added, and new doors installed with windows, the football stadium was expanded to twice the previous capacity and a new wing was added to the lower school. The school has its own Baseball Stadium, softball field, football stadium, basketball gym, track, and practice field for both football and band. The original building from 1903 was torn down in early 2008 and was listed as a historic landmark by the County of Mobile.

Publications

Baker High School publishes a semi-monthly newsletter called the Hornet Herald. Articles can be found online at Baker's Website under the section School Publications.

Uniforms

As part of the Mobile County Public School System, Baker High School conforms to a uniform policy

School uniform

A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...

. Although the website claims that students are able to wear either baby blue or white polo shirts, in 2011 the policy changed to exclude blue shirts. Exclusion of prohibited accessories does not affirm their legality.

Clubs and Organizations

Baker High School has a large selection of student clubs and organizations, including the Multicultural Club, Art Club, French Club, National Honors Society, Key Club, Harry Potter Appreciation Club, The Writer's Guild, Science Fiction/Fantasy Club and Mu Alpha Theta

Mu Alpha Theta

Mu Alpha Theta is a United States mathematics honor society for high schools and two-year colleges. It has over 89,000 student members in more than 1,800 schools worldwide. Its main goals are to inspire keen interest in mathematics, develop strong scholarship in the subject, and promote the...

. Baker also participates in the Model United Nations

Model United Nations

Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....

, hosted by Davidson High School

Davidson High School (Mobile, Alabama)

W. P. Davidson High School is a four-year senior high school located in Mobile, Alabama. Its first class graduated in 1963. The school operates in the Mobile County Public School System...

.

Baker's academic teams, Scholars Bowlhttp://baker.mcs.schoolinsites.com/?PageName=%27OrganizationPage%27&OrganizationID=%275937%27 and Hi-Q Teamhttp://baker.mcs.schoolinsites.com/?PageName=%27OrganizationPage%27&OrganizationID=%275938%27, have won awards competing with other schools in the county.

Controversies

The school's administration was hesitant to allow the formation of the Lumberjack Club, as it was seen as a mock organization, whose sole purpose was to make fun of other clubs or the entire club system at Baker, but it was eventually allowed when students acquired a teacher to sponsor the club.

In spring 2010, students led a surprise dance party on the concourse during lunch. Teachers and students in class at the time gathered to the area to watch, causing a disruption. The party was eventually shut down by an assistant principal.