Bloomington High School North
Encyclopedia
Bloomington High School North (often referred to as BHSN or simply North) is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in the northern part of Bloomington, Indiana
, United States
and is accredited by the Indiana State Department of Public Instruction and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Preliminary data for the 2006-2007 academic year shows BHSN has an enrollment of 1565 students, which are fed predominantly by Tri-North Middle School as well as Bachelor Middle School, Jackson Creek Middle School, St. Charles School, Harmony School, Lighthouse Christian Academy, and Pinnacle School.
It operates on a block schedule with students taking four 85-minute courses on some days and four 85-minute courses on the alternating days. The curriculum includes over 140 different course offerings and allows students to design academic programs to meet their individual needs. Graduation requirements are based on work completed in grades nine through twelve. Accelerated programs enable students to complete high school requirements in seven semesters. Special features of the curriculum include AP and Accelerated Learning courses, vocational/technical training, work-study programs, interdisciplinary studies, and independent study.
, PSAT and SAT
scores, well above the Indiana state average. Its Advanced Placement program is above the state average, with 76% of students earning a score of 3 or above in 2004 and students chosen as Advanced Placement Scholars each year. Many seniors choose to take courses at Indiana University
, with some courses taught by BHSN faculty during the day. The average percentage of students who pass the ISTEP English and Math state-mandated assessments for NCLB has been above the Indiana state average since at least 2000.
During the 2005-2006 school year, the school's students showcased their talents and abilities throughout the state and nation:
to participate in the National Adjudicators Invitational, where they placed first.
, West Side Story, The Dining Room, The Fantasticks
, Damn Yankees
, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" "The Pajama Game
", & "Anything Goes
". The theater director's students also perform as Living Statues each fall at the Bloomington Farmers' Market.
In the fall of 2009, North put on one of the most successful plays in recent years, "Rumors" By Neil Simon
. It sold out three shows and with the overwhelming amount of popularity of the play, it had to put on an extra show on a Monday, which also was a sell out. The cast included 1 senior, 4 juniors, 4 sophomores, and 1 freshman. "Rumors" was director by new North theater teacher, Jennifer Hartz, while the regular teacher, Francesca Sober, was on a sabbatical.
Cheerleading
The Bloomington High School North cheerleading team won a national championship at the 2010 National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Florida. The team has also placed third, fifth, seventh, and ninth at this national competition in past years.
BHSN has also won one state championship in wrestling.
The school tries to assist its students and the guidance counselors and social workers are trained to offer the following support services:
Sean May, NBA player for the Charlotte bobcats, currently playing with Turkish club Fenerbahçe Ülker
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Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is accredited by the Indiana State Department of Public Instruction and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Preliminary data for the 2006-2007 academic year shows BHSN has an enrollment of 1565 students, which are fed predominantly by Tri-North Middle School as well as Bachelor Middle School, Jackson Creek Middle School, St. Charles School, Harmony School, Lighthouse Christian Academy, and Pinnacle School.
It operates on a block schedule with students taking four 85-minute courses on some days and four 85-minute courses on the alternating days. The curriculum includes over 140 different course offerings and allows students to design academic programs to meet their individual needs. Graduation requirements are based on work completed in grades nine through twelve. Accelerated programs enable students to complete high school requirements in seven semesters. Special features of the curriculum include AP and Accelerated Learning courses, vocational/technical training, work-study programs, interdisciplinary studies, and independent study.
Academics
Bloomington High School North is noted for its academic achievement in several areas. It has consistently ranked in the 95th percentile in ACTACT (examination)
The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
, PSAT and SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
scores, well above the Indiana state average. Its Advanced Placement program is above the state average, with 76% of students earning a score of 3 or above in 2004 and students chosen as Advanced Placement Scholars each year. Many seniors choose to take courses at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, with some courses taught by BHSN faculty during the day. The average percentage of students who pass the ISTEP English and Math state-mandated assessments for NCLB has been above the Indiana state average since at least 2000.
During the 2005-2006 school year, the school's students showcased their talents and abilities throughout the state and nation:
- In science: state champion in Science OlympiadScience OlympiadScience Olympiad is an American elementary, middle, or high school team competition which tests knowledge of various science topics and engineering ability. Over 6,200 teams from 49 U.S. states compete each year. Most teams compete in three levels of competition: regionals, states, and nationals...
for eight out of the past ten years. The team won 10th place in the 2008 National Science Olympiad competition at George Washington University in Washington D.C.
- In music: Advanced Jazz Ensemble named Honor Band at Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Symphonic Band third in state at ISMAA competition. In 2006 the Marching Band placed 5th at the state level.
- In art: Gold and Silver Keys at Indiana Scholastic Art competition, Scholastic American Vision Award Nominee, and student Exhibitor in the National Society of Arts and Letters Competition.
School life
The school is known for its eclectic student body, composed of students from many nations around the world. Students are active with performing arts opportunities in Bloomington, including the Rhino's Music Club and the Bloomington Playwrights Project. The school's service learning programs include cadet teaching, community service, and internship opportunities for seniors. The school's service organizations and student clubs are active fundraisers. The school's Habitat for Humanity chapter co-sponsored and built its ninth house in nine years house for Habitat for Humanity, the only high school in the nation to accomplish this undertaking.Music Department
Bloomington North's Music Program includes the Bloomington High School North Cougar Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Advanced Jazz, Wind Ensemble, Studio Jazz, Advanced Concert Band, Beginning Concert Band, Intermediate Jazz, Beginning Jazz, and Orchestra. Bloomington North also offers a variety of style in their music program, especially in the choral program with three different choirs; Vocal Jazz, Intermediate, and Advanced. All three choirs have a variety of styles from, Jazz to Broadway tunes. Recently the Marching Band has placed 9th twice in 2008 and 2009 and 5th in 2006 at ISSMA Marching Band State Finals in Indianapolis and the Symphonic Band placed 4th in 2010 at the ISSMA Concert Band State Finals. The Symphonic Band also traveled to Chattanooga, TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
to participate in the National Adjudicators Invitational, where they placed first.
Theater Department
Bloomington North has a new black box theater and a refurbished auditorium. Recent theatrical productions have included My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol, You Can't Take It With YouYou Can't Take It with You
You Can't Take It with You is a comedic play in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The original production of the play opened at the Booth Theater on December 14, 1936, and played for 837 performances...
, West Side Story, The Dining Room, The Fantasticks
The Fantasticks
The Fantasticks is a 1960 musical with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones. It was produced by Lore Noto. It tells an allegorical story, loosely based on the play "The Romancers" by Edmond Rostand, concerning two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into...
, Damn Yankees
Damn Yankees
Damn Yankees is a musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., during a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League...
, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" "The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game is a musical based on the novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell. It features a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where worker demands for a seven-and-a-half cents raise are going unheeded...
", & "Anything Goes
Anything Goes
Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
". The theater director's students also perform as Living Statues each fall at the Bloomington Farmers' Market.
In the fall of 2009, North put on one of the most successful plays in recent years, "Rumors" By Neil Simon
Neil Simon
Neil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that...
. It sold out three shows and with the overwhelming amount of popularity of the play, it had to put on an extra show on a Monday, which also was a sell out. The cast included 1 senior, 4 juniors, 4 sophomores, and 1 freshman. "Rumors" was director by new North theater teacher, Jennifer Hartz, while the regular teacher, Francesca Sober, was on a sabbatical.
Cross Country
Bloomington North High School was awarded the 1980 National Cross Country Championship through the XC Legacy series published through Milesplit.us in an effort to begin filling in the national rankings from 1980-1988. The Harrier Magazine, operated by Marc Bloom formerly of Runners World Magazine began keeping official rankings in 1989. "At the state xc championships Bloomington North annihilated the field with an impressive 34-149 point showing over defending state champion Carmel," Carmel would rebound the following two years to claim the 1981 & 1982 National crowns.Cheerleading
The Bloomington High School North cheerleading team won a national championship at the 2010 National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Florida. The team has also placed third, fifth, seventh, and ninth at this national competition in past years.
Sports, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities are important to BHSN
In the 2005-2006 school year, BHSN earned several athletic honors, including:- Five sectional championships in Boy's Soccer, Girl's Volleyball, Girl’s Tennis, Girl’s Cross Country, Girl’s Track
- Three regional championships in Boy’s Soccer, Girl’s Cross Country, and Girl’s Track
- Two semi-state championships in Boy’s Soccer and Girl’s Tennis.
- One state champion in Girl’s Track.
BHSN has also won one state championship in wrestling.
The school tries to assist its students and the guidance counselors and social workers are trained to offer the following support services:
- Grief Group,
- HELP (Heritage and Environmental Learning),
- ISG (Internation Student Group),
- SAVE (Students Against Violent Acts),
- TAP (Tobacco Awareness),
- US (United Students, the school GSA)
Cougar Wall of Fame
In 2006, the BHSN parent organization Cougars for Better Education, which was founded 10 years prior, started the Cougar Wall of Fame, with nomination by application, which recognizes and honors alumni of BHS North and the schools that consolidated into BHS North upon opening in 1972.Notable alumni
- Joshua BellJoshua BellJoshua David Bell is an American Grammy Award-winning violinist.-Childhood:Bell was born in Bloomington, Indiana, United States, the son of a psychologist and a therapist. Bell's father is the late Alan P...
, professional violinist - Kueth DuanyKueth DuanyKueth Duany is a Sudanese former college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange who was the captain and lone senior on Syracuse's 2003 NCAA National Championship team.-Early years:...
, ABAAmerican Basketball Association (2000–present)The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
player for the Buffalo Silverbacks - Pat KnightPat KnightPatrick "Pat" Knight is an American college basketball coach for Lamar University. He became the coach of the Lamar Cardinals basketball team on April 5, 2011. He was previously the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team until March 7, 2011...
, head coach of Lamar Cardinals men's basketballLamar Cardinals men's basketballThe Lamar Cardinals basketball team represents Lamar University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cardinals currently compete in the Southland Conference. Since 1984, the team has played its home games in the Montagne Center. The Cardinals basketball team plays in the 10,080 seat...
team - Jared JeffriesJared JeffriesJared Scott Carter Jeffries is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Knicks. He was drafted in 2002 by the Washington Wizards as the 11th overall pick...
, NBA player for the New York KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... - Sean May, NBA player for the Sacramento KingsSacramento KingsThe Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
- Ricardo MoralesRicardo MoralesRicardo Morales is a classical clarinetist of Puerto Rican descent. Since 2003, he has been the principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Prior to that, he had been principal clarinetist at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra...
, professional clarinetist - Terry StottsTerry StottsTerry Stotts is an American basketball assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. His most recent head coaching job was with the Milwaukee Bucks. Stotts was fired by the Milwaukee Bucks on March 14, 2007...
, assistant coach for the Dallas MavericksDallas MavericksThe Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011... - Daniel BissDaniel BissDaniel Kálmán Biss is an American mathematician and State Representative for the 17th district in the Illinois House of Representatives, serving since 2011...
, Illinois House of RepresentativesIllinois House of RepresentativesThe Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
member
Sean May, NBA player for the Charlotte bobcats, currently playing with Turkish club Fenerbahçe Ülker
External links
- Article for BHSN on Bloomingpedia
- Bloomington High School North ALUMNI
- Bloomington High School North ALUMNI donated Limestone Signs
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