Houghton High School
Encyclopedia
Houghton High School is a high school
located in Houghton, Michigan
, in the Upper Peninsula. It shares the same building as Houghton Middle School. Enrollment is around 390 students in Grades 9 through 12, with a 17/1 student to teacher ratio. In 2002, it was the 12th best public high school in the state of Michigan. As of 2010-2011, it was ranked 4th best in Michigan. A variety of courses are offered, including three foreign languages, a dual enrollment
program with Michigan Technological University
, as well as five AP classes.
The school mascot is the Gremlin
, and the school colors are orange and black. There is a small controversy on what the mascot should be represented by as the word represents multiple symbols and can be seen in different forms on different parts of the school.
For the class of 2013, the school has removed the requirement for having a year of computer education and has instead implemented another year in social science classes, requiring two years of world history.
, and often excel. Basketball
, volleyball
, swimming
, diving
, Alpine skiing
, cross country
, track and field
, softball
, ice hockey
, and football
are the competitive sports programs.
The Varsity Girls' Basketball
team won the 2005 state championship, and was a semifinalist in 2006, while the Varsity Boys' Basketball team was a quarter-finalist in 2007. Prior to Girls' High School Athletics being introduced in Michigan, Boys' basketball also won the State Championship in 1955, were runners-up in 1963, and state semifinalists in 1969.
The girl's ski team has seen success in recent years, placing runners-up at the State Finals in 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2008; and winning the Regional race in 2005, 2008 and 2009; and the 2010 State Championship.
The Varsity girls' swimming and diving team were the Upper Peninsula State Champions in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001. The Varsity boys' swimming and diving team was Upper Peninsula State Champions in 2011.
The Varsity hockey team were the State Champions in 1982.
The Varsity football team is infamous for its futility, posting a 17-73 record since 2002. Five of the 17 wins have come against Hancock High School. Excluding a win by forfeit in 2001, Houghton High School has lost 24 consecutive games to Lake Linden-Hubbell High School by an average of over 25 points.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Houghton, Michigan
Houghton, Michigan
Houghton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and largest city in the Copper Country on the Keweenaw Peninsula. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,708. It is the county seat of Houghton County...
, in the Upper Peninsula. It shares the same building as Houghton Middle School. Enrollment is around 390 students in Grades 9 through 12, with a 17/1 student to teacher ratio. In 2002, it was the 12th best public high school in the state of Michigan. As of 2010-2011, it was ranked 4th best in Michigan. A variety of courses are offered, including three foreign languages, a dual enrollment
Dual enrollment
In education, dual enrollment involved students being enrolled in two separate, academically related institutions. It may also refer to any individual who is participating in two related programs, but such a general form of usage is uncommon....
program with Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University is a public research university located in Houghton, Michigan, United States. Its main campus sits on on a bluff overlooking Portage Lake...
, as well as five AP classes.
The school mascot is the Gremlin
Gremlin
A gremlin is an imaginary creature commonly depicted as mischievous and mechanically oriented, with a specific interest in aircraft. Gremlins' mischievous natures are similar to those of English folkloric imps, while their inclination to damage or dismantle machinery is more...
, and the school colors are orange and black. There is a small controversy on what the mascot should be represented by as the word represents multiple symbols and can be seen in different forms on different parts of the school.
Academics
The school has been slowly implementing a new system of academic standards. It has included changes in required classes for the classes of 2010 and on, which were changed a second time for the incoming class of 2013 and following years. In 2010 extra credits were added in math and science, giving the students two more years, 4 semesters, of math and one more year, two semesters, of science classes. This took away 3 years, 6 semesters, of elective classes to make up for the change.For the class of 2013, the school has removed the requirement for having a year of computer education and has instead implemented another year in social science classes, requiring two years of world history.
Sports
Houghton's sports are Class C in the Michigan High School Athletic AssociationMichigan High School Athletic Association
-About:The Michigan High School Athletic Association is a service organization for high school sports in Michigan and is headquartered in East Lansing...
, and often excel. Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
, Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
are the competitive sports programs.
The Varsity Girls' Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team won the 2005 state championship, and was a semifinalist in 2006, while the Varsity Boys' Basketball team was a quarter-finalist in 2007. Prior to Girls' High School Athletics being introduced in Michigan, Boys' basketball also won the State Championship in 1955, were runners-up in 1963, and state semifinalists in 1969.
The girl's ski team has seen success in recent years, placing runners-up at the State Finals in 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2008; and winning the Regional race in 2005, 2008 and 2009; and the 2010 State Championship.
The Varsity girls' swimming and diving team were the Upper Peninsula State Champions in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001. The Varsity boys' swimming and diving team was Upper Peninsula State Champions in 2011.
The Varsity hockey team were the State Champions in 1982.
The Varsity football team is infamous for its futility, posting a 17-73 record since 2002. Five of the 17 wins have come against Hancock High School. Excluding a win by forfeit in 2001, Houghton High School has lost 24 consecutive games to Lake Linden-Hubbell High School by an average of over 25 points.
Extracurricular activities
- Drama: The drama department has put on multiple productions nearly every year for over a decade, including "Playing for Time by Arthur MillerArthur MillerArthur Asher Miller was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American theatre, writing dramas that include plays such as All My Sons , Death of a Salesman , The Crucible , and A View from the Bridge .Miller was often in the public eye,...
, and The Curious SavageThe Curious SavageThe Curious Savage, written by John Patrick, is a comedic play about Ethel P. Savage, a woman whose husband recently died and left her approximately ten million dollars. The play was first produced in New York by the Theatre Guild and Lewis & Young at the Martin Beck Theatre on October 24, 1950...
by John Patrick.
- Model United NationsModel United NationsModel 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....
: The members of the Model UN club take the school year to prepare for the Mid-American Model United Nations conference in February. Throughout the year, they fundraise for the trip to Kalamazoo, and research topics for the conference.
- Key ClubKey ClubKey Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
: The Houghton High School Key ClubKey ClubKey Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
is very active. It performs community service such as highway cleanups and story time sessions for children.
- National Honor SocietyNational Honor SocietyThe National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
- FIRST Robotics (Team 857 Superior Roboworks)
- Junior Statesmen of America
- Quiz Bowl: The Houghton High School Quiz Bowl team is powerful, and took second place in the 2008 Class C state finals and won Class C state championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998.