Lincoln Park High School (Michigan)
Encyclopedia
Lincoln Park High School (LPHS) is a public school in Lincoln Park, Michigan
. The school colors are orange and blue, and the teams are called the Railsplitters, a reference to Abraham Lincoln
. It is a part of Lincoln Park Public Schools
.
LPHS has a student-to-teacher ratio of 35:1 and was given a rating of "C" as of 2010 its been given a "B" by the Michigan Department of Education in 2007-2008.
As of the class of 2011, LPHS has a graduation rate of 63.5% (starting with about 490 students, now having about 232) and an attendance rate of 75%.
LPHS has many programs and extra curricular activities including the Spanish Club, Lincoln Park Building Trades, Guitar Club, Anime Club, JROTC, FIRST Robotics, National Honor Society
, four school bands (marching, symphonic, jazz, and concert), E.M.T.
Education, Business Management, CADD, Agriscience
, and Quiz Bowl.
before it was accredited by the North Central Association. Huff was closed in the early '80s after diminishing class sizes forced its closing and it remained empty for several years. Due to its age, it was decided by the Board of Education that it could no longer afford to maintain and heat an empty school and the school was demolished.
Prior to 1933, high school classes were held in the Goodell School, located on the northwest corner of Champaign and Fort St, which was demolished in 1971. The bell from this school was saved, and is now in place at the Lincoln Park Historical Museum. This school was the third to hold the name "Goodell School". The first was a wood-framed, single-room school house built in the 1870s, and the second was the brick building built to replace it in 1918.
The current high school building began construction in 1957 and was finished and opened in September, 1960 housing grades 10 through 12. The first graduating class from the new school was in January, 1961. The school was state of the art for its time with its orb type roof design over the Auditorium, Cafeteria, Library and gym areas. The new school contained a dedicated auditorium, and a state of the art pool with diving area and full glass window panels which would open to an enclosed outside area. The "T" shaped pool also contained an observation window in the deep/diving end accessed through one of the many underground tunnels. The pool area contains spectator seating/bleachers. The school also was designed with a gym which could be divided into three sections using folding walls to accommodate individual classes. The gym when completely opened, often hosted the school's home basketball and other spectator sporting events. The two "outer" gym areas were used to accommodate wooden pull-out bleachers which when not in use, were rolled into a wall unit on the north and south ends of the gym.
The school originally contained mahogany panels in the "library" hallway with upholstered cushions in the seating areas adjacent to the library and auditorium as well as other areas throughout the school. The "shop wing" (east) contained industrial arts and other trade related classes complete with a classroom area where cars could be pulled into the building through shop doors. The cafeteria contained a full service modern kitchen. The eating area was surrounded by plate glass windows provided an "open to outside" design. Windows in the roof "curves" provided more light onto the already bright eating area. Natural light was an important consideration in all areas of the school design with plenty of plate glass windows strategically placed throughout the school.
The building was designed to be heated with steam and powered by three natural gas fired boilers located near the loading dock on the east side of the building. Steam lines travel underground to provide heat to different areas of the building. The original thermostat lines in the Auditorium area needed to be replaced after heat control to that area of the building could not be controlled. The Auditorium was pre-fabricated for air conditioning when it was constructed. One year, during a new hire inservice, a boiler was improperly fired causing an explosion. The explosion was of such force, it blew the back of the boiler off carrying one of the men with it into steam lines located behind the boiler and bending the lines.
Since its opening, most of the original plate glass in the building has been replaced with energy efficient panels to improve energy efficiency. The building currently houses approximately 50% of its original intended population.
" or "goth
" lifestyle/fashion sense including, most notably, representations of the pentagram
. The decision sparked animosity between the administration and the students and teachers, who generally saw it as an excessive measure given gang activity in the school had been largely eliminated in the late 1980s. This animosity culminated in legal action against the school initiated by the ACLU, on behalf of a Crystal Seifferly, a 17-year-old high school student who self-identified as a practicing pagan. Under mounting pressure from the courts and media, the administration formally made an exception in the policy for practicing witches, though informally it dropped the matter.
As of September 2006, the same school board has since again made another attempt, banning clothing with any writing, pictures, or logos (bigger than two inches by two inches). Skirts that are above the knee are also prohibited..
graduated from Lincoln Park High School. Although not known if he actually graduated from Lincoln Park High School, singer Bob Seger did attend LPHS for a time and still can be seen in class photos displayed in its halls.
Lincoln Park, Michigan
Lincoln Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It lies in an area of cities and communities known as Downriver. The population was 38,144 at the 2010 census . The settlement was organized as a village in 1921, and reorganized as a city in 1925. The area was originally home to...
. The school colors are orange and blue, and the teams are called the Railsplitters, a reference to Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. It is a part of Lincoln Park Public Schools
Lincoln Park Public Schools (Michigan)
Lincoln Park Public Schools is a school district with its headquarters in Lincoln Park, Michigan, United States.-Secondary schools:* Lincoln Park High School* Lincoln Park Middle School-Alternative schools:* Crowley Center...
.
LPHS has a student-to-teacher ratio of 35:1 and was given a rating of "C" as of 2010 its been given a "B" by the Michigan Department of Education in 2007-2008.
As of the class of 2011, LPHS has a graduation rate of 63.5% (starting with about 490 students, now having about 232) and an attendance rate of 75%.
LPHS has many programs and extra curricular activities including the Spanish Club, Lincoln Park Building Trades, Guitar Club, Anime Club, JROTC, FIRST Robotics, National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, four school bands (marching, symphonic, jazz, and concert), E.M.T.
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
Education, Business Management, CADD, Agriscience
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
, and Quiz Bowl.
History
The current building is the second building in the city to be called "Lincoln Park High School". The previous building was built in 1930, and would later become Huff Junior High School (grades 7-9) after serving as the city's high school from 1933 to 1959. It would be the first high school in the state recognized by the University Of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
before it was accredited by the North Central Association. Huff was closed in the early '80s after diminishing class sizes forced its closing and it remained empty for several years. Due to its age, it was decided by the Board of Education that it could no longer afford to maintain and heat an empty school and the school was demolished.
Prior to 1933, high school classes were held in the Goodell School, located on the northwest corner of Champaign and Fort St, which was demolished in 1971. The bell from this school was saved, and is now in place at the Lincoln Park Historical Museum. This school was the third to hold the name "Goodell School". The first was a wood-framed, single-room school house built in the 1870s, and the second was the brick building built to replace it in 1918.
The current high school building began construction in 1957 and was finished and opened in September, 1960 housing grades 10 through 12. The first graduating class from the new school was in January, 1961. The school was state of the art for its time with its orb type roof design over the Auditorium, Cafeteria, Library and gym areas. The new school contained a dedicated auditorium, and a state of the art pool with diving area and full glass window panels which would open to an enclosed outside area. The "T" shaped pool also contained an observation window in the deep/diving end accessed through one of the many underground tunnels. The pool area contains spectator seating/bleachers. The school also was designed with a gym which could be divided into three sections using folding walls to accommodate individual classes. The gym when completely opened, often hosted the school's home basketball and other spectator sporting events. The two "outer" gym areas were used to accommodate wooden pull-out bleachers which when not in use, were rolled into a wall unit on the north and south ends of the gym.
The school originally contained mahogany panels in the "library" hallway with upholstered cushions in the seating areas adjacent to the library and auditorium as well as other areas throughout the school. The "shop wing" (east) contained industrial arts and other trade related classes complete with a classroom area where cars could be pulled into the building through shop doors. The cafeteria contained a full service modern kitchen. The eating area was surrounded by plate glass windows provided an "open to outside" design. Windows in the roof "curves" provided more light onto the already bright eating area. Natural light was an important consideration in all areas of the school design with plenty of plate glass windows strategically placed throughout the school.
The building was designed to be heated with steam and powered by three natural gas fired boilers located near the loading dock on the east side of the building. Steam lines travel underground to provide heat to different areas of the building. The original thermostat lines in the Auditorium area needed to be replaced after heat control to that area of the building could not be controlled. The Auditorium was pre-fabricated for air conditioning when it was constructed. One year, during a new hire inservice, a boiler was improperly fired causing an explosion. The explosion was of such force, it blew the back of the boiler off carrying one of the men with it into steam lines located behind the boiler and bending the lines.
Since its opening, most of the original plate glass in the building has been replaced with energy efficient panels to improve energy efficiency. The building currently houses approximately 50% of its original intended population.
Controversy
Lincoln Park gained brief notoriety in 1999 when the school board enacted a new dress code intended to keep out gang symbology and colors. However, included among the prohibited paraphernalia were any items related to the "paganPaganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
" or "goth
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
" lifestyle/fashion sense including, most notably, representations of the pentagram
Pentagram
A pentagram is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes...
. The decision sparked animosity between the administration and the students and teachers, who generally saw it as an excessive measure given gang activity in the school had been largely eliminated in the late 1980s. This animosity culminated in legal action against the school initiated by the ACLU, on behalf of a Crystal Seifferly, a 17-year-old high school student who self-identified as a practicing pagan. Under mounting pressure from the courts and media, the administration formally made an exception in the policy for practicing witches, though informally it dropped the matter.
As of September 2006, the same school board has since again made another attempt, banning clothing with any writing, pictures, or logos (bigger than two inches by two inches). Skirts that are above the knee are also prohibited..
Notable alumni
Most of the members of the rock band MC5MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
graduated from Lincoln Park High School. Although not known if he actually graduated from Lincoln Park High School, singer Bob Seger did attend LPHS for a time and still can be seen in class photos displayed in its halls.