Rochester High School (Michigan)

Rochester High School
Address
180 S. Livernois Road
Rochester Hills, Michigan 48307
United States
Coordinates 42°40′44″N 83°09′18″W / 42.679°N 83.155°W / 42.679; -83.155Coordinates: 42°40′44″N 83°09′18″W / 42.679°N 83.155°W / 42.679; -83.155
Information
School type Public
Established 1883, 1955
School district Rochester Community Schools
Principal Neil DeLuca
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 1610
Color(s) Blue and White          
Nickname Falcons
Website Rochester High School

Rochester High School is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, United States, and is part of the Rochester Community Schools. It was established in 1889, and classes have been held in the current facility since 1955.

The school mascot is Freddie the Falcon. Most students attending this school come from Reuther Middle School, West Middle School, or Holy Family Regional School.

History

In 1889, Rochester's first high school, known as the "Academy on the Hill", was built on Fourth and Wilcox in the (then) Village of Rochester for $8,000. The first class graduated from Rochester High School in 1896. The historic structure still exists, long since adapted and widely renovated for Board of Education offices and a variety of other uses.

Rochester High accreditation was granted in 1924.

In 1955, groundbreaking for a new building at the current location on the corner of Livernois and Walton in Rochester Hills took place and on October 31, 1956, students walked from the "Academy on the Hill" to the new Rochester High School, many carrying their books along with them. The gymnasium was added in 1957. The two-story wing (freshman hallway) was built in 1961. The auditorium, the bridge (a.k.a. Falcon Freeway), and the swimming pool were added in 1965. The school split to a half-day schedule to accommodate the growing student population while Rochester Adams High School was being built and completed in 1970. In 1986, the mall enclosure, media center, cafeteria, and auxiliary gym were added. In 1998, a courtyard was converted into four classrooms. In 1999, the metal shop was converted into two classrooms.

A complete renovation of Rochester High took place in 2001, which included upgrades to the main office, counseling offices, weight room, pool, gymnasium, the addition of computer labs and photography lab, theater and vocal area, additional science labs, new locker banks, an enhanced courtyard with green house, and a new auditorium and theater areas.

The school began a new round of renovations in the fall of 2016 after the renewing of the funding bond. Renovations included a new football stadium, updated to the athletic wing, and to the theater.

Awards

The '09-'10 staff of the Talon, the school newspaper, won 23 individual awards at the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) spring conference. The Talon also received the first Spartan Award in RHS history, which is the highest ranking a newspaper can receive from MIPA.

The Falcon Marching Band has consistently earned 1st division ratings (highest possible) at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) festival. Their streak ended in 2008 with a 2nd division rating.

Sports state titles

Non-sports team titles

Rochester Robotics Team

School newspaper

The Talon school newspaper earned Spartan Awards, the top honor in the state, from the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. In 2013, The Talon earned top honors in the nation when the staff received a Pacemaker Award through the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA).

Notable alumni

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/6/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.