Rochester High School (Michigan)
Rochester High School | |
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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°WCoordinates: 42°40′44″N 83°09′18″W / 42.679°N 83.155°W |
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
- Girls' Cheerleading: MCCA: 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997. MHSAA: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2016
- Placed 2nd (runner-up) in the MCCA state finals in 2015
- Boys Baseball: 1997
- Boys' Golf: 1985, 1992
- Boys' Soccer: 2002
- Girls' Cross Country: 1978, 2007
- Girls' Golf: 2008, 2009, 2016
- Girls' Track: 2010
Non-sports team titles
Rochester Robotics Team
- 2000 Great Lakes Regional:[1] No. 1 Seed, Regional Winner, Judge's Award.
- 2000 National Championship:[2] Autodesk Excellence in Engineering Creativity and Communications Award
- 2009 Traverse City District Event:[3] Motorola Quality Award and Website Award.
- Traverse City District Event 2011: 1st Place, Judges Award, and Safety Award.
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
- Porcelain Black, née Alaina Beaton, pop singer [4]
- Jim Burton, former MLB player (Boston Red Sox)
- Paul Davis, former NBA player (Los Angeles Clippers)
- Andrew Good, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Robert Hurst, jazz bassist
- Andrew Hutchinson, National Hockey League defenseman
- Brian Keselowski, NASCAR stock car driver
- Walker Russell, Jr., NBA player for the Detroit Pistons
- L. J. Shelton, National Football League offensive tackle
- James Young, Current NBA player for the Boston Celtics
References
- ↑ http://www.thebluealliance.com/team/201/history
- ↑ http://www.thebluealliance.com/team/201/history
- ↑ http://www.thebluealliance.com/team/201/history
- ↑ Foley, Aaron (8 September 2011). "Detroit-bred Porcelain Black looks to stake her claim in the music world". Mlive.com. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved 4 May 2015.