Durant High School (Oklahoma)

Durant High School
Location
802 West Walnut Street Durant, Oklahoma, 74701 United States
Information
School type	Public high school
School district	Durant Independent School District
Principal	Ron Craig
Faculty	88
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	850 (October 2008)
Student to teacher ratio	1:17
Color(s)
Mascot	Lion
Information	580-924-4424
Website	www.durantisd.org/high/dhs/index.htm

Durant High School (also known as Durant High and DHS) is a public secondary school in Durant, Oklahoma, serving grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. The school is part of the Durant Independent School District. Durant's mascot is the Lion. The high school has approximately 850 students, making it one of the largest high schools in Southeastern Oklahoma.

National recognition

Durant High School was one of six schools nation-wide to earn the recognition as a "Great American High School" in 2002.

During the summers, the campus has been a testing site for teachers achieving National Certification.

Academics

The school offers numerous elective classes such as art, athletics, theatre, debate, agricultural education, Spanish and Choctaw languages, forensics, psychology, various health and medical classes, keyboarding and computer applications, business technology, information technology, choir, business, Family & Consumer Sciences, career orientation, Journalism, and also Advanced placement for Chemistry, Biology, English, Math, and Physics.

Organizations

There are several organizations such as Academic Commitment To Education, Academic Team, BPA, Calculus Club, Chemistry Club, DECA, Drug Free Youth, Forensics Club, FEA, FCCLA, FFA, FCA, HOSA, Key Club, Literary Club, Physics Club, RCY, Show Choir, SkillsUSA, VICA, Young Republicans, and Youth & Government.

Band

The high school band is known as "The Pride of Durant". The Durant High School Band is known throughout the state as one of the best bands in Oklahoma. They strive for excellence every year. For four years in a row the band has received the OSSAA Sweepstakes Award. They have also accomplished a goal that has never been accomplished in the history of high school bands. The Pride of Durant has received straight one's at the OSSAA West Regional Marching Competition every year for the past 15 years. No other high school band has been awarded with this wonderful recognition. They must go through many long practices to get the marching and concert shows perfected. There are over 300 members for the entire district. Practice begins as early as Durant Intermediate School. "Great bands don't have great practices, great practices make great bands."

The band program consists of several bands:

Marching Band: The marching band is made up of all high school band members. They compete in various competitions and festivals, perform at football games, and periodically get invited to national band events.

Jazz Band: The jazz band is made up of any DHS band members who want to experience playing jazz music. They compete in the State Jazz competition each April.

Basketball Band: The basketball band is made up of volunteer DHS band members who want to perform during home basketball games.^[1]

Athletics

There is Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Track & Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Wrestling. Approximately 700 are enrolled in at least one course with 980 for the entire district.

Demographics

The racial makeup of high school students is 33% Native American, 1% Asian, 3% Hispanic, 1% African American, and 61% Caucasian. There is over 88 personnel with approximately 30 on coaching staff. The student to teacher ratio is 1:17 and a full class is considered 1:24. The school has a contract with Dell.

New high school

On April 1, 2008, the vote to increase the city's sales tax 5/8 cent for 25 years in order to provide funding for Durant's new high school passed. Construction of Durant's new high school is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009. It will be built in north Durant along U.S. 69\75, and, with scheduled completion in 2011, will have a capacity of 1,200 students. The estimated cost of the new school is $40 million. Grades 7 and 8 will then move to the current high school building, because of the aging and cramped middle school facility.

The sales tax increase went into effect on July 1, 2008 and will end on, or before, June 30, 2033.

References

1. ^ http://www.durantisd.org/high/dhs/activities/music/band.htm

Coordinates: 34°00′08″N 96°22′55″W / 34.002121°N 96.381835°W / 34.002121; -96.381835