Broad Ripple High School

Broad Ripple High School, established in 1886, is one of five traditional high schools within the Indianapolis Public Schools.

History

Originally built in 1886 in the town of Broad Ripple, the school started with seven students. The campus was destroyed by fire near the turn of the century but was rebuilt. In 1923, the school joined the Indianapolis Public Schools when Broad Ripple was annexed into Indianapolis. Through the 1930s and '40s, the school continued to grow. In 1961, the school became a haven for high school education in Indianapolis. Once a predominantly white, middle class school, and the last high school in the Indianapolis Public Schools to integrate, Broad Ripple gradually integrated in the 1970s, although the first class to graduate African Americans was 1968.

In 1976, the Center for Performing & Visual Arts was created. Two years later, the Center for Humanities became the second magnet program offered at Broad Ripple High School. The Center for Performing & Visual Arts and Center for Humanities at Broad Ripple High School [http://www.717.ips.k12.in.us/] offer students the opportunity for specialized study in the areas of arts and humanities. Both magnet programs provide college preparatory and individualized instruction designed to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to compete and succeed as productive citizens.

Today

Additions, renovations, and annexations took place in 1896, 1913, 1935, 1939, 1949, 1960, 1970, 1988, 1991, and 2003. Enrollment reached its peak at 2,500 in 1995 after the closure of Washington and Howe high schools in Indianapolis. The campus consists of four buildings, all attached to each other. The official mascot is the Rockets. The school is accredited by the North Central Association.

Ripples

Every year for over 70 years Broad Ripple High School has had an annual theater event where groups of students write scripts with three musical numbers. Overall three scripts are picked to perform each year by panel of teachers. The student writers are given a small budget and are left to their own accords to produce and direct the show. It is a two night event and on the second night awards are given, for such things as best set or best show.

Notable alumni

*Michael Graves (1950), architect
*Stephen Goldsmith (1964), politician
*David Letterman (1965), entertainer and comedian
*Mike Woodson (1976), NBA Coach
*Wayne Gretzky (1979), NHL
*Abraham Benrubi (1987), actor
*Rosevelt Colvin (1995), NFL and Big Ten American football player
*Cory Wade (2001), MLB Pitcher
* George Hill (2004) NBA Player [Indianapolis Public Schools. [http://www.headlines.ips.k12.in.us/archive/7118.aspx 2004 BRHS Graduate Hill Picked in First Round of NBA Draft] "headlines.ips.k12.in.us" - [http://www.webcitation.org/5ZflGkowi Archived at WebCite®] (July 29, 2008).]

1979-1980 IHSAA Boys Basketball Champions

The 1979-1980 Broad Ripple boys basketball team defeated New Albany High School at Market Square Arena to claim the State Championship. The Rockets' Stacy Toran hit a 57-foot shot in the morning session to propel the Rockets past Marion and into the final game. William Smith became one of the only African-American coaches to win an Indiana boys basketball State Championship. The Ripple win marked the first time an Indianapolis team had won a boys basketball title since the 1968-1969 Washington Continentals team took home the title.

References