- Okemos High School
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Okemos High School Address 2800 Jolly Rd
Okemos, Michigan 48864Information School type Public School district Okemos Public Schools Principal Christine Sermak Vice principal Russ Verrell and Asja Wilcox Grades 9-12 Number of students 1,434[1] Language English Color(s) Maroon and Light Blue Team name Chiefs Okemos High School is a public high school in Okemos, Michigan, USA. It is the only high school in the Okemos Public Schools district. It is located southeast of the main campus of Michigan State University, between Bennett and Jolly Roads on the North and South, and Hulett and Hagadorn Roads on the East and West. The current building was completed in 1994, replacing the now Chippewa Middle School building as the district's high school. Former students of Chippewa Middle School and Kinawa Middle School comprise the school's student body.
Contents
Academics
The school is noted for sending high percentages of its graduates to college.[citation needed], and its students' standardized test scores are well above state and national averages.[citation needed] While graduates attend a great variety of colleges and universities, the most common choices are Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. An extensive Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum is also in place, in which 45%[1] of students participate. To ensure high quality, admission to AP courses requires high achievement in prerequisite classes.
Okemos High School is ranked seventh in the state of Michigan (top 1% or Michigan High Schools) in Newsweek's 2010 list of "America's Best High Schools". "Newsweek picks the best high schools in the country based on how hard school staffs work to challenge students with advanced placement college-level courses and tests".[2] The student to teacher ratio at Okemos High School is 17.4 students to 1 teacher.
In 2010 Okemos High School 11th Grade Students were 78.7% proficient in Math on average compared to a State Average of 50.4%, 86% proficient in Reading on average compared to a State Average of 65.2%, 82.6% proficient in Science on average compared to a State Average of 57.9%, 73.8% proficient in Writing on average compared to a State Average of 43.7%, 92.1% proficient in Social Studies on average compared to a State Average of 79.4%.
Athletics
Okemos fields teams for both boys and girls in many different sports. The tennis and soccer programs are notable; both have produced multiple state titles and collegiate athletes. They are a member of the Capital Area Activities Conference. During the 1998-1999 school year, the girls and boys varsity tennis teams, as well as the girls varsity softball team, won the state tournament. The Pom team also took first place in their state championship in 2008.[citation needed] Also, the varsity football team made the playoffs in 2007. Furthermore, The girls Water Polo took first in 2009 and 2010. The Boys Water Polo team finished 7th in the state in 2006 and 2007, then finished 6th in 2009. From 2003-2007, the Okemos boys varsity tennis team won four straight state championship titles.
Sports teams Boys Girls - Cheerleading
- Basketball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Cheerleading
- Pom
- Cross Country
- Volleyball
- Skiing
- Softball
- Track
- Soccer
- Golf
- Water Polo
- Lacrosse
State championship and runner up teams[3]
Girls
- 1977 Class B Basketball Runner Up
- 1981 Class B Basketball Champion
- 1986 Class B Basketball Runner Up
- 1992 Class B Basketball Runner Up
- 2002 Class A Basketball Runner Up
- 2005 Division 1 Cross-Country Runner Up
- 2007 Division 2 Lacrosse Runner Up
- 2008 Division 2 Lacrosse Runner Up
- 2009 Division 2 Lacrosse Champion
- 1991 Class A Soccer Runner Up
- 2006 Division 2 Soccer Champion
- 1999 Division 1 Softball Champion
- 1980 Class B Swimming Champion
- 1981 Class B Swimming Runner Up
- 1982 Class B Swimming Runner Up
- 1982 Class B Tennis Runner Up
- 1983 Class B Tennis Champion
- 1984 Class B Tennis Runner Up
- 1986 Class B Tennis Runner Up
- 1989 Class A Tennis Runner Up
- 1993 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1994 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1995 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1997 Division 2 Tennis Runner Up
- 1998 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 1999 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2000 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2001 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2002 Division 2 Tennis Runner Up
- 2003 Division 2 Tennis Runner Up
- 2004 Division 2 Tennis Runner Up
Boys
- 1981 Class B Basketball Champion
- 1982 Class B Basketball Champion
- 2006 Class A Basketball Runner Up
- 1984 Class B Cross-Country Runner Up
- 1986 Class B Cross-Country Champion
- 1976 Class B Football Runner Up
- 1980 Class B Football Runner Up
- 1965 Class B Golf Runner Up
- 1976 Class B Golf Champion
- 1977 Open Class Skiing Champion
- 1980 Open Class Skiing Runner Up
- 1984 Class B-C Soccer Champion
- 2004 Division 1 Soccer Champion
- 1974 Class B-C-D Swimming Runner Up
- 1976 Class B-C-D Swimming Runner Up
- 1987 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1988 Class A Tennis Runner Up
- 1989 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1992 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1994 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1995 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1997 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1999 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2000 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2003 Division 2 Tennis Runner Up
- 2004 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2005 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2006 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2007 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 1928 Class D Track and Field Champion
- 1929 Class D Track and Field Runner Up
- 1930 Class D Track and Field Champion
- 1937 Class C Track and Field Champion
- 1965 Class B Wrestling Champion
- 1966 Class B Wrestling Champion
- 1967 Class B Wrestling Champion
Notable track and field accomplishments of OHS alumni
- Elton Daniels (1927) won the high jump at the 1927 Michigan High School Athletic Association track and field championships.[4]
- Frank Coleman (1928) anchored the winning 880-yard relay team, took first place in the 440-yard dash, and won the discus throw at the 1928 MHSAA championships. Coleman also won the 440 at the 1927 state finals.[4]
- Cleo Beaumont (1930) won consecutive state titles in the javelin throw at the 1929 and 1930 MHSAA championships. Beyond high school, Beaumont competed for Michigan State University; he was the 1934 Michigan Intercollegiate Conference javelin champion.[5]
- Orla Currier (1930) was the 1930 MHSAA champion in the mile run.[4]
- Fred Miles (1930) won both the 100 and 220-yard dash at the 1929 and 1930 MHSAA track and field championships.[4]
- Starr Keesler (1937) was the MHSAA state long jump champion in 1937; Keesler later ran track for Michigan State University.[6]
- Okezie Aguwa (2003) was the 2003 MHSAA Division 1 state champion in the discus throw with a throw of 173' 11". [7]
These achievements made Okemos High School a formidable track and field power in the 1920's and 30's. OHS earned the first of several MHSAA team awards at the 1927 state finals, finishing in third place. The following season, Okemos won top honors - bringing home the 1928 state championship trophy. In 1929, OHS claimed second place at the MHSAA finals; then in 1930 - and again in 1937 - Okemos High School reigned as state champions of track and field.[8]
Notable alumni
- Rob Bell (1988), founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church and author of Velvet Elvis
- Curtis John Cregan (born January 18, 1977) is an American actor. He is currently seen in the American version of the children's television show Hi-5.
- Paul Quantrill (1986), major league baseball pitcher
- John Bennett Ramsey, father of JonBenét Ramsey
- Kristen Rasmussen (1996), professional basketball player, WNBA
- Peter Reckell, actor, played Bo Brady on the TV soap opera Days of our Lives
- Tom Welling, (1995) actor, plays Clark Kent on the TV series Smallville
- Richa Gangopadhyay, (2004) model, popular lead actress in Indian Cinema, particularly in South India.
- Scott Almquist, (1981), Chief Executive Officer of the Zeno Corporation
- Michael Lluberes, (1997), actor, singer, playwrite.
- Mark Marabate,(1997),Screenwriter. Lives in Marina del Rey, CA.
References
- ^ a b Okemos High School: Best High Schools - USNews.com
- ^ Newsweek 2010 America's Best High Schools.
- ^ Source for sports championships: website of Michigan High School Athletic Association.
- ^ a b c d http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/btr/yearlyindv1930.html
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=jhDHp7joHsgC&pg=PA183&lpg=PA183&dq=Cleo+Beaumont&source=bl&ots=SgWPU9EOYm&sig=OUrsZcHo5Gj0S4XAbODBe6-mAS4&hl=en&ei=l9VlSuHAEJGoMd7rkKYB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=jhDHp7joHsgC&pg=PA237&lpg=PA237&dq=Starr+Keesler&source=bl&ots=SgWPU2FOPl&sig=60ayqL2v0NeOaxc9K1c8F0rP2RA&hl=en&ei=tMdkSue4AofKsQPHqOhm&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2
- ^ http://www.mhsaa.com/MHSAA_ARCHIVE/sports/btr/lpb031.html
- ^ http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/btr/yearly.htm
External links
Categories:- High schools in Michigan
- School buildings completed in 1994
- Schools in Ingham County, Michigan
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