- Herbert Henry Dow High School
-
Herbert Henry Dow High School 
"A Legacy of Excellence"Address 3901 North Saginaw Road
Midland, Michigan, 48640
United StatesCoordinates 43°38′23.41″N 84°16′31.61″W / 43.6398361°N 84.2754472°WCoordinates: 43°38′23.41″N 84°16′31.61″W / 43.6398361°N 84.2754472°W Information Type Public High School Established 1968 Status Open School district Midland Public Schools Superintendent Carl R. Ellinger School number 232582 Principal Pam Kastl Vice principal Brian Frankovich
Ben Cronkright
Ted DavisStaff 59 Faculty 93 Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12 Enrollment 1,550 (2007-2008) Hours in school day 7:40 a.m. - 3:25 p.m. Campus size 55 acres (22 ha) Campus type Suburban Color(s) Green and Gold
Mascot Mounted Knight Nickname Chargers Rival Midland High School Information +1 989-923-5382 Website http://dhs.mps.k12.mi.us/ Herbert Henry Dow High School is a public high school located in Midland, Michigan. The school, a part of Midland Public Schools, is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence[1] and in 2008 was named one of the top 20 High Schools in Michigan in a study commissioned by US News & World Report.[2]
Contents
History
The facility, also known as H.H. Dow High School, Dow High or Midland Dow is one of two high schools in the Midland Public School district, and a member of the Saginaw Valley High School Association. The facility was intended to alleviate overcrowding at Midland High School and construction of the 270,000-square-foot (25,000 m2) building was completed in 1968 at a cost of $9,172,303. The school was named in honor of Herbert Henry Dow, founder of the Dow Chemical Company, based in Midland. When the school opened in 1968, only sophomores were in attendance, and they would be the first class to graduate in 1971. One grade was added each year and the school included grades 10-12 until a freshman class was added in 1997. A $2.2 million science wing with 4,800 square feet (450 m2) was added in 1999. Music and athletic facilities were enhanced in 2005 as part of a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) building expansion which cost $3,827,697.[1]
Dow High School has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools every year since 1972.[3]
Academics
Faculty
Of the 93 faculty members at Dow High School, 67% hold single or double master’s degrees or doctorates in their academic areas. Average academic class size is 26.0 students and the student-counselor ratio is 370-1.[1]
Curriculum
A large majority of students follow a college preparatory curriculum with emphasis in mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies. 81% of the class of 2007 enrolled in two or four year college programs after graduation. Vocational programs are offered in Business Education, Technology Education, Life Management and Special Education. Approximately 15% of the senior class participated in the Cooperative Education program during the 2007-2008 school year.[4]
Both high schools in Midland participate in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which is intended for highly motivated juniors and seniors. The first full year of the program was 2007-08.[5]
Athletics
Dow High athletic logo
The annual football game against Midland High is considered one of the biggest high school football games in the state of Michigan, generally drawing over 10,000 spectators. The Chargers have one state championship (1976), and have played for the state championship twice. Midland Community Stadium is located adjacent to Midland High School but is shared by both schools for football, track & field and soccer games. The grass field was replaced with blue AstroTurf XPe in 2004.
In 2009, both the girl's and boy's varsity tennis teams won state championships. It was the first championship by the girls' team, and the first for the boys in 25 years. The girls won division 1, while the boys won division 2.
In 2011 the varsity competitive cheer team scored 767.0440 points to win its first ever district title in Division 1 in the school's history. This team broke school records for Round 1, Round 2, and tied its record in Round 3.
Fall sports
- Football
- Volleyball
- Girls swimming/diving
- Cross country (boys + girls)
- Pom-Pon
- Cheer
- Boys soccer
- Boys tennis
- Girls golf
Winter sports
- Wrestling;
- Basketball (boys and girls)
- Boys Swimming
- Boys Diving
- Cheer
- Pom-Pon
- Competitive cheer
- Hockey
- Gymnastics**
Spring sports
- Baseball
- Softball
- Track & field (boys and girls)
- Boys golf
- Girls tennis
- Girls soccer
**Recently cut as a sport due to district budget cuts along with various freshman teams.
Activities
Clubs and organizations
Dow High School provides its students with a wide choice of extracurricular activities. Among them are: Alpine Club (ski), Band, Book Club, Business Professionals of America, Camp Outlook, The Charger Shoppe, Chess Club, Choir, Class Officers, Debate Team, Distributive Education Club of America (DECA), Drama Club, Drumline, Equestrian Team, Freaks/Geeks&Losers, Forensics,Quidditch Club, Potions Class, French Club, Gang Green (Pep Club), German Klub, Habitat for Humanity, International Affairs Club, The All A Club International Thespian Society, Key Club, La Voz (voice), Moot Court, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, "The Update" Staff, MMH Club, Orchestra, Poetry Club, Pom-pon (dance team), Prom 2009, Renaissance Fair (Ren Fair), Dumbledores army, Defense Against the Dark Arts League, Robotics Club, Rocket Club, Science Olympiad Team, Spanish Club, Student Senate, Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), Students for Violence Everywhere (SAVE), Women's Ensemble, "Charger" Staff, Youth in Government, The Charge - Robotics Team, Dow High Sniper Club, The Gangsta Club, Junior S.W.A.T. Team.
Spirit week
Every year, the four student classes (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors), hold a competition for the most spirit. The competition is held the week of the Dow versus Midland High School football game. Activities include: spirit days, hall decorating, and an obstacle course during the annual "Beat Midland High" assembly.
Herbert Henry Dow High SchoolNotable alumni
- David Lee Camp, member of the United States House of Representatives
- Michael Cohrs, Group Executive Committee Deutsche Bank
- Chuck Moss, member of the Michigan House of Representatives
- Jalen Parmele, Baltimore Ravens running back, drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 6th round of the 2008 NFL Draft
- Bill Schuette, District Court of Appeals Judge, former member of the United States House of Representatives and Attorney General of the State of Michigan
- Steve Shelley, drummer for the band Sonic Youth
- Cheryl Studer, Grammy Award winning dramatic soprano
- Scott Winchester, former MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
- Meredith McGrath, former professional tennis player on the Women's Tennis Association
- Brian Leigeb, former Central Michigan University and NFL cornerback
Shooting
At approximately 11:00 AM EST[6] (16:00 UTC) on March 7, 2007, a fatal shooting occurred on a sidewalk just outside of the building, near the cafeteria. David Turner, a former student at nearby Coleman High School, shot his ex-girlfriend Jessica Forsyth four times with a .44 caliber handgun (which belonged to Turner's mother) before committing suicide. Forsyth was hit three times in the chest, and once in the arm,[6] but the injuries were not fatal.
Turner had been ordered to leave the school premises before the incident, but returned later when Forsyth agreed to meet him.[7] Turner and Forsyth both attended an alternative high school in the area until March 5, when Forsyth transferred to H.H. Dow High.[6] Authorities believe that Turner acted because Forsyth had broken off the relationship and transferred to Dow High to distance herself from Turner.[8] Turner was previously convicted of stealing firearms, as well as a count of domestic abuse against his mother. He was sentenced to 18 months' probation in December 2006 with stipulation that he must not use a firearm.[8]
On June 15, 2007 ABC-TV's 20/20 program broadcast a segment about the shooting. It turns out that Jessica was four months pregnant with Turner's baby at the time of the shooting.[7][9] She and the baby both survived the shooting, apparently because Jessica had a metal plate in her chest due to a childhood accident.[7]
References
- ^ a b c [1] Dow High School website, Student Handbook
- ^ US News & World Report: Nov 30, 2007-Gold & Silver: Top Performing Schools By State
- ^ Dow High School website: About Herbert Henry Dow High School
- ^ Dow High School website: School Profile 2007-2008
- ^ Midland Public Schools website: Curriculum-International Baccalaureate
- ^ a b c School shooting stuns community, ABC12, March 7, 2007
- ^ a b c A Michigan Teen Gets a Lucky Shot at Life, ABC News 20/20, June 14, 2007
- ^ a b Mlive.com
- ^ Midland shooting victim on 20/20, The Saginaw News, June 14, 2007
External links
High schools Midland High School • Herbert Henry Dow High SchoolMiddle schools Central Middle School • Jefferson Middle School • Northeast Middle SchoolElementary schools Adams Elementary School • Carpenter Elementary School • Chestnut Hill Elementary School • Chippewassee Elementary School • Cook Elementary School • Eastlawn Elementary School • Longview Elementary School • Mills Elementary School • Parkdale Elementary School • Plymouth Elementary School • Siebert Elementary School • Woodcrest Elementary SchoolPrivate schools Calvary Baptist Academy • Midland Academy of Advanced & Creative StudiesAlternative schools Franklin CenterCharter schools noneState schools noneCategories:- High schools in Michigan
- Midland, Michigan
- Blue Ribbon schools in Michigan
- Educational institutions established in 1968
- Schools in Midland County, Michigan
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
