North High School (Phoenix, Arizona)

For schools of the same name, see North High School (disambiguation).

North High School
Location
1101 East Thomas Road Phoenix, Arizona 85014,  United States
Coordinates	33°28′47″N 112°03′29″W / 33.479614°N 112.05802°W / 33.479614; -112.05802Coordinates: 33°28′47″N 112°03′29″W / 33.479614°N 112.05802°W / 33.479614; -112.05802
Information
Type	Public secondary school
Established	1939
Faculty	Approx. 219
Grades	9-12
Number of students	Approx. 2,528
Color(s)	Blue and Red
Mascot	MUSTANG
Website	www.NorthHS.com

North High School is part of the Phoenix Union High School District. The campus is located at 1101 East Thomas Road north of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA. North’s enrollment is 2600 students.^[1] The school predominantly serves students from partner elementary districts Madison, Osborn, Creighton and Phoenix Elementary.

North is home of the International Baccalaureate Magnet Program. The International Baccalaureate offers the college-bound student an opportunity to earn a special high school diploma. The program demands a high level of proficiency in all academic areas and requires a minimum of four years of one foreign language. Challenging classes that meet IB standards assure students the opportunity to achieve at levels set by and tested by, the International Baccalaureate organization based in Geneva, Switzerland.

History

North High School opened its doors to 1,517 students in 1939.^[2]

Declining enrollment and budget shortfalls in the late 1970s forced the district governing board in 1981 to close North High. Shortly after that, lawsuits were filed by inner city parents, and the U.S. District Court ruled that the Phoenix Union High School District must restore educational opportunities to inner city high school students. The district chose to reopen North High in order to satisfy the court's concerns. In the fall of 1983, after a $1.2 million renovation, North was opened once again, with a freshman class of 595 students drawn from a mix of Hispanic (50%), black (10%), and white (30%) neighborhoods. In addition, a small number of sophomores, juniors, and seniors (some of which had attended North in 1980) chose to transfer to North, to complete their education there. North also received further improvements to ensure that inner-city students have access to a quality education.

In the early 1990s, North High was faced with the removal of asbestos from their buildings. Building by building, over a three year time period, the school was torn apart, rebuilt, and remodeled. At that time, a new Administration building was constructed, and a new Art wing was added to the Science building. The large student eating area and covered ramada in the center of campus were also added at that time. The original brick exterior of the school was replaced with stucco and a Southwestern trim.

In December 1998, construction was completed on an addition to the Language Arts Building. This addition was part of continued efforts to ease crowded conditions. The high-point, student population of the 1998-99 school year was over 2700.

Sports

North High School offers a wide variety of sports including:

• Boys/Girls Swimming
• Girls Volleyball
• Boys Football
• Boys Wrestling
• Girls Wrestlerettes
• Boys/Girls Cross Country
• Boys/Girls Soccer
• Boys/Girls Basketball
• Boys Baseball
• Girls Softball
• Boys/Girls Track

Notable alumni

• Michael Bruce - Alice Cooper band member, inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame in 2010
• Robert Bulla - former CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Richard Snell - businessman
• Joan Ganz Cooney - creator/producer, Sesame Street
• Gary Tooker - former CEO, Motorola
• Herb Drinkwater - former Mayor of Scottsdale
• Ed Mell - painter, sculptor
• Jim Brewer - first U.S. high schooler to pole vault 15 feet (1957)
• Dallas Long, Jr. - Olympic Shot Putter
• Wayne Newton - entertainer
• Michael Carbajal - Professional Boxer and Olympic Silver medalist
• Eldridge Wayne Coleman -Professional Wrestling Champion "Superstar" Billy Graham
• Patrick O. Ford - military war hero
• Meg Sneed - Civil Rights Activist

References

1. ^ http://www.phxhs.k12.az.us/education/school/schoolhistory.php?sectiondetailid=5551
2. ^ http://www.aiaonline.org/story/uploads/schools_as_of_9_3__1118250409.pdf

External links

• North High School
• Phoenix Union High School District website
• Arizona Department of Education School Report Card