Bedford North Lawrence High School

Infobox_School
name = Bedford North Lawrence High School


motto = Tradition Never Graduates
established = 1974
type = Public high school
affiliation = None
district = North Lawrence Schools
grades = 9-12
superintendent = Dr. Dennis Turner
principal = Michael Terry
head of school =
dean =
faculty = 95
staff =
students =
enrollment = 1606
athletics =
conference = Hoosier Hills
colors = Red, White, and Blue
mascot = Stars
free_label = Location
free_text = Suburban/Small City
free_label2 =
free_text2 =
location = 595 Stars Boulevard
Bedford, Indiana 47421
USA
information =
website = [http://www.nlcs.k12.in.us/bnlhs/]

Bedford North Lawrence High School [http://www.nlcs.k12.in.us/bnlhs/] is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in the eastern part of Bedford, Indiana and is accredited by the Indiana State Department of Public Instruction and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Established in 1974, the school consolidated seven area high schools: Bedford, Tunnelton, Shawswick, Needmore, Fayetteville, Oolitic, and Heltonville. Bedford North Lawrence, or simply known as "BNL" is fed from Bedford, Shawswick, and Oolitic Middle Schools, as well as the private St. Vincent de Paul School.

BNL's mission: "as a purposeful learning community that each student reaches his or her full potential."

History/Recent News

The present school building was not complete in 1974, but the consolidation proceeded, busing all students to what was previously the Bedford High School. The school was also nearly known as Eastbrook High School, with their colors being green and gold. BNL was remodeled in the the 2005-06 school year, adding all new classrooms, reconstructing hallways to improve congestion, and brand new IMC and Cafeteria.

Academics

In 2005-06, the Bedford North Lawrence graduating class averaged a composite 983 out of a 1600 possible on the SAT Reasoning Test. On the ACT test, students averaged a 22.3, which is above average for the state of Indiana. BNL has an 82% graduation rate, 64% of those pursuing higher education, and 32% graduating with honors. Bedford North Lawrence maintains a 93.3% attendance rate. BNL offers 18 Honors level courses for students, ranging from AP Psychology to AP Chemistry. Seven of these courses can also be taken for dual high school and college credit through Indiana University's Advanced College Project. The school features traditional eight-period scheduling and runs on two semesters, one August-to-December, the other January-to-May.

Demographics

Bedford North Lawrence is situated in the suburban city of Bedford, Indiana, which is 12 miles south of Bloomington. Ethnically, the school is 93.% White, the next closest group being Hispanics at 2%. 20% of the school is on Indiana's free-lunch program.

Athletics

The school offers boys and girls basketball, cross country, track, golf, baseball, softball, football, swimming, volleyball, tennis, soccer, and wrestling.

BNL is most widely known across the state of Indiana for its successes in boys' and girls' basketball and boys' golf.

Basketball

The boys' basketball squad won a state title in 1990 with Indiana's all-time high school leading scorer and Indiana Hoosier great Damon Bailey and the girls won titles in 1983, with All-State player Kelly Fitzgerald, and in 1991, with Miss Basketball Marla Inman. The Stars have not won a sectional game since 2001-02, when All-State player Cole Sinclair and coach Mark Ryan led the team to a semi-State appearance where they were defeated by Notre Dame's Chris Thomas, Purdue's David Teague, and Pike High School at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Mark Ryan was forced to resign just prior to the start of the 2004-2005 season to usher in former BNL standout, Damon Bailey as head coach. Mark Ryan was 126-72 in nine seasons as the Stars coach and led the Stars to sectional championships in 1999 and 2001, as well as a regional championship in 2001. From 2004-06, Bailey returned to his alma mater to coach the Stars. However, his success on the court did not translate, leading the Stars to a mediocre 23-22 record over two seasons. BNL plays in the BNL Fieldhouse which consistently sold out through the early 90's all 7000-plus seats, and has seen the likes of Bob Knight, Dick Vitale, and Gene Keady in attendance, as well as Bailey, Jared Jeffries, Sean May, Mike Conley, grace the floor.

Golf

The BNL boys' golf team has been consistently the top team for the Stars. In the late 80's PGA Tour member Craig Bowden and Redstone Country Club pro Derek Clouse led the Stars. The program has produced numerous Division I college players throughout their history. The golf team has won 15 conference titles, 20 sectional titles, 7 regionals, and has had 27 state finals appearances. This is the most state finals appearances without a championship. They have also had 7 All-State performers. From 1974-2005, the Stars advanced to regional play, the longest streak of this kind in the school's history. After a down 2006 campaign, the spring 2007 Stars finished off the year with a sectional title and a 12th place ranking in the final poll.

Clubs

Clubs, organizations, and academic/arts groups at BNL include:

*Athletic Training,
*Art Club,
*Beta Club,
*BNL Star Newspaper,
*Business Professionals of America,
*Chorale,
*Drama Club,
*Drumline,
*EPICS,
*Environmental Club,
*Future Farmers of America,
*FCCLA,
*Fellowship of Christian Athletes,
*Fieldhouse Fanatics,
*French Club,
*German Club,
*Habitat for Humanity,
*I-Care Council,
*IMPACT Club,
*Jazz and Concert Bands,
*Key Club
*Latin Club,
*Marching Band,
*National Honor Society,
*Yearbook,
*Orchestra,
*Renaissance,
*Science Club,
*Slut Club,
*Spanish Club,
*Star Sound,
*Star Station 14 Television,
*Student Council,
*Teens For Kids First,
*VERITAS Magazine

Notable alumni

*Ken Bowersox, astronaut
*Damon Bailey, former basketball star