Forest Grove High School

Infobox School


image_caption =
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name= Forest Grove High School
motto =
grades = 9-12
principal = John O'Neil
type = Public high school
established = 1907
enrollment = 1,715 (as of 2005-06)
faculty = 79.0 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 21.7
established = 1907
address =
city = Forest Grove
state = OR
country = United States
colors = Maroon and Gold
teamname = Vikings
conference = Pacific Conference
district = Forest Grove School District
website = [http://www.fgsd.k12.or.us/Default.aspx?tabid=186 Forest Grove High School] Forest Grove High School is a public high school located in Forest Grove, Oregon, United States. The school was founded in 1907. It is the only high school in the Forest Grove School District. The school houses grades ninth through twelfth. [Navas, Melissa. Forest Grove looks at changing classes. "The Oregonian", June 27 2007.]

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,715 students and 79.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 21.7. [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=4105160&ID=410516001189 Forest Grove High School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 12, 2007.]

Academics

The school had the highest rate for drop outs in Washington County and test scores below the state average in the early 2000s.Tareen, Sophia. A model for change. "The Oregonian", May 18 2006.] Forest Grove High then hired a new principal, John O'Neil, to address these issues in 2002.The principal introduced the mandatory Reading and Math Workshops for students below the state average to raise their performance. This and other changes helped to reduce the dropout rate and improve test scores at the school. For these improvements, in 2006 the school was presented the Closing the Achievement Gap award from the State of Oregon. [Beghtel, Doug. School achievement award. "The Oregonian", September 28 2006.] The following year, the 2,000-student school became the first high school to win the award two years in a row.Pardington, Suzanne. Forest Grove High School: School turnaround? 'Absolutely'. "The Oregonian", May 8 2007.] During this time graduation rates improved from around 66% to 85%. The school has been awarded the Bronze Medal by US News and World Report's rankings of America's Best High Schools. [US News and World Report, [http://www.usnews.com/listings/high-schools/oregon/forest_grove_high_school FGHS: Best High Schools] . Accessed June 15, 2008]

Athletics

The school is part of the Pacific Conference, which participates in athletics against the Canby Cougars, McMinnville Grizzlies, Newberg Tigers, Tigard Tigers, and the Tualatin Timberwolves. In 2007, the softball team won the 6A state championship, which was the school's first state championship. [Palmer, Zach. [http://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/sports/story.php?story_id=118085011588623000 Lady Vikings win state championship.] "The Forest Grove News-Times", June 2 2007.]

Programs

In 1976, Birt Hansen started the Viking House Program. It is a program For the top 12-16 woodworking students at the school started to challenge their skills and put them to use. Each year the students build a single-family home in the community, with 2007’s home measuring 2,008 square feet.Trappen, Michelle. Forest Grove High School - Students build every square inch of house. "The Oregonian", October 4 2007.] They begin building in early September and finish construction with an open-house in late May.Mandel, Michelle. Viking House not your average school project. "The Oregonian", June 8 2006.] The house is then put up for sale at market price, with the proceeds then used for furthering the program with purchases of new tools and the materials for the next house.Trappen, Michelle. Hands-on classes make a comeback. "The Oregonian", October 11 2007.] This program is one of the few focused on house construction in Portland-area schools. The program adopted "learn by doing" as their motto. Through 2007, the program had built 12 homes.

In addition to the home construction program, Forest Grove High also has a Future Farmers of America program.Mullen, Ruth. Growing plants, growing up. "The Oregonian", May 3 2007.] This program focuses on agriculture, with the students raising livestock and plants that are then sold to the public. The school operates the state’s largest retail nursery run by students, with their annual plant sale offering approximately 200,000 items.

The school also operates a firefighting cadet program that began in 2001.Navas, Melissa. Firefighter cadet class might be cut. "The Oregonian", January 30 2007.] The program allows juniors and seniors to learn firefighting techniques that are usually taught at the community college level to prepare students for careers in firefighting. Forest Grove’s fire department and the school partner in the program with the fire department providing instructors.

Notable graduates

*Bobby Chouinard, a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. [ [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/C/bobby-chouinard.shtml Bobby Chouinard] , The Baseball Cube. Accessed November 12, 2007.]

Further reading

*cite news |title= Forest Grove High School Program Impresses Governor |url=http://alacarte.lexisnexis.com/partners/int/google/landingpage.asp?id=23685107&mtid=1&ws=9j0hDk1UboE=&ws_pub=The%20Oregonian%20(Portland,%20Oregon)&ws_date=February%201,%201990&ws_len=505&ws_lni=4JMS-MCN0-TX1M-R21G-00000-00&ws_lastupdate=20060929&ws_title=FOREST%20GROVE%20HIGH%20PROGRAM%20IMPRESSES&ws_refer=http://news.google.com/archivesearch?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&q=%22Forest+Grove+High+School%22
publisher= "The Oregonian" | first= Linda |last= Campillo |date=1990-02-01
*cite news |title= Forest Grove High School Studies Fewer But Longer Classes |url=http://alacarte.lexisnexis.com/partners/int/google/landingpage.asp?id=24602393&mtid=1&ws=9j0hDk1UboE=&ws_pub=The%20Oregonian%20(Portland,%20Oregon)&ws_date=December%2016,%201993&ws_len=389&ws_lni=4JN0-H480-TX1M-R388-00000-00&ws_lastupdate=20061005&ws_title=FOREST%20GROVE%20HIGH%20STUDIES%20FEWER&ws_refer=http://news.google.com/archivesearch?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&q=%22Forest+Grove+High+School%22
publisher= "The Oregonian" | first= Dana |last= Haynes |date=1993-12-16
*cite news |title= Australian Teaches at Forest Grove High |url=http://alacarte.lexisnexis.com/partners/int/google/landingpage.asp?id=23697199&mtid=1&ws=9j0hDk1UboE=&ws_pub=The%20Oregonian%20(Portland,%20Oregon)&ws_date=February%2022,%201990&ws_len=335&ws_lni=4JMS-MCT0-TX1M-R2JD-00000-00&ws_lastupdate=20060929&ws_title=AUSTRALIAN%20TEACHES%20AT%20FOREST%20GROVE&ws_refer=http://news.google.com/archivesearch?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&q=%22Forest+Grove+High+School%22
publisher= "The Oregonian" |last= Staff |date=1990-02-22

References

External links

* [http://fghsvikinghouse.com/default.aspx?tabid=3 Viking House website]
* [http://www.fgsd.k12.or.us/Default.aspx?tabid=186 Forest Grove High School]