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Baton Rouge Magnet High School is a magnet school in the East Baton Rouge Parish School system of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was founded in the early 1890s. The current school building was built in 1928, and, as Baton Rouge High School, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
[ The school requires students to pass enrollment standards and exceed graduation standards. As a result, nearly all graduating students attend college.][Baton Rouge Magnet High School 2006-2007 Profile. 29 Aug. 2006. Baton Rouge Magnet High School. 17 Apr. 2008. http://brmhs.ebrschools.org/eduWEB2/1000054/docs/school_profile06-07.pdf.]- BRMHS History
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The present campus was put into use in 1925 (although some sources cite 1927 or 1928 as the year the new building opened) when the main four-story building was built. Additional buildings were added and renovations made during the 1950s. By 1972, the present facilities were completed and air conditioning was installed. In the fall of 1976, BRMHS began operating under the new Magnet School Curriculum, and the Class of 1980 became the first graduating class to attend all four full years under the Magnet Program.Numerous district and state championships have been won as is attested by the vast collection of trophies on view in the lobby. Though the major sports of football, basketball, and baseball were discontinued in 1976, the individual and life-time sports have continued a tradition of winning district and state championships. State and district rally honors have increased as the number of National Merit Students among the student body.
- The 4th floor of BRMHS used to be home to the band and orchestra, but is now closed off to the student body. Elvis Presley played on the Baton Rouge High stage with Faron Young on May 2, 1955
[Elvis on the Road 1955 - 1956. Unknown Publication Date. The Pop History Dig. 17 Apr. 2008. http://www.mindstorminteractive.com/blog/?p=22.][Elvis by Day. Unknown Publication Date. Random House. 17 Apr. 2008. http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/promos/elvisdaybyday/1955.html]The school also was used in 2009 as a location for the filming of parts of the movie Ticking Clock. - Academics and Awards
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BRMHS was awarded the Blue Ribbon for Academic Excellence for the school years 1982-1983 and 2003-2004.
[Blue Ribbon Schools. Unknown Publication Date. Blue Ribbon Schools. 17 Apr. 2008. http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.doc][No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program - 2003 Schools 28 Oct. 2003. US Department of Eductaion. 17 Apr. 2008. http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2003-schools.pdf] The school offers 19 Advanced Placement classes, including Science Lab, with an additional American Government course speculated for 2008-2009. It has 20 honors courses, two dual enrollment courses through Baton Rouge Community College, and three foreign languages; French I-V, Spanish I-V, Latin I-V. Due to funds being cut by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Japanese is no longer offered. Greek is offered sporadically and was last offered in 2008. Due to faculty shortage, since 2007 German and Russian are no longer available. Having a college-preparatory Magnet program, BRMHS employs a rigorous curriculum resulting in almost all of its graduates attending college. The school regularly has the most National Merit Scholarship Award recipients of the state. The 270 students graduating in 2006 were offered over $8 million in college scholarships, with almost all going on to enter college. - The school is self proclaimed to be the highest academically achieving school in the state of Louisiana.
- It received a special award in 2004 from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., distinguishing it as one of five schools in the nation excelling in performing arts. It was one of two high schools to receive this award. On March 21, 2005, the school performed and displayed aspects of its arts and performances programs on one of the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stages.
- BRMHS is one of the few high schools in the nation to offer two student run radio stations on campus. The original station, WBRH, was joined in 1997 by KBRH. They are both non-profit radio stations and are run with the financial support of the listening community. They publicly broadcast jazz on WBRH 90.3 FM, and classic R&B and local music on KBRH 1260 AM.
[ Baton Rouge Magnet High Radio Station] - Sports and athletics
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The school's football team won state championships in 1944 & 1964
- The school has a small wrestling team.
- The cross-country program was a dominant force in the 1980s and early-1990's as the men's team won its 10th consecutive state title in 1988, setting a national record. The women's program won 6 state titles and placed numerous individual state champions.
- The school also has played host to the East Baton Rouge Parish coach of the year.
- The soccer team competes in district 5 of the 5A classification of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
[Final Districting of LHSAA Schools. 30 Nov. 2006. LHSAA. 17 Apr. 2008. http://www.lhsaa.org/classification/FinalPlan20072008.doc] In addition, the school has an intramural sports program consisting of American flag football and basketball. - Visual and Performing Arts
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The school has music programs, including an award winning choir, a jazz band and concert band, and a string orchestra.
- Choral Studies
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The BRMHS Department of Choral Studies offers choral singing, solo vocal literature, music theory, and the art of English handbell ringing. In 2007 the program had over seventy-five choristers.
- Performing Arts
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The BRMHS has the only student operated AM and FM radio stations in the country. The school was honored with a "Creative Ticket in the Arts" in 2005 by the Louisiana Division of the Arts and nominated for recognition on a national level.
- Piano Department
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The piano department has a lab consisting of 17 full-size instruments, including Yamaha Clavinovas, and Rolands, as well as three 64-key Wurlitzer keyboards. Advanced students present two recitals each year. Students also perform for Nursing Homes, Retirement Centers, and other community functions. All styles of music are studied.
[Piano Department. Unknown Publication Date. Baton Rouge Magnet High School. 17 Apr. 2008. http://brmhs.ebrschools.org/explore.cfm/schoolnews/departmental/100014101] - Visual Arts
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Visual artists at BRMHS can take four years of art classes. Student artwork is displayed frequently at the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board office and various Baton Rouge galleries, and the department has its own show at the school each spring.
- Orchestra
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The Orchestra at Baton Rouge High is an Award winning Program. They have participated in event in New York, Atlanta, Memphis, and Dallas.There are over 60 members and also performs with the Mckinley High Orchestra to form the BRM Orchestra. Their orchestra of Baton Rouge Magnet High is determined by Audition
- Condition of physical plant
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BRMHS has had problems with building damage from moisture, and the school system is struggling with funding as well as the mechanics of how to continue education while undergoing a major renovation.
[ Ideas include ‘moving’ Baton Rouge High to Lee High campus by Charles Lussier, The Advocate, November 30, 2007] The district is planning the details of a major reconstruction project.[ Proposed site plan] Various articles in Baton Rouge print media have highlighted the various physical problems on the Baton Rouge High campus.[ My Old School 225 Baton Rouge][ This is Baton Rouge’s best high school Baton Rouge Business Report] The Baton Rouge High Alumni Association also has documented deteriorating conditions at the school. Image:BRMHS exterior wall 1.JPG|Facade of main building, seriously damaged by trapped moisture, has detached from the superstructure (September 2007). - Extracurricular Activities
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Baton Rouge High School has many clubs for students to choose from. Clubs range from academic to social and clubs number at least 59.
[School Clubs. Unknown Publication Date. Baton Rouge Magnet High School. 17 Apr. 2008. http://brmhs.ebrschools.org/explore.cfm/schoolnews/clubs/] The following is a brief list of clubs at BRMHS: - The academic clubs include:
- Beta Club, Chess Club, Computer Science Club, Epidemiology Club, Law Club, Literary Travel, Mechanical Tech, Media Tech, Mock Trial, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl, and Science Club.
- The athletic organization clubs include:
- Dance Club, Frisbee, Gymnastics, Intramural Club, Woods and Waters, and SCUBA Club.
- The language and culture oriented clubs include:
- African Heritage, Arabic Club, Chinese Club, French Club, German Club, International Cultural Association (ICA), Junior Classical League, Muslim Student Association, Spanish Club, and Indian Student Association.
- The political clubs include:
- Amnesty International, Gay-Straight Alliance, Invisible Children, Teenage Republicans, and Young Democrats.
- The service oriented clubs include:
- 4-H, Best Buddies, Cancer Club, Interact, Key Club, Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity.
- The student organization clubs include:
- Hi-Y, Tri-Hi-Y, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and Student Government Association (SGA).
- Other clubs include:
- Anime Club, Film Club, Awakening, the Piano Club, Potpourri (the literary publication produced by Baton Rouge High students), The Musician's Guild, WBRH/Radio Club, and Diplomacy Club.
- Some of the most active clubs include Beta Club, Frisbee, ICA, Mu Alpha Theta, Junior Classical League and Habitat for Humanity. ICA and African Heritage co-host a cultural show each spring which features presentations by students from various, diverse backgrounds sharing cultural experiences. Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, and the Junior Classical League always attend their club's state convention, often sweeping many awards for their chapter.
- ICA, Hi-Y/Tri-Hi-Y, Frisbee, and Habitat for Humanity are the largest clubs at BRMHS.
- The Library
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The library of Baton Rouge High boasts over 12,000 books and other volumes. The library and the adjoining lab have at least 45 computers, some are networked to a wireless network allowing access to laser printers, scanners, digital cameras and more.
[Baton Rouge Magnet High School Library. Unknown Publication Date. Baton Rouge Magenet High School. 17 Apr. 2008. http://brmhs.ebrschools.org/explore.cfm/library/.] - Traditions
- Rivalries
- Istrouma High School (until 1976 , the rivalry was renewed in 2007)
- Catholic High School
- St. Joseph's Academy
- Lafayette High School
- McKinley Senior High School
- Caddo Magnet High School
- Ben Franklin High School
- Spirit Day
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On one of the first Fridays after school begins, BRMHS hosts a "Spirit Day" where each class represents their school spirit by wearing green and gold. Seniors traditionally wear completely outrageous costumes, including capes, Mitres, wigs, pom-poms, and matching shirts. A Spirit Assembly is held where each class is mocked by every other class. The freshmen are made fun of, in good taste, and the seniors are mocked by underclassmen.
- Fall Fair
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During the week leading up to Halloween, BRMHS has a different costume theme for each day of the week. In the past, there has been a Toga Day, a Decades Day, and a Twin/Triplets/Duos/Famous Couples Day, a Pirates Vs. Ninjas Day and a Superheroes Day. The theme is changed each year by the Student Government Association. The last day of Fall Fair week is always Masquerade Day, where everyone wears whatever costume they so choose. On this day, students are dismissed from class early, and go out to enjoy Fall Fair on the soccer field and track. School clubs are allowed to register booths, and they come up with inventive ways to raise money for their club. German Club traditionally holds a "German Disco", while the Junior Classical League has held "Gladiator Fights" with pool noodles and cardboard shields. Many of the culture clubs sell ethnic foods, such as fajitas, pita bread, and eggrolls.
- Dances
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Annual dances include: Get Acquainted, Turkey Jam, Winter Formal, and Prom.Recently, there have been plans to hold a Sady Hawkins Dance, but it is yet unsuccessful.
- Alma mater
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For Baton Rouge High we raise our cry;
for the school we all adore
We will raise our standards high
Till known from shore to shore -
Then we'll fight! Fight! Fight!
With all our might till victory's in sight
Then we'll raise our banners high
For dear old Baton Rouge High - it has been noted that high does indeed rhyme with high
- Notable alumni
- Bobby Jindal: former U.S. Congressman and current Louisiana Governor
[ Bobby Jindal biography]
- Jay Dardenne: Longtime State Senator and Current Louisiana Secretary of State
- Karey Kirkpatrick: Screen writer of Chicken Run, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Over the Hedge.
- Jim Taylor: Hall of Fame Football Player
- Johnny Ramistella a.k.a Johnny Rivers: 1950s & 60s rock & roll musician
- Jimmy Clanton: 1950s & 60s swamp pop and R&B musician
- Bob Pettit: Hall of Fame Basketball Player
- Jim Odom: President/Founder/CEO at PreSonus Audio Electronics
- Wayne Kirkpatrick: Grammy-winning songwriter of "Change the World"
- James Grissom: writer for Sex and the City and other television programs. Author of Follies of God (Alfred A. Knopf), a book about Tennessee Williams.
- Richard Boudreaux: award-winning foreign correspondent
- External links
- Official Baton Rouge Magnet High School site
- Official site of the Department of Choral Studies Festival Singers
- Official database for the Festival Singers
- Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
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