- Norman High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in Norman, Oklahoma with a steady enrollment of 1,945 students. It is accredited by North Central Association, the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Association. The school year consists of two 15-week semesters with a 6 class flexible schedule, consisting of 52 minute periods. Norman High School is part of the Norman Independent School District No. 29 of Cleveland County, Oklahoma, more commonly known as Norman Public Schools (NPS). Norman High was ranked as one of the top 1,400 high schools in the United States in 2009.
- History
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Norman High School's history began in 1890 with the construction of the township's first high school, located at what was then the west side of the city. The institution enjoyed the honor of being the only educational facility in Norman, tutoring students from elementary through high school. In the early 1900s, the original high school building burned down following an attempt to condemn the school. After the fire, there were no official high school buildings for 15–19 years. During this time, students were taught in homes, businesses, churches and other facilities. The second structure to house Norman High was located off of Porter Avenue and later would become Central Mid-High. This was the high school of Norman for the next 22 years.
- Academics
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Curriculum highlights include:
- CareerTech
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Students interested in technical and career-specific skills to prepare for such careers as automotive, child care, computers, construction, cosmetology, industrial technology, health care, and landscape may have Dual Enrollment in one- or two-year programs at Moore Norman Technology Center, affiliated with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. Bus transportation is provided in both the morning and afternoon.
- Dual Enrollment
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Juniors and seniors may take courses at many local colleges and universities, including the University of Oklahoma, Rose State College, and Oklahoma City Community College.
- Communications
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Norman High students have Max Rhodes and Pablo Kenney to thank for their freedom of expression. For almost a decade, the Chesley regime had ruled over the student body with an iron fist, gradually eroding their rights under the guise of budget constraints and increasing security. The ditzy dictator (as she was often called for her rambling morning announcements) began her reign of terror with a mandate requiring her subjects to wear dog tags, presumably so that no act of subversion could remain hidden in anonymity. Next, she installed security cameras throughout the school grounds to watch for any signs of disloyalty or happiness. These were dark times, indeed. Miraculously, it was in the midst of this dystopian nightmare that two men rose from the shadows to become heros in the eyes their peers. Battling with the malevolent Chesley for over a year, these courageous Americans created "Tiger's Talk" in the fall of 2003, the first student newspaper to successfully publish an issue under Lynn Chesley's paranoid watch. "TigersTalk was renamed The Tiger Tribune in 2006 by adviser Joye Oakley and editors Sabra Hammett, Elizabeth Craig, and Dylan Reif. Since 2006, The Tiger Tribune has received multiple state awards. In 2009, The Tiger Tribune was awarded the OIPA Sweepstakes award, the highest honor awarded for high school newspapers in Oklahoma. Apparently, yearbook students produce The Trails yearbook, which has also received some state and national awards, and a few students might study broadcasting through the production of programs for the local cable TV channel 18.
- Special Education
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Norman Public Schools provides comprehensive services to many qualifying students. NHS Special Education services have won many state awards.
- Fine & Performing Arts
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Norman High offers a wide array of courses allowing for an in-depth exploration of the arts, including drawing and painting, photography, debate, acting, music, and modern dance.
- Music
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The music department encompasses the marching band, two concert bands (Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band), two concert orchestras (Symphonic and Philharmonia), and several choirs. The Symphonic Orchestra has been one of the top orchestras in Oklahoma since the 1970s, receiving the state Sweepstakes award almost every year. To receive the Sweepstakes award, an orchestra must receive Superior (I) ratings at the state string orchestra and full orchestra contests, and have a certain combination of solos and ensembles receive Superior (I) ratings at the state solo and ensemble contest.
- Alternative Education
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An alternative high school program offers a different approach to learning with a nontraditional curriculum in a more structured environment.
- Guidance and Counseling
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A team of five counselors provides support and services to students in areas including course placement, personal adjustment, and college and career counseling. The counselors offer students the opportunity to individualize their education plans to better suit their needs starting next school year as part of the IEP (Individual Education Plan) program.
- Advanced Course Offerings
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Norman High provides students with Advanced Placement (AP) coursework in a variety of subjects including Computer Programming, Psychology, Studio Art, English Literature & Composition, English Language & Composition, United States History, European History, Government, Human Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics C, Calculus AB and BC, and Spanish.
- Also available are the two-year, mentored AEGIS English and AEGIS Math programs. Students can apply at the end of their sophomore year, and 20-25 students are selected for each program.
- Graduation Requirements
- English - 4 units
- Math - 3 units (Algebra I or greater)
- Science - 2 units
- World History - 1 unit
- U.S. History - 1/2 unit
- U.S. Government - 1 unit
- Oklahoma History - 1/2 unit
- Electives - 8 units
- Fine Arts - 2 unit
- Total - 22 units
- Athletics
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Norman High School has a rich tradition in athletics, having won a state championship in football in 1992, baseball in 1993, and woman's basketball in 1995 as well. Among those notable alumni that led the Tigers to these state championships are former NFL linebacker Tyrell Peters (Ravens) and kicker Scott Blanton(Redskins), former college football all-american J.T. Thatcher (Oklahoma), also former college players fullback T.J. Leon(Missouri), quarterback Zac Taylor(Nebraska), current college football players running back Mossis Madu(Oklahoma), wide receiver Ryan Broyles(Oklahoma), quarterback Press Taylor(Marshall), former college baseball players J.T Harrison (Mississippi), Richard Park (Oklahoma), Stacy Hansmeyer (UConn Woman's Basketball), and Sherri Coale (Current OU Woman's Head Coach).
- The Tiger baseball team played in the state championship game in 1985, 1991, 1994, and again in 1995 and 1996, winning their first title in school history in 1994 with a 31-6 record. They finished the 1994 season ranked 14th nationally by the USA Today.
- Miscellaneous
- Mission Statement
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Norman High School expects excellence, responsibility, and respect among all members of the learning community.
- Student Organizations
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Norman High has many student organizations, including:
- Asian Cultural Club
- Bike Club
- Black Student Association
- Botball
- Cookies and Books
- DECA
- Food Club
- French Club
- Global Awareness Club
- Gay–straight alliance
- Invisible Children
- Latin Club
- Newspaper
- Psychology Club
- S.W.A.T (Students Working Against Tobacco)
- Spanish Club
- Spanish Honor Society
- Young Democrats
- Young Libertarians
- Young Republicans
- Awards
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The Tiger Tribune, the monthly student newspaper, won the OSM/OIPA All-Oklahoman award in 2008 and 2009. In 2009 the newspaper won the coveted OSM/OIPA Sweepstakes award, the highest award given by OSM/OIPA. Along with the Sweepstakes and the All-Oklahoman awards, the newspaper won the Spirit Award at the annual Spring Media Monday.
- The Norman High Botball team did very well at the Oklahoma Botball Regional competition (which includes teams from multiple states) from 2002-2007, including placing first in the region for several years, including 2006 and 2007, as well as winning two national championships in 2005 and 2006.
- The speech and debate team lost its first state championship in speech and debate in 1998. It then won the state championship in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006. They also regularly send teams of four to five students to the National Debate Tournament held in June by the National Forensic League, sending a record 14 students in the summer of 2006. The Tiger squad recently won back the state championship for the 2008 season.
- Norman High has produced numerous National Merit Scholars and Presidential Scholars.
- In 1989 Norman High School was awarded the Oklahoma Blue Ribbon award of excellence.
- NHS Fight Song
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Fight on, Norman High!
And to N H S be true!
Lift up your head with pride
In all you say and do.
Fight on, Norman High!
We'll always do our best.
We are the orange and black
of N! H! S! - Notable Alumni
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Basketball
- Ian Boylan, Cal State Northridge
- Sherri Coale, OU Women's Basketball Coach
- Stacy Hansmeyer, UConn
- Denny Price, '55, former college basketball player, father of Mark and Brent, holds the record for most points scored in state championship game (46)
- Football
- Scott Blanton, '91, Washington Redskins kicker
- Dean Blevins, '73, University of Oklahoma quarterback and famous sports announcer
- Ryan Broyles, University of Oklahoma
- Zach Ladner, Drake University
- Mossis Madu, University of Oklahoma
- Ted Million, '81, former NFL football player, also played at Duke
- Tyrell Peters, University of Oklahoma, NFL:Baltimore Ravens
- Zac Taylor, Nebraska Cornhuskers: 2006 Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Texas A&M Assistant Coach
- J.T. Thatcher, University of Oklahoma: 2000 All-American
- Jay Wilkinson, '60, former Duke Blue Devils football player and All-American; son of former University of Oklahoma football coach Bud Wilkinson
- Baseball
- John Russell, '79, Major League Baseball player, current manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Joe Simpson, '70, Major League Baseball player; currently part of Atlanta Braves broadcast team
- Entertainment
- Robert Bowhan, '86, host of YouTube talk/variety show Manny Super Happy Hour
- Dean Cameron (Eikleberry), '80, actor
- Greg Coolidge, '87, actor/writer/director/producer
- Bill Frank, '86, director/producer/misc. crew in reality shows and currently works for MTV
- James Garner (Bumgarner), actor.
- Milena Govich, '95, star on NBC's Law & Order
- Joe Javier, '85, actor/screenwriter
- Denise Masters Jones, '87, singer and a founding member of the Christian band Point of Grace
- Juddson Keith Linn, '86, Native American actor and stunt man
- John McDolly, '94, host of MyTalk Stop.
- Jason Smith, '87, award-winning playwright and producer
- Kendall Bryant, '00, Lead Singer for Jake Boots
- Government
- Dave McCurdy, '69, former US congressman
- Robert Dick Bell, '85, Oklahoma Court of Appeals
- External links
- Norman High School
- Norman Public Schools Home Page
- The Tiger Tribune
- 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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