Wheeler High School (Indiana)
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- For the Magnet high school in Marietta, GA, see Joseph Wheeler High School.
Wheeler High School is a four-star secondary school located at 587 West 300 North, Valparaiso, Indiana, 46385. Recently hired was a new principal, Don Gandy, after Tom Taylor left to accept the principal position at Portage High School. The school is attached to Union Township Middle School. The school day starts at 7:50 A.M. and commences at 2:50 P.M.
| Wheeler High School |
|
| Established | Date Unknown |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Principal | Tom Taylor |
| Students | 530 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location | Valparaiso, Indiana USA |
| Colors | Orange, Green, and White |
| Mascot | Bearcat |
| Schedule | Trimester |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 16 |
| Website | www.union.k12.in.us/whs/ |
Contents |
[edit] School Statements
[edit] Vision Statement
Using the talents and resources of the Union Township Community, its parents, students, faculty and staff, our vision is to achieve elite distinction as an outstanding teaching, learning and public service institution.
[edit] Mission statement
The mission of Wheeler High School is to build a culture of excellence in teaching and learning resulting in all students realizing their potential for lifelong learning and for contributing to community.
[edit] Belief Statement
We believe that...
- All individuals can learn.
- Individuals learn differently.
- Each individual has value.
- The family is the primary influence on the individual’s development.
- Involved and informed parents make better students and better teachers.
- Attitude of the individual always affects performance.
- Each student has a responsibility to contribute to society.
- A nurturing and caring environment enhances a student’s confidence in oneself and contributes to his/her success.
- Learning is a lifelong process.
[edit] Academics
[edit] Test Scores
Test scores for Wheeler High Schoolhave been above average for many years. When comparing the 2005 ISTEP+ scores for grade 10 math, Wheeler ranks in the top five among twenty-two local schools. When comparing the 2005 ISTEP+ scores for grade 10 English/language arts, Wheeler is ranked fifth among twenty-two local schools.
[edit] Foreign Languages
Wheeler High School offers education in three different foreign languages. These languages are Spanish, German, and French. More languages were offered in previous years, but because of the small size of the school, the lack of interest among the students caused the discontinuation of the subjects.
[edit] Vocational Education Department
Wheeler High School features a Law Enforcement Career Academy and a Cisco Regional Networking Academy.
- Law Enforcement Career Academy This program is held at Wheeler High School and is available to all juniors and seniors. The program is intended for students wishing to pursue careers in Police, Courts, or Corrections. Students at all area schools are allowed to enroll. The students can also receive three college credits from Vincennes University.
- Cisco Regional Networking Academy This program is also offered at Wheeler High School and is available to junior and senior students from all area schools. The students learn how to design, build, and maintain computer networks. After completion of the two-hundred and eighty hour program, the students are prepared to take a standardized test to become a Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA). This certification increases their employment opportunities.
- Porter County Vocational Education Junior and senior students may also take vocational classes at other area schools.
- Internships Junior and senior students may also do internships. The opportunities for the internships are virtually endless, and the students do receive credit.
[edit] Fine Arts
Wheeler High School has a choir, band, art department, and drama department.
- Choir The choir performs at many local and statewide competitions every year. There is also a Show Choir. They also travel to Orlando, Florida every four years to perform at Disney World. The choir also puts on an annual performance called the "Madrigal Dinner." This dinner includes the high school and middle school choirs and features a round table of medieval characters.
- Band The school band performs at half time of all school football games and during timeouts and between quarters at basketball games. The band also competes at competitions.
- Art Department The Wheeler High School art department features classes such as drawing, ceramics, art, sculpture, and jewelry making.
- Drama Department The drama department puts on two musicals per year, as well as a straight show in the fall. Notable productions include one of the first high school performances of Cats, as well as surprisingly adept productions of many Moss Hart/George Kaufman plays, including The Man Who Came to Dinner and You Can't Take it With You.
[edit] Student Activities
Students at Wheeler High School can participate in a variety of activities. These activities include, but are not limited to, Student Council, National Honor Society, Key Club, choir, drama, academic teams, and foreign language clubs.
[edit] Athletics
Wheeler High School has a large array of athletics. The school also features an indoor swimming pool, a very large fieldhouse, and a standard gym.
[edit] Boys Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
[edit] Girls Sports
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cheerleading
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Swimming and Diving
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
[edit] Miscellaneous Facts and Statistics
[edit] Ethnicity
WHS is a predominantly white school. For the 2005-2006 school year, the percent of ethnicity groups is as follows:
- White: 91%
- State Average: 82%
- Hispanic: 6%
- State Average: 5%
- Asian/Pacific Islander: 1%
- State Average: 1%
- American Indian/Alaskan Native: 1%
- State Average: <1%
- Black/Not Hispanic: <1%
- State Average: 12%
[edit] Free Lunch Program
Some students come from families that aren't economically well-off. For these students, WHS offers free or reduced lunches. For the 2005-2006 school year, the percentages break down as follows:
- Students paying for their own lunches: 92%
- Students receiving free lunches: 6%
- Students receiving reduced lunches: 2%
