Columbus North High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Columbus North High School | |
| Established | |
|---|---|
| School type | Public high school |
| Principal | David Clark |
| Assistant Principals | Susan Scott, John Green |
| Location | Columbus, Indiana, USA |
| Colors | Blue and White |
| Mascot | Bulldog |
| Website | Columbus North High School |
Columbus North High School (CNHS) is one of public high schools located in Columbus, Indiana. It is part of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC). It has an enrollment of over 2000 students in grades 9-12. The student body is reflective of the entire community and is 95% white and 5% African American, Asian or Hispanic. CNHS students on average score 3 percentage points above the state average on ISTEP exams (state-wide exams administered in the 10th grade).
The principal of CNHS is David Clark. He is assisted by assistant principals John Green and Susan Scott, and by deans Jay Payne and Jim Sheridan.
CNHS is similar to its cross-town rival (Columbus East High School) in that both schools have fostered successful academic teams in recent years. However, they have yet to win a title. It is an academically rigorous high school with a wide range of opportunities open to students. Many choose to enter college after graduating, but for those who wish to enter the work force immediately after high school, the C-4 program is available. This program connects students with the community and provides those who are interested with internships and job experience. A large percentage of college-bound seniors choose to attend in-state universities such as Indiana University or Purdue University, but some have also chosen to attend public and private universities out-of-state.
Columbus North has long had a superior athletic program. The school has dominated swimming in Indiana for a number of decades and frequently makes the state finals in competition, most recently winning the state championship in 2002. They are also currently one of the leading powers in both cross-country and track and field in the state, having won the cross country state title two out of the last three years in cross country. Additionally, they have finished in the top 5 in Indiana for 5 consecutive years and finished in the top 5 nationally in 2002 (third) and 2003 (fifth).
The Columbus North bands frequently represent the school in state finals competitions as well. The Sound of North Marching Band is one of the top bands in the state having qualified for and attended ISSMA state finals class A competition in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005. The band has also participated in Bands of America national competitions since 2005, having qualified for the Grand National Semi-Finals in 2005 and 2006. Additionally, the band marched in the 2004 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The concert band has enjoyed similar success over the past decade, attending state finals competition in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006. The band marched in the Fiesta Bowl parade in December of 2006, and took the Fiesta Bowl Band Championship title, scoring in first place.
When it was founded over a century ago, it was the only secondary education institution in Columbus, Indiana, and was then known as Columbus High School. The name change took place after the founding of Columbus East High School in 1972.
Columbus North High School was originally known as Columbus Senior High School (not just Columbus High School) and was NOT the first high school in Columbus. That distinction went to what later became Central Junior High School, closer to the downtown area.
Columbus was home to many championship teams through out the years most notably it's men's Gymnastics teams from 1968- onward which dominated the state championship until the IHSAA decided that there weren't enough schools participating-due to the high cost of fielding teams-and so no longer held a state championship. The dominance of the Columbus teams was primarily due to the coaching of John Hind, who used coaching techniques considered revolutionary for the time-such as video taping his team and critiquing performances. When he asked for money to buy a portable video recorder the school board balked, so he bought one with his own money. That year he won the first of many championships-upon which the school told him he could go ahead and buy one.
CSHS also was the home of many great basketball teams coached by Bill Stearman, in the late 60's finishing as high as the semi-state championships.
Columbus Senior High School built a very large gymnasium in the late 50's/early 60's that was the pride of the town. However the funding was rather controversial at the time since nearly everyone working in town had their paychecks deducted directly for involuntary "contributions".
