Wentzville Holt High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wentzville Holt High School |
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| Established | ???? |
| Type | Public co-ed secondary |
| Principal | John Waters |
| Students | 1,437 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location | 600 Campus Drive Wentzville, Missouri USA |
| Accreditation | Missouri School Improvement Program (MISP); A+ School |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Mascot | Indians |
| Yearbook | Pow Wow |
| Newspaper | Blue & Gold |
Wentzville Holt High School is the older of two high schools in the Wentzville R-IV School District. Although officially known as Emil E. Holt Senior High School, it was known only as Wentzville High School until 2000, when "Holt" became a common addition to the name in preparation for the addition of a second high school in the district. Now the school is often referred to as just "Holt" or "Holt High", though the common initials remain WHHS or sometimes still WHS.
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[edit] Block Schedule
Wentzville High School was one of the first high schools in the St. Louis area to adopt a block scheduling system when they implemented the system in the mid-1990s. Wentzville served as a model for many other districts looking to adopt similar scheduling system. The district described the 8-block schedule in the following terms on the district website:
"Wentzville Holt High School uses a unique 8-block system to enable students to earn seven units of credit a year. The schedule is designed to provide students with more diversity and flexibility in the classes they can take, as well as more academic support on an individual level. The schedule is set up much like a college class schedule where classes meet for longer periods on alternating days. Under the 8-block schedule, students attend seven, 85-minute classes on an alternating schedule. Four classes are held on one day. The next day, three classes and a seminar period (an academic time for students to seek a teacher's help, complete make-up work or visit the library) are held. Wentzville Holt High School increasingly gets inquiries and visits from other school districts in Missouri and in the Midwest to learn more about this unique schedule.
The decision to implement a block schedule plan was an outgrowth of a broad-based planning effort. A planning team consisting of teachers, students, parents and administrators began meeting in 1993 for the express purpose of developing a vision and a program of improvement for the high school. In addition to the block schedule, several additional areas were identified and developed. A plan for an Individualized Learning Center, where students who are having difficulty in the traditional classroom can do coursework and recover credit, was designed and implemented. The team examined curricula and a revised process of curriculum review and improvement was implemented. The new process focuses attention on the inclusion of process skills and life skills required for success in the 21st century. An emphasis was placed on integrated learning opportunities and school-to-work transition experiences that relate directly to the school-wide goal of increased emphasis on applications of knowledge and skills. The team is currently examining a service requirement for graduation."
On February 5th, 2007, the Wentzvile School Board voted to change their unique block scheduling system in their high schools back to the more traditional 7 block schedule. Protests and complaints have been rampant since the issue first came up, but the school board and Superintendent Terry Adams continue to support the change. Adams argues that a traditional six- or seven-period day would increase student contact time as well as decrease district costs, which could free up funding for salary and technological improvements. Despite the results of the vote, the issue does not look likely to die down any time soon. Many of the district's teachers, students, and parents have expressed concern that students will not have adequate time for in-depth discussions, science labs, or other intensive projects under the shortened class periods.
[edit] Students
The graduation rate for Holt High School is 87.4%. The average composite ACT score of Holt students is 21.5, which is higher than the average state score of 20.6. 43.70% of Holt High students go on to attend a four-year colleges or universities, and 39.5% of students go on to attend two-year colleges.
[edit] Staff
Holt High School instructors have an average of 12.1 years of teaching experience, and the average student to teacher ratio is 25:1.
[edit] Athletics
[edit] MSHSAA Sanctioned Sports
- Baseball (Boys) (Class 4, District #9)
- Basketball (Boys) (Class 5, District #9)
- Basketball (Girls) (Class 5, District #9)
- Cross Country (Class 4, District #5)
- Football (Class 5, District #2)
- Golf (Boys) (Class 4, District #5)
- Golf (Girls) (Class 2, District #4)
- Soccer (Boys) (Class 3, District #8)
- Softball (Girls) (Class 4, District 9)
- Soccer (Girls) (Class 2, District #6)
- Tennis (Boys) (Class 2, District #4)
- Tennis (Girls) (Class 2, District #4)
- Track and Field (Class 4, District #5)
- Wrestling (Class 3, District #2)
[edit] Club Sports
- Ice Hockey (Mid-States Club Hockey Association)
- Roller Hockey
- Lacrosse (Missouri Scholastic Lacrosse Association)
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Les Sachs, anchor/senior editor at WGEM-TV (NBC) in Quincy, IL
- Dan Alexander '96, former University of Nebraska All-Big 12 running back and former NFL player with the Titans (2001), Jaguars (2002) and Rams (2003)
[edit] Notable Teachers
- Akehiko Takahashi (mathematics, 1971-1999), received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching in 1983 and was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow who studied mathematical modeling at Princeton University in 1987. He is currently an instructor at the Missouri Scholars Academy and part time instructor at Lindenwood University.
