| Houghton High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 1603 Gundlach Road, Houghton, Michigan 49931 USA |
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| Information | |
| School type | Public high school |
| School district | Houghton-Portage Township School District |
| Principal | Kass Simila |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 388 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 17 |
| Campus type | Rural |
| Color(s) | Orange and Black |
| Mascot | Gremlin |
| Website | Houghton Homepage |
Houghton High School (also known as Houghton Central High School) is a high school located in Houghton, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula. It shares the same building as Houghton Middle School. Enrollment is around 390 students in Grades 9 through 12, with a 17/1 student to teacher ratio. In 2002, it was the 12th best public high school in the state of Michigan.[1] As of 2010-2011, it was ranked 4th best in Michigan. A variety of courses are offered, including three foreign languages, a dual enrollment program with Michigan Technological University, as well as five AP classes.[2]
The school mascot is the Gremlin, and the school colors are orange and black. There is a small controversy on what the mascot should be represented by as the word represents multiple symbols and can be seen in different forms on different parts of the school.
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The school has been slowly implementing a new system of academic standards. It has included changes in required classes for the classes of 2010 and on, which were changed a second time for the incoming class of 2013 and following years. In 2010 extra credits were added in math and science, giving the students two more years, 4 semesters, of math and one more year, two semesters, of science classes. This took away 3 years, 6 semesters, of elective classes to make up for the change.
For the class of 2013, the school has removed the requirement for having a year of computer education and has instead implemented another year in social science classes, requiring two years of world history.
Houghton's sports are Class C in the Michigan High School Athletic Association, and often excel. Basketball, volleyball, swimming, diving, Alpine skiing, cross country, track and field, softball, ice hockey, and football are the competitive sports programs.
The Varsity Girls' Basketball team won the 2005 state championship, and was a semifinalist in 2006, while the Varsity Boys' Basketball team was a quarter-finalist in 2007. Prior to Girls' High School Athletics being introduced in Michigan, Boys' basketball also won the State Championship in 1955, were runners-up in 1963, and state semifinalists in 1969.
The girl's ski team has seen success in recent years, placing runners-up at the State Finals in 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2008; and winning the Regional race in 2005, 2008 and 2009; and the 2010 State Championship.
The Varsity girls' swimming and diving team were the Upper Peninsula State Champions in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001. The Varsity boys' swimming and diving team was Upper Peninsula State Champions in 2011.
The Varsity hockey team were the State Champions in 1982.
The Varsity football team is infamous for its futility, posting a 17-73 record since 2002. Five of the 17 wins have come against Hancock High School. Excluding a win by forfeit in 2001, Houghton High School has lost 24 consecutive games to Lake Linden-Hubbell High School by an average of over 25 points.
There are two major sporting events at Houghton High School: Copper Bowl, which celebrates the school's football and cross country teams and takes place in the fall, and Wing-Ding, celebrating the basketball, skiing, swimming & diving, and ice hockey teams, taking place in the winter. Both include a week of dress-up days and other activities, and an assembly that takes place on the last day of the week, meant to pep up the school's student body for the night's game(s). The weeks culminate with a sporting event between the Houghton Gremlins and their rivals, the Hancock Bulldogs.