Grants Pass High School

Grants Pass High School
Address
830 NE 9th Street Grants Pass, Oregon, Josephine County, 97526  United States
Coordinates	42°26′40″N 123°19′04″W / 42.444488°N 123.317663°W / 42.444488; -123.317663Coordinates: 42°26′40″N 123°19′04″W / 42.444488°N 123.317663°W / 42.444488; -123.317663
Information
Type	Public
Opened	1885
School district	Grants Pass School District
Principal	Ryan Thompson[1]
Grades	9-12
Number of students	1704[2]
Color(s)	Royal Blue and White[1]
Athletics conference	OSAA Southwest Conference 6A-6[1]
Mascot	Cavemen[1]
Website	http://grantspass.k12.or.us/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=102

Grants Pass High School is a public high school located in Grants Pass, Oregon, United States. The school's sports teams wear blue and white as the school colors. The school mascot is the Caveman, and the sports teams are referred to as the Cavemen. The mascot is a reference to the Oregon Caves National Monument, which is an important tourist attraction in nearby Cave Junction, Oregon.

History

Grants Pass High School was originally built in 1885, in a wooden building located at Fourth and C Streets. The first graduating class was in 1888. Around 1911 a new building was built at the center of the present campus on Olive Street between 8th and 9th Streets. In 1939, North Junior High School was built next door. Various other additions to the campus occurred between 1948–1969, including expansions to the central building as well as numerous satellite buildings. When North Junior High School was relocated, its old campus became the English Building. In 1988, a fire destroyed the grandstands on Mel-Ingram Field and damaged the large gym. The grandstands were replaced in 1989 on the west side of the field.^[3]

In 1998, the entire campus was demolished and re-constructed. The facility is now a state of the art high school, complete with a Performing Arts Center which is also used as a convention center and theater for the community.

The campus is spread over approximately 47 acres (190,000 m²) of land in downtown Grants Pass; the new facility was constructed to house approximately 1800 students.^[3]

The school's marching band, under the direction of Jason Garcia, was named the 2010 NWAPA champions with their production, "Traffic".^[4] The Marching Band and Auxiliary was also invited to perform in the 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and did so on November 25, 2010, being viewed by tens of millions of people.^[5]

Academics

In 2008, 81% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 448 students, 363 graduated, 49 dropped out, 5 received a modified diploma, and 31 are still in high school.^[6][7]

Athletics

Grants Pass High School is a Southwest Conference 6A-6 OSAA High School and their teams include; Football, Cross Country, Volleyball, Equestrian, Swimming, Basketball, Wrestling, Soccer, Bowling, Baseball, Golf, Softball and Tennis. Traditionally Grants Pass exceeds in Wrestling and Volleyball with an honorable mention to the Swim Team, who placed first at the 6A district meet four years ago and has sent swimmers to State Championship consistently.

Notable people

Alumni

• Ethen Beavers, comic book artist
• Brandon Drury, professional baseball player^[8]
• Merrill McPeak, 14th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force^[9]
• Jerry Sherk, NFL player^[10]
• David Anders, Actor^[11]

Faculty

• John Tully, former coach^[12]

References