McIntosh High School

McIntosh High School is a comprehensive four-year public secondary school located in Peachtree City, Georgia. As of 2014, it has an enrollment of 1,646 students in grades nine through twelve. The school, governed by the Fayette County School System, was named a Georgia School of Excellence in 2001. In 2007, it was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.^[1]

History

McIntosh High School, named for William McIntosh, was opened in early December 1981.

A new gym opened during the 2004-2005 school year, as well as a new auditorium that replaced the existing gym built in 1982.

Awards

It was named a 2007 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for having scored in the top 10% of all schools nationwide in student achievement.

The school placed on Georgia's 2007 Top 25 SAT List for having the 15th highest SAT score in the state. It received Georgia's 2007 and 2011 Platinum Award in the highest performance category for outstanding student achievement; it was one of seven high schools in the state to receive this honor. It was named a Georgia School of Excellence in 1987, 2001, 2008, and 2012. It was recognized by the college board as an AP Merit, AP STEM, and AP STEM Achievement School. It received the Director’s Cup Distinction for Athletics in 2013, and Director’s Cup for Girl’s Athletics in 2013 and 2014. It was recognized in Atlanta Magazine’s 2012 50 Best Public High Schools. It ranked 48th in Washington Post America’s Most Challenging High Schools, 2013. It has earned 44 state championships in athletics since 1981. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

McIntosh was on Newsweek Magazine's 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 top 1300 U.S. High Schools Lists, placing in the top 5% of all high schools nationwide.

Student Life

McIntosh has athletic programs in soccer (2013 AAAAA State Champion), volleyball (2007, 2013 AAAAA State Champion), dance (2006, 2010, 2011 & 2012 State Champion), and cross country (2005 & 2012 State Champion). Boys' tennis has been state runner-up twice, in 2008 and 2010, and has been division champions for four years. Boys' soccer has won four state championships and has been state runner-up for three years. Women's soccer won the state championship several times including 1994, beating their rival Fayette County, and 1995 (with an overall record of 19-0). The newly added lacrosse program was state runner-up in 2008. Not only has the lacrosse program found success in post season games, they have also been division champs every year since its creation.

McIntosh had the highest SAT scores in Fayette County for 2005.^[2] In 2008, McIntosh's ACT scores were reported as the highest in Fayette County and the 3rd highest in the state of Georgia.^[3] In 2008 and 2009, the McIntosh High School Varsity Academic Bowl team won the state championship.

As of September 2014, there are 21 AP courses offered, and over 150 students participate in dual enrollment through the ACCEL Program.

Beginning in 2011, McIntosh's morning announcements teacher, Brad Yarbrough, produced a highly popular recurring episodic series called "Frisch Fresh Word of the Day." The show featured several McIntosh students and faculty and was hosted by then McIntosh student, Ryan Frisch. Most notable recurring characters included Dr. George McKelvy, Andrew Johnson, Mini U.S. President Barack Obama (Timmy Harrison), Dr. Brett Tancak, and El Doptdoa Jr. (Darious Stokes). Frisch began each show introducing himself as the "intellectual savior of McIntosh's unwashed masses," a gimmick copied from professional wrestler Damien Sandow. In 2012, the show was brought to YouTube and received attention when Frisch began what would become a long standing one-sided rivalry with ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman, which would then branch off into Frisch's most notable rivalry with then McIntosh student, Garrett Sage. On the "Finale" episode of "Frisch's Fresh Word of the Day," the title of "intellectual savior of McIntosh's unwashed masses" was passed on to Ryan Frisch's sister, Rebecca Frisch. It was announced on July 26, 2014 that Rebecca would be continuing the show as host starting August 2014.

Fine Arts

McIntosh High School is known for having one of the top orchestra directors in the nation, Jim Hagberg.

Barbara Baker conducts the school's bands. The school marching band, "The Spirit of McIntosh," is the largest organized cheering body for the school.

Notable alumni

• Tad Dennis - member of USA canoe/kayak national team

• Benn Fraker - U.S. canoeist at 2008 Summer Olympics

• Jeff Kugele - Senior Consultant, Manhattan Associates

• Shae Marks - Playboy Playmate

• Jeff Sheppard - former Atlanta Hawks guard

• Travis Van Winkle - actor

References

External links

• McIntosh High School
• McIntosh High Athletics
• McIntosh High Orchestra
• McIntosh High Band
• Fayette County Board of Education