Oregon City High School

Oregon City High School is a public high school in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. It is the third-most populated high school in Oregon.

A hallway at Oregon City High School

History

Oregon City High School was established in 1885 on the lower level of Oregon City on Jackson street. Due to the growing number of students in the late 1980s, a Moss Campus (freshmen only) was established in the 1989–1990 school year on the other side of Oregon City. In the early 2000s construction began on the Moss Campus to convert it into a larger campus that could accommodate all grades. Construction finished on the new campus, often referred to as Beavercreek, in 2003. The first year with a traditional school model of 9th to 12th graders was the 2003–2004 school year. The other campus, Jackson, for 10th to 12th graders, opened in 1885, but closed in 2003 due to the aftereffects of multiple disasters (fires and earthquakes) and the inability to effectively repair the damage. The building was shut down due to the structural hazards caused to the building after the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. However it is still in use for basketball games and other activity.

After construction finished, academics shifted to the new campus, although football games are still played on the football field located across the street from the old campus at Pioneer Memorial Stadium. Many current sporting events are still held at Pioneer Memorial Stadium including football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field.

Academics

In 1985, Oregon City High School was honored in the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, the highest honor a school can receive in the United States.^[2] Oregon City offers 14 Advanced Placement courses and is connected to Clackamas Community College where some Oregon City Courses are taught there by Clackamas Community College professors. In 2008, 85% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 474 students, 405 graduated, 46 dropped out, 5 received a modified diploma, and 18 are still in high school.^[3][4]

In 2009, The Oregonian described the school as an "overachiever" at teaching reading and math, due to its achievement scores.^[1]

The Rendezvous Jazz Choir placed 1st place at the Pleasant Hill Jazz festival. The OC Master Choir performed the song "Raua Needmine" (Curse Upon Iron) by the Estonian composer Veljo Tormis in the 2009 school year.

Athletics

The girls' basketball program won three consecutive USA Today girls' national championships from 1995 to 1997, as well as state championships in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, and 2014. They have placed at the State Tournament 24 years in a row starting in 1987.

Girls lacrosse: won back-to-back state championships in 2009 and 2010.

Baseball: 2012 won the 6A state championship ending a 127 year championship drought.

Boys cross country: 1996

Girls Track & Field: 1988,1989

Political cartoon controversy

During the 2004-2005 school year, a political cartoon, drawn by student Kira Meyrick, concerning the border issue between Mexico and the United States was taken out of context, making national news.^[5][6][7]

The cartoon was a depiction of two deeply satirized vigilante patrolmen discussing a 'point system' for the capture of illegal immigrants. The cartoon was intended to make fun of the American vigilante patrolmen, but some students and parents misunderstood the point. Local news coverage of the issue soon expanded to national coverage, bringing about a hailstorm of both criticism and support for the cartoonist and the newspaper.

Notable alumni

• Jonah Nickerson, baseball player (Detroit Tigers)
• Shannon O'Keefe (né Rondeau), professional bowler - Team USA Bowling
• Trevor Wilson, baseball player, San Francisco Giants and Anaheim Angels
• Lindsey Yamasaki, basketball player
• Brad Tinsley, basketball player (Vanderbilt)

References

External links

• Oregon City High School website