Rochester High School (Michigan)

Rochester High School is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, United States, and is part of the Rochester Community Schools. It was established in 1889, and classes have been held in the current facility since 1955.

History

• In 1889, Rochester's first high school, known as the "Academy on the Hill", was built on Fourth and Wilcox for $8,000. The first class graduated from Rochester High School in 1896. The historic structure still exists, long since adapted and widely renovated for Board of Education offices and a variety of other uses.
• Rochester High accreditation was granted in 1924.
• In 1955, groundbreaking for a new building at the current location on the corner of Livernois and Walton in Rochester Hills took place and on October 31, 1956, students walked from the "Academy on the Hill" to the new Rochester High School, many carrying their books along with them.

• The gymnasium was added in 1957.
• The two-story wing (freshman hallway) was built in 1961.
• The auditorium, the bridge (a.k.a. Falcon Freeway), and the swimming pool were added in 1965.
• The school split to a half-day schedule to accommodate the growing student population while Rochester Adams High School was being built and completed in 1970.
• In 1986, the mall enclosure, media center, cafeteria, and auxiliary gym were added.
• In 1998, a courtyard was converted into four classrooms.
• In 1999, the metal shop was converted into two classrooms.
• A complete renovation of Rochester High took place in 2001, which included upgrades to the main office, counseling offices, weight room, pool, gymnasium, the addition of computer labs and photography lab, theater and vocal area, additional science labs, new locker banks, an enhanced courtyard with green house, and a new auditorium and theater areas.

Awards

The Falcon Marching Band earned 16 consecutive First Division ratings in the MSBOA District 16 marching band competitions. The streak ended in 2008 with a Second Division rating. The marching band also appears in many community events such as the Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade, Sarnia Parade of Lights (Canada), the OPC Senior Day, and the local Rochester Art and Apples Festival.

The '09-'10 staff of the Talon, the school newspaper, won 23 individual awards at the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) spring conference. The Talon also received the first Spartan Award in RHS history, which is the highest ranking a newspaper can receive from MIPA.

Sports state titles

• Girls' Cheerleading: MCCA: 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997. MHSAA: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
• Boys Baseball: 1997
• Boys' Golf: 1985, 1992
• Boys' Soccer: 2002
• Girls' Cross Country: 1978, 2007
• Girls' Golf: 2008, 2009
• Girls' Track: 2010

Non-sports team titles

• Rochester Robotics Team
  • 2009 Traverse City District Event
    • Motorola Quality Award
    • Website Award
  • 1st Place Traverse City District Event: 2011
    • Judges Award
    • Safety Award

• The Talon school newspaper
  • 2009 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring conference
    • 23 individual awards
      • Two 1st place awards, given to Aaron Kuhn and Jordan Hubbard
    • Spartan Award (highest award possible)

Notable alumni

• Jim Burton, former MLB player (Boston Red Sox)
• Paul Davis, former NBA player (Los Angeles Clippers)
• Andrew Good, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Robert Hurst, jazz bassist
• Andrew Hutchinson, National Hockey League defenseman
• Brian Keselowski, NASCAR stock car driver
• Walker Russell, Jr., NBA player for the Detroit Pistons
• L. J. Shelton, National Football League offensive tackle
• James Young, Current NBA player for the Boston Celtics

References

• http://www.rochester.k12.mi.us/index.aspx?item=144&name=About%20Us&school=25

External links

• Official Site