West Bloomfield High School

West Bloomfield High School
Address
4925 Orchard Lake Road West Bloomfield, Michigan, 48323 United States
Coordinates	42°33′58″N 83°21′31″W / 42.5662°N 83.3586°W / 42.5662; -83.3586Coordinates: 42°33′58″N 83°21′31″W / 42.5662°N 83.3586°W / 42.5662; -83.3586
Information
School district	West Bloomfield School District
Superintendent	Gerald D. Hill
Enrollment	1947[1] (2013-2014)
Color(s)	Forest green      White
Nickname	Lakers
Newspaper	Spectrum[2]
Website	School website

West Bloomfield High School is a public secondary school in West Bloomfield, Michigan. The school is the only public high school in the West Bloomfield School District. The School Enrollment for the 2010-2011 school year is about 1900.^[3] West Bloomfield High School was previously located in the Abbott Middle School building, which opened on January 31, 1955 with an enrollment of 406. The current building was built in 1971. West Bloomfield High School has begun to offer the Advanced Placement International Diploma to the classes of 2011 and beyond. In addition, it established additional Advanced Placement courses starting the 2010-2011 school year.

The school has been recognized by Newsweek magazine as being in the top 6% of U.S. public high schools.^[4]

Building

In 1971, the district responded to growing enrollment by building a new high school. The large, single-story building was designed in a U-shape around a courtyard that faced Orchard Lake Road. In 1997, the courtyard was enclosed by a 2-story addition that gave the school its curved front facade. In 2000, the media center was completely rebuilt with an emphasis on technology.^[5] Small additions have been built throughout the 2000s.

Between 1955 and 1966, WBHS was housed in the building that is now Abbott Middle School. Between fall 1967 and spring 1971, WBHS occupied the building that now houses Orchard Lake Middle School.

Instructional Project Design program

The school is known for its Instructional Project Design course, based on the philosophy that students must be allowed a say in designing tools that they will use. The tools in question are internet forums and services created for a variety of educational and civic clients. The program is run by the University of Michigan's Flint, MI campus.

The program was responsible for the creation of "Warren Easton in Exile," a noted website designed to virtually "rebuild" a high school in New Orleans that was shut down after being damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Former projects also include the Michigan Student Caucus (formerly the Michigan Youth Caucus), a partnership with the Michigan State House Special Commission on Civic Engagement.

The 2006-2007 project for IPD is a project with the Trauma Burn Center at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. It focuses on five main areas: Entertainment, School Re-Entry, Communication, Hospital Resource Center and Education/Prevention. There are also plans to integrate the website with the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum.

Music department

The West Bloomfield High School Marching Band placed 4th at the MCBA state championship in Flight I in 2011. The WB Marching Band also placed 4th in Flight I in 2010, 3rd in Flight I in 2007,^[6] 2nd in Flight I in 2009, and 1st place in Flight I in 2008, the first time the band has received the state championship in the school's history. Nationally, the band was a Bands of America Grand National Semifinalist from 2008-2010 at the Bands of America Grand National Championships. The band was also a Regional finalist at the BOA Ypsilanti Regional in 2007. In 2009 and 2010, the band was named Class AAA Champion in BOA Pontiac Regionals.^[7] The band shares staff members with many drum corps including Carolina Crown and Phantom Regiment, as well as top WGI percussion groups such as Rhythm X, Eastside Fury and Motor City Percussion. The West Bloomfield Bands also include the Symphonic Winds, Symphony Band, and Concert Band as well as a Jazz Band.

The WBHS Winter Drumline were the 2014 MCGC Scholastic A State Champions. The group also placed 2nd in Scholastic A at the MCGC state championship in 2007 and 2008, 3rd in Scholastic A in 2009, and 1st in Scholastic Open in 2010, which marked the unit's first state title. The Winter Drumline was also a Scholastic World Class Finalist at WGI World Championships in 2012. They were the 2008 WGI Scholastic A Troy Regional Champions and the 2010 WGI Scholastic Open Troy Regional Champions.^[8]

The WBHS Winter Guard were the 2014 MCGC Scholastic AA State Champions. The group also placed 2nd in AA at the 2008 MCGC state championship, and 2nd in Michigan A at the 2006 MCGC State Championship. The Winter Guard placed 6th in Scholastic A in 2009, and was a WGI Ferndale Regional Finalist.

The West Bloomfield High School Orchestra program has 2 orchestras, the concert orchestra (members of this ensemble are primarily freshman and sophomore students)and the symphony orchestra (members of this ensemble are primarily junior and senior students). The orchestral program has won numerous awards at the Michigan Band and Orchestra Music Festivals. These orchestras have received first and second division ratings at both the district and state festivals. The Orchestra department has competed in music festivals outside the state where they received first place and best overall orchestra.^[9]

West Bloomfield High School's choral department has four levels of choirs. Beginning freshman Chorale is all girls, Concert Choir A is for upper classmen and some freshmen by audition, Concert Choir B is for upperclassmen by audition and some freshmen, and the advanced vocal jazz choir Laker Express is 10 boys and 10 girls selected through intense auditions. In 2008, Laker Express competed at the Great Lakes Invitational and came in 5th place. It was their first competition. Both Concert Choirs and Chorale went to regional choral festival in 2008 and Concert Choir A and Chorale both received 1's. They went to state competition, where Concert Choir A received 1's. In 2009 the Girls Chorale received an Excellent at Districts, and continued on to states. The Chorale also received a high Excellent at states, where both achievements received medals.

Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (PAS)

The Ford PAS program is a highly valued program for the school district, with meaningful activities for the students that provide a sense of accomplishment. This program clearly prepares students for Career Focused Education in Math, Science, Technology, and Engineering. The foundation for success with Ford PAS has been established. The district will continue to pursue recruitment of additional students and teachers enrolling in the Ford PAS curriculum.

Courses

The West Bloomfield High School has a wide variety of courses to offer. The courses are differed based upon the students' ambitions in college. For math, a normal advanced freshmen can start at honors geometry and go on to honors algebra 2. Alternately, a path is normal geometry and normal algebra 2. From here, the courses are either honors precalculus or honors precalculus/honors physics. In 12th grade, AB or BC calculus is provided in addition to AP Statistics, along with math electives and independent studies. Students in normal, grade level math follow a similar track, but do not take honors courses. Science consists of Biology 1 in grade 9. The other courses can be AP biology, AP physics, chemistry, and medical mentorship. There are varieties if honors courses in history and language arts, including Dream American History. Courses are chosen along with counselors. The school offers a large variety of courses, ranging from normal courses to honors courses to Advanced Placement, or AP courses. The school currently offers honors courses in the areas of mathematics, sciences, English, and social studies. Advanced Placement courses are offered in the areas of mathematics, sciences, English, social studies, computers, and economics. West Bloomfield High School offers a total of twenty-four Advanced Placement Courses to be taken in eleventh or twelfth grade, although some students opt to take them as early as the ninth or tenth grade. Those in the tenth and ninth grades desiring courses full of rigor are allowed to take honors courses. The school also pays tuition for dual enrollment, allowing students to take advanced courses at local colleges for free.

Advanced Placement courses offered

West Bloomfield High School is known for its wide variety of classes. The following are offered at the school:

Advanced Placement International Diploma

In June 2009, West Bloomfield High School announced the availability of the Advanced Placement International Diploma to the classes of 2011 and beyond. Utilized by universities around the world in admissions, this diploma requires students to score a 3, 4, or a 5 on exams in the following areas:

1. AP English
2. AP Language
3. AP Math or Science Course
4. AP World History, AP Human Geography, or AP Government and Politics
5. One to two AP courses in other areas.

Activities/clubs

West Bloomfield High Schools offers a numerous amount of clubs and activities that students can get involved with. Some of these clubs include International Club, Math Club, Earth Club, Law Club, and ACT Club. The West Bloomfield High School quiz bowl team has also received many accolades. There is after school tutoring available everyday and a teacher is always available to assist.

Females in Engineering Academy

The goal of the program was to get more females involved in the engineering curriculum. The enrollment in engineering classes has greatly increased and there is already a wait list. This grant is responsible for allowing the school to provide enrichment opportunities for these students that would not otherwise have been possible to achieve.

Notable alumni

• Justin Bartha, actor
• Melrose Bickerstaff, model and runner up on America's Next Top Model^[10]
• Kyle Brown, NFL Receiver, Washington Redskins released in 2007, now a free agent.^[11]
• Victoria Chang, poet
• Sherilyn Fenn, actress
• Mike Hartman, NHL Forward, Buffalo Sabres
• Brandon T. Jackson,^[12] actor from Roll Bounce (2005), The Brandon T. Jackson Show (TV- 2006), and the blockbuster Tropic Thunder (2008).
• Todd Krumm, NFL Safety, Chicago Bears^[13]
• Jeff Moss, Editor—DetroitSportsRag.com

References

External links

• WBHS official website
• School district website