Gresham High School (Oregon)

Gresham Union High School
Gresham High School gymnasium
Address
1200 N Main Avenue Gresham, Oregon, (Multnomah County) 97030  United States
Coordinates	45°30′21″N 122°25′51″W / 45.505903°N 122.430734°W / 45.505903; -122.430734Coordinates: 45°30′21″N 122°25′51″W / 45.505903°N 122.430734°W / 45.505903; -122.430734
Information
Type	Public
Motto	"Glory, Honor, Strength" [1]
Opened	1906
School district	Gresham-Barlow School District
Grades	9-12
Number of students	1792[2]
Color(s)	Blue and white   [3]
Athletics conference	OSAA Mt. Hood Conference 6A-3[3]
Mascot	Gophers[3]
Rival	Sam Barlow High School [4]
Website	http://ghs.gresham.k12.or.us/

Gresham High School is a public high school located in Gresham, Oregon, United States.

History

The school opened in 1906. There have since been several improvements to grounds and buildings, expansions, and classroom additions. However, as of 2017 the school still has asbestos tiling and pipe insulation throughout the building, as well as numerous architectural faults.^[5]

Academics

Gresham High is an official International Baccalaureate school offering the IB Diploma Program.^[6]

In 2008, 81% of the school's seniors received a high school diploma. Of 450 students, 366 graduated, 45 dropped out, 15 received a modified diploma, and 24 were still in high school in 2009.^[7][8]

Sports

State championships

• Football: 1982
• Boys' swimming: 1992
• Boys' water polo: 1981.
• Girls' water polo: 1982, 1991
• Girls volleyball: 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2006
• Speech and debate: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• Oregon All High School Drag Racing: 1977
• Rhythmettes Dance Team: 1991, 1999, 2014, 2015, 2016

Activities

The Theatre Arts Department offers students opportunities ranging from acting in main stage productions, including a full length musical, to directing or working as crew members backstage. Students work with theatre professionals throughout the Portland area, including a residency with Portland Center Stage, and working with influential organist Martin Ellis.

The choir program consists of Encore Choir, Gresham Men's Choir, Treble Choir, Concert Choir, and Overtones. For five years in a row, the Gresham High School Concert Choir placed in the top five in the OSAA State Choir Competition.

The Gresham High School Band program consists of Jazz Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Pep Band, and Pit Orchestra. The first Gresham High School Band was in 1926.

Although the Gresham Barlow School District cut millions of dollars from the budget for the 2009/2010 school year, the band and choir programs were able to continue at Gresham High School because of peaceful student protests through song.^[9][10]

Publications

Gresham High School produces two newspapers: The Gresham Argus and The Gopher Gazette. They are produced by separate staffs and are budgeted by their own advertising efforts. The newspapers have different audiences as well; the Gresham Argus is delivered to students in class, and the Gopher Gazette is distributed via postal mail to parents of students and businesses in the community. The Gopher Gazette recently lost funding and had to switch to an online format.

Notable alumni

• Bob Schloredt (1959), professional quarterback and College Football Hall of Fame member
• Laurie Monnes Anderson (1964), politician, Oregon State Senator representing East Multnomah County

References