Mercer Island High School
Address
Map
9100 SE 42nd Street

Mercer Island
,
Washington
98040

United States
Coordinates47°34′19″N 122°13′07″W / 47.57194°N 122.21861°W / 47.57194; -122.21861
Information
TypePublic
Established1957
NCES School ID5304980[1]
PrincipalNick Wold
Faculty76.97 FTEs[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,544 (as of 2021–22)[1]
Student to teacher ratio20.06[1]
CampusSuburban
Color(s)Maroon & White[2]    
MascotHerbert the Snail[3]
NicknameIslanders
Team nameIslanders
RivalBellevue High School (Bellevue, Washington)
NewspaperThe Islander
AffiliationMercer Island School District
Websitewww.mercerislandschools.org

Mercer Island High School (MIHS) is a public high school located in Mercer Island, Washington, United States, as part of the Mercer Island School District.

As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,552 students and 77.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 20.0:1. There were 44 students (2.8% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 13 (0.8% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

Awards and recognition

During the 2006-07 school year, Mercer Island High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education.[4][5]

Music program

Mercer Island High school is renowned for its music program and marching band. The marching band's first foray into the national spotlight was in 1993 when it participated in the 104th Rose Parade.[6][7] In 2006, the marching band would return to Pasadena for the 117th Rose Parade.[8] The parade was nearly cancelled due to record rain for the first time during a Rose Parade in 50 years.[9] In 2011, the MIHS marching band traveled internationally to participate in the 2011 London, England New Year’s Day Parade & Festival upon royal invitation.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The following year, the marching band performed in the 2012 Rose Parade.[18] In the fall of the same year, the marching band performed along with Newport High School at halftime of the November 4 Seattle Seahawks football game versus the Minnesota Vikings.[19] In the spring of 2014, the marching band would travel to Victoria, British Columbia to participate in the 116th Victoria Day parade.[20] In the fall of the same year, Mercer Island and Newport would return along with Cedarcrest High School for a halftime performance at the December 14 Seahawks game versus the San Francisco 49ers.[21] In 2015, members of the marching and concert bands would travel to Australia as part of a tour including participation in the Australian National Band Championships.[22][23] In 2017, the marching band returned to Victoria to participate in the 119th Victoria Day Parade.[24] In 2019, the marching band would return to Pasadena to participate in the Rose Parade.[25][26] The marching band would go on to perform a special halftime performance at the October 10, 2019 Seahawks game against the Los Angeles Rams, honoring longtime team owner and Mercer Island resident Paul G. Allen.[27] In 2020, the marching band was scheduled to perform at the 123rd Victoria Day parade but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 19, 2021, the marching band would once again take to the field for the 2021 Seahawks home opener against the Tennessee Titans, performing during pregame and appearing at halftime alongside Macklemore and singer-guitarist Ayron Jones.[28]

Athletics

Cheerleaders

Mercer Island High School was honored by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association as the 3A Wells Fargo Scholastic Cup Champion for the 2005-06 school year, based on State championship victories in boys' track and field, boys' golf, boys' swimming and diving and boys' tennis.[29]

The boys lacrosse team was WHSBLA Division II state champion in 1996 (defeating Vashon High School in the tournament final) and won the Division I title in 2001 (vs. Bainbridge High School), 2004 (vs. Bainbridge), 2005 (vs. Issaquah High School), 2006 (vs. Issaquah), 2011 (vs. Bainbridge) and 2015 (vs. Bellevue High School)[30]

Girls' Swim and Dive had an undefeated season in 2009 ending it by winning the State Championship. Boys' Swim and Dive also went undefeated in the 2009-2010 season, and went on to win their fifth consecutive State title.

The girls' and boys' tennis teams have won a combined 41 State championships since 1972.[31] The girls tennis team has won 25 state titles and has been inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame.[32]

The basketball team, formerly coached by all-time Washington state wins leader Ed Pepple,[33] recorded its first losing season in 38 years in 2006.

In 1981 Mercer Island Basketball Team lost the AAA State basketball final game to Shadle Park in a controversial decision.[34] At 64-65 to Mercer Island, a last-second shot by Shadle Park "depending on who you are listening to, either clearly did or clearly didn’t beat the air horn."[35][36]

Boys' swimming was rated first in its class by the 2006-07 NISCA National Dual Meet Team Rankings.[37]

The “tropical warrior” Islander mascot of the ‘70’s was deemed to be offensive and has not been used since.[38]

Notable alumni

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (February 2011)

See also: Category:Mercer Island High School alumni

Notable faculty

References

  1. ^ a b c d e School data for Mercer Island High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "Mercer Island (WA) High School Sports - Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, and more | MaxPreps". Maxpreps.com. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  3. ^ Staff. "A snail sighting", Mercer Island Reporter, January 14, 2011. Accessed June 6, 2017. "Mercer Island High School senior Teddy Trimble is ‘Herbert the Snail,’ the Islander mascot never before seen in physical form, at its very first appearance on Friday night at the boys and girls basketball games."
  4. ^ [1] [permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 2003 Through 2007 (PDF) Archived 2009-03-26 at the Wayback Machine, United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.
  6. ^ "Prepping for the Parade : Hundreds of thousands of people will converge on Pasadena Friday for the 104th Tournament of Roses parade. Whether you are camped along the route or in front of your television, here are some facts and figures to help you enjoy the parade. : Tournament of Roses Route". Los Angeles Times. 1992-12-31. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  7. ^ "Volunteer Petal Pushers Put End to Rose Parade Crisis : Spectacle: Rescuers finish decorating six floats that were behind schedule. All entries will be on display at route's end". Los Angeles Times. 1993-01-01. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  8. ^ "Rose Parade 2006 - Pasadena (January 2, 2006)". www.parstimes.com. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  9. ^ Liu, Kaitlin (2006-01-17). "They Almost Reined In This Parade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  10. ^ "Mercer Island High School marching band is off to London - Mercer Island Reporter". 11 August 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  11. ^ [2] [permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Mercer Island marching band going to London". The Columbian. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  13. ^ http://www.kplunews.org/post/mercer-island-highs-marching-band-play-london 30 December 2010
  14. ^ [3] [permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "Raw: Mercer Island marching band practices for London parade | KING5.com | Seattle Featured Video on Demand". Archived from the original on 2010-12-27. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 30 December 2010
  16. ^ "Mercer Island band plans flight to London amidst weather warnings | Community Spirit | Mercer Island News". Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 30 December 2010
  17. ^ "British royalty to visit Mercer Island High School". 2010-10-29. Archived from the original on 2010-10-29.
  18. ^ "Band gets ready for Pasadena". Mercer Island Reporter. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Newport High School Marching Band Shows Its Support of the Seahawks". Bellevue, WA Patch. 2013-01-11. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  20. ^ Harnett, Cindy E. "116th Victoria Day Parade wraps up with sunshine and smiles". Times Colonist. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  21. ^ Condotta, Bob (December 11, 2014). "Seahawks announce fan activities for 49ers game". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  22. ^ "Mercer Island High School musicians to visit Australia in 2015 | Community briefs". Mercer Island Reporter. 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  23. ^ "E-Connections / MIHS Band in Australia". http. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  24. ^ "Mercer Island High School band performs at Victoria Day Parade". Mercer Island Reporter. 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  25. ^ "Mercer Island HS Marching Band is returning to the Rose Parade". king5.com. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  26. ^ Miller, Madison (2019-01-09). "MIHS band marches with Puerto Rican band in Tournament of Roses parade". Mercer Island Reporter. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  27. ^ "Carroll urges Seahawks fans to arrive early for Paul Allen Ring of Honor ceremony". RSN. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  28. ^ Andy Nystrom (2021-09-19). "Strike up the band, and some Seahawks football". Mercer Island Reporter. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  29. ^ "WIAA 4A/3A Scholastic Cup Champions", Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Accessed October 16, 2007.
  30. ^ "State Champions". Washington High School Boy Lacrosse Association. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  31. ^ "WIAA State Championship History (See Classifications 3A and 4A, boys and girls tennis)". Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. 2007-09-28. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  32. ^ "Hall of Fame - Mercer Island High School Girls Tennis". Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  33. ^ The Final Score: "Washington basketball coaches career win–loss records." Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  34. ^ "Mercer Island Reporter March 18 Page 1". mih.stparchive.com. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  35. ^ "A legend's legacy: Ed Pepple | Four decades at Mercer Island and a lifetime of teaching - Mercer Island Reporter". Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  36. ^ "1981 Washington State High School Boys Basketball Championship". Archived from the original on 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  37. ^ [4] [permanent dead link]
  38. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2012-05-15.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) retrieved May 14, 2012.
  39. ^ Rauch, Paul. "Bill Anschell: Curiosity and Invention", All About Jazz, November 9, 2017. Accessed September 16, 2019. "I went to Mercer Island High School, we had a stage band, and an alcoholic teacher."
  40. ^ Mark Bathum, Team USA. Accessed September 16, 2020. "Hometown: Seattle, Wash. High School: Mercer Island High School (Mercer Island, Wash.) '77."
  41. ^ "Five Things You Didn't Know About Daniel Bonjour". TVOvermind. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  42. ^ Matt Boyd, Oregon State Beavers baseball. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Mercer Island High School - Played his freshman season, 2005-06, for head coach Doug Williams"
  43. ^ Meet Steve Bunin, KING-TV, updated August 28, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2019. "I have three brothers, and graduated from Mercer Island High School in 1992 and Syracuse University in 1996."
  44. ^ Brewer, Jerry. "Montana’s new coach very much a product of Seattle basketball", The Seattle Times, November 22, 2014. "He’s a product of Seattle basketball in every way imaginable, from his Rainier Valley upbringing to his days as a star guard at Mercer Island High School to his first head-coaching job at Sammamish High School to his junior-college experience at Green River Community College."
  45. ^ Jones, Tim. "Family portraits: Strong personalities shaped a future senator, Barack Obama.", Chicago Tribune, March 27, 2007. Accessed May 21, 2008. "For Wall and a few dozen others, Obama on the campaign trail often brings to mind Stanley Ann Dunham, Obama's mother and a strong-willed, unconventional member of the Mercer Island High School graduating class of 1960."
  46. ^ "The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest".
  47. ^ Davila, Florangela ."Jean Enersen; Jean Enersen is the KING 5 newscaster, this region's first female anchor, the woman who's held the position for the last 35 years.", The Seattle Times, November 25, 2007. Accessed September 16, 2020. "First, Magnolia and Our Lady of Fatima; then, Mercer Island High School, where Enersen swam."
  48. ^ Ko, Michael. "Basketball star loses lawsuit", The Seattle Times, October 15, 2002. Accessed September 16, 2020. "Josh Fisher, a Mercer Island High School graduate and the 1998-99 state 3A basketball player of the year, has lost a civil suit that claimed his school counselor defamed his reputation and damaged his college basketball career when she passed along rumors that he had cheated on a college-entrance exam."
  49. ^ Miller, Madison. "Mercer Island native wins Pulitzer Prize for Biography Caroline Fraser chronicles life of Laura Ingalls Wilder; credits MIHS teachers.", Mercer Island Reporter, April 24, 2018. Accessed September 16, 2020. "Caroline Fraser, a 1979 Mercer Island High School graduate, received the Pulitzer Prize for her biography, Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, last Monday."
  50. ^ Bonk, Thomas. "Petur The Great? : Lakers Find Themselves a 7-2 Ice Man Who Might Just Prove to Be a Big Help in Playoffs", Los Angeles Times, April 3, 1986. Accessed December 16, 2020. "After playing high school basketball in Iceland for two years, Gudmundsson spent his senior year at Mercer Island High School just outside Seattle."
  51. ^ "Getting the shot Teen spends summer making a film with friends", Mercer Island Reporter, November 24, 2008. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Goyette polished his pitch for access to locations while making some 200 calls. The 16-year-old Mercer Island High School student is spending the summer making a movie."
  52. ^ Adrian Hanauer, Seattle Sounders FC. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Hanauer’s interest in soccer began at the age of three, and he saw his first NASL Sounders game at the age of eight. He went on to play for Mercer Island High School and remains active in the Greater Seattle Soccer League."
  53. ^ Bill Hanson, RealGM. Accessed September 16, 2020. "High School: Mercer Island High School [Mercer Island, Washington]"
  54. ^ Steve Hawes, Basketball-Reference.com. Accessed November 28, 2007.
  55. ^ "Brad Idzik". Lehigh Mountain Hawks. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  56. ^ Managan, Megan (November 19, 2012). "Mercer Island native honored as Husky Legend". Mercer Island Reporter. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  57. ^ David Kirtman Archived 2007-12-09 at the Wayback Machine, CSTV. Accessed December 10, 2007.
  58. ^ a b via Mercury News. "Penny-pinching entrepreneurs changing world of venture capital", Mercury News, August 10, 2007. Accessed March 22, 2012. "Levie and Smith were 15-year-olds at Mercer Island High School near Seattle who teamed up on class projects and later made a film for fun."
  59. ^ "Matt Logie Player Profile, Lehigh - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
  60. ^ Miller, Ted. "Mahdavi calm, confident; UW linebacker listens to opera to relax before games", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 29, 2002. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Mahdavi is tough. At 211 pounds, he won a state heavyweight wrestling championship for Mercer Island High School, despite often giving up as much as 60 pounds to his opponents."
  61. ^ Brodeur, Nicole. "From Mercer Island, jumping into "The Soup"", The Seattle Times, August 22, 2004. Accessed October 6, 2007.
  62. ^ Evans, Jayda. "Mercer Island High School retires jersey of Sounders star Jordan Morris", The Seattle Times, April 25, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Mercer Island’s stadium has been renovated, but the memories of Jordan Morris tearing up the soccer field resurfaced Tuesday. The Sounders FC forward returned to his alma mater to be inducted into its Hall of Fame."
  63. ^ Annemarie Cancelmi Archived 2008-01-19 at the Wayback Machine, As the World Turns. Accessed December 10, 2007. "Graduated from Mercer Island High School, near Seattle, WA."
  64. ^ Grady, Mary L. "Balancing act: Penny is CEO of USA Gymnastics – MIHS grad also new father of triplet girls", Mercer Island Reporter, November 24, 2008. Accessed September 16, 2020. "Last August at the XXVIII Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, former Islander and Mercer Island High School graduate Steve Penny was seated next to legendary gymnastic coach Bela Karoly in the magnificent Indoor Olympic Hall."
  65. ^ Popper, Steve. "Pro Football; Fledgling Punter Steps Forward After Six-Year Layoff to Do the Kicking for the Giants", The New York Times, November 10, 2001. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Owen Pochman remembers the last time he stood behind the line of scrimmage waiting for the ball to be snapped to him for a punt. It was at Mercer Island High School in Washington, where, a proud Pochman says, he never had a punt blocked."
  66. ^ Celms, Elizabeth. "MI Olympic swimmer still inspires", Mercer Island Reporter, September 9, 2008. Accessed September 16, 2020. "By age 13, Lethcoe was ready for competition. But in 1952, girls’ competitive sports were nearly non-existent. It would be more than 20 years before Mercer Island High School offered a girls’ athletic program, and Eastside youth club sports were dominated by boys."
  67. ^ Macdonald, Moira (January 25, 2011). "Mercer Island's Anne Rosellini receives 'surreal' Oscar nod for 'Winter's Bone'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  68. ^ "Ethan Sandler's Epitaph; Actor Ethan Sandler, a 1991 Mercer Island High School grad (and former 'flag dude' at MIHS), has written a play with old college chum Adrian Wenner called Epitaph, that will be performed at Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse on May 27.", Mercer Island Reporter, November 24, 2008. Accessed September 16, 2019
  69. ^ "The High Schooler Who Became a COVID-19 Watchdog". The New Yorker. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  70. ^ Mary Meisenzahl 2020-05-14T12:42:00Z. "High School Student Avi Schiffmann Made a Coronavirus Tracker". Businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  71. ^ "Q&A: Avi Schiffmann, the Washington state teen behind a coronavirus website with millions of views". The Seattle Times. 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  72. ^ "Viral sensation: Seattle kid who built coronavirus website catches eye of a top Twitter tastemaker". 8 April 2020.
  73. ^ "A teenager's guide to building the world's best pandemic and protest trackers | MIT Technology Review". Technologyreview.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  74. ^ "Meet 17-Year-Old Avi Schiffmann Who Runs Coronavirus Tracking Website Used by 40+ Million Globally". Democracynow.org. 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  75. ^ Holohan, Meghan. "17-year-old built a website to track coronavirus". Today.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  76. ^ "Mercer Island teen launches website to track US protests | GeekWire". King5.com. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  77. ^ "Washington teen creates site to keep Floyd protesters safe | Tacoma News Tribune". Archived from the original on 2020-06-19. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  78. ^ via Associated press. Also as of 2014 became the coach of the Utah Jazz (Basketball team) "Missouri coach Quin Snyder resigns", The Seattle Times, February 10, 2006. Accessed May 20, 2008. "Snyder, a graduate of Mercer Island High School, spoke to his team before practice today and said he was leaving."
  79. ^ Staff, KIRO 7 News (2019-11-21). "U.S. Ambassador Gordon Sondland has Mercer Island ties". KIRO. Retrieved 2019-11-21.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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  83. ^ Raley, Dan. "Where Are They Now: Dave Wainhouse; Former Mercer Island, Washington State pitcher played briefly with the Mariners", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 1, 2007. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Even at Mercer Island High School, Wainhouse didn't land a permanent spot on the varsity until he was a senior, and he finished 0-6 on the mound that season."
  84. ^ "Flashback: Mary Wayte Bradburne, Mercer Island, Class of 1983", October 14, 2003. Accessed September 16, 2019.
  85. ^ "Former Islander White debuts with Mariners", Mercer Island Reporter, November 24, 2008. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Sean White, a 1999 Mercer Island High graduate, made his debut with the Seattle Mariners Wednesday at Safeco Field against the Oakland Athletics."
  86. ^ "MIHS grad charged in 1997 animal terrorism", Mercer Island Reporter, November 24, 2008. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Peter Daniel Young, the 1995 Mercer Island High School graduate charged with releasing thousands of minks from Midwest farms..."
  87. ^ Scott, Shaun. "State-champion coach resigns from position; Gillian d’Hondt departs after three seasons of leading the Islanders girls hoops program.", Mercer Island Reporter, June 15, 2008. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Gillian d’Hondt recently turned in her coaching clipboard after three seasons with the Mercer Island Islanders girls basketball program."
  88. ^ "Loyola names Sheryl Swoopes head women's basketball coach", KCBD-TV, April 12, 2013. Accessed December 16, 2020. "Swoopes was an assistant girls basketball coach at Mercer Island High School in 2010 and most recently served as a television analyst for Texas Tech women's basketball games during the 2012-13 season."

External links

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