Okemos High School
The school in September 2015
Address
Map
2800 Jolly Rd

Okemos
,
Michigan
48864

United States
Coordinates42°41′04″N 84°27′22″W / 42.6845°N 84.456°W / 42.6845; -84.456
Information
School typePublic
School districtOkemos Public Schools
SuperintendentJohn Hood
PrincipalDaniel Kemsley
Faculty75.28 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment1427 (2020–21)[1]
Student to teacher ratio18.96:1[1]
Color(s)Maroon & Light Blue
  
Athletics conferenceCapital Area Activities Conference
NicknameWolves
NewspaperThe OHS Press
Websitewww.okemosk12.net/Domain/14

Okemos High School is a public high school in Okemos, Michigan, United States. It is the only high school in the Okemos Public Schools district. It is located southeast of the main campus of Michigan State University, between Bennett and Jolly Roads on the North and South, and Hulett and Hagadorn Roads on the East and West. The current building was completed in 1994, replacing the now Chippewa Middle School building as the district's high school. Former students of Chippewa 7-8 School comprise the school's student body.

Attendance area

The school district (and therefore the high school's attendance boundary) includes approximately two-thirds of Meridian Township, Michigan and portions of Alaiedon and Williamstown townships. It includes most of Okemos, as well as portions of Lansing, Haslett, and East Lansing.[2]

Academics

Student assessments
2021–22 school
year[3]
Change vs.
prior year[3]
M-STEP 11th grade proficiency rates
(Science / Social Studies)
Advanced %26.9 / 25.5
Proficient %24.6 / 25.5
PR. Proficient %10.2 / 32.6
Not Proficient %38.3 / 16.5
Average test scores
SAT Total1130.0
(Decrease −45.9)

An extensive Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum is in place, in which 59% of students participate.[4] To ensure high quality, admission to AP courses requires high achievement in prerequisite classes and a committee approval.

Okemos High School was ranked 13th in the state of Michigan in U.S. News & World Report's 2021 list of "America's Best High Schools".[4] The student to teacher ratio at Okemos High School is 19 students to 1 teacher.

Okemos High School is recognized by NCA (North Central Association of Colleges and Schools) as an accredited public high school.[5]

Extracurriculars

The Okemos High School quiz bowl varsity team is consistently a top performer nationally; in 2016, 2017, and 2018, they qualified for NAQT nationals held in Dallas, TX (2016),[6] in Atlanta, GA (2017[7] and 2018[8]), and virtually (2021). Okemos High School finished 53rd nationally in Quiz Bowl in 2016[6] and 25th in 2017.[7]

Okemos High School offers band, choir and orchestra in the performing arts section. The top orchestra is Philharmonic,[9] the top band is SWE (Symphonic Wind Ensemble),[10] and the top choir is Someko (which is Okemos spelled backwards).[9] Okemos has many performers qualify for the All-State orchestra as well as for the MSVMA Honors Choir.[11]

The Okemos High School theatre program is another popular extracurricular activity in the performing arts section. The school typically puts on three shows each year including a spring musical.[12]

The Okemos Solar Racing Club has consistently placed well in the Solar Car Challenge, placing second in 2019 and winning the Classic Division in 2023.[13][14]

The Chess Club at Okemos High School has excelled in competitions, claiming the title in the 2023 Michigan K-12 Club Championship and achieving second place in the 2023 Michigan K-12 Team Championship.[citation needed]

Notable alumni

Athletics

The district's mascot has been a topic of debate since the mid-1990s. In 2004, the school agreed to phase out the name "Chieftains" in favor of "Chiefs." In 2021, the school board voted unanimously to drop the Chiefs mascot entirely. "Wolves" was voted on and selected as the new mascot name, then approved by the school board.[16]

Okemos fields teams for both boys and girls in many sports. The Chiefs are a member of the Capital Area Activities Conference. State Championship winners are listed below. The following sports are offered:[17][18]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Okemos High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ingham County, MI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  3. ^ a b "MI School Data Annual Education Report". MI School Data. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  4. ^ a b "Okemos High School". U.S. News. 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  5. ^ "AdvancED - Institution Summary". advanc-ed.org. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  6. ^ a b "NAQT - 2016 High School National Championship Tournament - Team Standings". www.naqt.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  7. ^ a b "NAQT - 2017 High School National Championship Tournament - Team Standings". www.naqt.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  8. ^ "NAQT - University of Michigan Autumn Classic - Team Standings". www.naqt.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Guide to curriculum" (PDF). www.okemosk12.net. 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  10. ^ "Band handbook" (PDF). www.okemosk12.net. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  11. ^ Serkaian, Caroline. "Six students selected as All-State Band and Orchestra members". ohspress.net. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Okemos High School Theatre Department". Okemos High School Theatre Department. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  13. ^ "Solar Car Challenge - 2023 Race Results". www.solarcarchallenge.org. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  14. ^ "Solar Car Challenge - 2019 Race Results". www.solarcarchallenge.org. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  15. ^ Paulson, Steven K. (February 14, 1997). "JonBenet prosecutor vents anger". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. p. 4A. Retrieved January 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  16. ^ Harper, Jace (14 February 2022). "'Chiefs' no more -- Okemos Public Schools officially change mascot nickname". wilx.com. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  17. ^ "MHSAA > Schools". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  18. ^ "Okemos Chiefs Athletics". Okemos Chiefs - Okemos High School Sports. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  19. ^ "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  20. ^ "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  21. ^ "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  22. ^ "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  23. ^ "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  24. ^ "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  25. ^ "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  26. ^ Buddy, Kellan (7 November 2021). "Okemos claims D1 boys soccer state title". WILX 10. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  28. ^ "Yearly Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  29. ^ "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  30. ^ "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  31. ^ "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  33. ^ MWPA Webmaster. "Michigan Water Polo Association". michiganwaterpolo.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  34. ^ MWPA Webmaster. "Michigan Water Polo 2018 Standings Association". michiganwaterpolo.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  35. ^ "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.

External links

Education in Ingham County, Michigan
Authority control databases
Categories