North High School (Denver, Colorado)

North High School
The school in 2023
Address
Map
2960 N. Speer Blvd.[1]

Denver, Colorado
80211-3754

United States
Coordinates39°45′36″N 105°01′21″W / 39.76007°N 105.02261°W / 39.76007; -105.02261
Information
TypePublic
Established1883 (141 years ago) (1883)
School districtDenver Public Schools
CEEB code060428
PrincipalScott Wolf[1]
Faculty95.67 (FTE)[2]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,635 (2023-2024)[3]
Student to teacher ratio17.09[2]
Color(s)Purple and gold
  
Athletics3A
Athletics conferenceDenver Prep
MascotVikings[4]
Websitehttp://north.dpsk12.org

North High School is a historic public high school located in the Northside of Denver, Colorado, United States. The school is part of the Denver Public Schools system and has been in continuous operation since 1883.[5] It is one of four original high schools in Denver; the other three are East, West, and South.

History

The high school was constructed by the then-independent township of Highland, northwest of Denver, in 1883. It belonged to Denver Public Schools from the beginning and was known as 'Denver North Side High School'; the original graduating class of 1886 was entirely female.[5] In 1896 Highland was incorporated into the city of Denver and the existing school became inadequate for the growing number of students; a new Beaux-Arts style building was constructed in 1911 which continues to serve as the core of the modern school.

In the latter part of the 20th century, North High School experienced a continual decline in attendance and student achievement. In 2012-13 the graduation rate was 56.7%, with a drop-out rate of 3.4% and attendance rates of 90%.[6] In 2010 it received a $3.1 million grant from the federal government as part of a scheme to reinvigorate low-performing schools in the United States.[7] In 2007 the school received a $17.1 million remodeling that restored the historic features of the 1911 building and updated the athletic buildings and infrastructure.[8]

Following several changes in administration, North High School has seen a strong rebound in recent years, with sharp rises in student enrollment, attendance, and graduation rates.[7]

On the sitcom Good Luck Charlie, it is the rival school of South High School, where Teddy goes to school, and where PJ graduated from, and has a barbarian for a mascot in the show. It is almost seen in the episode "Double Whammy".[citation needed]

Demographics

As of the 2021–2022 school year, North High School has a total enrollment of 1,587 students in grades nine through twelve.[3]

  • Hispanic/Latino: 66.5%
  • White: 20%
  • African American/Black: 7.1%
  • Multiple races: 2.7%
  • American Indian: 1.9%
  • Asian & Pacific Islander: 1.8%

Athletics

The athletic teams of North High School are known as the Vikings. The school competes in multiple athletic divisions — the 3A Denver Prep division for football, and the 5A/4A/3A mixed Denver Prep division (composed mostly of DPS teams) for all other sports. As of 2021, the athletic director is Kevin Bendjy.[9]

Notable alumni

  • Library, 1918
    Library, 1918

References

  1. ^ a b School Facts, Piton Foundation
  2. ^ a b North High School. National Center For Education Statistics. Accessed December 18, 2024
  3. ^ a b Denver North Demographics. Denver Public Schools. Accessed 3 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Denver North High School". Denver North High School. Denver Public Schools. 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Ariana Ross (2016-09-10). "NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST - DENVER'S ICONIC PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS". Denverpubliclibrary.org. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  6. ^ Yesenia Robles (2015-03-15). "Denver's North High showing signs that latest improvements will stick". Denver Post. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  7. ^ a b Jeremy P. Meyer (2010-08-27). "Colorado schools get $43 million in grants". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  8. ^ "North High School Historic Renovations". a-p.com. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  9. ^ Denver North High School Athletics Accessed 3 November 2021
  10. ^ Noel, Thomas J.; Norgren, Barbara S. (1987). Denver: The City Beautiful. Denver, CO: Historic Denver, Inc. pp. 204–205. ISBN 0-914628-22-4.
  11. ^ "Colorado Architects Biographical Sketch - Burnham F. Hoyt" (PDF). HistoryColorago.org. Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Colorado History Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  12. ^ Chronology of Golda Meir
  13. ^ "Almost a school shooter: How one man turned his pain into a way to help others". cbs8.com. November 26, 2019. Retrieved 2022-12-08.