Doss High School is a secondary school

Secondary school

Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...

 located in Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...

.

Location

Harry Doss High School is located in the southwestern part of Jefferson County, Kentucky

Jefferson County, Kentucky

As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...

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Initial Naming

The school was originally proposed as Wisertown High School, in honor of the area of the county in which the school is/was located, but was, instead, named for a former member of the Jefferson County Board of Education. (At the time Doss was built, Jefferson County population was growing. The City of Louisville had a separate Board of Education, and the city's population was declining. The two school systems were merged in the mid-1970s.) Fairdale High School is Doss' rival school and as such always stirs up public and community interest when ever the two schools compete against each other in any sporting event.

Start up

The school was built to relieve overcrowding from Butler

Butler Traditional High School

----Butler is a High School in Louisville, Kentucky which follows the traditional school program.-History:Suda E. Butler High School, opened in 1954. It was chosen in 1988 as the second high school in Jefferson County to offer the Traditional Program. In this program the standards of patriotism,...

, Fairdale

Fairdale High School

Fairdale High School is a part of the Jefferson County Public Schools system in the United States. Approximately 950-1,000 students are enrolled. It is one of the District's Magnet Career Schools for Public Safety Technology...

, Western, Pleasure Ridge Park and Valley High Schools. The building opened in the Fall of 1967 at 7601 Saint Andrews Church Road. It began with the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. The first graduating class was in 1971. The first class to complete grades 7 through 12 was in 1973.

Magnet Programs

During the 1990s as the Jefferson County (KY) Public Schools moved their Career and Technical Education Programs into the local high schools Doss became the recipient of three magnet programs: Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education, and Pre-Engineering. Currently, Doss is a Business and Information Technology (BIT) themed school. Through its partnership with Class Act Federal Credit Union, the school has the first and only student-run credit union branch in the county. Students can major in accounting, banking and financial services, entrepreneur, and management in the "Class Act Academy of Business and Finance."

The new Information Technology program makes Doss the premier technology-themed school in Southwest Jefferson County. Doss currently has 10 computer labs and 7 technology teachers. Students can major in computer repair, help desk, programming, and structured cabling.

The addition to the BIT program, Advance Program and Advanced Placement programs at Doss have helped Doss establish a new vision for all graduates to be "technology proficient, business literate, and college ready."

Athletics

The school athletic complex has three gymnasiums with the main gymnasium, the Leon Mudd Athletic Center, which seats a maximum of 1,800 people. Also, the Hayward Shartzer Stadium, the football stadium with a running track, which seats a maximum of 2,500 people. Also within the athletic complex are baseball and softball fields and tennis courts.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of Doss High School include:

• Derek Anderson, basketball player
• Larry Birkhead
  Larry Birkhead
  Larry E. Birkhead was a partner of Anna Nicole Smith and is the father of her daughter, Dannielynn. He was in a child custody battle for his daughter until DNA results proved his paternity.-Personal life:...
  
  , photojournalist, best known as the father of Anna Nicole Smith
  Anna Nicole Smith
  In 1992 Smith was chosen by Hugh Hefner to appear on the cover of the March issue of Playboy, where she was listed as Vickie Smith, wearing a low-cut evening gown. The centerfold was photographed by Stephen Wayda. Smith said she planned to be "the next Marilyn Monroe". Becoming one of Playboys...
  
  's baby, Dannielynn
• LaVell Boyd
  LaVell Boyd
  LaVell Boyd is a former professional American football player.-Early years:Boyd is a graduate of Doss High School and was the all-time leading wide receiver in Jefferson County history. He later went on to the University of Louisville, where he helped lead his team to two bowl games...
  
  , football player
• Steve Pence
  Steve Pence
  Stephen B. Pence was the Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He took office with fellow Republican Ernie Fletcher in December 2003.-Education:...
  
   Lt. Governor of Kentucky, Class of 1971
• Jim O'Brien
  Jim O'Brien (reporter)
  Jim O'Brien was the stage name of James Oldham , who came to Philadelphia in 1970 to become a disc jockey at radio station WFIL-AM, after short stints at KHJ in Los Angeles and WOR-FM in New York City....
  
  , Nationally recognized television meteorologist
• Isaac Sowells
  Isaac Sowells
  Isaac Sowells is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
  
  , *NFL, football player