Norman High School
Encyclopedia
Norman High School is a four-year comprehensive
public high school
in Norman, Oklahoma
with a steady enrollment of 1,945 students. It is accredited by North Central Association, the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association
. The school year consists of two 15-week semesters with a 6 class flexible schedule, consisting of 52 minute periods. Norman High School is part of the Norman Independent School District No. 29 of Cleveland County
, Oklahoma
, more commonly known as Norman Public Schools
(NPS). Norman High was ranked as one of the top 1,400 high schools in the United States in 2009.
, affiliated with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. Bus transportation is provided in both the morning and afternoon.
channel 18.
Also available are the two-year, mentored AEGIS English and AEGIS Math programs. Students can apply at the end of their sophomore year, and 20-25 students are selected for each program.
Total - 23 units
The Tiger basketball team won State Championships in 1945, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1970, 1990, and 1999. Some of the notable alumni who led these teams were Denny Price ('55), Butch Roberts ('61), Jack Herron ('63), Rick Kersey ('63), John Carroll ('70), and Ian Boylan ('99).
The Tiger baseball team played in the state championship game in 1958, 1985, 1991, 1994, and again in 1995 and 1996, winning titles in 1958, and in 1995 with a 34-5 record. They finished the 1995 season ranked 14th nationally by the USA Today
.
The Norman High Botball
team did very well at the Oklahoma Botball Regional competition (which includes teams from multiple states) from 2002–2007, including placing first in the region for several years, including 2006 and 2007, as well as winning two national championships in 2005 and 2006.
The speech and debate team lost its first state championship in speech and debate in 1998. It then won the state championship in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006. They also regularly send teams of four to five students to the National Debate Tournament held in June by the National Forensic League
, sending a record 14 students in the summer of 2006. The Tiger squad recently won back the state championship for the 2008 season.
Norman High has produced numerous National Merit Scholars and Presidential Scholars.
In 1989 Norman High School was awarded the Oklahoma Blue Ribbon award of excellence.
And to your school be true!
Lift up your head with pride
In all you say and do.
Fight on, Norman High!
We'll always do our best.
We are the orange and black
of N! H! S!
Football
Baseball
Entertainment
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
public high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
with a steady enrollment of 1,945 students. It is accredited by North Central Association, the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association
Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association , is an organization which organizes secondary school activities at the state level, such as sports, speech tournaments, and music competitions. Derald Glover is its president. The OSSAA is a member of the National Federation of State High School...
. The school year consists of two 15-week semesters with a 6 class flexible schedule, consisting of 52 minute periods. Norman High School is part of the Norman Independent School District No. 29 of Cleveland County
Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Cleveland County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 255,755 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Norman. Cleveland County is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, more commonly known as Norman Public Schools
Norman Public Schools
Norman Public Schools is a public school district serving Norman, Oklahoma. There are over 14,000 students enrolled in the district...
(NPS). Norman High was ranked as one of the top 1,400 high schools in the United States in 2009.
History
Norman High School's history began in 1890 with the construction of the township's first high school, located at what was then the west side of the city. The institution enjoyed the honor of being the only educational facility in Norman, tutoring students from elementary through high school. In the early 1900s, the original high school building burned down following an attempt to condemn the school. After the fire, there were no official high school buildings for 15–19 years. During this time, students were taught in homes, businesses, churches and other facilities. The second structure to house Norman High was located off of Porter Avenue and later would become Central Mid-High, and later Longfellow Middle School. This was the high school of Norman for the next 22 years.CareerTech
Students interested in technical and career-specific skills to prepare for such careers as automotive, child care, computers, construction, cosmetology, industrial technology, health care, and landscape may have Dual Enrollment in one- or two-year programs at Moore Norman Technology CenterMoore Norman Technology Center
Moore Norman Technology Center is a public career and technology education center with two campus locations: The Franklin Road Campus in Norman, Oklahoma and the South Penn Campus in South Oklahoma City...
, affiliated with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. Bus transportation is provided in both the morning and afternoon.
Dual Enrollment
Juniors and seniors may take courses at many local colleges and universities, including the University of Oklahoma, Rose State College, and Oklahoma City Community College.Communications
Norman High's student newspaper, TigersTalk, was renamed The Tiger Tribune in 2006. Since 2006, The Tiger Tribune has received multiple state awards. In 2009, The Tiger Tribune was awarded the OIPA Sweepstakes award, the highest honor awarded for high school newspapers in Oklahoma. Yearbook students produce The Trail yearbook, which has also received some state and national awards. Media students study broadcasting through the production of programs for the local Public-access televisionPublic-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
channel 18.
Special Education
Norman Public Schools provides comprehensive services to many qualifying students. NHS Special Education services have won many state awards.Fine & Performing Arts
Norman High offers a wide array of courses allowing for an in-depth exploration of the arts, including drawing and painting, photography, debate, acting, music, and modern dance.Music
The music department encompasses the marching band, two concert bands (Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band), two concert orchestras (Symphonic and Philharmonia), and several choirs. The Symphonic Orchestra has been one of the top orchestras in Oklahoma since the 1970s, receiving the state Sweepstakes award almost every year. To receive the Sweepstakes award, an orchestra must receive Superior (I) ratings at the state string orchestra and full orchestra contests, and have a certain combination of solos and ensembles receive Superior (I) ratings at the state solo and ensemble contest.Alternative Education
An alternative high school program offers a different approach to learning with a nontraditional curriculum in a more structured environment.Guidance and Counseling
A team of five counselors provides support and services to students in areas including course placement, personal adjustment, and college and career counseling. The counselors offer students the opportunity to individualize their education plans to better suit their needs starting next school year as part of the IEP (Individual Education Plan) program.Advanced Course Offerings
Norman High provides students with Advanced Placement (AP) coursework in a variety of subjects including Computer Programming, Psychology, Studio Art, English Literature & Composition, English Language & Composition, United States History, European History, Government, Human Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics C, Calculus AB and BC, and Spanish.Also available are the two-year, mentored AEGIS English and AEGIS Math programs. Students can apply at the end of their sophomore year, and 20-25 students are selected for each program.
Graduation Requirements
- English - 4 units
- Math - 3 units (Algebra II or greater)
- Science - 3 units
- World History - 1 unit
- U.S. History - 1 unit
- U.S. Government - 1/2 unit
- Oklahoma History - 1/2 unit
- Electives - 8 units
- Fine Arts - 2 unit
Total - 23 units
Athletics
Norman High School has a rich tradition in athletics, having won a state championship in football in 1992, baseball in 1995, and girls' basketball in 1995. Among those notable alumni that led the Tigers to these state championships are former NFL linebacker Tyrell Peters (Ravens) and kicker Scott Blanton (Redskins), former college football all-American J.T. Thatcher (Oklahoma), also former college players fullback T.J. Leon (Missouri), quarterback Zac Taylor (Nebraska), current college football players running back Mossis Madu (Oklahoma), wide receiver Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma), linebacker Turner Troup (Central Oklahoma), quarterback Press Taylor (Marshall), former college baseball players J.T Harrison (Mississippi), former college basketball player Jack Herron (Oklahoma State), Andy Hayes (Virginia Tech), Chad Cochell (Oklahoma), Jade Noles (Oklahoma), Richard Park (Oklahoma), and Stacy Hansmeyer (UConn women's' basketball).The Tiger basketball team won State Championships in 1945, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1970, 1990, and 1999. Some of the notable alumni who led these teams were Denny Price ('55), Butch Roberts ('61), Jack Herron ('63), Rick Kersey ('63), John Carroll ('70), and Ian Boylan ('99).
The Tiger baseball team played in the state championship game in 1958, 1985, 1991, 1994, and again in 1995 and 1996, winning titles in 1958, and in 1995 with a 34-5 record. They finished the 1995 season ranked 14th nationally by the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
.
Mission Statement
Norman High School expects excellence, responsibility, and respect among all members of the learning community.Student organizations
Norman High has many student organizations, including:- Art Club
- Asian Cultural Club
- Bike Club
- Black Student Association
- Botball
- Cookies and Books
- DECA
- Food Club
- French Club
- Global Awareness Club
- Gay–straight alliance
- Invisible Children
- Latin Club
- The Tiger Tribune (student newspaper)
- Psychology Club
- S.W.A.T (Students Working Against Tobacco)
- Spanish Club
- Spanish Honor Society
- Young Democrats
- Young Libertarians
- Young RepublicansYoung RepublicansThe Young Republicans is an organization for members of the Republican Party of the United States between the ages of 18 and 40. It has both a national organization and chapters in individual states....
Awards
The Tiger Tribune, the monthly student newspaper, won the OSM/OIPA All-Oklahoman award in 2008, 2009 and 2010. At the 2010 OSM/OIPA Spring Media Monday the newspaper won the All-Oklahoman award. In 2009 the newspaper won the coveted OSM/OIPA Sweepstakes award, the highest award given by OSM/OIPA. Along with the Sweepstakes and the All-Oklahoman awards, the newspaper won the Spirit Award at the annual Spring Media Monday of 2009.The Norman High Botball
Botball
Botball is an educational robotics program that focuses on engaging middle and high school aged students in team-oriented robotics competitions. Thousands of children and young adults participate in Botball’s program...
team did very well at the Oklahoma Botball Regional competition (which includes teams from multiple states) from 2002–2007, including placing first in the region for several years, including 2006 and 2007, as well as winning two national championships in 2005 and 2006.
The speech and debate team lost its first state championship in speech and debate in 1998. It then won the state championship in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006. They also regularly send teams of four to five students to the National Debate Tournament held in June by the National Forensic League
National Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
, sending a record 14 students in the summer of 2006. The Tiger squad recently won back the state championship for the 2008 season.
Norman High has produced numerous National Merit Scholars and Presidential Scholars.
In 1989 Norman High School was awarded the Oklahoma Blue Ribbon award of excellence.
NHS Fight Song
Fight on, Norman High!And to your school be true!
Lift up your head with pride
In all you say and do.
Fight on, Norman High!
We'll always do our best.
We are the orange and black
of N! H! S!
Notable alumni
Basketball- Jimmy McNatt, '36, All-American for OU, played in first-ever NCAA Final Four in 1939, starred for AAU's Phillips 66ers in the 1940s
Football
- Scott BlantonScott BlantonRobert Scott Blanton is a formerAmerican football kicker in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma....
, '91, Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
kickerPlacekickerPlacekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points... - Ryan BroylesRyan BroylesRyan Broyles is an American football wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners.-Early years:Broyles attended Norman High School. He finished his career with 79 receptions for 1,688 yards and 18 touchdowns on offense and 157 tackles and 20 interceptions on defense.-College career:Broyles was...
, University of OklahomaUniversity of OklahomaThe University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its... - Zac TaylorZac TaylorZac Taylor in an American football quarterback. From 2005 to 2006, he was the starting quarterback for Cornhuskers football team at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He was recruited late in the 2004-2005 off-season by the Huskers, being a described "lucky break" due to the Huskers lack of...
, Nebraska CornhuskersNebraska CornhuskersThe Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
: 2006 Big 12 ConferenceBig 12 ConferenceThe Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
Offensive Player of the Year, Texas A&MTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
Assistant Coach
Baseball
- John Russell, '79, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, former manager of the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions... - Joe Simpson, '70, Major League Baseball player; currently part of Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
broadcast team
Entertainment
- Dean CameronDean CameronDean Cameron is an American television and film actor. He is best known for his role as Francis "Chainsaw" Gremp in the 1987 Mark Harmon comedy Summer School....
(Eikleberry), '80, actor - Greg CoolidgeGreg CoolidgeGreg Coolidge aka Gregory Coolidge is an actor, voice actor, screenwriter, director, and producer who has been active in cinema, television, and animation since 1995.-Filmography:...
, '87, actor/writer/director/producer - James GarnerJames GarnerJames Garner is an American film and television actor, one of the first Hollywood actors to excel in both media. He has starred in several television series spanning a career of more than five decades...
(Bumgarner), actor. - Milena GovichMilena Govich-Biography:She was born in Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma. Both of her parents, Dr. Bruce Michael Govich and Dr. Marilyn Green Govich, are professors of music: Bruce worked at University of Oklahoma and Marilyn currently works at the University of Central Oklahoma...
, '95, star on NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Law & OrderLaw & OrderLaw & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,... - Denise Masters JonesDenise JonesDenise Radon Masters Jones is one-third of the Contemporary Christian music group Point of Grace. She has won 12 Dove Awards with Point of Grace.-Background:...
, '87, singer and a founding member of the ChristianChristian musicChristian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
band Point of GracePoint of GracePoint of Grace is an all-female Contemporary Christian music group. The trio consists of Shelley Breen, Denise Jones, and Leigh Cappillino. The group started out as a quartet in 1991, with original members Breen and Jones, as well as Terry Jones and Heather Payne... - Megyn PriceMegyn PriceMegyn Price is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Claudia Finnerty on the sitcom Grounded for Life and Audrey Bingham on the CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement.- Biography:...
, '88, actress. Numerous TV roles including staring on Grounded for LifeGrounded for LifeGrounded for Life is an American television sitcom that debuted on January 10, 2001 as a mid-season replacement on the FOX Network. It was created by Mike Schiff and Bill Martin. It ran for two seasons on the network until being cancelled only two episodes into its third season...
and Rules of EngagementRules of engagementRules of Engagement refers to those responses that are permitted in the employment of military personnel during operations or in the course of their duties. These rules of engagement are determined by the legal framework within which these duties are being carried out...
.