North Gwinnett High School
Encyclopedia
North Gwinnett High School (NGHS) is a public high school
in Suwanee, Georgia
. The school is part of the school district Gwinnett County Public Schools
. The Superintendent of the district is J. Alvin Wilbanks and the Principal is Ed Shaddix.
field between the communities of Suwanee and Sugar Hill
for the purpose of consolidating the two communities' separate high schools, Suwanee High School and Sugar Hill High School. The land for the school was donated by the estate of Tom Robinson, for whom the NGHS football field is named.
In its early years, NGHS was a small school. In 1960, the school served grades 8 through 12 and there were 328 students enrolled. The eighth grade was eliminated after a new middle school
was built during the 1973-1974 school year. By that year, NGHS had 606 students. The school grew dramatically in the subsequent decades. Enrollment reached 1,000 for the first time in the 1988-1989 school year and has been over 2,800. For the 2011-2012 school year, enrollment is reported as 2,670.
North Gwinnett High School figured in Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools (503 US 60 - Supreme Court 1992), a U.S. Supreme Court case that was decided in 1992. A female student at the school had accused a teacher of sexual harassment
and sued the school district for monetary damages for not stopping the harassment after she complained to school authorities. The federal district court ruled that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, under which she sued, did not allow for monetary damages. The appeals court affirmed that ruling, but the Supreme Court overturned that decision. The Supreme Court found that Title IX does allow for monetary damages, thus returning the student's case to lower courts.
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 Suwanee, Georgia
Suwanee, Georgia
As of 2010 Suwanee had a population of 15,355. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 67.4% white, 10.8% black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 18.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.3% reporting some other race and 2.3% reporting two or more races...
. The school is part of the school district Gwinnett County Public Schools
Gwinnett County Public Schools
Gwinnett County Public Schools is a school district operating in Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA. GCPS is the largest school system in Georgia, with 123 schools and an estimated enrollment of 161,000 students for the 2010-2011 year. GCPS is estimated to be the 14th largest school district in the...
. The Superintendent of the district is J. Alvin Wilbanks and the Principal is Ed Shaddix.
History
North Gwinnett High School was established in 1958. It was built in a former cottonCotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
field between the communities of Suwanee and Sugar Hill
Sugar Hill, Georgia
As of 2010 Sugar Hill had a population of 18,522. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 72.4% white, 9.8% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian Indian, 5.0% other Asian, 0.1% PAcific Islander, 8.6% from some other race and 2.5% from two or more races...
for the purpose of consolidating the two communities' separate high schools, Suwanee High School and Sugar Hill High School. The land for the school was donated by the estate of Tom Robinson, for whom the NGHS football field is named.
In its early years, NGHS was a small school. In 1960, the school served grades 8 through 12 and there were 328 students enrolled. The eighth grade was eliminated after a new middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
was built during the 1973-1974 school year. By that year, NGHS had 606 students. The school grew dramatically in the subsequent decades. Enrollment reached 1,000 for the first time in the 1988-1989 school year and has been over 2,800. For the 2011-2012 school year, enrollment is reported as 2,670.
North Gwinnett High School figured in Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools (503 US 60 - Supreme Court 1992), a U.S. Supreme Court case that was decided in 1992. A female student at the school had accused a teacher of sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
and sued the school district for monetary damages for not stopping the harassment after she complained to school authorities. The federal district court ruled that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, under which she sued, did not allow for monetary damages. The appeals court affirmed that ruling, but the Supreme Court overturned that decision. The Supreme Court found that Title IX does allow for monetary damages, thus returning the student's case to lower courts.
Mentorship
Every student at NGHS is provided with an adult mentor. Students have "Advisement Lessons" with their mentor at least once a week. Freshman at NGHS are also given student mentors.Awards
In 2009, North Gwinnett High School received the silver award for the Single Statewide Accountability System. In 2010, the Department of Education named the school as one of the Advanced Placement Honors Schools.Student life
Students are offered numerous activities in athletics, clubs, and leadership groups such as the NGHS Beta Society, Student Council, and Relay for Life.Notable alumni
- Charlie BlackmonCharlie BlackmonCharles Cobb Blackmon is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
, baseball player - Jared CookJared CookJared Cook Jr. is an American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Titans in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Cook attended North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia...
, American football player - Chip RogersChip RogersChip Rogers, born May 3, 1968, is an American politician in the state of Georgia. He is a Republican and was first elected in 2002 to the Georgia General Assembly to the Georgia House of Representatives, in 2004 he was elected to the Georgia State Senate. Rogers was unanimously chosen as the...
, politician - Dennis Roland (American football coach)
- Major WingateMajor WingateMajor Leon-Legrant Wingate is an American professional basketball player who currently plays at the center for the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League .Started playing high school basketball at Wilson High School where he averaged 15 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks as a...
, basketball player - Blake WoodBlake WoodBlake Daniel Wood is a major league baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.-Early life:Prior to playing professionally, he attended North Gwinnett High School and then Georgia Tech...
, baseball player