North High School (Des Moines)
Encyclopedia
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....
located in Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. It is one of five secondary schools
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....
under the district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
of the Des Moines Public Schools
Des Moines Public Schools
The Des Moines Public Schools is the largest public school district in Iowa...
.
The school's mascot is the Polar Bear
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
.
Curriculum
The school day is split into 4 blocks lasting 85 minutes each. Classes meet every other day on a rotating schedle. The school district requires that students take a number of core academic courses, if they wish to graduate and receive a diploma. This includes Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, Art, and Physical Education. The exact amount of academic credit needed to satisfy graduation requirements is determined by the school district.All students are required by the district to enroll in four subject courses and a Physical Education course. However, the school compels lower-class students to schedule a full day of classes, in order to ensure satisfaction with district graduation requirements. Juniors and Seniors have the option of having an "open period" during the first or last period of the school day (Seniors may have open periods during any period). However, Juniors require parental permission to have an open period. All students are required to take finals.
North is the largest high school in Iowa to be one on one computing with their teachers and subject.
The district requires four years of Physical Education. Freshmen and sophomores usually take their P.E. courses at the school. Juniors and Seniors have the option of taking alternative P.E. programs.
Notable alumni
- John Tinker (Class of 1968), one of the petitionersPlaintiffA plaintiff , also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit before a court...
in the Supreme Court case, Tinker vs. Des Moines SchoolsTinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School DistrictTinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, was a decision by the United States Supreme Court that defined the constitutional rights of students in U.S. public schools...
.