Northern High School (North Carolina)
Encyclopedia
Northern High School is a public secondary school located in northern Durham, North Carolina
. Northern's current principal is Kathryn Bonner. 1455 students are currently enrolled at Northern. Northern is one of Durham's seven public high schools. Students take four classes each day as a block schedule is currently in place. Northern's mascot for their male teams is the Knight
s and for the female teams, the Ladies.
Northern High School offers Advanced Placement classes in English, American History, European History, Psychology, Statistics, Calculus AB and BC, Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Spanish, French, Latin, German, Studio Art, Music Theory (Independent Study), and US Government & Politics.
Northern High School employs over 150 staff members including four assistant principals. Students in the 2005-2006 school year received an average SAT
score of 983.
In 2007, Northern High School was ranked as the 928th best high school in America by Newsweek
. The school continues to rank in the top five percent of public high schools nationwide. Northern High School is currently recognized as a School of Progress, with over 60 percent of students at or above achievement standards.
Until the early 1990s, Durham County had two public school systems: the Durham City Schools System and the Durham County Schools System.
On September 1, 1955 Northern High School opened with an enrollment of 502 students in grades 9–12. The students came from the feeder schools of Glenn, Hillandale, Mangum and Bragtown schools. The then new Northern High School had only 17 classrooms, a home economics department, a shop, a library, and a gymnasium.
For the most part, integration occurred smoothly and with only one recorded incident of racial tension at Northern High School, which the Durham County School Board helped to mediate.
In 1958 the following additions opened to students: auditorium, bandroom, and additional classrooms called "North Hall", N1-N10. This was followed in 1963 with the addition to "North Hall" classrooms, N11-N22.
In 1966 a cafeteria addition was completed and the high school had an enrollment of 852. At that time, the high school consisted of the "North Hall", "East Hall" and "West Hall".
In the 1980s, a new classroom stand-alone wing was added, called "Katherine Webb Hall" (Harrison Hall).
By the mid-1980s Northern High School was one of North Carolina
's largest high schools with 2,300- 2,500 students and was, at this time, the largest high school in Durham County and Durham City. The school at this time only had grades 10, 11 and 12. Grade 9 was at this time located in the junior high schools along with grades 7 and 8. Durham County School System had not yet converted to the middle school format, containing grades 6, 7 and 8, as the Durham City School System had converted to a few years before. Northern High School's feeder junior high schools were Carrington Junior High School and Chewning Junior High School.
Northern High School's rival schools in size and sports during the 1980s were: Broughton High School, Enloe High School, Millbrook High School, Sanderson High School, Cary High School (in Wake County, North Carolina
), Chapel Hill High School and Orange High School
(all in Orange County, North Carolina
, Grimsley High School
and Page High School (in Guilford County, NC), South Mecklenburg High School (in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
), Hillside High School (in Durham, North Carolina
) and the then smaller Person High School (in Person County, North Carolina
). All competed in the 4-A size sports ranking.
In 1984 a new Vocational Wing was completed and in 1988 the First Phase of New Science Wing and Tennis Courts were completed. In 1993 the old Vocational Wing was renovated and new additions completed. In 1994 a new Arts Department Wing was completed and "North Hall" and "West Hall" were renovated along with a second phase of the New Science Wing was completed. There was also an addition to the Library and renovations on the existing space. In 1995 major additions were made to the cafeteria and the commons area and entire high school building complex was air-conditioned.
Northern High School still plays its football games at Durham County Stadium
. The stadium was once also the home football field to what was then called Durham High School
(now the Durham School of the Arts
) and Hillside High School. The other public schools in Durham City and County had their own stadiums on campus. Northern High School today is the only high school who continues to use Durham County Stadium as its home field.
A new high school was built close to Northern in 1991, which was named Riverside High School
. This establishment decreased Northern High School's enrollment to its current number of 1,400 plus. The school was built due to northern Durham County's growing population and the lack of space at Northern High School.
The demographics of Northern High School have changed over the years with those of Durham County
.
Northern High School's biggest rival is currently Riverside High School
Pirates. Other local rivalries include Southern High School and Person High School.
Northern High School has been known for both academic and athletic excellence throughout the past 50 years. Notably, the Northern football program won the 1993 North Carolina 4-A state championship under the leadership of current UNC assistant coach, Ken Browning. Other highly recognized teams include Ladies basketball, Ladies softball, and Knights wrestling.
In February 2008, after winning the PAC-6 Tournament and gaining the number 2 seed in the playoffs, the Northern High School Varsity Men's Basketball team had to forfeit all games of their 15-11 season due to an "attendance issue" that made a player ineligible. Reasons for the decision were not made public by the school nor the district, and the player's name was not released to the general public.
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
. Northern's current principal is Kathryn Bonner. 1455 students are currently enrolled at Northern. Northern is one of Durham's seven public high schools. Students take four classes each day as a block schedule is currently in place. Northern's mascot for their male teams is the Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
s and for the female teams, the Ladies.
Northern High School offers Advanced Placement classes in English, American History, European History, Psychology, Statistics, Calculus AB and BC, Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Spanish, French, Latin, German, Studio Art, Music Theory (Independent Study), and US Government & Politics.
Northern High School employs over 150 staff members including four assistant principals. Students in the 2005-2006 school year received an average SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
score of 983.
In 2007, Northern High School was ranked as the 928th best high school in America by Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
. The school continues to rank in the top five percent of public high schools nationwide. Northern High School is currently recognized as a School of Progress, with over 60 percent of students at or above achievement standards.
History
The citizens of Durham County approved a bond issue in 1952 to build a new high school in northern Durham County, consolidating Mangum High School and Bragtown High School. The land for the school was an airfield and apple orchard.Until the early 1990s, Durham County had two public school systems: the Durham City Schools System and the Durham County Schools System.
On September 1, 1955 Northern High School opened with an enrollment of 502 students in grades 9–12. The students came from the feeder schools of Glenn, Hillandale, Mangum and Bragtown schools. The then new Northern High School had only 17 classrooms, a home economics department, a shop, a library, and a gymnasium.
For the most part, integration occurred smoothly and with only one recorded incident of racial tension at Northern High School, which the Durham County School Board helped to mediate.
In 1958 the following additions opened to students: auditorium, bandroom, and additional classrooms called "North Hall", N1-N10. This was followed in 1963 with the addition to "North Hall" classrooms, N11-N22.
In 1966 a cafeteria addition was completed and the high school had an enrollment of 852. At that time, the high school consisted of the "North Hall", "East Hall" and "West Hall".
In the 1980s, a new classroom stand-alone wing was added, called "Katherine Webb Hall" (Harrison Hall).
By the mid-1980s Northern High School was one of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
's largest high schools with 2,300- 2,500 students and was, at this time, the largest high school in Durham County and Durham City. The school at this time only had grades 10, 11 and 12. Grade 9 was at this time located in the junior high schools along with grades 7 and 8. Durham County School System had not yet converted to the middle school format, containing grades 6, 7 and 8, as the Durham City School System had converted to a few years before. Northern High School's feeder junior high schools were Carrington Junior High School and Chewning Junior High School.
Northern High School's rival schools in size and sports during the 1980s were: Broughton High School, Enloe High School, Millbrook High School, Sanderson High School, Cary High School (in Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...
), Chapel Hill High School and Orange High School
Orange High School (North Carolina)
Orange High School is a high school in the northern area of Orange County, North Carolina.- Students and Faculty :Founded in 1963, Orange County High School educates 1009 students from the area around Hillsborough, NC....
(all in Orange County, North Carolina
Orange County, North Carolina
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 133,801. Its county seat is Hillsborough...
, Grimsley High School
Grimsley High School
Grimsley Senior High School is a public high school in Greensboro, North Carolina. Formerly known as "Greensboro Senior High School," It is part of the Guilford County Schools system. The school has an enrollment of around 2,000 students in grades 9-12...
and Page High School (in Guilford County, NC), South Mecklenburg High School (in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
), Hillside High School (in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
) and the then smaller Person High School (in Person County, North Carolina
Person County, North Carolina
Person County is a county located in the Piedmont region in north-central North Carolina in the United States. It is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area. The population was 39,464 at the 2010 census.The county seat is Roxboro...
). All competed in the 4-A size sports ranking.
In 1984 a new Vocational Wing was completed and in 1988 the First Phase of New Science Wing and Tennis Courts were completed. In 1993 the old Vocational Wing was renovated and new additions completed. In 1994 a new Arts Department Wing was completed and "North Hall" and "West Hall" were renovated along with a second phase of the New Science Wing was completed. There was also an addition to the Library and renovations on the existing space. In 1995 major additions were made to the cafeteria and the commons area and entire high school building complex was air-conditioned.
Northern High School still plays its football games at Durham County Stadium
Durham County Stadium
Durham County Stadium is an 8,000-seat multi-purpose stadium located in Durham County, North Carolina. The stadium is mostly used for High school football and soccer but also serves as the home field for the Bears of Shaw University despite the school's location in neighboring Wake County. Durham...
. The stadium was once also the home football field to what was then called Durham High School
Durham High School (North Carolina)
Durham High School is a former high school in Durham, North Carolina.-History:During racial segregation Durham High School was a high school for whites in the city of Durham. The high school for African Americans was Hillside High School....
(now the Durham School of the Arts
Durham School of the Arts
Durham School of the Arts is a secondary magnet school located in downtown Durham, North Carolina, housing 1,381 students. Its focus is on the visual and performing arts....
) and Hillside High School. The other public schools in Durham City and County had their own stadiums on campus. Northern High School today is the only high school who continues to use Durham County Stadium as its home field.
A new high school was built close to Northern in 1991, which was named Riverside High School
Riverside High School (North Carolina)
Riverside High School is a four-year public high school located in Durham, North Carolina. The current principal is Jackie Tobias. Opened in 1991 , the school currently enrolls approximately 2100 students and is one of seven high schools in the Durham Public School System...
. This establishment decreased Northern High School's enrollment to its current number of 1,400 plus. The school was built due to northern Durham County's growing population and the lack of space at Northern High School.
The demographics of Northern High School have changed over the years with those of Durham County
Durham County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 223,314 people, 89,015 households, and 54,032 families residing in the county. The population density was 769 people per square mile . There were 95,452 housing units at an average density of 329 per square mile...
.
Northern High School's biggest rival is currently Riverside High School
Riverside High School (North Carolina)
Riverside High School is a four-year public high school located in Durham, North Carolina. The current principal is Jackie Tobias. Opened in 1991 , the school currently enrolls approximately 2100 students and is one of seven high schools in the Durham Public School System...
Pirates. Other local rivalries include Southern High School and Person High School.
Northern High School has been known for both academic and athletic excellence throughout the past 50 years. Notably, the Northern football program won the 1993 North Carolina 4-A state championship under the leadership of current UNC assistant coach, Ken Browning. Other highly recognized teams include Ladies basketball, Ladies softball, and Knights wrestling.
In February 2008, after winning the PAC-6 Tournament and gaining the number 2 seed in the playoffs, the Northern High School Varsity Men's Basketball team had to forfeit all games of their 15-11 season due to an "attendance issue" that made a player ineligible. Reasons for the decision were not made public by the school nor the district, and the player's name was not released to the general public.
Notable alumni
- Josh GattisJosh GattisJosh Gattis is an American football safety who is currently a free agent.Gattis was born in Durham, North Carolina. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wake Forest. He has also played for the Chicago Bears.-External...
(2002): Two time All-ACC safety at Wake Forest, drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars. - A. J. DavisA. J. Davis (American football)A. J. Davis is an American football cornerback currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
(2002): Played corner at NC State, is currently in the NFL with the Houston Texans. - Austin Davis (2007): Triple jumper for UNC Chapel Hill. Won 2007 indoor national title for triple jump. Holds UNC's triple jump school record.
- Hunter McClintock (2008): Basketball player. Number 2 in North Carolina for threes made and free throws made. Now playing at Oral Roberts.
- Jeff Thomas (2008): Basketball player. Currently plays basketball at Lenoir Rhyne.
- Blake Williams (2011):Cross Country and Track player for UNC Chapel Hill. Was a Cross Country and Track All American and 4 time State Champion and the NC Gatorade Athlete of the Year.
- Nick Mitchell (2004): Three time all-state wrestler attended UNC-Charlotte and obtained his degree in Civil Engineering. Currently a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army serving in Fort Bliss, TX.
- Chase Thomas (2004) Scored the first goal in Northern High School Lacrosse history with the shakiest trigger finger this side of the Mississippi.