Herbert Henry Dow High School

Herbert Henry Dow High School
"A Legacy of Excellence"
Address
3901 North Saginaw Road
Midland, Michigan 48640
United States
Coordinates 43°38′23.41″N 84°16′31.61″W / 43.6398361°N 84.2754472°W / 43.6398361; -84.2754472Coordinates: 43°38′23.41″N 84°16′31.61″W / 43.6398361°N 84.2754472°W / 43.6398361; -84.2754472
Information
Type Public High School
Established 1968
Status Open
School district Midland Public Schools
School number 232582
Principal Pam Kastl (retired as of year of 2016)
Staff 69
Faculty 93
Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12
Gender Co-ed
Enrollment 1,359[1]
Student to teacher ratio 20:1[1]
Hours in school day 7:40 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.
Campus size 55 acres (22 ha)
Campus type Suburban
Color(s) Green and Gold
         
Fight song Across the Field
Athletics conference Saginaw Valley League, MHSAA
Mascot Mounted Knight
Nickname Chargers
Rival Midland High School
USNWR ranking 1,213[1]
Average SAT scores 2160[2]
Average ACT scores 31[2]
Feeder schools Jefferson Middle School
Information +1 989-923-5382
Class/Div Class A/Division 1
Athletic Director Ted Davis
Website https://dhs.midlandps.org

Herbert Henry Dow High School is a public high school located in Midland, Michigan. The school, a part of Midland Public Schools, is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence[3] and in 2008 was named one of the top 20 High Schools in Michigan in a study commissioned by US News & World Report.[4]

History

The facility, also known as H.H. Dow High School, Dow High or Midland Dow is one of two high schools in the Midland Public School district, and a member of the Saginaw Valley High School Association. The facility was intended to alleviate overcrowding at Midland High School and construction of the 270,000-square-foot (25,000 m2) building was completed in 1968 at a cost of $9,172,303. The school was named in honor of Herbert Henry Dow, founder of the Dow Chemical Company, based in Midland. When the school opened in 1968, only sophomores were in attendance, and they would be the first class to graduate in 1971. One grade was added each year and the school included grades 10-12 until a freshman class was added in 1997. A $2.2 million science wing with 4,800 square feet (450 m2) was added in 1999. Music and athletic facilities were enhanced in 2005 as part of a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) building expansion which cost $3,827,697.[3]

Dow High School has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools every year since 1972.[5]

Academics

Faculty

Of the 93 faculty members at Dow High School, 67% hold single or double master's degrees or doctorates in their academic areas. Average academic class size is 26.0 students and the student-counselor ratio is 370-1.[3]

Demographics

H.H. Dow High School Profile 2013/2014[6]

 
Grade Students
9 323
10 364
11 326
12 329
Ungraded 0
TOTAL 1,359
  
Male Female
52% 48%
  
Enrollment (% of total)
Total Minority 10%
American Indian/Alaskan Native 0.2%
Asian 5%
Black 2%
Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander 0%
Hispanic 3%
White 90%
Two or More Races 0.4%

Curriculum

A large majority of students follow a college preparatory curriculum with emphasis in mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies. 81% of the class of 2007 enrolled in two or four year college programs after graduation. Vocational programs are offered in Business Education, Technology Education, Life Management and Special Education. Approximately 15% of the senior class participated in the Cooperative Education program during the 2007-2008 school year.

Both high schools in Midland participate in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which is intended for highly motivated juniors and seniors. The first full year of the program was 2007-08.[7]

Athletics

Dow High athletic logo

The annual football game against Midland High is considered one of the biggest high school football games in the state of Michigan, generally drawing over 10,000 spectators. The Chargers have one state championship (1976), and have played for the state championship twice. Midland Community Stadium is located adjacent to Midland High School but is shared by both schools for football, track & field and soccer games. The grass field was replaced with blue AstroTurf XPe in 2004.

In 2009, both the girl's and boy's varsity tennis teams won state championships. It was the first championship by the girls' team, and the first for the boys in 25 years. The girls won division 1, while the boys won division 2. The boys team has gone on to win state championships in 2010 and 2011 also.

In 2011 the JV competitive Pom pon team placed 5th in the state, and in 2012 the Varsity competitive pom pon team placed 10th in the State.

 

Fall sports

  • Football
  • Volleyball
  • Girls swimming/diving
  • Cross country (boys and girls)
  • Pom-Pon
  • Cheer
  • Boys soccer
  • Boys tennis
  • Girls golf
  

Winter sports

  • Wrestling
  • Basketball (boys and girls)
  • Boys swimming/diving
  • Cheer
  • Pom-Pon
  • Competitive cheer
  • Hockey
  

Spring sports

  • Baseball
  • Lacrosse (boys and girls)
  • Softball
  • Track & field (boys and girls)
  • Boys golf
  • Girls tennis
  • Girls soccer
Herbert Henry Dow High School

Notable alumni

Shooting

At approximately 11:00 AM EST[8] (16:00 UTC) on March 7, 2007, a fatal shooting occurred on a sidewalk just outside the building, near the cafeteria. David Turner, a former student at nearby Coleman High School, shot his ex-girlfriend Jessica Forsyth four times with a .44 caliber handgun (which belonged to Turner's mother) before committing suicide. Forsyth was hit three times in the chest, and once in the arm,[8] but the injuries were not fatal.

Turner had been ordered to leave the school premises before the incident, but returned later when Forsyth agreed to meet him.[9] Turner and Forsyth both attended an alternative high school in the area until March 5, when Forsyth transferred to H.H. Dow High.[8] Authorities believe that Turner acted because Forsyth had broken off the relationship and transferred to Dow High to distance herself from Turner.[10] Turner was previously convicted of stealing firearms, as well as a count of domestic abuse against his mother. He was sentenced to 18 months' probation in December 2006 with stipulation that he must not use a firearm.[10]

On June 15, 2007 ABC-TV's 20/20 program broadcast a segment about the shooting. It turns out that Jessica was four months pregnant with Turner's baby at the time of the shooting.[9][11] She and the baby both survived the shooting, apparently because Jessica had a metal plate in her chest due to a childhood accident.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/michigan/districts/midland-public-schools/hh-dow-high-school-10139
  2. 1 2 https://k12.niche.com/hh-dow-high-school-midland-mi/educational-outcomes/
  3. 1 2 3 Dow High School website, Student Handbook
  4. ↑ US News & World Report: Nov 30, 2007-Gold & Silver: Top Performing Schools By State
  5. ↑ Dow High School website: About Herbert Henry Dow High School
  6. ↑ http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/michigan/districts/midland-public-schools/hh-dow-high-school-10139/student-body
  7. ↑ Midland Public Schools website: Curriculum-International Baccalaureate
  8. 1 2 3 School shooting stuns community, ABC12, March 7, 2007
  9. 1 2 3 A Michigan Teen Gets a Lucky Shot at Life, ABC News 20/20, June 14, 2007
  10. 1 2 Mlive.com
  11. ↑ Midland shooting victim on 20/20, The Saginaw News, June 14, 2007
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