Red Wing High School is a liberal arts, public high school located in the Mississippi River Valley, fifty miles southeast of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The school is part of the Red Wing Independent School District (ISD 256) and serves as the high school for Red Wing, Minnesota and its surrounding communities.
As of the 2010-11 academic year, the school had an enrollment of approximately 1,250 students and 55 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of roughly 20:1. Approximately 90% of the district graduates continue their education beyond high school.
Red Wing High School is well known for its boys and girls Hockey teams, as well as its accomplished Band and Chorus programs, active Student Council - including Council regional and state-elected representatives - and the school's award-winning, nationally recognized FFA Chapter.
Red Wing won Fox 9's School Spirit Challenge in April 2011 for the "Less than 1,000 students - Small School" Division and was recognized during a live broadcast for having strong school spirit and involved students.
History
A Day At Red Wing High School -
The school has a history dating back to 1886, the year that Red Wing built its first public high school.
Central High School (1919 - 1995)
Constructed in 1919, the historic Central High, located on East Avenue, functioned as a school. In 1995 the city of Red Wing built the new Red Wing High School on the southeast side of town and Goodhue County acquired the property for the construction of a new judicial and law enforcement center. The historic school was slated for demolition to make room for a parking lot.
A 10-year battle ensued to save the building, which is a contributing property within the National Register-listed Red Wing Historic Mall District. The Red Wing Heritage Preservation Commission denied the county’s demolition request and the building was eventually mothballed leading the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota to include the school on the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places list in 2004. That same year, Goodhue County advertised for developers interested in redeveloping the building. Community Strategies was selected for their proposal to restore/rehabilitate the former school building into 21 condominiums. The $7 million plus project involved a unique public/private partnership between Goodhue County, the City of Red Wing, the Red Wing Area Fund, and the developer. The developer was also able to take advantage of a federal tax deduction by donating a façade easement to the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota.
This creative private/public partnership is a model for other communities struggling to preserve historic school buildings and an example of how a historic building’s reuse can contribute to the economic health of a community’s downtown.
Red Wing High School (1995 - present)
The building opened on September 5, 1995 located on 222 acres (0.90Â km2) of rolling hills on the southeast edge of town. From 1995 to 2010 Red Wing High School served grades 9-12th with 8th grade housed at Twin Bluff Middle School. Due to increased enrollment in younger grades and space needs within the district, in Fall of 2010, 8th grade was moved to the High School. The building now serves students in grades 8-12.
Features include flexible team learning areas, a multi-station "food court," and common staff planning areas. The student operated school store is located centrally off the student commons with central lockers. A full size greenhouse and one of its kind Minnesota Department of Natural Resources-licensed Aquaculture Facility play host to plant science and agricultural courses. The Hovda Auditorium seats 732 people and supports concerts and community events. The Black Box Theatre allows seating for 250 and hosts smaller productions.
The top load gymnasium offers three teaching stations. The weights room is available for physical education instruction and sports training. The sports complex includes a football stadium, eight tennis courts, three baseball fields, four softball fields, soccer fields, a nine-lane all-weather running track and field event areas. The district also owns both of the city's indoor ice arenas: Prairie Island Arena and Bergwall Arena.
Academics
RWHS operates on a modified block system and allows students to take eight half-credit courses each semester. Courses may be taking through the following departments:
- Agricultural Science
- Art
- Business
- Cooperative Education Program
- Family and Consumer Science
- Health/ Physical Education
- Industrial Technology Education
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Music
- Project Lead the Way
- Science
- Social Studies
- World Language
- Individual Credit Program (IEP Required)
Course Offerings
Each course is 18 weeks in length and earns one-half credit toward graduation, unless otherwise stated. Although most courses are a semester in length and generate a one-half credit, some courses are designed for a full year and generate a full credit. Complete course offerings are available in the 8th and 9th grade and 10th, 11th and 12th grade program of studies handbooks and are listed below.
Academic Standards
The Minnesota Academic Standards (Laws of Minnesota 2003, Chapter 129) defined five core academic content standards areas: Language arts, Social studies, Math, Science and Art. Standards for language arts, mathematics and art were adopted in the 2003 law (The law allowed school districts to use either the statewide arts standards or locally developed arts standards).
The 2004 Legislature adopted science and social studies standards. Each of the academic standards are supplemented by grade-level benchmarks. These benchmarks specify the academic knowledge and skills that students must achieve to complete a state standard. The standards and benchmarks will be reviewed on a four-year cycle beginning in the 2006-2007 school year.
In addition to the core academic standards areas, there are several elective subject areas. School districts must create local elective standards and must offer elective courses covering Health and Physical Education, Career and Technical Education and World language.
Students at Red Wing High School must earn a minimum number of credits in grades 9-12 as indicated in the following chart. In order to be eligible for graduation, students must meet the following graduation requirements:
- Language Arts - Four (4) credits must be earned in Language Arts.
- Social Studies - Three and one half (3.5) credits must be earned in Social Studies including a full year of Civics and United States History. Students must complete one semester World Geography, one semester of Economics (earned through the Social, Business or Agricultural Science departments) and a full year of Origins of Western Civilization (or AP World History).
- Mathematics - During grades 9-12, three (3) credits must be earned in math. Students must complete the equivalent of Algebra, Geometry and Algebra II during grades 9-12. Students must complete Linear Algebra or above in eighth grade.
- Science - Three (3) credits must be earned in Science including a full year of Physical Science (or Pre AP Physical Science) and a full year of Biology (or Pre AP Biology). Additionally, the class of 2015 must also earn a credit in Chemistry or Physics.
- Art - One (1) credit of art may be fulfilled through the following departments: Art (All courses), Business (Research and Technology), Family and Consumer Sciences (Housing), Industrial Technology (Creative Woodcrafts, Creative Metalwork and Residential Design), Language Arts (All Theatre courses), Music (All courses) and Other (Yearbook).
- Electives - Twenty-six to Twenty-eight (26-28) credits earned in elective courses are required, depending on the year of graduation. Elective credits may be earned in any department.
Academic Assessment
The Basic Skills Tests (BST) have been replaced by the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-IIs) in a continued effort to develop a more rigorous K-12 education system. The MCA-IIs were created to help schools and districts measure student progress in mastering the state's new reading, writing and mathematics standards.
Students' performance on these statewide assessments can be used as one of multiple criteria to determine grade promotion or retention. To graduate, students will have to pass the MCA-II writing test given in grade nine, the MCA-II reading test given in grade ten and the MCA-II math test given in grade eleven. All public schools and charter schools must administer the tests. Students must pass these required state exams, as well as successfully complete a required number of course credits and any local graduation requirements to graduate from a Minnesota public high school.
Assessment Results
2010 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment Series II Scores
- 63% of students meet or exceed state standards for Science - 12% higher than the state average
- 81% of students meet or exceed state standards for Reading - 6% higher than the state average
- 39% of students meet or exceed state standards for Math
Student Resources
Student Services
The Red Wing High School Student Services office serves as a center for both student advocacy and counseling. Counselors works with students in grade 8-12 on a variety of issues including graduation requirements, academic success, attendance concerns, behavior issues and social adjustment. The counselors also serve the important role of connecting students with other support services in the school or community.
Career Center
The Career Center is located across from the Student Service's office at the high school. It has many handout materials available for students and their parents/guardians. Information at the Career Center includes getting ready for college, careers, financial aid, scholarships, majors/areas of study, technical schools, community colleges and more.
College Preparation
RWHS offers a variety of Advanced Placement (AP), College in the Schools (CIS), liberal arts and Career and Technical Education programs.
College in the Schools
College in the Schools is a program run by the University of Minnesota that allows high school students to attain college credit while staying in their high school. Columbia University found that students who took dual enrollment courses in high school were more likely to graduate from high school and enroll in college, as well as three years after high school graduation, students who had participated in dual enrollment courses in high school had earned higher college GPAs and more postsecondary credits than their peers.
Research shows that colleges and universities nationwide accept dual enrollment credits at almost the same rate as they accept AP scores, though it greatly depends on the institution from which the credit originated from. College in the Schools dual enrollment through the University of Minnesota is accepted almost universally coast-to-coast.
Once limited to high-achieving students, such programs, specifically College in the Schools, are increasingly seen as a means to support the postsecondary preparation of average-achieving students. CIS simulates a truer college experience, as unlike AP courses, students are already enrolled in a college institution and need only to earn a quality grade throughout the course, rather than the potential for college credit being based solely on the score of a cumulative final exam. The United States Department of Education recommends expanding accelerated learning options that offer true post-secondary course work so that students enter higher education with a minimum of six college credits already earned, as students who fail to earn 20 college credits by the end of their first year were less likely to graduate from college.
There is no charge to high school students attending U of M courses offered by CIS at their high school. The University of Minnesota-TC charges schools or districts tuition based on a per student, per course basis (not per credit). For the 2010-2011 school year, tuition is $145 per student, per course, and partial reimbursement for these costs is available to public high schools from the state. College in the Schools is significantly less expensive than the full tuition rate the school district or parent pays when a student enrolls full-time PSEO or after graduation.
The University of Minnesota offers over thirty courses through their CIS program, including University Writing, Calculus, American History, Economics, Physiology and several courses in the content areas of World Language and Agricultural Science. College in the School courses offered at RWHS are CIS German and CIS Spanish.
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement courses are college-level courses taught at RWHS. Students enter a universe of knowledge that might otherwise remain unexplored in high school; through AP Exams, a student has the opportunity to earn credit or advanced standing at most of the nation's colleges and universities. The Advanced Placement curriculum is offered through a grant earned by Red Wing High School. AP offerings at RWHS include: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Language & Composition, AP Literature & Composition, AP Calculus, AP Microeconomics, AP Human Geography, AP Art History and AP Studio Art Drawing.
Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
Eligible juniors and seniors at Red Wing High School may enroll at Minnesota post-secondary institutions on a full or part-time basis. The purposes of the program are to promote rigorous education pursuits and to provide a wider variety of options for students. A student who takes college or technical courses for high school credit will have the cost of tuition, books and materials paid for by the State of Minnesota. Enrollment options include, but are not limited to: Minnesota State College â€" Southeast Technical, University Center Rochester (featuring programs from Rochester Community & Technical College (RCTC), University of Minnesota - Rochester and WSU Rochester Center) and the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
Articulated Agreements (Tech Prep)
Articulated Agreements are contractual agreements between Red Wing High School and selected post-secondary schools in Minnesota that will provide curricula allowing advanced standing for students in post-secondary technical programs. At Red Wing High School, a junior or senior student earning an "A" or "B" in an Articulated course will receive a certificate indicating the number of credits that will be honored by the technical or community college named on the certificate. Articulated Agreement credits may be earned at Red Wing High School in Agricultural Science, Business and Marketing, Family and consumer science and Industrial Technology.
Athletics, Co-Curricular Activities and Performing Arts
Red Wing competes in the Missota Conference and Region IAA of the Minnesota State High School League. The school colors are purple and white. Uniforms and school logos typically include red as an accent and the sports teams are known as the Red Wing Wingers. Many students recognize purple, red and white as the school colors, but red is only included due to the name of the city. The school's hockey program was started in 1974 by Jim Pohl. Led by John Pohl, the Wingers won the boys' state championship in 1997. John Pohl is second place for the all-time scoring record for Minnesota High School Hockey.
Sports and Activities
To Be An Athlete or Cheerleader at Red Wing High School One Must:
- Have a current physical exam on file in the Activities Office which is due every three years.
- Have the Minnesota State High School League Eligibility Statement and Health Questionnaire signed by the athlete and parent/guardian.
- Be in good standing with the scholarship, racial/religious/sexual harassment and mood-altering chemical policies.
- Pay the fee for the sport or have the waiver form signed by the Activities Director .
- Each athlete should secure his/her own coverage. School District 256 does not provide medical insurance for athletes
Various athletic activities are available on the interscholastic level. Students who have an interest in participating should check with the coach who is assigned to direct the activity. Following is a list of athletic activities offered at Red Wing High School.
Activities and Co-Curricular Organizations
Red Wing offers many co-curricular opportunities for its student body. These activities provide at least three educational benefits for students:
- 1. They allow students to pursue an interest and develop skills.
- 2. They are well-guided activities that utilize student time in a worthwhile manner.
- 3. They provide opportunities for students to develop new friendships.
The school would like all students to participate in at least one activity during the year. Following is the list of activities currently offered at Red Wing High School:
Student Body and Support Groups
- Student council - Advisors: Shelley Orr (senior high) and Ashley Greenfield (junior high)
The purposes of this organization are to promote greater cooperation between the faculty, administration and student body; to promote scholarship, school spirit, high ideals, good citizenship and the general welfare of students and the school; to give full expression of student opinions; and to assure equality for all students. Elections are held annually. Council meets weekly or bi-monthly with much work being accomplished outside the school day. Student Council is open to grades 10-12 at Red Wing High School. Students in the organization are responsible for organizing many events at Red Wing High School including Homecoming, Snow Week, Loud and Local and most school dances.
- Gay-Straight Alliance - Advisor: Lisa Hanson
The goal of the Red Wing gayâ€"straight alliance is to make their school community safe and welcoming to all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Many gay-straight alliances participate in national campaigns to raise awareness, such as the Day of Silence, National Coming Out Day, No Name Calling Week, or other locally organized Campaigns.
Co-Curricular and Intra-Curricular Organizations
- DECA - Advisor: Nicky Reynolds
DECA is an Association of Marketing Students. This club is made up of students, who feel they have an interest in marketing and want to expand their leadership capabilities, interact socially with other members of the student body and build a future in a prosperous career. DECA members compete against their peers in the following events: Apparel and Accessories, General Marketing, General Merchandising, food Marketing, Quick Serve, Full Serve Restaurant, Advertising, Vehicle and Petroleum, Hospitality and Tourism, and Finance and Credit. This club is a yearlong commitment with no entry requirements, but the more time you spend getting involved the more you expand your skills and knowledge.
- FFA - Advisors: Sue Gorman
The National FFA Organization is a dynamic youth led, leadership organization. Founded in 1928, today the organization has state associations in all 50 states, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and with over half a million members, it is the nation’s largest youth organization. Students participate in a variety of career development contests, community service projects and state and national leadership conferences and conventions in order to become more effective leaders. FFA also provides students a relationship component between instructor, community and peer, which serves to develop ethics and integrity, but also to challenge and motivate. Students in FFA strive for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural science education. FFA is open to students in grades 8-12 and is the largest organization at Red Wing High School. FFA organizes many events at Red Wing High School including Earth Day, Open House, Poverty Night and the school wide Day of Caring and Sharing, among many more activities.
- Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) - Advisors: Janean Robert and Karen Fandrey"
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is a national organization that promotes career opportunities in the healthcare industry. HOSA offers leadership development, career related competencies, motivation and recognition for outstanding performance in the health career field. Students who participate will enhance interpersonal skills, participate in community service projects and network with members of the healthcare field. Be a part of an organization that will give you a head start in a career area that has a promising future.
- SkillsUSA - Advisors: Doug Barlow and Brian Quigley
SkillsUSA is a national organization for students enrolled in trade and industrial, technical and health education classes. The goal of SkillsUSA is to help students with interests of the areas above to become happy, mature and productive citizens. Those wishing to join should contact the industrial education instructors above. The local club is a group of students who work cooperatively to develop leadership abilities through worthwhile educational, vocational, civic, recreational and social activities. Students have the opportunity to elect or run for local and state offices. The annual Regional and State Skill Olympics offers competitive events in skill and leadership areas to students. Those fortunate enough to win selected contests at the State level have the option to represent the State of Minnesota at the United States Skills Olympics. Skills USA is open to students in grades 10-12.
Academic and Recognition Activities
- Aerie Student Newspaper - Advisor: Carolyn Bray
Aerie is the Red Wing High School newspaper page that prints roughly 14 issues per school year in the Republican Eagle. The newspaper staff is open to students in grades 10-12 and will have two student editors each year. The goal of the staff is to share students news and students views over lunch where stories and photos are assigned and worked on. The majority of the work is done outside of the classroom.
- Knowledge Bowl - Coach: Greg Grinager
Knowledge Bowl is an interdisciplinary academic competition involving teams of four to six students trying to answer questions in a written round and several oral rounds. No team is eliminated in this event and every team participates in every round. Knowledge Bowl is usually a power competition in which team groupings are rearranged after each round on the basis of their total points accumulated. The written round is a multiple-choice exam taken by each team as a whole. Results of this round are used for seeding teams in the oral rounds. In the oral rounds, there are three teams per room. A reader presents the questions and a team member may buzz in as soon as he or she chooses. If they miss a question, nothing is deducted, but the other teams then may try to answer the question based on who buzzed in first. The winner is the team with the greatest number of points at the end of the meet.
- Speech Competition - Coach: Heather Finholm
Speech is academic competition in which students use their voice and bodily expressions to convince, make laugh, make cry, or simply move the audience into feeling certain emotions. Students may choose from 13 different categories. Each category is unique and is designed to allow students with different abilities to achieve success. The season meets are held from February through March with Region and State competitions held in April.
- Yearbook - Advisor/ Editor: Ashley Greenfield
The Scarlet Feather is responsible for recording, highlighting and commemorating the past year of school in a book published annually, known as a yearbook.
- National Honor Society
The National Honor Society students are selected in the Spring of their 10th and 11th grade. Students eligible for selection must maintain a high GPA. The National Honor Society’s criteria for selection are based on an evaluation of character, leadership and service record of the student. Eligible students will complete an activity information sheet and write an essay. The students are also rated by the faculty on their character and leadership traits. Students are selected by a faculty council after reviewing the information forms, their essays and the faculty rating sheets. Activities throughout the year include: Bloodmobile, Community Service projects, Fundraisers and the NHS Banquet.
- S.O.A.R. - Instructor: Chad Bray
S.O.A.R. is an acronym for Success, Opportunity, Achievement and Recognition. It is the goal of the S.O.A.R. program that every student at Red Wing High School has the opportunity for a successful high school career and that every student will be recognized for his/her achievement. S.O.A.R. has several activities planned for the school year including an art contest in May with the three winners receiving a cash prize. The works are framed and displayed in the High School permanently. Applications to be accepted into S.O.A.R. may be submitted from students during their 10th or 11th grade year.
Service Organizations
- Interact
Interact is a combination service and social club for young people ages 14 to 18. Each of the over 7,200 Interact clubs around the world is sponsored by a Rotary Club that provides guidance and inspiration. The youth clubs are self-governing and self- supporting, giving Interactors a chance to develop a range of leadership skills while learning the value of good teamwork. Interact stands for international action. International, because Interact clubs exist in 88 countries and 17 geographical areas. Many Interact projects cut geographical boundaries. Action because Interactors are doers, young people who want to solve problems, improve the quality of life and make new friendsâ€"in their own community and throughout the world.
- Key Club
Key Club is a year-round service organization, which is sponsored by the local Kiwanis Clubs composed of the leading business and professional people to the community. Key Club's objective is the development of initiative, leadership ability and good citizenship practices. Key Club is different because it functions not only on the local level but also on a district and international level as well. Key Club is the largest service organization of its kind with over 140,000 members in approximately 4,000 clubs. Time commitment is a minimum average of five hours a month in order to attend the convention in the Spring.
Performing Arts
- Marching Band and Jazz Band - Director: Dan Marrs
- Ovation - Director: Mikkel Gardner
Ovation is a co-curricular ensemble of 16 students selected from Concert Choir. These singers rehearse Monday evenings from 6:30-8:00 and Wednesday mornings from 7:05-7:35. In addition to performing in all major concerts, this group focuses on singing for civic, private and church functions. The majority of their performance season with 'gigs' is in the months of November and December.
- School Musical
Every year Red Wing High School and the Sheldon Theater get together and produce a "professional", big-budget musical. The performances occur in the Sheldon Theater, and the stage and costumes are professionally designed. Auditions are held in early February and rehearsals start in March. Rehearsals are conducted at night so students often participate in other "after school" activities. The production occurs in mid-May. All high school students are encouraged to audition.
- Drama/ Theatre
Theatre at Red Wing typically participates in three activities each year.
- Fall play: The fall play is usually a children's play. Auditions are in September. Approximately eight weeks of rehearsals are held in the evening, depending on the schedules of the casts and crews. Full production values of technical theatre are used.
- Winter play: The winter play is usually a three-act comedy or classic presented in February of March. Approximately eight weeks are devoted to rehearsals and preparation following auditions in December. Rehearsals are usually in the evenings, depending on the schedules of the casts and crews.
- One-Act: Minnesota State High School League one act play competition.
Notable alumni
- Patrick Flueger: Actor, The Princess Diaries, The 4400, Scoundrels and the 2011 remake of the film Footloose
- Lauris Norstad, Air Force General, commander Nato forces
- John Pohl: NHL Player, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Wolves
- Reid Cashman: AHL Player, Toronto Marlies, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Tim Kelly: Politician, Minnesota House of Representatives
- Paul Sprangers, Evan Wells, & Scott Wells: Members of band Free Energy
- Vic Kulbitski, American football player
- Ryan Boldt, second round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays
- Mitchell Peters, percussionist, composer and long-time tympanist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
- James Touchi-Peters, composer, symphonic conductor and jazz vocalist
- Lyle Mehrkens, Minnesota state legislator and farmer
Red Wing High School in the News
Red Wing High School has been in the news for multiple reasons. One of them being the school getting sued for a homecoming dress up day titled "Wangster Day" back in 2009. The lawsuit was filed by a black student who claims more than 70 students showed up to school wearing "african american dress," things like; baggy pants, do-rags and flashy gang symbols. The lawsuit was filed by Quera Pruitt, a senior at that time. She claimed to go into a "deep depression" over the day. The school was sued for more than $75,000, and was finalized in 2012.
Red Wing High School was also on the new for their school spirit in 2011, as stated above. The students were to go and vote online for the "Fox School Spirit Award" in the "Less than 1000 students" category, and the school with the most votes won, this was a statewide event for schools who registered.
Red Wing High School was in the news again for an event that happened the week of homecoming in 2013. The dress up day for Monday was called "National Pride Day" so students got to dress up for whichever nationality they wanted to. A group of students wanted the name to originally be "'Merica Monday" but the administration did not find that term correct, so they came up with the new name. A group of about 20 students went to the school late Sunday night and decided to "decorate" the school with window marker, streamers, and mini American flags and went to decorate the grounds for school on Monday. The students put window marker on the front doors of the school saying "Merica" or "USA" they also drew with chalk outside of the school and put the mini American flags throughout the lawn in the front of the school. The students were later charged with vandalism and got suspended for a minimum of 2 days.
References
External links
- Official site
- Red Wing High School sports
- Red Wing Agricultural Science Department