Dickinson High School (Dickinson, North Dakota)

Last updated
Dickinson High School
Dickinson Midget.png
Address
Dickinson High School (Dickinson, North Dakota)
979 13th Avenue West

Dickinson
,
North Dakota
58601

United States
Information
Type Public high school
Established1909
Oversight Dickinson Public Schools
PrincipalJeff Brandt
Campus DirectorGuy Fridley
Faculty56.39 (FTE) [1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,028 (2022–2023) [1]
Student to teacher ratio18.23 [1]
Color(s)   Orange and black
MascotThe Midgets
YearbookDic Dak
Website www.dickinson.k12.nd.us/schools/dhs/index

Dickinson High School is a public high school located in Dickinson, North Dakota. It currently serves about 1,060 students and is a part of the Dickinson Public Schools system. The official school colors are orange and black and the athletic teams are known as the Midgets.

Contents

A Midgets fan page of '64 Dickinson-high-school-midgets-1964.jpg
A Midgets fan page of '64

DHS educates an average of 1,000 students in grades nine through twelve each year, and employs 60 certified teachers and 35 classified staff members. DHS offers 328 different courses in a variety of subjects, as well as Advanced Placement courses and college dual-credit courses.

History

Photograph of A.L. Hagen Junior High, the former location of Dickinson High School Dickinson-nd-dhs-1964.jpg
Photograph of A.L. Hagen Junior High, the former location of Dickinson High School

In 1909 the community built Central High School, a two-story structure of 12 classrooms. The first floor contained the library and assembly hall, and the basement served as the gym. Central High possessed the latest in technological marvels when electric lights were installed in 1910. The school stood on the southwest corner of the school block where P.S. Berg Elementary stands today.

By the mid-1930s Dickinson's schools suffered from overcrowding. The school board felt it was time to build a new high school, but, despite information presented to the public, the city voted against the $100,000 bond issue necessary for construction. However, the school board applied for assistance from the Public Works Administration to build the high school and adjoining athletic field. Additions were made to this new Central High School in 1950. Central High School became increasingly more crowded and as the Model High at Dickinson State College closed in 1963, the need for a new high school was evident. The State Department of Vocational Education agreed to help with construction.

Aerial photo of the new High School in Dickinson, ND Dickinson High School, North Dakota. - 1984.jpg
Aerial photo of the new High School in Dickinson, ND

In March 1966, voters approved the $1,525,000 bond issue for construction. The new high school, Dickinson High School, was designated as one of the two area vocational high schools in North Dakota. Several outbuildings and a new auditorium were added over the years.

The 1981–1982 school year saw the largest student enrollment in the district's history, with 1,041 students in the high school. The former Central High became A.L. Hagen Junior High in 1968, when the new Dickinson High School was built on Empire Road north of town.

In 1994, Dickinson adopted the block scheduling system, in which students attend only four courses a day, each 90 minutes long, enabling them to earn more class credits than in other schools (which traditionally mandate seven courses per day). They have recently added the "opportunity period," which allows a 30-minute period for lunch. In this time the students can work on homework, tests, or whatever the teacher assigns. This takes place three days a week and freshmen are required to attend. If the other classes do not need the extra help, they get an extended lunch.[ citation needed ]

Activities and athletics

Championships

Mascot controversy

There has been controversy surrounding Dickinson's mascot, the Midget. In the mid-1990s the school became concerned that their 80-year-old mascot was not politically correct and communicated that they were considering a change. [2] In 1996, the school board voted to change the mascot. Residents of Dickinson were angry at the decision and recalled at least three of the board members. [3] A South Dakota school changed its nickname from Midget to Mustangs by request of the Little People of America, but Dickinson refused a change. [4] In 2010, the school board's president, Dean Rummel, brought up the issue again, but the board decided not to address it. [3] In 2019, the Little People of America came to Dickinson to request again that the school consider changing the mascot. [3] The school board directed the school district administration to collect feedback from the community about the change. A resulting survey found that 35% of the community supported the change, while 65% opposed it. [5] As of October 2023, the name has not been changed, with no plans to change it and the mascot still visible on the school website. [6] According to the Little People of America, as of July 2021, Dickinson was one of five schools in the United States still using a midget mascot. [3] [5]

Notable alumni and staff

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Bridge High School</span> Public high school in Columbia, Missouri, United States

Rock Bridge High School is a public high school located in southern Columbia, Missouri, United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 and is one of four High Schools in Columbia Public Schools. It is located next to the Columbia Area Career Center. The mascot is the Bruin Bear.

Dickinson State University (DSU) is a public university in Dickinson, North Dakota. It is part of the North Dakota University System. It was founded in 1918 as Dickinson State Normal School and granted full university status in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theodore Roosevelt High School (Michigan)</span> High school in Wyandotte, Michigan, United States

Theodore Roosevelt High School, also known as RHS or Roosevelt, or also Wyandotte High by alumni, is the secondary school serving Wyandotte, Michigan, located on Eureka Road several blocks west of Biddle Avenue. The corner stone of Roosevelt High School was laid in the fall of 1921. Roosevelt did not open its doors to students until April 1923. RHS is the only public high school in the city of Wyandotte. Its mascot is the Bear, with athletic teams with similar names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Century High School (Bismarck, North Dakota)</span> Public high school in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States

Century High School (CHS) is a public high school located in Bismarck, North Dakota. It serves 1,346 students and is part of the Bismarck Public Schools system. The principal is Steve Madler. The school colors are red, white, and blue. Century's mascot is the Patriot.

Seeger Memorial Junior-Senior High School is the single high school and middle school serving Warren County, Indiana, and is located a mile and a half north of the town of West Lebanon. It is administered by the Metropolitan School District of Warren County in Williamsport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okemos High School</span> Public high school in Okemos, Michigan, United States

Okemos High School is a public high school in Okemos, Michigan, United States. It is the only high school in the Okemos Public Schools district. It is located southeast of the main campus of Michigan State University, between Bennett and Jolly Roads on the North and South, and Hulett and Hagadorn Roads on the East and West. The current building was completed in 1994, replacing the now Chippewa Middle School building as the district's high school. Former students of Chippewa 7-8 School comprise the school's student body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manhasset Secondary School</span> Public school in Manhasset, Nassau County, New York, United States

Manhasset Secondary School, also referred to as Manhasset Junior/Senior High School or simply Manhasset High School, is a six-year comprehensive public middle and high school in Manhasset, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. The 7–12 school is the only secondary school in the Manhasset Union Free School District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mills University Studies High School</span> Comprehensive public high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, Arkansas, United States


Mills University Studies High School, in Little Rock, Arkansas, is one of six high schools within the Pulaski County Special School District. The school opened on August 25, 1969, and is named after the late Congressman Wilbur Daigh Mills. While drawing students from around its home area, Mills also contains a hybrid Gifted & Talented magnet school focusing on college preparation through Advanced Placement courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mineola High School (New York)</span> Comprehensive school

Mineola High School is a public high school in the Mineola Union Free School District and is located in Garden City Park, New York. It serves Mineola, as well as certain parts of Albertson, Williston Park, Garden City Park, and Roslyn Heights.

Davenport West High School is a public four year high school located in Davenport, Iowa. Their athletic mascot is the Freddy the Falcon. The school has almost 200 classes and nearly 1,500 students. The school, along with Davenport Central and Davenport North, make up the three traditional high schools of the Davenport Community School District (DCSD). Davenport West was built in 1960 and the current principal is Cory Williams.

Swan Valley High School is a public high school in the Swan Valley School District of Thomas Township, Michigan. Swan Valley High School is part of the Tri-Valley Central Conference. Swan Valley has been part of the Mid-Michigan B, TVC East, TVC West, and the TVC Central conferences since its start in 1971. Swan Valley's original mascot was the Panthers which soon changed to the Vikings. When the new high school was built, the mascot was changed due to another area high school utilizing the Panthers name. The sports teams of Swan Valley were then divided up between the Vikings and the Valkyries to show individual support for both male and female teams. Later the sports teams were simply called the Vikings and the Lady Vikes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westford Academy</span> Public school in the United States

Westford Academy is the public high school for the town of Westford, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1792 and is one of the oldest public high schools in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Pocono High School</span> Public high school in Covington Township, Pennsylvania, United States

North Pocono High School is a public, four-year high school located in Covington Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. The school building was built in 2009. It is the only high school in the North Pocono School District, which covers a vast territory in northeastern Pennsylvania, including parts of Wayne County and all of southern and east-central Lackawanna County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grayson County High School (Kentucky)</span> High school in Leitchfield, Kentucky, United States

Grayson County High School is the only major high school located in Leitchfield, Kentucky, United States. The school is home to approximately 1300 students with a lightly fluctuating population throughout the year. Grayson County High School is home to several accomplished sports teams, including cheerleading, baseball, softball, football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, track, cross country and basketball teams. The school is also home to successful extracurricular groups including the DECA and academic team.

Dryden High School is a public high school located in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, U.S.A., and is the only high school operated by the Dryden Central School District. This district is in New York State's southern tier and encompasses an area of 110 square miles (280 km2) and serves a population of about 1900 students. The school's mascot is a Purple Lion.

Humboldt Senior High School is a public high school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States which serves students in grades 6-12. The school is the smallest of the nine high schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools district with an enrollment of 858 students. It is the only high school located on the West Side of Saint Paul. The school was founded in 1889 and is one of the oldest in Saint Paul. A founding member of the Saint Paul City Conference, Humboldt fields regular and adapted sports teams.

Bayside Secondary School High school in Quinte West, Ontario, Canada

Bayside Secondary School is a high school in Quinte West, Ontario, Canada and is part of the Hastings & Prince Edward District School Board. It is one of the largest high schools by area in North America.

Paw Paw High School is a public secondary school in Antwerp Township, Michigan, United States. It serves grades 9-12 for Paw Paw Public Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davies High School</span> Public high school in North Dakota, United States

Davies High School is a public high school in Fargo, North Dakota, United States. It is part of the Fargo Public Schools district and was named after Ronald Davies, a former North Dakota based federal judge best known for ordering the integration of Little Rock Central High School during the civil rights crisis of the 1960s.

Mineral Springs High School is a comprehensive public high school in Mineral Springs, Arkansas, United States that serves grades 7 through 12. It is one of three public high schools in Howard County and the only high school managed by the Mineral Springs Saratoga School District.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "DICKINSON HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  2. ↑ "The Flummery Digest: An Inclusive Litany, 9/96". Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. Retrieved November 30, 2004.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Henson, Kayla (December 6, 2019). "Would changing Midgets mascot be too politically correct? A history of the name-change controversy". The Dickinson Press. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  4. ↑ "South Dakota school changes 'Midget' mascot after objections". September 25, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  5. 1 2 Vlamis, Kelsey (July 8, 2021). "The term 'midget' has long been used to describe people with dwarfism. Advocates want you to know why that word is problematic". Insider . Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Dickinson High School" . Retrieved December 22, 2021.

46°53′23″N102°48′23″W / 46.88972°N 102.80639°W / 46.88972; -102.80639

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.