Ishpeming Public School District is a public school district located in Ishpeming, Michigan The district is composed of an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. In 1868, before Ishpeming was incorporated as a village in 1869 and a city four years later, a charter to form a school district was granted. The meeting to organize the school district was called by Julius Ropes who started the Ropes Gold Mine north of town. The first school house in the district was built at the Cleveland Mine, Michigan. It was a single story frame building which was closed in 1870, with a new school being erected on Ready Street at a cost of $2,000. In 1874 the Division Street School was built at a cost of 38,000 dollars. This is the site of the current high school. It was said that the building was poorly constructed and teachers would complain about hauling coal to their room's individual coal stove. In 1908 the school was demolished to make room for a better planned high school. This new high school was built in 1908, but like the previous building, it had a relatively short life. In 1930, it was destroyed by fire and students attended classes in various community buildings. The following year the high school was rebuilt and it still is the functioning high school for the district. The high school, however, has seen several updates in recent years. These updates include a new gymnasium and a completely renovated Technology and Fine Arts wing. In addition to the Division Street School, Ishpeming has had several other school buildings. One of them was the High Street School, which was built in 1896. This school was later demolished to make room for the C.L. Phelps Middle School which was built and dedicated in 1959. At the time the school was hailed for its possession of a large arts wing, industrial art facilities, in addition to a home economics space. The C.L. Phelps school was closed by the district in 2010 and was subsequently sold to G.A. Haan Development in 2014. Haan Development purchased the building to renovate it into a multi-unit apartment complex. In 1957 the district completed the Birchview Elementary school located in the eighth addition. This school originally contained only eight classrooms, however it was expanded in 1971 to accommodate an influx in the student population. In 2014, voters approved a Bond Proposal which expanded and upgraded the school by adding classrooms and computer labs.
Ishpeming High School
Ishpeming High School offers its students several courses, extracurricular activities, and athletics. The high school has been continuously accredited by the North Central Association since 1909. The school offers courses in Business, Foreign Languages, Physical Education, Health, Industrial Technology, Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. The high school also offers Advanced Placement English in addition to Advanced Chemistry and Biology. The High School also offers a Geometry in Construction Class that is being used as a State Model for CTE instruction. Outside of courses Ishpeming High School offers several extracurricular activities including Key Club, Drama, Yearbook, Great Books, Forensics, High School Bowl, National Honor Society, Student Council, Youth in Government, and S.A.D.D. The Ishpeming Hematites also offer several programs to students. Students have the opportunity to join basketball, bowling, cheerleading, track, cross-country, football, dance, golf, gymnastics, hockey, swimming, softball and volleyball. Students can take advantage of the gymnasiums and the weight room while training for athletics. Future Michigan State head coaching legend Tom Izzo was head basketball coach at Ishpeming High School from 1977-78.
Ishpeming Middle School
Ishpeming Middle School offers students classes in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. In addition, students can experience classes in Health, Physical Education and Multimedia. Students also have the opportunity to join organizations such as Builder's Club, Yearbook, or Student Council. Ishpeming Middle School also offers Athletics for seventh and eighth grades. These sports consist of Basketball, Cheerleading, and Track. Their school colors are blue and white.
Birchview Elementary School
Birchview offers its elementary students a comprehensive elementary curriculum. Students also have the opportunity to engage in special events like Young Authors, and the Liberty Children's Art Program. Students have access to Title I Programming.
Additional information
The W. C. Peterson Auditorium is located within the district's high school and middle school complex.
