Red Wing High School


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, United States. The school is part of the Red Wing Independent School District and serves as the high school for Red Wing, Minnesota and its surrounding communities.
As of the 201011 academic year, the school had an enrollment of approximately 1,250 students and 55 classroom teachers, 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 Cross Country 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

The school has a history dating back to 1886, the year that Red Wing built its first public high school.

Central High School (19191995)

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 (1995present)

The building opened on September 5, 1995 located on of rolling hills on the southeast edge of town. From 1995 to 2010 Red Wing High School served grades 912th 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 812.
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:
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 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 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 20062007 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 912 as indicated in the following chart. In order to be eligible for graduation, students must meet the following graduation requirements:
The Basic Skills Tests have been replaced by the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments 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
RWHS offers a variety of Advanced Placement, College in the Schools, liberal arts and Career and Technical Education programs.

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. For the 20102011 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. 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. 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 – Southeast Technical, University Center Rochester 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:
  1. Have a current physical exam on file in the Activities Office which is due every three years.
  2. Have the Minnesota State High School League Eligibility Statement and Health Questionnaire signed by the athlete and parent/guardian.
  3. Be in good standing with the scholarship, racial/religious/sexual harassment and mood-altering chemical policies.
  4. Pay the fee for the sport or have the waiver form signed by the Activities Director.
  5. 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

Student Body and Support Groups

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.
event, a day where first grade students learn about the environment, conservation and agriculture
Aerie is the Red Wing High School newspaper page that prints roughly 14 issues per school year in the Republican Eagle.
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.
The Scarlet Feather is responsible for recording, highlighting and commemorating the past year of school in a book published annually, known as a yearbook.
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.

Service Organizations

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.
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.

Performing Arts

Ovation is a co-curricular ensemble of 16 students selected from Concert Choir.
Every year Red Wing High School and the Sheldon Theater produce a "professional", big-budget musical. The performances occur in the Sheldon Theater, and the stage and costumes are professionally designed.
Theatre at Red Wing typically participates in three activities each year.
  1. Fall play: The fall play is usually a children's play.
  2. Winter play: The winter play is usually a three-act comedy or classic presented in February of March.
  3. One-Act: Minnesota State High School League one act play competition.

    Notable alumni

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 a student who 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 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 got suspended for a minimum of 2 days.