Mount Edgecumbe High School
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| Established | 1947 |
|---|---|
| Type | Public secondary |
| Director | William Hutton[1] |
| Students | 420 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location | Sitka, Alaska, USA |
| Coordinates | 57°03′06″N 135°21′09″W / 57.0518°N 135.3524°WCoordinates: 57°03′06″N 135°21′09″W / 57.0518°N 135.3524°W |
| Campus | Closed residential |
| Mascot | Braves and Lady Braves |
| Website | www.mehs.us |
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Mt. Edgecumbe High School (abbreviated MEHS) is a State of Alaska-run public boarding high school located in Sitka, Alaska in the United States.
The school is named for Mount Edgecumbe which is located on Kruzof Island, a dormant volcano visible from Mt. Edgecumbe High School's campus, which was, in turn, named for George, Earl of Edgecumbe, by British Captain James Cook.
In the summer, the school hosts camps such as the Sitka Fine Arts Camp.
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[edit] History
Mt. Edgecumbe High School was instituted on Japonski Island in Sitka in 1947 on the then-recently deserted Sitka World War II installation. It was originally administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and, along with Native Alaskan boarding schools in others parts of the state, helped educate today's leaders from rural areas. In fact, there are several MEHS graduates in the current Alaska Legislature. In the 1980s, the school was closed for a year before being transferred to the State of Alaska which has administered the institution since.
Mt. Edgecumbe expanded from 370 students to 420 students in 2004[2] and projects a long-term (2007 onward) enrollment of 450. The school usually has 140 openings, but usually an excess of 300 students apply every year. As of 2005, over 100 Alaskan communities are represented at MEHS.
[edit] Educational model
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Mt. Edgecumbe's success in developing educationally disadvantaged students from the Bush has been recognized from a state, national, and worldwide level. Ninety percent of its students attend universities and college after graduation. All students are required to learn a language (usually Chinese or Japanese, but sometimes Spanish), familiarize students with an array of technologies, and participate in an all-around vigorous academic environment (for example, class is held on Saturday once a month). Mt. Edgecumbe staff also are in charge of a "Extended Families" made up of MEHS students from the school. The staff member takes their students to their homes for dinners to help build personal connections with students and help better the environment at the school. As a result, Mt. Edgecumbe is one of the most successful high schools in the state in terms of test scores, and the most successful high school in terms of rural students' scores on the state-run exit exam.[citation needed]
Ninety percent of Mt. Edgecumbe's student body is Alaska Native,[1] and a majority of the student body comes from the Bush.[3] The school makes some efforts to promote the cultural identity of Alaska Natives and there are several student-lead Alaska Native dance groups.
Mt. Edgecumbe High School is also well-known for its science program. Many students compete at a national level in science projects, many mapping genetics of Alaska flora and fauna.
The school's excellence in technology inspired IBM to offer internships for outstanding graduating students.
[edit] Extracurriculars
Mt. Edgecumbe's sports teams are known as the Braves and the Lady Braves and the school is especially recognized for both its boys and girls basketball teams. Mt. Edgecumbe, as classified as a 3A school, has made repeated runs to state championships with its basketball teams. Besides basketball, its competitive drama, debate and forensic team has been successful at the state level winning a state championship in drama in 2004, and the school has produced many decent wrestling and volleyball teams as well. Historically, Edgecumbe was known for its running; in the 60s and early 70s Mt. Edgecumbe won 11 consecutive regional championships in cross-country. Their last regional championship was in 2008.
Mt. Edgecumbe's traditional rivals include its cross-town 3A rival Sitka High School (their matchups are known as the "Battle of the Bridge" — alluding to MEHS and SHS being on different islands) and other 3A rival, Petersburg High School in Petersburg, Alaska.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Alaska State Dept. of Education and Early Development (4 June, 2008). "William Hutton Named Director of Mt. Edgecumbe High School". Press release. http://www.eed.state.ak.us/news/releases/2008/hutton_appt_MEHS.pdf. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ Alaska State Dept. of Health and Social Services (5 August, 2004). "Sitka Pioneers' Home to House Mt. Edgecumbe Honor Students". Press release. http://www.hss.state.ak.us/press/2004/pr080604honorstudent.htm. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ Capital City Weekly (9:50 AM, 7 March 2007). "SEARHC to Run Clinic at Mt. Edgecumbe High School". Press release. http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:hi9GiOlOwrkJ:capitalcityweekly.com/stories/030707/sitka_20070307028.shtml+mt.+edgecumbe+high+school&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=33&gl=us&client=firefox-a. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
