Innovation Central High School, founded in 1911 as Central High School, is a public

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

located at 421 Fountain Street NE in

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the List of municipalities in Mi ...

. The high school offers classes for grades 9-12. The school colors are Gold and Black, and the school mascot is the Ram.

History

A previous school known as Grand Rapids High School was opened in 1859, and located in an old stone schoolhouse. New buildings were constructed in 1867 and 1893. A new school was constructed from 1910–1911, at a cost of US$435,000, and opened to students on January 31, 1911. The initial class incorporated students from grades 9 through 12, and some courses that eventually evolved into Grand Rapids Community College, which was itself founded in 1914. The high school had a large auditorium, the largest in Michigan at the time that the school was built, so famous figures such as presidents

Teddy Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

and

William Howard Taft William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected pr ...

have spoken there. In 1947, the school's

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

team won the state championship. In 2013, Central High School consolidated with Creston High School, with the consolidated high school now located on the Central High School campus. Creston High School's former campus became that of

City High-Middle School City High Middle School is a public school (government funded), public, Magnet school, magnet high school operated by the Grand Rapids Public Schools in the greater Grand Rapids, Michigan area. History City High School was established in the ...

from that year onward. In 2014, the school was renamed the Innovation Central High School along with the consolidation of the district's other career-oriented programs.

Notable alumni

Terry Barr Terry Albert Barr (August 8, 1935 – May 28, 2009) was an American football player. He played professional football for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions from 1957 to 1965. He began his NFL career as a ...

(1935-2009), football player for the Detroit Lions *

Hugh Blacklock Hugh McNeal Blacklock (January 1, 1893January 9, 1954) was an American football player. He played college football at the tackle and fullback positions at Michigan Agricultural College from 1913 to 1916. He also played seven years in the Natio ...

(1893-1954), NFL player * John Melville Burgess (1909-2003), diocesan bishop of

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

and the first

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

to head an

Episcopal Episcopal may refer to: *Of or relating to a bishop, an overseer in the Christian church *Episcopate, the see of a bishop – a diocese *Episcopal Church (disambiguation), any church with "Episcopal" in its name ** Episcopal Church (United State ...

diocese. * Roger B. Chaffee (1935-1967), astronaut *

Rex Cherryman Rexford Raymond "Rex" Cherryman (October 30, 1896 – August 10, 1928) was an American actor of the stage and screen whose career was most prolific during the 1920s. Biography Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Rex Cherryman attended Colgate Unive ...

(1896-1928), actor *

Robert Dean (Michigan politician) Robert Dean (born February 14, 1954) is a politician from the state of Michigan. He is a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives. His district was in the eastern portion of the city of Grand Rapids. He is a Democrat Democrat, Dem ...

(b. 1954), member of the Michigan House of Representatives * Arthur Carter Denison (1861-1942), federal judge *

Clarence Ellis Clarence Ellis (born February 11, 1950) is a former American football safety who played for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL). He was the Falcons' first pick in the 1972 NFL Draft The 1972 NFL draft was held February ...

(b. 1950), football player for the Atlanta Falcons * Betty Ford (1918-2011), former First Lady, wife of President

Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. ( ; born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was an American politician who served as the 38th president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. He was the only president never to have been elected ...

* Arnold Gingrich (1903-1976), editor *

Paul G. Goebel Paul Gordon Goebel (May 28, 1901 – January 26, 1988) was an American football end who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1920 to 1922. He was an All-American in 1921 and was the team's captain in 1922. He played profession ...

(1901-1988), mayor *

Ralph Hauenstein Ralph Hauenstein (March 20, 1912 – January 10, 2016) was an American philanthropist, army officer and business leader, best known as a newspaper editor. His leadership has produced institutions such as the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Stu ...

(1912-2016), United States Army officer, newspaper editor *

Julius Houseman Julius Houseman (December 8, 1832 – February 8, 1891) was an American businessman and politician who served as mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan, as representative in the Michigan House of Representatives and as Congressman in the U.S. Ho ...

(1832-1891), politician *

Charles Leonard Charles Frederick Leonard Jr. (February 23, 1913 – February 18, 2006) was an American Modern pentathlon, pentathlete and a Major general (United States), major general in the United States Army. Leonard won the silver medal in the Moder ...

(1913-2006), general *

Buster Mathis Buster Mathis (June 11, 1943 – September 6, 1995) was an American boxer. Career Mathis had a successful career as an amateur heavyweight boxer. He qualified for a spot in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, but had to withdraw due to an injury. He was re ...

(1943-1996), boxer *

Thomas Francis McAllister Thomas Francis McAllister (March 4, 1896 – November 10, 1976) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Education and career Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, McAllister was a volunteer in th ...

, Federal judge *

Gordon Scott Gordon Scott (born Gordon Merrill Werschkul; August 3, 1926 – April 30, 2007) was an American film and television actor known for his portrayal of the fictional character Tarzan in five films (and one compilation of three made-as-a ...

(1926-2007), actor who portrayed

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...

Leo Sowerby Leo Salkeld Sowerby (1 May 1895 – 7 July 1968) was an American composer and church musician. He won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1946 and was often called the “Dean of American church music” in the early to mid 20th century. Biography L ...

(1895-1968), composer * Frank Steketee (1900-1951), football player for the University of Michigan Wolverines * Arthur Vandenberg (1884-1951), Republican senator who participated in the creation of the United Nations * Gilbert White (1877-1931), American painte

*

Stewart Edward White Stewart Edward White (12 March 1873 – September 18, 1946) was an American writer, novelist, and spiritualist. He was a brother of noted mural painter Gilbert White. Personal life White was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Mary E. ( ...

(1873-1946), author *

Elizabeth Wilson Elizabeth Welter Wilson (April 4, 1921 – May 9, 2015) was an American actress whose career spanned nearly 70 years, including memorable roles in film and television. In 1972 she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for ...

(1921-2015), actress

References

{{authority control Public high schools in Michigan Education in Grand Rapids, Michigan Schools in Kent County, Michigan Educational institutions established in 1911 1911 establishments in Michigan