Milwaukie 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 in Milwaukie,

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. It is one of seven high schools within the

North Clackamas School District North Clackamas School District (NC12) serves more than 40 square miles and is located 7 miles from downtown Portland. Included are the incorporated cities of Milwaukie, Happy Valley, and Johnson City, parts of Damascus, and the neighborhoods ...

. The school's mascot is the

mustang The mustang is a free-roaming horse of the Western United States, descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but because they are descended from once-domesticated animals, they ...

, and its colors are maroon and gold.

History

Milwaukie High School dates back to 1907. The first building was replaced in 1925. The current Gym was rebuilt following the Columbus Day storm in 1962. The 1925 structure was deemed unsafe therefore it was demolished in 2018, and rebuilt in the same location with a similar footprint painted in the classic North Clackamas Grey and Tan. Along with a new building, the Gym and Commons (built in 1995) were remodeled including a newly designed gym floor and modern lighting. The school operated for two years in modulars, once removed a new track & field were installed. The new building was finished in the fall of 2020, with students slated to return amidst the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

in 2021. The new main building was dedicated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 8, 2021. The school's first mascot, the Maroon, fell into disfavor with students because of its similarity to the word "moron." The student body voted on a new mascot and as a result the

was chosen. In 2005, the school added the Milwaukie Academy of the Arts to its campus. This charter school operates in conjunction with Milwaukie High School's main campus to offer a full course catalog. The school focuses on integrating the arts into core school subject areas.

Reconstruction

In 2008, the JC Lillie Center for the Arts, the school's performing arts center, underwent a major esthetic and structural renovation, which included a redeveloped entrance and courtyard, remodeled auditorium, and a notoriously faulty sound system. In June 2018, the main campus of the school was demolished to make space for a new academic building. Construction of the new structure started in early September 2018, and is scheduled for completion in August 2021. The new facility will address many the previous structure's issues, including overcrowding, and safety concerns. The new facility was designed by the

IBI Group IBI Group Inc. is a Canadian-based architecture, engineering, planning, and technology firm operating from over 60 offices in 12 countries across the world. Founded in 1974 in Toronto, Canada, IBI Group has since been ranked as one of the largest ...

an
BRIC Architecture
and is being constructed by

Skanska Skanska AB () is a multinational construction and development company based in Sweden. Skanska is the fifth-largest construction company in the world according to ''Construction Global'' magazine. Notable Skanska projects include renovation of t ...

. Until the campus redevelopment concluded, students practiced academics in modular structures located on the school's football field, which was renovated once the academic building reopens and the structures were removed. The school unofficially named the temporary academic structures "Mod City".

Living History Day

Since 1996, Milwaukie High School has annually hosted the nationally recognized Living History Day. On this day thousands of veterans are welcomed into the school to help educate students about past wars, and provide first-hand accounts of military experiences. Unfortunately, this was cut in 2010 to lack of funding and staffing reductions.

Academics

In 2014, out of 260 seniors, 220 graduated, for an 83% graduation rate.

Athletics

Milwaukie High School has competed in the

Northwest Oregon Conference The Northwest Oregon Conference (NWOC) is a 5A level classification that falls under the Oregon School Activities Association or the OSAA. The conference was created in 2006 when the OSAA restructured its conference system, expanding from 4 levels ...

at the 5A classification since 2010. The dance team, the Pony Prancers, won first place in their division at the OSAA State Championships in 1986, 1996, 2011, 2012 and 2016. The Mustangs have two state wrestling titles. 1973 and 1984.

Notable alumni

* Dorothy Hester Stenzel, stunt pilot *

Latin Berry Latin Dafonso Berry (born January 13, 1967) is a former professional American football player who played three seasons as defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football ...

, former NFL player *

Kendrick Bourne Kendrick L. Bourne (born August 4, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Washington Eagles football, Eastern Washington. He also play ...

, professional football player for the New England Patriots * Dustin Corea, American-born Salvadorian professional soccer player * Brad Ecklund, former NFL player and coach *

Gary Gordon Gary Ivan Gordon (August 30, 1960 – October 3, 1993) was a master sergeant in the United States Army and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. At the time of his death, he was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army's premier s ...

, co-inventor of the modern optical computer mouse *

Tonya Harding Tonya Maxene Price (née Harding; born November 12, 1970) is an American former figure skater, retired boxer and a reality television personality. Born in Portland, Oregon, Harding was raised primarily by her mother, who enrolled her in ice ska ...

, figure skating champion (dropped out) *

Keynan Middleton Keynan Anthony Middleton (born September 12, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the third round of the 2013 MLB draft. Middleton made his MLB debut ...

, professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Angels *

Jerry Zimmerman Gerald Robert Zimmerman (September 21, 1934 – September 9, 1998) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins from 1961 to ...

, professional baseball player and coach

References

{{authority control 1907 establishments in Oregon Educational institutions established in 1907 High schools in Clackamas County, Oregon Milwaukie, Oregon Public high schools in Oregon