West Geauga 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 ...

in Chester Township, Ohio. It is the only high school in the West Geauga Local Schools district and serves Chester Township, Newbury Township, the Geauga portion of

Hunting Valley Hunting Valley is a village in Cuyahoga and Geauga counties in the U.S. state of Ohio, and an eastern suburb of the Greater Cleveland area. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 707. At the 2000 census, it was ranked the 6th highest- ...

, most of Russell Township, and a small part of Munson Township.

History

West Geauga School District formed in 1950 when Chester Township and Russell Township combined their township schools into one, becoming the first consolidated school district in

Geauga County Geauga County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 95,397. The county seat is Chardon. The county is named for an Onondaga or Seneca language word meaning 'raccoon', originally the name of the ...

. In 2020, Newbury Township folded their

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compuls ...

and through a territory transfer, became part of the district.

Awards and recognition

During the 2009-2010 school year, West Geauga High School was recognized with the Excellent with Distinction rating on the State Report Card from the

Ohio Department of Education The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is the administrative department of the Ohio state government responsible for primary and secondary public education in the state. The Ohio State Board of Education is the governing body of the department ...

for the 10th consecutive year. The West Geauga High School Salamander Education and Environmental Discovery Project received the 2010 Take Pride in America Outstanding Youth Volunteer Group national award. The WGHS Science Department was recognized as an Intel School of Distinction 2010 Finalist. They were selected as one of three finalists out of over 600 applicants nationwide. This recognition is awarded for the school's achievement in science, innovative practices, enriched learning opportunities for students, use of technology, etc. They received a $5,000 award.

Clubs and activities

West Geauga's Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the

Ohio Junior Classical League The National Junior Classical League (National JCL or NJCL) is a youth organization of Secondary education in the United States, secondary school students sponsored by the American Classical League (ACL). Founded in 1936, the NJCL comprises m ...

(OJCL) and

National Junior Classical League The National Junior Classical League (National JCL or NJCL) is a youth organization of secondary school students sponsored by the American Classical League (ACL). Founded in 1936, the NJCL comprises more than 1,000 Latin, Greek and Classica ...

(NJCL). The school also runs an Interact Club, KEY Club, Student Council, WESTG TV, Evirothon, Academic Challenge, Science Olympiad,

National Honors Society The National Honor Society (NHS) is a nationwide organization for high school students in the United States and outlying territories, which consists of many chapters in high schools. Selection is based on four criteria: scholarship (academic achi ...

, HUGS, Curio, Class Act, Whirlwind Newspaper, Yearbook, Ultimate Frisbee, Academic Decathlon, and Philosophy Club.

Alma mater

The Alma mater is played by the marching band before and after every home football game. It is also sung by Class Act at the

homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States, Canada and Liberia. ...

football game. The Alma mater is sung to the tune of "The Maple Leaf Forever", a Canadian song written by Alexander Muir (1830–1906).

Athletics

The West Geauga Wolverines compete in the Chagrin Valley Conference. They play competitively in Division 2 though 4. The current sport offering is Cross Country, Track, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling, Hockey, Gymnastics, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, Swimming and Diving, Golf, Fencing, and Marching Band. WGHS offers a policy of waiving gym class by participating in two complete seasons of any of the current sport offerings previously listed.

Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships

Softball Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level. The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hanc ...

- 1991, 1994, 1995

Notes and references

{{authority control High schools in Geauga County, Ohio Public high schools in Ohio