Royal Oak High School

For other uses, see Royal Oak (disambiguation) § Schools.
Royal Oak High School
Address
Map
1500 Lexington Boulevard

Royal Oak
,
Michigan
480735

United States
Coordinates42°31′22″N 83°9′46″W / 42.52278°N 83.16278°W / 42.52278; -83.16278
Information
TypePublic high school
EstablishedOriginally in 1913 and was located on South Washington Street (later renamed Dondero High) Current site opened 1957 as Kimball, then rebranded as ROHS in 2006 after the combining of Kimball and Dondero
School districtRoyal Oak Neighborhood Schools
PrincipalAngela Ashburn
Teaching staff98.72 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,341 (2022-23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio13.58[1]
Color(s)Black, Royal Blue, and Silver    
MascotRavens
Websitewww.royaloakschools.org
Student assessments
2021–22 school
year[2]
Change vs.
prior year[2]
M-STEP 11th grade proficiency rates
(Science / Social Studies)
Advanced %24.7 / 19.2
Proficient %32.9 / 37.7
PR. Proficient %17.1 / 35.1
Not Proficient %25.3 / 7.9
Average test scores
SAT Total1001.9
(Decrease −74.8)

Royal Oak High School (ROHS) is a public high school located in Royal Oak, Michigan. The interim principal is Angela Ashburn.[3] It is a part of Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools.

History

ROHS is a 2006 consolidation of former intra-city rivals Royal Oak George A. Dondero High School and Royal Oak Clarence M. Kimball High School.[4]

This educational facility draws its name from the original Royal Oak High School (later Clara Barton Junior High), which opened in 1914, and its successor, the "new" Royal Oak High School, which opened in 1927. After the opening of a second high school facility within the Royal Oak school system in 1957, the then "Royal Oak High School" changed its name to "George A. Dondero High School".[4] Its counterpart was named "Clarence M. Kimball High School".

At their peak, both institutions had enrollments of over 2,000 students. But declining enrollment throughout the district forced the closure of Dondero High School in 2006,[4] and the student populations of the two schools were merged into one facility. Kimball High School became the site of the newly merged school. Extensive renovations were made to accommodate the surge of students, after which the high school was renamed Royal Oak High School.

In 2009, Detroit rapper Eminem shot his short film "Where Have You Been?" in the halls and on the grounds of Royal Oak High School.[5]

On October 12, 2010, Royal Oak High School was featured on the MTV show If You Really Knew Me.[6] The episode was the season 1 finale, and documents "Challenge Day" at Royal Oak High School.[7]

The high school had an average score of 98.6 on the state's MEAP test in 2011 and a very high number of AP students.[8]

School media

There have been two student news publications at Royal Oak High School: The Herald and The Acorn.

The Herald, which originated from Kimball High School ("Knights"), featured school-centered news and updates. The Herald was discontinued due to lack of funding, leaving The Acorn as the sole news source for the school since 2011. The Acorn is a news magazine - originally from Dondero High School's "Oaks" publication - that reports on more widespread affairs to increase student global awareness. The Acorn is a recipient of Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) awards.[9]

Noesis is the student creative arts magazine,[10] providing a forum for student artists to publish their work. Royal Oak High School's PTSA publishes a bimonthly bulletin called "The Raven's Call".[11]

Royal Oak High School also has a media class that broadcasts on public access, WOAK, and on the school closed-circuit feed.[12] School announcements and short student videos are featured on a student news program titled "The Raven Report",[13] and broadcast to all classrooms over the Internet.

Notable alumni

Clarence M. Kimball High School (prior to consolidation)

George A. Dondero High School (prior to consolidation)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Royal Oak High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "MI School Data Annual Education Report". MI School Data. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  3. ^ "Home".
  4. ^ a b c "Dates in Royal Oak Schools History". Royal Oak History. Royal Oak Historical Society. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Eminem shoots video in Royal Oak school". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  6. ^ "Ep. 112". If You Really Knew Me. MTV. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  7. ^ "MTV: If You Really Knew Me". Challenge Day. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  8. ^ "DATABASE: Check your school's 2011 MEAP score". Detroit News. 2012-02-20. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  9. ^ "ROHS Acorn Newsmagazine Receives Spartan Award". Royal Oak High School News. Royal Oak Schools. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  10. ^ "ROHS Non-Club Groups 2012-2013" (PDF). ROHS Clubs & Groups. Royal Oak Schools. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-17.
  11. ^ "The Raven's Call" (PDF). Royal Oak PTSA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  12. ^ "WOAK". Royal Oak Schools. Archived from the original on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  13. ^ "WOAK Videos on Demand Specials". Royal Oak Schools. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Flint doctor who exposed lead in water started activism as Royal Oak student".