Olive Branch High School (Olive Branch, Mississippi)

Olive Branch High School
Address
Map
9366 Sandidge Road

Olive Branch
,
Mississippi
38654

United States
Coordinates34°56′58″N 89°49′22″W / 34.9495°N 89.8227°W / 34.9495; -89.8227
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1970 (1970)
School districtDeSoto County School District
PrincipalJacob Stripling[1]
Teaching staff71.52 (on an FTE basis)[2]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,077 (2023–2024)[2]
Student to teacher ratio15.06[2]
Color(s)Blue, gold and white
     
Team nameConquistadors
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
Websiteobh.desotocountyschools.org

Olive Branch High School is a suburban public high school in Olive Branch, Mississippi, United States, part of the Memphis metropolitan area. Its mascot is a conquistador and its school colors are blue, gold, and white. Olive Branch is a part of the DeSoto County School District.

History

Original Olive Branch High School

Although the town of Olive Branch was extremely small for much of the 20th century, with a population of about 400 during the 1930s, newspaper records indicate the existence of a high school in the town no later than 1936.[3] At that time the school had approximately 120 students, implying that students from outside city limits also attended.[3]

In the era of formalized racial segregation in Mississippi, it appears there were both black and white high schools in Olive Branch.[4]

Integration

Today's Olive Branch High School was established in 1970 after amalgamating Olive Branch High School and East Side High School. The school's mascot — the Conquistador — was chosen because "it was neither black nor white. It was seen as a conqueror to overcome the racial segregation of the past."[5]

The high school moved into its new and current building in 1996.

Athletics

Teams

Olive Branch's athletic teams are nicknamed the Conquistadors and the school's colors are white, gold, and blue. Olive Branch teams compete in the following sports:

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Powerlifting
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball

State championships

Football

  • 2011 Mississippi 6A State Champions[6]

Basketball

  • 2018 Mississippi 5A State Champions[7]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Jacob Stripling named new Olive Branch principal". DeSoto Times-Tribune. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "OLIVE BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Associated Press, "Olive Branch School Has Two Principals," Daily Herald [Biloxi], March 17, 1936, p. 1.
  4. ^ "Nine School Buildings Approved". Jackson Clarion-Ledger. May 28, 1957. p. 5.
  5. ^ "Olive Branch High School". Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  6. ^ "Olive Branch High School". Public School Review. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  7. ^ "Olive Branch claims 5A state championship".
  8. ^ "Kelvin Bell". University of Iowa Athletics. 2020-04-09. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  9. ^ "Olive Branch lineman Shon Coleman, Aubrey Phillips back with Auburn Tigers". AL.com. 26 March 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  10. ^ Miller, Brody (March 24, 2018). "Meet the 2018 Clarion Ledger All-State boys' basketball team". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  11. ^ Costabile, Annie (28 July 2017). "Mississippi State leads for Olive Branch's Fabien Lovett". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Ex-Quistor McManis signs with 'Niners". Desoto Times-Tribune. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  13. ^ "About KJ". Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2017.