Oconto Falls High School

Oconto Falls High School is a public high school located in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, United States. It is the only high school in the Oconto Falls School District, and had an enrollment of 506 for the 2016–2017 school year.[1]

Oconto Falls High School
Address
210 N. Farm Road Oconto Falls , Wisconsin 54154 United States
Information
Type	Public secondary
School district	Oconto Falls School District
Principal	Jake Beschta
Teaching staff	34.99 (FTE)[1]
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	489 (2017-18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	13.98[1]
Color(s)	Orange and black
Athletics conference	North Eastern Conference
Nickname	Panthers
Website	www.ofpanthers.com/schools/oconto-falls-high-school

History

In 1902, members of the Oconto Falls school board borrowed $10,000 from the state of Wisconsin to buy land for and build a high school, which was originally named "Washington".[2] In 1915, a large addition was added on to accommodate the growing number of students.[2] A spring 1957 fire destroyed most of the 1915 addition, but a new 25-classroom replacement was built by the fall.[3] A 2001 fire damaged the roof of the school.[4]

Demographics

OFHS is 92 percent white, three percent Hispanic, three percent Native American, and two percent of students identify as a part of two or more races.[5]

From 2000–2019, high school enrollment declined 24.4%.[6]

Enrollment at Oconto Falls High School, 2000–2019

Academics

Advanced Placement classes are offered at Oconto Falls. About a third of students take an AP test.[7]

Athletics

The Panthers baseball team won the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association championship in 1973 and 1978, the latter coming in Class B after the WIAA switched from one class to three for 1978.[8] The football team won the Division III state title in 1997,[9] and the girls' cross country team won the Division II championship in 1999.[10] The Panthers wrestling team won the Division II team championship in 2010.[11]

OFHS hosts the oldest track meet in Wisconsin, the Oconto Falls Invitational, each spring.[9]

Performing arts

A community performing arts center, the Falls Area Performing Arts Center, is housed in OFHS. It is used by Oconto Falls students and other acts in the community.[12]

Notable alumni

• Bob Wickman, baseball player[13]

References

1. "Oconto Falls High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
2. "Oconto Falls High School". Oconto County Genealogical Society. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
3. Denis, Joan. "Community fught high school fire together". Oconto County Times Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
4. "Oconto Falls High School closed after fire". Shawano Leader. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
5. "Oconto Falls High Student Body". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
6. 2000–2019 enrollment figures come from the Wisconsin DPI Program Statistics Archives, Wisconsin School Free/Reduced Eligibility Data and the Wisconsin DPI School Nutrition Program Statistics reports for school level enrollment and participation data.
7. "Oconto Falls High Test Scores". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
8. "Spring Baseball Champions 1948 - 2019" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
9. Pekarek, Andrew. "Oconto Falls hopes to build for the future". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Gannett. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
10. "Girls Cross Country Team Champions 1975-2018" (PDF). Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
11. "Proceedings - March 18, 2010 Oconto County Board of Supervisors Meeting" (PDF). Oconto County, Wisconsin. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
12. "Community". Oconto Falls Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
13. "Bob Wickman Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 June 2019.