Rocky Mountain High School (Colorado)

Rocky Mountain High School (RMHS, Rocky) is one of four public high schools in Fort Collins, Colorado, United States. Its colors are cardinal red and gold and its mascot is the lobo, or wolf. The school serves roughly 2000 students, mostly from south, west, and central Fort Collins. Rocky Mountain High School opened at its current location in 1973 and was expanded in 1994.

Rocky Mountain High School (Fort Collins, Colorado)
Rocky Mountain High School logo
Address
1300 West Swallow Road

Fort Collins, Colorado 80526

United States
Coordinates40°32′48.02″N 105°5′59.84″W
Information
TypePublic high school
MottoThe Lobo Way
Established1973
School districtPoudre School District
PrincipalCraig Woodall
Staff101.63 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Number of students2,035 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio20.02[1]
Color(s)Cardinal red and yellow gold         
Athletics5A
MascotLobo
WebsiteRocky Mountain High School

History

Rocky Mountain High School was founded in 1973. Its student body was made up of sophomores and juniors originally from Fort Collins High School and Poudre High School. The campus was made of three separate buildings. In 1994 to 1995, the school's campus was redesigned to make one large building from the original three separate ones. A new media center, theatre, a vocal music room, a larger commons area, and a large fitness center were added during this remodel. In 2005, an auxiliary gym and multipurpose room were added. Rocky started as a three-year high school, but as part of a grade reconfiguration in Poudre School District, it became a four-year high school. The class of 2009 had 692 seniors, the largest senior class the school has ever had.

Academics

Rocky Mountain High School runs on a 4 by 4 block schedule with four classes a day. At the semester, courses that would typically last an entire year such as math or science end and are replaced with a new class. Advanced Placement classes are available. The school also participates in the CU Succeed program, which allows high schoolers to take classes for college credit. Juniors and seniors can also take college level courses at the local Front Range Community College.

During the 2015–16 school year, the Alternative Cooperative Education program at Rocky Mountain constructed a GeoDome, a geodesic growing dome[2] that allows students with barriers to employment to practice career skills. They learn not only practical skills in gardening, construction and business management, but valuable soft skills like communication and collaboration.[3]

The school has a film program.[4]

Notable accomplishments

Since its opening in 1973, Rocky Mountain High School has been involved in many sports and academic competitions.

The baseball team, coached by Scott Bullock, won the CHSAA (Colorado High School Activities Association) State Championship in four consecutive years, from 2007 through 2010.[5]

In 2009, as part of the High Plains Hockey League, Rocky Mountain Varsity Hockey took home the state championship.

The Rocky Mountain Highlighter, the school's prestigious newspaper, is regarded as one of the top student newspapers in the nation due to having won numerous Pacemaker awards.[6] The paper is advised by Stephen Wahlfeldt.[7]

School culture

Rocky Mountain High School is known for fostering a positive, inclusive school culture. In the fall of 2015 a student with a disability helped collect the equivalent of 8,900 meals for a food bank in Virginia.[8] In November, students created a March-Madness style fundraiser to raise $1500 for charity.[9] For the last twenty years, the school has also hosted Adopt a Family. A Rocky student started the service project in 1996. Homerooms and school groups each adopt a family, trying to meet as many needs as possible on their wishlist.[10] In 2015, the school adopted about 80 families.[11]

In 2011, the school raised $90,000 for charity. In 2012, they collected 2,000 pairs of shoes for families around the world as part of the Kindness Challenge.[12]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  2. "Rocky Mountain High School GeoDome". YouTube. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  3. "GeoDome teaches Rocky students career skills". Poudre School District. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  4. "RMHSTV -- Opener". Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  5. "Colorado High School Baseball Championship Games" (PDF). CHSAA.org. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  6. "RMHS Highlighter Recognized as Top High School Newspaper". Archived from the original on 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  7. http://www.allvoices.com/news/7583390-rocky-mountain-highlighter-ranked-again-as-one-of-top-student-newspapers-in-nation%5B%5D
  8. Horan, Kyle (August 28, 2015). "Rocky Mountain High School student inspires others to donate food". Denver Channel 7. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  9. "PSD Gives: Students, teachers compete in beard fundraiser at Rocky Mountain High School". Poudre School District. Archived from the original on 2016-08-13.
  10. "Adopt a Family 2014". Vimeo. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  11. [A Rocky student started the service project in 1996. "Adopt a Family"] Check |url= value (help). PSD-TV. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  12. "Kindness Challenge: Rocky Mountain High School". Think Kindness. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  13. Lytle, Kevin (January 23, 2014). "Andy Burns invited to major league camp with Toronto Blue Jays". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  14. Frei, Terry (August 19, 2008). "Dennison puts his talent on the line". Denver Post. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  15. "Cardinals' Gonzales set to debut in familiar park". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  16. Hellen, Aaron (April 4, 2008). "Local artists returns to her roots for Apple Tree CD release". The Rocky Mountain Collegian Online. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  17. Lyell, Kelly (May 3, 2013). "Former Rocky Mountain High School, Wyoming standout Korey Jones gets his shot at the NFL". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
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