Secondary school in the United States
| Onalaska High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Address | |
| 700 Hilltopper Place Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin 54650 United States | |
| Coordinates | 43°52′35″N 91°13′38″W / 43.8764°N 91.22726°W / 43.8764; -91.22726 |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, Secondary |
| Motto | Where you can't hide that Hilltopper pride! |
| Established | 1890 |
| School district | Onalaska School District |
| Superintendent | Dr. Todd Antoni |
| Principal | Jared Schaffner |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 933 (2022-23) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 14: 1 |
| Hours in school day | 8 |
| Color(s) | Purple, white, and black |
| Athletics conference | Mississippi Valley Conference |
| Mascot | Freddy Hilltopper |
| Rival | Holmen, La Crosse Central |
| Publication | Freddy's Footnotes |
| Website | https://onalaskahighschool.onalaskaschools.com/ |
Onalaska High School is a public high school in Onalaska, Wisconsin, in the Onalaska School District. It had an enrollment of 933 students in grades 9-12 for the 2022-23 school year.
History
The first public high school in Onalaska was founded in January 1890 on a plot of land between Main, King, Fourth and Fifth Streets. The first graduating class had three students, and the school was known as the Vikings, with the school colors being red and white. The original building burned down in 1895, and a new building was built on-site the following year. After another fire in 1924 left the new building completely destroyed, all students in the Onalaska public school system moved to the former La Crosse County School of Agriculture. The school's colors changed to purple and white in the 1940s, and the "Hilltopper" moniker came soon after that due to the location of the school, dubbed "Heaven on a Hill". Another new building was built due to growing student counts in 1970.
Academics
Onalaska offers Advanced Placement classes. About half of all seniors take AP classes.
Demographics
OHS is 71.7% white, 12.6% Asian, 6.1% Hispanic, 6.1% two or more races, 2.4% black, and 0.4% American Indian, and 0.1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. OHS is 48% female and 52% male.
Athletics
See also: Mississippi Valley Conference (Wisconsin)The Hilltoppers boys' basketball team has won three WIAA championships: the Class A championship in 1988, the Class B championship in 1992, and the Division 2 championship in 2012.
Additionally, OHS has won state titles in the following sports:
- Boys' Cross Country: 2021
- Boys' Golf: 1982, 1985
- Girls' Golf: 1989
- Girls' Gymnastics: 1985, 1997, 1998
Performing arts
OHS has two competitive show choirs, the higher-level Hilltoppers and lower-level Express. The Hilltoppers have been a top show choir in the nation for three decades, winning a competition in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin in 1984. From 1985 - 2006, led by Paul Gulsvig, the Hilltoppers competed in 140 competitions, won grand championships in 16 cities and 7 states, won national championships in 2004 and 2006, and made the finals in all but two of the competitions in the 21-year period.
They continue to be a major force, ranking 2nd in the nation, winning six grand championships, best band, and best vocals awards in their 2020 season with their show themed after the Netflix TV series The Umbrella Academy. OHS also hosts its own annual competition, the Onalaska Show Choir Classic, which started in 1987. It is noted for being one of the toughest competitions in the Midwest and attracts schools from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.
Notable alumni
- Tim Gullikson, professional tennis player and coach
- Tom Gullikson, professional tennis player and coach
- Chuck Hockenbery, professional baseball player
- Michael Huebsch, Wisconsin politician
- Sandra Lee, professional chef and television personality
- Tom Newberry, professional football player
- Frank Pooler, composer
- Mark Proksch, comedian and actor
- Matt Thomas, basketball player for the Utah Jazz
- Jack Olsen, Grounded Man Of The Year
- Rhonda K. Wood, Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court
Gallery
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 (view as a 360° interactive panorama)  |
References
- "Onalaska High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ Dolbier, John (1985). From sawmills to sunfish: a history of Onalaska, Wisconsin. pp. 191–199. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- "Onalaska High in Onalaska, WI: Test Scores". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- "teamchamps" (PDF). WIAA.com. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- "State Team Championships". www.wiaawi.org. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- "SCC: Viewing School - Onalaska High School". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "OHS Choirs and Show Choirs - Staff". sites.google.com. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- "SCC: Viewing Choir - Hilltoppers 2020". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- "Onalaska High School hosts annual Show Choir Classic". WKBT. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- Pyrek, Emily (28 January 2017). "Onalaska author scores with baseball book". The Washington Times. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
External links
| Mississippi Valley Conference (Wisconsin) | |
|---|---|
| Current members | |
| Associated members | West Salem |