Corvallis High School (Oregon)

1910 Structure

The original Corvallis High School was opened in February 1910 on 6th Street between Monroe Avenue and Madison Avenue, becoming the first dedicated high school in Corvallis. Prior to the construction, all grades were housed in Corvallis Central School which was built in 1889 and was located one block west on 7th Street. This new high school was built in an Arts and Crafts style. The structure was built of masonry and featured two stories on top of a daylight basement. In 1917, the structure was expanded and remodeled. The Arts and Crafts styling did not remain with the remodel and was changed to a Beaux-Arts style facade. A gymnasium was also added to the structure during this time. When the 1935 high school opened, the 1910 building was converted to use as the junior high school until it was destroyed by fire in 1946.

1935 Structure

In the 1930s, Corvallis High School had reached a population of 650 students in a structure that was intended for 400. It was decided that a larger high school needed to be constructed. In 1933, the citizens of Corvallis passed a local bond to pay for the construction. This allowed the school district to apply for a Public Works Administration grant and loan, which was awarded in January 1934. The Portland firm of Whitehouse, Stanton, and Church were selected to design the new school. The Corvallis School District selected the site for the new high school on 11th Street, which was on the far northwest edge of town. This new building was an Art Deco structure and was completed in 1935. The project cost $316,000. The building was added onto multiple times in the 50's and 60's with the addition of the science and library wing as well as the cafeteria and large gym addition.

In the spring of 2000, after the district finished a seismic analysis of its 17 schools, it was decided that the building was unsafe for student use. A group was put together to decide whether a replacement school should be built on the existing site or at an alternative location. It was decided that the replacement should be built on the existing site, favoring the central location over the opportunity to gain more land at an alternative location. This decision also required the old building to be demolished which upset some citizens who believed the building to be a historic treasure to the town.

In an effort to save the structure, the building was nominated and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. However, in the spring of 2004, construction began on the new building and the historic building was later demolished, and thus it was removed from the register. Several small architectural items from the original school were salvaged and used in the new building, including two of the brass chandeliers from the school's original auditorium, and two wrought iron 'Juliet'-style decorative balconies from the school's east-facing facade which were integrated into the new theater.

2005 Structure

After the seismic analysis in 2000, it was decided that a new high school needed to be built. The citizens of Corvallis passed an $86.4 million bond measure in 2002 to replace the high school as well as two middle schools and also update/renovate other schools in the district. Construction began in 2004 on the same lot as the second building in the old student parking lot, tennis courts, and football field/track while classes continued in the old school. The second Corvallis High School structure was torn down in the summer of 2005 and was replaced with a softball field and a parking lot. The original front parking lot still remains as well as several auxiliary buildings along Dixon Creek that were built in the 1960s.

This third Corvallis High School building was opened in the fall of 2005 facing Buchanan Street. Originally slated to be opened in January 2006, construction was far enough along to allow the 2005-06 school year to start in the new structure while construction continued on-site until the spring of 2006. The cost of construction for the 230,000-square-foot (21,000 m²) school was $46,000,000 and was designed by Dull Olsen Weekes Architects of Portland. In designing this new school, conscientious effort was made to build an energy-efficient, sustainable school, achieving a LEED silver rating for high performance buildings. The school is expected to use 30% less energy than one built to standard Oregon code.

Academics

In 2008, 73% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 362 students, 263 graduated, 80 dropped out, 2 received a modified diploma, and 17 are still in high school.

Athletics

CHS is a member of the Mid-Willamette Conference, Class 5A in the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA).

State championships

Newspaper

The school has a digital newspaper called the High-O-Scope. Its website is www.chshighoscope.wordpress.com.

Yearbook

The school's yearbook is the Chintimini.

FIRST Robotics

Founded by CHS students in time for the 2002 FRC season, Team 997 Spartan Robotics provides a hands on program for high school students to learn about STEM in a competitive sports like environment. In their 2002 rookie season they won the rookie all-star award. Spartan Robotics was ranked 5th in the nation during the 2007 FIRST National Competition at Atlanta, Georgia, after winning at both the Portland and Sacramento Regionals. Team 997 ranked 1st in the 2010 Autodesk Oregon regional competition, making it to Atlanta for a second time. The team also received the FIRST cooperation award at the 2012 Oregon regionals. In 2014 the team competed in four event, to district qualifiers which earned them a spot at the PNW District Championship where the further qualified to go to St. Louis to compete in the 2014 FIRST World championships a Fourth time.

Theater

Corvallis High School's Theater department offers opportunities for students to learn about professional theater in a High School environment. The Corvallis High School theater is a multimillion-dollar theater that seats 620 people. It is equipped with a 50-foot fly tower, a full set of drapes, as well as sufficient backstage space and an orchestra pit. The theater possesses a state-of-the-art sound and light system controlled by ETC expression and a 24-channel Soundcraft Series 2 mixer. The facility also includes a shop, dressing rooms, and a black box theater. The entire facility is available for rental upon request. CSD theaters puts on two plays each year, one musical and one stage play, performed and staffed primarily by students. The Theater Program also hosts two classes: Intro to Theater and Advanced Theater, which are open to students attending Corvallis High School.

Notable alumni

Corvallis High School has a number of notable alumni: