Cottonwood High School is a public high school located in Murray, Utah, United States. The current enrollment is nearly 1700 and represents many ethnic groups. The school offers traditional schooling for grades nine through twelve. A portion of the building is also leased to Academy for Math, Engineering, and Science (AMES), a charter high school.
The school's mascot is the Cottonwood Colt and its colors are black, white and gold. Cottonwood High School is one of nine senior high schools in the Granite School District.
The building features what is rumored to be the largest high school auditorium west of the Mississippi River with a maximum capacity of just over 3,000. Because of the auditorium's size, it has been used for many concerts and public functions over the years. The annual production of Michael McLean's The Forgotten Carols is held in the auditorium each December. The facilities are used year-round for city-wide events, night school for adults, summer school for young children, and other activities.
The building has an innovative layout which includes an open-air courtyard, several atriums (including the lunch area), and gifts from graduating classes, the most visible of which are a bronze statue of a colt located near the lunchroom and the school's seal in tilework in the main foyer (before the class of 2005).
Advanced Placement classes offered at Cottonwood High School include:
Art History
Biology
Calculus BC
Chemistry
English Literature & Composition
European History
French Language
Government & Politics: Comparative
Government & Politics: United States
Music Theory
Physics I
Physics II
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
Physics C: Mechanics
Spanish Language
Statistics
Studio Art: 2D-Design
AP art: 2D-Design
AP art: 3D Design
Studio Art: 3D-Design
Studio Art: Drawing
United States History
World History
Honors courses include:
Mathematics: Honors Algebra, Honors Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry, Honors Geometry, CC Mathematics (through Salt Lake Community College)
Science: Honors Physics, Honors Chemistry, Honors Biology
English: Honors English Sophomore, Honors English Junior
World Languages: American Sign Language, CC Spanish, CC French, Latin
Business: Academy of Finance, CC Computer Technology
Fine Arts: CC Calligraphy, CC Drawing
Clubs and organizations
A'Capella, a concert choir
Anime & Otaku
Art club
Colt Roundup, a nationally awarded school newspaper
Concert Band
Dance Company
Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)
Famila, Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
Forensics (Debate)
French Committee
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
Jazz Band
KOLT News, the school's broadcasting team
Madrigals, a choir program
Math, Engineering & Science Achievement (MESA)
Math Club
Men's Choir
Mixed Choir
National Honors Society (NHS)
Orchestra
Parent, Teacher & Student Association (PTSA)
Service Club
Spanish Club
Student Conservation Alliance (SCA)
Theatre Society
Wind Ensemble
Women's Choir
Yearbook
Young Democrats
Young Republicans
Several teams are state champions.
Baseball (boys')
Basketball (boys' & girls')
Cheerleading (boys' & girls')
Drill a.k.a. Chapparrals (Girls')
Cross Country (boys' & girls')
Football (boys')
Golf (boys' & girls')
Hockey (boys' & girls')
Lacrosse (boys' & girls')
The Biking of Mountains
Soccer (boys' & girls')
Softball (girls')
Swimming (boys' & girls')
Track & Field (boys' & girls')
Tennis (boys' & girls')
Ultimate Frisbee (boys' & girls')
Volleyball (girls')
Water Polo (boys' & girls')
Wrestling (boys')
Gary Andersen, Head Football Coach at Oregon State University
Klea Blackhurst, actress, Broadway and The Onion
Josh Burkman, professional mixed martial artist
Richard Paul Evans, author and founder of the Christmas Box House International charity
Charles Halford, actor
Stanley Havili, professional football player
David Litvack, Minority Leader in the Utah House of Representatives
Lindsay Pulsipher, actress
Chris Shelton, professional baseball player
Will Swenson, actor and director
David Cruz Thayne, small businessman; former chief of staff of Utah State Minority Leader Scott Howell; 2012 congressional candidate
Joey Worthen, professional soccer player
