East Kentwood High School

History

East Kentwood High School was built in 1969. Since then it has undergone numerous renovations, including the addition of the West Wing in 1975 and the construction of the Freshman Campus in 1994. Further construction was finished in 1983, 1986, 1994, and 2006. The 1994 project included a renovation of the fieldhouse and expansion of the West Wing, which involved adding several new science classrooms. In the mid-1980s, a south corridor was completed to shelter students crossing each wing. East Kentwood is the only public school in the state of Michigan to have its own ice arena on campus, it is often referred to as the best ice arena in the state as well; East Kentwood also has its own competitive and community swimming pools, and a 1,600-seat Fine Arts Auditorium.

The original Kentwood high school, which is now Crestwood Middle School, opened in 1960. When the new site was built in 1969, the new school was named East Kentwood because there were plans to eventually build a second high school, which would have been known as West Kentwood a few years later. West Kentwood would have built on the same physical campus as East Kentwood. When the first vote for a second high school was turned down in the early 1970s it led to the construction of East Kentwood's first swimming pool as well as what was referred to as the Freshman wing. To this day, talks of building a second high school periodically resurface but have so far been turned down in favor of the economic advantages of running one large high school. Thus, East Kentwood continues to grow while West Kentwood remains the answer to a trivia question.

Renovation

In 2003, a $85.5 million bond was passed that allowed new construction at the High School Campus. A new athletic stadium was built with a capacity of over 7,500 along with a new 38-meter pool and a 75-foot community pool. Further work was done at the Freshman Campus to build it to the supportable core of 1,450 students with the moving of office and support staff to a new highly visible wing, and renovation of the previous office space with six classrooms and adding onto the existing classroom wings with 10 rooms. Additional work was done at the 10-12 main campus with the addition of more performing arts space including new practice rooms along with work at the auditorium with more dressing rooms, staging areas, and a new lighting and sound system. Furthermore, the seating was also refurnished.

Another major project was the expansion of the east wing cafeteria and renovation of classrooms in that wing. The circle drive that has been a mainstay of the school was removed with a new corridor built to link the west and east wings. The new corridor also puts a large commons area in front of the school with the pools, field house, and auditorium on each side. This hallway added 6 entrances, which is twice as many as before, along with creating two courtyards. Beyond the front of the school work the art department was given a remodel which includes a new art gallery. Along with all of this new carpeting has been placed through the school. Furthermore, a south side road was placed between the school and the practice fields along with a possible storage facility were added between the new south road and the field house. A renovation of the softball and baseball diamonds was also done then which included new home plate structures, scoreboards, and permanent bleachers.

In the summer of 2011, the library was renovated as well as the weight room, which was completely remodeled.

Diversity

East Kentwood High School has a student population of over 2,600 students. Over 700 of them are in the Freshman Campus while sophomores, juniors, and seniors are in the 10-12 building.

Within the student body, 47.12% of students are Caucasian, 29.34% African American, 8.44% Hispanic, 9.82% Asian American, 0.57% Native American and 1.34% Multi-racial.

Curriculum

East Kentwood offers 21 Advanced Placement courses. Those courses include AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Drawing, AP Chemistry, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP English Language, AP US Government and Politics, AP Latin, AP Psychology, AP Physics, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Statistics, and AP U.S. History, AP English Literature, AP Studio Art, AP World History, AP Computer Programming.

Competition Teams

School colors are red and black and school mascot is the falcon. East Kentwood High School competes in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red Division. The athletic teams have routinely won Conference titles and most sports have been in the MHSAA Playoffs. EK also has a competitive policy debate program which has secured numerous awards. Model UN and Mock Trial are a few other competitive academic programs offered.

The co-curricular We the People team has won state championships in:

Athletic Teams & Facilities

Girls' Sports; Women's Competitive Cheer (A1), Women's Golf, Women's Dance, Women's Gymnastics, Women's Sideline Cheer, Women's Softball, Women's Volleyball,

Boys' Sports; Men's Baseball, Men's Football, Men's Ice Hockey, Men's Wrestling, Men's Golf

Coed Sports Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Bowling, Men's & Women's Cross Country, Men's & Women's Soccer, Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's & Women's Tennis, Men's & Women's Track & Field, Men's & Women's Water Polo, Equestrian

Athletic Facilities

Main Fieldhouse Gym incorporating 4 full-size basketball courts, a large balcony training area, a wrestling center, and a West-Wing wood-floor gym for girls' volleyball practices. The main fieldhouse will seat 3500 fans. Moreover, the fieldhouse integrates a number of athletic events throughout the school year to accommodate as many sporting events as is possible.

Girls' Gymnastics Athletic Training Center used for girls' aerobic and fitness training. Additionally used for extra-curricular classes for elementary and middle school ages.

The Falcon Stadium is an artificial turfed arena seating 15,000 spectators with separate in-stadium facilities for the public and for visiting teams. It doubles up in the springtime as a state-sponsored track-and-field site.

An Aquatics Center featuring a 38-meter pool with movable bulkhead, 2-1 meter and 2-3 meter diving platforms, balcony and side conference rooms and separate locker/shower facilities. A 25-yard, 83 degree community pool with separate locker/shower facilities and community classes. A shallow pool for small children, and two racquetball courts. Programs offered include year round swim lessons and fitness classes.

The Kentwood Ice Arena featuring warming stands, community room, pro shop, concession and locker rooms. East Kentwood is the only public high school in the state to have an ice arena on-campus.

Baseball Sportsplex featuring three baseball fields and two softball fields. The outer circumference and woods along the back providing for a maintained cross-country meet circuit. The upper ball fields each have their own multi-level buildings for scoring, dugouts, stands and a general public concessions/restrooms facility.

An off-campus Soccer Sportsplex which is renowned in the state for its artificial turfed field and facilities. The field is still called Pat Patterson, as it was before the remodel. Pat Patterson donated the money for this project. It is also in the same location on the campus of one of Kentwood's three middle schools, Crestwood Middle, which was the site of the original Kentwood High School.

Championships

The following teams have won their respective Michigan state titles:

Notable alumni