Holt High School (Michigan)

Campus

A modern two story building on a 40-acre (160,000 m²) Main Campus houses grades 9 through 11, with Michael P. Willard serving as the school's principal. In the fall of 2014 the separate 9th grade building was converted to a 12th grade senior and college advancement building named the North Campus. During the senior year, students are provided the opportunity to identify, explore and start to focus on their post-secondary life. The benefit of a single grade senior building provides each individual senior's interest to be developed with the provision of additional opportunities such as in-house Lansing Community College college classes providing free college credit as well as capstone classes. The high school Main Campus includes 11 Computer Labs, an Internet/research center, computers with Internet access in each classroom, building wide broadcasting capabilities, a performing arts complex with an 850-seat theater and comprehensive on-grounds athletic facilities. Outside the school are a large football stadium, baseball field and a cross country course that are used often in sporting events throughout the year. The building is the largest one in the Holt School District. The Board of Education and Administrative offices reside directly across the street from the Main Campus in a separate wing of the North Campus.

The center commons area doubles as the cafeteria during two lunch periods and has four food courts serving up to 800 lunches per period.

The Margaret Livensparger Theater is used to host many activities in the school such as talent shows, musicals, plays, and outside professional groups. Its two-level seating is accessible on the second story on either side of the foyer. Decorated in rich gold and burgundy tones, the theater's main floor has 650 seats arranged so all spectators have a great view of the stage. Extra seating is upstairs in the balcony. Total seating capacity is 850.

The school library is named in memory of a former student, "John C. Chi", who died shortly after graduation in 1975, but was noted for both academic and athletic achievements. The library is equipped with thousands of books and a fleet of computers available in conjunction with those in the Library Computer Lab.

The "H Town" School Store is located adjacent to the commons area and is operated entirely by students enrolled in the Retail Management business course. Students learn the different aspects of managing and organizing a business, from human resources, merchandising, promotion, selling, operations, and finance. The store stocks school spirt clothing as well as snacks.

History and culture

Holt High School was originally located in the current "Junior High", which now contains grades 7 through 8. After the new building was completed, Holt High School was moved to its current location, which enjoys modern luxuries unheard of at the previous location. More space is available, and technology is more widely found. It was during the 2003-2004 school year that these changes took place. The move was controversial in some circles as it drastically increased the District's debt, but because the economy was still mostly going well at the time, such concerns were widely ignored.

Compared to many other nearby High Schools Holt High School has a far higher standard of safety and education than most Public Schools in Central Michigan, resulting in many "School of Choice" students migrating to the District.

Holt High School has a wide variety of sports, clubs and activities for students.

Bands

One notable aspect of the school is its renowned Marching Band, a versatile collection of students with instrumentations including brass, woodwinds, and a 25-member drumline (2016). A number of sections in the band have gone on to compete as a smaller unit themselves in addition to the rest of the band during festival season. Holt has competed in competitions at Grand Ledge and Owosso, and the Band plays in Football Games in the Fall. After the football season, the band splits into Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Concert Band. In 2009 and 2010, Symphonic Band earned overall 1's in District Festival for the first time. Two other bands exist in Holt as well, the Jazz and Pit Bands. The Pit Band plays backing music in school musicals.

Curriculum

The student-teacher ratio is 19:1, average for the state.

The school offers a variety of courses, including AP and honors level classes in several subject areas: Business, English, Family and Consumer Sciences, Math, Physical Education, Science, Social Science, Special Education, Studio Art, and World Languages.

The school also offers innovative programs: Community-based experiences, Geo/CAD (Geometry and Computer Aided Drawing), Integrated English and American History blocks, School-To-Work Mentorships and Internships, and Senior Individualized Investigations and Exhibition.

Sports

The school fields 23 varsity athletic teams and competes in interscholastic sports in the Capital Area Activities Conference: Holt High School's team nickname is The Rams. The team colors are brown and gold. The team used to be named The Ramblers but was shorted to The Rams at an unknown time.

Fall sports: Boys cross-country, Girls cross-country, Equestrian, Football, Girls golf, Boys soccer, Girls swimming, Boys tennis, Girls volleyball, and Boys water polo.

Winter sports: Boys basketball, Bowling, Dance, Gymnastics, Hockey, Boys swimming, Wrestling, and Girls basketball.

Spring sports: Baseball, Boys golf, Boys lacrosse, Girls lacrosse, Girls soccer, Softball, Girls tennis, Track and field, and Girls Water Polo.

Holt has won a total of 8 state championships in the sports of Girls Gymnastics (2007), Boys Basketball (2005), Wrestling (1971, 1996, 1997, 2008), Girls Track and Field (1976), and Girls Bowling (2010).

They have also been State Runners-Up on 5 different occasions in the sports: Boys Cross Country (1979), Boys Soccer (2009), Football (1995, 1971), and Wrestling (1979, 2009).

Performance

In 2008, students' ACT scores exceeded the state averages. In 2007, the school's scores on the Michigan Merit Examination (MME) and Michigan Educational Assessment Program High School Test (MEAP HST) tests exceeded the state averages in all test areas.

Holt High School students won the Michigan Poetry Out Loud competition in 2006 and 2007.