The first Rhinelander High School was built in 1889. It was named Rhinelander Union High School (RUHS) and the building was commonly known as Old Central. It stood on what is now Saroca Park. When the school began it had just two teachers and fewer than 80 students. By 1912, attendance had grown to over 215 students.
The school was demolished to accommodate increased enrollment. The new high school, known as Rhinelander High School today, had its first graduation on June 4, 1959, with a class of over 200 seniors.
On 9 May 2012, 50 students participated in a walk out, protesting the layoffs of educators because of budget cuts. Some students participated in a school board meeting on 21 May 2012, which also gained attention in Rhinelander.
Again, in 2013, Rhinelander High School gained statewide attention after a recently hired teacher was arrested for possessing 66 marijuana plants and stealing laptops as well as lab equipment, with the aid of another new teacher and a secretary. All who were involved were later dismissed from employment.
Key Club: A self-governing organization service organization, this club is affiliated with the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District and Key Club International.BandLibrary ClubMock Trial: Mock Trial simulates a courtroom trial, with students playing the roles of witnesses and attorneys in a fact situation provided by the state bar. The school holds the record for the most consecutive wins in Mock Trial. The team has 27 regional championships and 15 state championships, RHS won the National High School Mock Trial Championship in 1989 and has finished second twice.Debate: The RHS debate team travels and competes with other high school debaters. In 2007, the Rhinelander debate team took second place at the state competition in the novice division. In 2008, the team took first place at the state final.National Honor Society: The organization sponsors a scholarship drive by selling weekly "Dress Down Day" stickers to faculty. NHS calculates and distributes academic letters and bars to eligible students and sponsors the annual homecoming talent show.Drama: Students perform two drama productions per school year. They are involved in all facets of the production, including acting, set design, costumes, lighting, and drama competition.SADD: This group promotes students making healthy choices, such as seat belt use and staying drug-free. At Homecoming and Prom, it sponsors a speaker to address the student body. It also promotes Red Ribbon Week to elementary schools.Shodags: Shodags Show Choir is a musical song and dance group. It performs at school functions and community gatherings.German Club: The German Club travels to Germany as part of the German American Partnership Program every two years and hosts German students every two years. The group raises money through candy sales, fruit sales, and Advent calendar sales for both events. Other events include a lock-in, movie night, caroling, picnic, bowling, and going out to eat.Spanish Club: Spanish Club raises funds for foreign language trips abroad.Student Council: This student organization attempts to resolve issues in the school and provide services and events for the students and staff. Participants are either elected to a council office in April, a class office in May, or selected as a class representative.Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)Rhinelander High School sports include football, soccer, swimming, wrestling, gymnastics, Nordic and Alpine skiing, snowboarding, baseball, softball, track and field, volleyball, hockey, basketball, cross country, tennis, dance team, and golf.
Rhinelander High School sports are part of the Great Northern Conference, a division two conference. Up until 2010, the Hodags were a part of the Wisconsin Valley Conference, a division one conference.
Football (Wisconsin Valley Conference from 1920-2010) Conference Titles:1934 Co-Conference Champions with Stevens Point, 1938 Conference Champions, 1955 Co-Conference Champions with Antigo, 1964 Co-Conference Champions with Antigo, 1974 Co-Conference Champions with Antigo, 1989 Co-Conference Champions with DC Everest
Soccer (Great Northern Conference from 2010-2012) Conference Titles:2010 and 2012 Conference Champions
Girls Swimming (Wisconsin Valley Conference from 1975-2010) Conference Titles:1980 Co-Conference Champions with Wausau West and Stevens Point, 1983 Conference Champions, 1992 Conference Champions, 1993 Conference Champions, 1994 Conference Champions, 1995 Conference Champions, 2001 Conference Champions, 2002 Conference Champions
Girls Tennis (Great Northern Conference from 2010-2012) Conference Titles:2010 Conference Champions, 2011 Co-Conference Champions with Columbus Catholic, 2012 Conference Champions
Girls Volleyball (Great Northern Conference 2010-2012) Conference Titles:2012 Conference Champions
Boys Cross Country (Wisconsin Valley Conference 1951-2010) Conference Titles:1962, 1996, 1971, 1974, 1987 Conference Champions; 1987 Sectional Champions; 1987 Class A state Champions Dr.Jeff Craig(Tomahawk, WI);Charles Schmock (DeForest,WI);Dave Meisinger (Milwaukee,WI); Brian Cutler,(Fox Valley, WI);Kyle Schroeder(Sommerset,WI)
Girls Cross Country (Wisconsin Valley Conference 1975-2010) Conference Titles:1977 Conference Champions
Boys Basketball (Wisconsin Valley Conference 1921-2010) Conference Titles:1935-36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939-1940, 1941–42, 1947–48, 1958–59, 1959-1960, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1988–89, 1989-1990, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2003-04
Girls Basketball (Wisconsin Valley Conference 1975-2010) Conference Titles:None recorded
Wrestling (Wisconsin Valley Conference 1956-2010) Conference Titles:None recorded (Great Northern Conference 2010–present) Conference Titles: 2014, 2015, and 2016 Co Conference Champions with Tomahawk
Boys Hockey (Wisconsin Valley Conference 1991-2010) Conference Titles:None recorded
Girls Hockey (Great Northern Conference 2010–present) Conference Titles:None recorded
Gymnastics (Great Northern Conference 2010–present) Conference Titles:2011-2012
Boys Swimming (Great Northern Conference 2010–present) Conference Title:2011-2012
Baseball (Great Northern Conference 2010–present) Conference Titles:2011, 2012
Softball (Great Northern Conference 2010–present) Conference Titles:2012
Boys and Girls Track (Great Northern Conference 2010–present) Conference Titles:None recorded
Girls Soccer (Great Northern Conference 2010–present) Conference Titles:2012
Co-ed Golf (Great Northern Conference 2010–present) Conference Titles:2011
Boys Tennis (Great Northern Conference 2010–present) Conference Titles:2011, 2012
Jason Doering, football playerGene Englund, professional basketball playerWalt Kichefski, football playerHelen Vlahakis (1931), movie actress known professionally as Helen Valkis and as Joan ValerieMike Webster, Hall of Fame center, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1974–1988; Kansas City Chiefs, 1989–1990Frederick Wedge, professional boxer, clergyman, and college professor