Idaho Falls High School

Parts of this article (those related to demographics) need to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (August 2021)

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Public school in Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States

Idaho Falls High School

Address

601 South Holmes Avenue

Idaho Falls

Idaho

83401

United States

Coordinates| 43°29′33″N 112°01′23″W﻿ / ﻿43.4925°N 112.0230°W﻿ / 43.4925; -112.0230
Information
Type| Public
Established| 1897
School district| Idaho Falls School District#91
Principal| Christopher Powell
Teaching staff| 67.15 (on a FTE basis)[1]
Grades| 9–12
Enrollment| 1,269 (2023–2024)[1]
Student to teacher ratio| 18.90[1]
Color(s)| Orange and black
Athletics| IHSAA Class 5A
Athletics conference| High Country (5A)
Nickname| Tigers
Rival| Skyline High School
Newspaper| IFHS Tiger Times
Yearbook| The Spud Annual
Elevation| 4,705 ft (1,434 m) AMSL
Website| Idaho Falls High School
[2]

Idaho Falls High School (IFHS) is a four-year public secondary school in central Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA. The current building opened in 1952, though the school itself has been in operation since 1897. Idaho Falls is the older of the two traditional high schools, the other is Skyline, in the Idaho Falls School District#91. The school colors are orange and black and its teams are the Tigers; the mascot is known as Tigger.

## History

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As the oldest high school in Idaho Falls, IFHS was established in 1897.[3] The first building was a three-story structure on the corner of North Water and Walnut Street, behind what later became O. E. Bell Junior High School. Following the construction of a larger building that occupied the entire block between 6th and 7th Streets and S. Boulevard and South Lee Avenue (where the Wesley W. Deist Aquatic Center is presently located), the original school building became the school district administration building and was also used for overflow classrooms as part of O.E. Bell Jr. High. It was later razed and is now part of the parking lot behind the present O.E. Bell office building.

When the current campus on South Holmes Avenue opened in 1952, the building on 7th Street became Central Junior High School, which burned down on 24 April 1973.[4] The Civic Auditorium was concurrently constructed by the city in 1952, adjacent to the then-new Idaho Falls High School, and remains a major center for performing arts in the area. The school newspaper is the Tiger Times and the yearbook is The Spud Annual.[5] Paul Haack wrote the school song. "Dear Old I.F. High", in 1927.[6]

The school district added the freshman class to the high schools in August 2012.

## Demographics

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The demographic breakdown of the 1,179 students in 2014–2015 was:

* Male - 47.6%
* Female - 52.4%
* Native American/Alaskan - 0.6%
* Asian/Pacific islanders - 1.3%
* Black - 0.7%
* Hispanic - 18.4%
* White - 75.5%
* Multiracial - 3.5%

33.6% of the students were eligible for free or reduced price lunch.[2]

## Athletics

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Idaho Falls competes in athletics in Idaho High School Activities Association Class 5A. It is currently[when?] a member of the High Country Conference (5A).

### State titles

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Boys

* American football (4): fall (A-1 Div II, now 5A) 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 (official with introduction of playoffs, fall 1979)[7]
* (unofficial poll titles - 0) (poll introduced in 1963, through 1978)
* Cross country (3): fall 1995, 1996, 2002, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023.[8] (introduced in 1964)
* Basketball (9): 1931, 1932, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1988, 2019[9]
* Wrestling (4): 1997, 1998, 2006, 2009[10] (introduced in 1958)
* Baseball (1): 2002[11] (records not kept by IHSAA, state tourney introduced in 1971)
* Track (3): 1927, 1943, 1967[12]
* Golf (2): 1968, 2006[13] (introduced in 1956)
* Tennis (1): 2001[14] (combined team until 2008)

Girls

* Volleyball (6): fall 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011,[15] 2014, 2015 (introduced in 1976)
* Tennis (2): 2011, 2012[14] (combined team until 2008)

Combined

* Tennis (2): 1990, 2001[14] (introduced in 1963, combined until 2008)

## Notable alumni

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* Bethine Clark Church \- wife of Senator Frank Church (attended until mid-senior year, graduated from Boise High School), class of 1941
* D. Worth Clark \- U.S. senator (1939–45) and congressman (1935–39) from Idaho,
* Mike Crapo \- U.S. senator from Idaho (1999–present), class of 1969[16]
* Jared Gold \- fashion designer, appeared on America's Next Top Model
* Gregg Hale \- guitar player for the multi-platinum selling British band Spiritualized, class of 1995.
* Roland Minson \- former basketball player.[17]
* Yo Murphy \- former NFL wide receiver, played integral role for St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV, class of 1989
* Ryan Nelson \- federal judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2018–present), class of 1991
* Thomas Nelson \- federal judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1990–2009), class of 1955
* Todd Pedersen \- entrepreneur who founded Vivint and VivintSolar, class of 1987
* Mel Peterson \- former NBA player[18]
* Brandi Sherwood \- model and actor who became Miss Teen USA, Miss Idaho USA and Miss USA, class of 1989
* Jesse Walters \- former justice of the Idaho Supreme Court, former chief judge of the Idaho Court of Appeals, class of 1957
* Rachel Martin \- journalist and co-host of NPR's Morning Edition, class of 1992

## Gallery

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* Idaho Falls High School

* Idaho Falls High School sign

* Idaho Falls High School side view

* A view of Ravston Stadium- Idaho Falls' home field - in 2013

* Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium

## References

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1. ^ a b c "IDAHO FALLS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
2. ^ a b "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Idaho Falls Senior High School".
3. ^ "History of the Idaho Falls High School", The Idaho Register, 21 December 1906.
4. ^ "Chapter 10. Schools". Idaho Falls - City of Destiny. Bonneville County Heritage Association. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
5. ^ "Tiger Academic Teams", Idaho Falls High School 2005-2006 Student Handbook and Calendar, page 2.
6. ^ "IFHS School Song", Idaho Falls High School 2005-2006 Student Handbook and Calendar, page 3.
7. ^ idhsaa.org Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine \- Idaho high school football - state champions
8. ^ idhsaa.org Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine Cross Country champions through 2011
9. ^ idhsaa.org Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine \- Basketball champions - through 2012
10. ^ idhsaa.org Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine \- Wrestling champions - through 2012
11. ^ "Title slips away from Eagle". Idaho Statesman. May 26, 2002.
12. ^ idhsaa.org Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine \- Track champions - through 2012
13. ^ idhsaa.org Archived 2014-03-21 at the Wayback Machine \- Golf champions - through 2012
14. ^ a b c idhsaa.org Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine \- Tennis champions - through 2012
15. ^ idhsaa.org Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine Soccer & Volleyball champions - through 2011
16. ^ bioguide.congress.gov \- Mike Crapo - U.S. Senator. Retrieved 2 November 2011
17. ^ Goates, Les (June 14, 1947). "Looks Good for US Cleanup in Olympiad". Deseret News. Retrieved October 10, 2013 – via Goofle News.
18. ^ "Mel Peterson Past Stats". Database Basketball. Archived from the original on February 22, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2012.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Idaho Falls High School.

* Official website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI

Geographic|

* NCES