West Ottawa High School

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West Ottawa High School

Address

3685 Butternut Drive

Holland

Michigan

49424

United States

Coordinates| 42°50′08″N 86°09′10″W﻿ / ﻿42.8355°N 86.1527°W﻿ / 42.8355; -86.1527
Information
Type| Public
School district| West Ottawa Public Schools
Superintendent| Tim Bearden
Principal| Kristine Jernigan
Staff| 99.95 (on an FTE basis)
Grades| 9-12
Enrollment| 2,166 (2020-21)
Student to teacher ratio| 21.67
Color(s)|  Black
White
Athletics| MHSAA Class A, D-1
Athletics conference| OK Conference; Red Division
Nickname| Panthers
Rival| Grand Haven High School
Holland High School
Newspaper| The West Ottawan
Yearbook| Icon
Website| School website
Student assessments

2021–22 school
year[1]

Change vs.
prior year[1]

* * *

M-STEP 11th grade proficiency rates
(Science / Social Studies)
Advanced %| 21.9 / 14.9
Proficient %| 21.9 / 34.4
PR. Proficient %| 16.3 / 37.7
Not Proficient %| 39.9 / 13.0
Average test scores
SAT Total| 964.4

( −61.1)

West Ottawa High School is located in Ottawa County, Michigan. It is one of the four high schools in the Holland, Michigan area (along with Holland High School, Holland Christian High School and Black River Public School.)

## History

[edit]

A new section of the high school was constructed and completed in 2005 due to the large student body at the school (about 2,500 students). The current campus now consists of two buildings approximately 500 yards apart. In February 2022, Kristine Jernigan became the first female principal of West Ottawa.[2]

## Academics

[edit]

West Ottawa offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses[3] and an International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in dual-enrollment programs with area colleges. Participating colleges include Davenport University, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Hope College, and Kendall College of Art and Design.[3]

## Arts

[edit]

In 2007, West Ottawa was awarded the Grammy Foundation Signature School. West Ottawa was selected as a nationwide finalist in 2010.[4]

### Band and Orchestra

[edit]

The West Ottawa Band and Orchestra program is divided into three bands (Symphony, Wind Symphony, and Concert) and three orchestras (Concert Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Orchestra).

The West Ottawa Marching Panthers participate in the Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association (MSBOA) District 10 Marching Festival, the area Christmas Parade, Tulip Time Parades, and Memorial Day Parade.

The high school is home to the West Ottawa Percussion Ensemble, which was named best in the state in 2007 and 2008, and was given the opportunity to perform at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival at Western Michigan University.[5]

### Choir

[edit]

Choirs include the Vocalaires, Men Of West Ottawa, West Ottawa Select Women's Ensemble, Bella Voce and Bel Canto.

### Theatre

[edit]

Each year, West Ottawa Theatre presents 3 productions: a large-scale fall musical, a large-scale winter or spring play, and a middle school musical. West Ottawa is Troupe 5081 in the International Thespian Society.

## Athletics

[edit]

The West Ottawa varsity baseball team won the 2003 MHSAA state championship.[6]

The girls swimming team was the MHSAA Division 1 state champion in 2012.[7]

## Demographics

[edit]

The demographic breakdown of the 2,166 students enrolled in 2020-21 was:[8]

* Male - 53.0%
* Female - 47.0%
* Native American - 0.3%
* Asian - 7.8%
* Black - 3.0%
* Hispanic - 37.2%
* Pacific Islander - 0.1%
* White - 46.9%
* Multiracial - 4.8%

In addition, 797 students (36.8%) were eligible for reduced-price or free lunch.

## Notable people

[edit]

* Tony Annese \- head football coach at Ferris State University.
* Margo F. Jonker \- former softball coach, now head coach at Central Michigan University.
* Desmond Morgan \- Linebacker at U of M.
* Rob Renes \- co-captain at U of M, semi-finalist for the Lombardi Award.
* Matt Vanderbeek \- former NFL player.[9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "MI School Data Annual Education Report". MI School Data. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
2. ^ "West Ottawa High School". West Ottawa Public Schools. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
3. ^ a b http://www.westottawa.net/westottawa/files/2012/06/wohs_course_book_20122013.pdf [dead link]
4. ^ Staff reports. "West Ottawa's music department a finalist for national award". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
5. ^ Writer, Staff. "West Ottawa singers have successful day". The Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
6. ^ "Yearly Champions - Baseball - MHSAA Sports". www.mhsaa.com. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
7. ^ "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
8. ^ "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for West Ottawa High School Campus". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
9. ^ "Hall Of Fame". wopanthers.com. Retrieved 12 September 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* West Ottawa High School website
* West Ottawa Public Schools website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI

Geographic|

* NCES