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Merrimack High School

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Coordinates: 42°51′39″N 71°29′53″W / 42.86083°N 71.49806°W / 42.86083; -71.49806
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This article is about the public high school in Merrimack, New Hampshire. For the high school in Penacook, New Hampshire, see Merrimack Valley High School.
Merrimack High School
Merrimack High School
Location
Map
38 McElwain Street
Merrimack, New Hampshire

United States
Coordinates42°51′39″N 71°29′53″W / 42.86083°N 71.49806°W / 42.86083; -71.49806
Information
TypePublic
MottoBelieve, Go Forward, and Inspire
School districtMerrimack School District
PrincipalStephen Claire
Faculty98.80 (on FTE basis)[1]
Grades9 to 12
Enrollment1,200 (2017-18)[2]
Student to teacher ratio12.15[1]
Color(s)Royal blue and white
    [4]
MascotTomahawk [3]
NicknameTomahawks[4]
Websitewww.sau26.org/Domain/250

Merrimack High School (MHS) is the public secondary school of the town of Merrimack, New Hampshire.[5] It is located in a central area of town on 38 McElwain Street. About 1,200 students from grades 9 through 12 are enrolled in the school.[6] It is a part of the Merrimack School District.

The school is headed by Sharon E. Putney, the current principal, who has two assistant principals, Richard Zampieri and Peter Bergeron.[5] Former principal Kenneth W. Johnson adopted the motto "Believe, go forward, and inspire" for the school.

History

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In the 1995-1996 school year, the district enacted a policy against talking about LGBT issues, called "Prohibition of Alternative Lifestyle Instruction."[7] The policy affected how teachers at Merrimack High taught about literary figures; as of May 1996 the school district had not placed measures against teachers related to this policy.[8] The school board ended the policy effective the 1996-1997 school year.[9]

Academics

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NE-CAP results from the 11th grade class at MHS showed that 64% of the students were proficient in reading, 33% were proficient in writing, and 27% were proficient in math, giving it a "GreatSchools" rating of 4 out of 10.[10] In 2018, 271 students participated in the SAT exams and averaged scores of 530 on the reading/writing portion and 520 on the math portion.[11] Furthermore, about 85% of graduates attended a college, 10% went straight to employment, and about 4% joined the armed forces, leaving 1% undecided of the 286 graduates.[11]

Extracurricular activities

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Merrimack High School offers a variety of clubs and activities for the students to participate in.

Athletics

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The athletics teams from Merrimack High School are called the "Tomahawks",[5] which are sometimes nicknamed the "Hawks". The school colors are royal blue and white. The school has teams for basketball, baseball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and wrestling.[12][13]

Non-competitive athletic extracurricular activities include archery, hiking/outdoors, and ski/snowboard club.[13]

Artistic activities

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Artistic extracurricular activities include marching/concert band, jazz band, chorus, dance, photography, videography, ceramics/sculpture, drawing/painting, broadcast, and theater.[13] The MHS videography department is notable for its yearly student-run spoof productions, such as "Matrix High School" and "Star Sports".

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities

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STEM activities include FIRST Robotics Competition team,[14] math team, Science Olympiad[13]

Student engagement and academic extracurricular activities

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Student engagement and academic extracurricular activities include Academy of Finance, environmental awareness, financial literacy, games (separate video and non- video games club), Gay-Straight alliance, health club, Interact club, Merrimack Mentors, Model UN, newspaper, Quiz Bowl, and the National Art Honors Society chapter #2538.[15][13]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Merrimack High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 2019-12-29. "Total Students: 1,200 (2017-2018)"
  2. ^ "Merrimack High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  3. ^ "Mascot". Merrimack School District SAU26. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Merrimack High School". New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  5. ^ a b c "Schools". Merrimack School District SAU26. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  6. ^ "Search for Public Schools". National Center For education Statistics.
  7. ^ "School District Anti-Gay Policy Splits N.H. Town". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 1996-03-17. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  8. ^ Sanchez, Rene (1996-05-11). "EDUCATORS UNDER PRESSURE ON GAY ISSUES". Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  9. ^ "Controversial 'alternative lifestyle instruction' policy repealed". Student Press Law Center. 1996-08-01. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  10. ^ "Merrimack High School". GreatSchools.org. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  11. ^ a b "Guidance Department School Profile" (PDF). Merrimack High School. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  12. ^ "Teams and Schedules". Merrimack High School. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Clubs/Activities". Merrimack High School.
  14. ^ "Chop Shop". Merrimack High School Robotics. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  15. ^ "National Art Honor Society Chapter 2538". Retrieved November 20, 2018.
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