Saugatuck Public Schools

Saugatuck High School

Saugatuck High School is a small 9th - 12th grade school with many large school opportunities for students. Our experienced staff members are dedicated to providing students with excellent course offerings and delivery. With a focus on using differentiated instruction techniques in the classroom and tailoring instruction to student learning styles, SHS faculty create a rigorous, personalized academic experience for each student.

Core courses in English, mathematics, science, and social studies provide a strong foundation for all students. Saugatuck High School also offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in English, and history and Dual Enrollment opportunities in Spanish, English, and Art. Other advanced level courses in math, science, and technology are offered to students who meet the prerequisites listed in the SHS Course Description Guide. These offerings give high achieving students the challenge they need to excel academically.

In addition to rigorous core academic challenge, we believe enrichment courses in art, technology, physical education, health, music, drama, band, industrial education, and foreign language give students the experiences necessary to become creative, well-rounded adults. We also believe these elective courses allow students the opportunity to explore, develop their talents, and grow as individuals. SHS enrichment programs have been recognized numerous times and staff and students have received several awards for both program innovation and student achievement.

At Saugatuck High School, we believe all students will go on to some form of higher education after graduation. As a way of ensuring our students will be successful, our staff began teaching The Code and attainment process in 2006 to all students. The Code was introduced by Dr. Richard Elmore, a professor and researcher at Harvard's School of Education, and includes an expectation of higher learning for all students as well as the need for teaching the intangibles of how to be successful in school. With this in mind, our staff arranges yearly field trips to colleges and universities for all students. Our 8th graders spend a day at a technical university, freshman visit a small school, sophomores visit a large university, and juniors and seniors visit the college of their choice with a parent or staff member.

To ensure that all of our students will be successful at the next level of learning, our school assists students with both academic planning and college planning. Each year, our high school guidance counselor meets with all students and their families to plan for the next year's coursework. When students are ready to start planning for college, our high school counselor and our college planning counselor are available to assist students and parents with questions about requirements for individual college admissions, financial aid, and college readiness planning.

Saugatuck High School offers an exceptional competitive athletic program. With support from an active athletic boosters group, student athletes have the opportunity to excel in multiple sports throughout the school year. Fall junior varsity and varsity sports include football, volleyball, soccer, track, and cross-country. Winter sports include junior varsity and varsity boys' basketball, girls' basketball, and competitive weightlifting. In the spring, SHS offers junior varsity and varsity golf, track and field, baseball and softball.

In addition, SHS students have a wide range of choices for enrichment opportunities. Academic clubs like quiz bowl, play production, book clubs, Destination Imagination, Spanish Club, Art Club, Model United Nations, 24-hour Insomnia Film Festival, Student Council, and Youth and Government allow students the opportunity to collaborate with others who have similar interests. Summer and school year enrichment planning and interventions for academic acceleration are supported by our district curriculum and g/t coordinator.

Saugatuck athletic and academic teams win yearly awards for excellence. Our girls' volleyball team has been the Michigan High School Athletic Association district champion for the past two years, our boys' basketball team has been the MHSAA district champion for the past three years, our varsity baseball team was the MHSAA district champion last year, the golf team was the state champion in 2007 and placed second in the state in 2008, and our cross-country team has sent students to the state finals for 7 years in a row. In addition, the SHS quiz bowl team placed first in the SAC regional competition for the past two years. Our high school Destination Imagination team placed second in the regional DI tournament last year as well.

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