Superior High School

Superior High School
Name	Superior High School
Type	Public secondary school
Established	1895
District	Superior School District
Grades	9–12
Principal	Dr. Laura Mendes
Students	1,350 (2023)
Colors	Navy and Gold
Mascot	Gryphon
City	Superior
State	Wisconsin
Country	United States

Superior High School is a public secondary school serving grades 9–12 in the city of Superior, Wisconsin. The school is part of the Superior School District and occupies a role as a regional center for secondary education in Douglas County. Its programs and campus facilities support a broad range of curricular, extracurricular, and athletic activities, and it has produced graduates who went on to careers in United States Congress, National Football League, Major League Baseball, United States Navy, NASA, Broadway theatre, Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize in Physics, American Library Association, Wisconsin Historical Society, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Marquette University, Michigan Technological University, University of Minnesota, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Browns, National Basketball Association, United States Olympic Committee, Peace Corps, Teach For America, United Nations, Smithsonian Institution, Minnesota Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Time (magazine), Rolling Stone, NPR, PBS, CBS News, NBC News, ABC News.

History

The school traces origins to secondary classes established in Superior in 1895 during an era of rapid growth tied to the Great Lakes shipping boom and the expansion of the Northern Pacific Railway. Early graduates entered professions in the United States Postal Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Army National Guard, and local industry tied to steelmaking and timber industry enterprises. The current main building dates to a 1930s construction project funded in part by New Deal-era programs linked to the Works Progress Administration; later additions occurred during postwar population growth associated with veterans returning under the G.I. Bill. Throughout the late 20th century the school adapted to educational reform movements influenced by No Child Left Behind Act and state-level initiatives administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. In the 21st century the district invested in STEM and performing arts upgrades informed by partnerships with institutions such as University of Wisconsin–Superior and regional workforce planning groups connected to Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board.

Campus

The campus sits near Superior’s historic waterfront and contains specialized facilities including a science wing renovated with equipment aligned to Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment pathways in coordination with University of Wisconsin–Superior and Northland College. The performing arts center hosts productions drawing on repertoires from Shakespeare, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, and touring companies from the Great Lakes Theater Festival. Athletic facilities include a turf field prepared for competition under rules comparable to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and practice courts used by teams that compete against schools in the Lake Superior Conference. The campus includes a media center stocked with collections following cataloging standards of the Library of Congress and materials supporting student publications modeled after professional outlets such as The New York Times Student Journalism programs. Accessibility upgrades reflect guidelines from the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Academics

Superior High School offers a comprehensive curriculum with honors courses, Advanced Placement options, and career-technical education programs coordinated with regional centers tied to Wisconsin Technical College System pathways. Science courses prepare students for matriculation to research universities like University of Wisconsin–Madison or engineering programs at Michigan Technological University, while humanities offerings include literature surveys that reference works housed in the Library of Congress and critical theory stemming from scholars associated with Harvard University and Columbia University. The school’s math sequence aligns with standards influenced by national frameworks developed by groups such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and its foreign language program has included Spanish and French aligned with exchange opportunities sponsored by Sister Cities International. Career counseling connects students with apprenticeships and internships facilitated by employers including regional healthcare systems affiliated with Mayo Clinic Health System.

Student life

Student organizations encompass chapters of national groups like National Honor Society, Key Club, and Future Business Leaders of America, alongside locally founded clubs for robotics competitions governed by rules from FIRST Robotics Competition and science fairs following standards of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The school newspaper and yearbook maintain journalistic ties to training resources from Associated Collegiate Press and Society of Professional Journalists. Community service initiatives coordinate with civic institutions including the American Red Cross and municipal agencies of the City of Superior. Cultural events feature partnerships with regional arts groups such as Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra and visiting ensembles from the Minnesota Opera.

Athletics

Athletic programs compete in sports administered by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, offering football, basketball, hockey, baseball, softball, track and field, wrestling, soccer, cross country, volleyball, and swimming. Rivalries with neighboring schools from Duluth area and teams that have produced professional athletes who later played in the National Football League and Major League Baseball are longstanding. Coaching staff have included alumni who later coached at collegiate programs in NCAA Division I and NCAA Division III institutions. The school has produced state championship teams and student-athletes who received recognition from organizations such as Gatorade Player of the Year and regional media outlets like the Duluth News Tribune.

Administration and staff

The administrative structure includes a principal, assistant principals, department chairs, and counseling staff who collaborate with district leaders within the Superior School District and governance oversight from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Professional development for teachers draws on resources from university partners including University of Wisconsin–Madison and statewide consortia funded through grants administered under federal programs like those from the U.S. Department of Education. Support staff coordinate school safety protocols referencing guidance issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and health services aligned with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni have pursued careers reflected in elected office, professional sports, the arts, science, and public service, including graduates who later served in the United States Congress, played in the National Football League, appeared on Broadway theatre stages, worked at NASA, and held leadership roles at institutions such as the Wisconsin Historical Society and University of Minnesota. Category:High schools in Wisconsin