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Johnson Senior High School (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Encyclopedia
Johnson Senior High School is a comprehensive high school for grades 9
to 12
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
, USA. Originally named Cleveland High School, the school was renamed after Minnesota governor John A. Johnson
in 1911. Johnson is the second oldest high school in the Saint Paul Public Schools
district and is only surpassed in age by Central High School
. The school has operated in three different buildings since 1897, all located on the East Side of Saint Paul.
Johnson is the third largest high school in the district and enrolls 1647 students. The school offers Advanced Placement classes as well as the University of Minnesota-affiliated College in the Schools
program. In 2002 the school received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
which led to the introduction of eight Small Learning Communities.
Johnson offers over 40 extracurricular clubs and organizations including an Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFJROTC) unit, one of only three in the state. The school was a founding member and currently competes in the Saint Paul City Conference
. The school's hockey team has had success, winning four state titles, but in the last decade has suffered from low participation.
Johnson High School was established in 1897, making it the second oldest high school in the Saint Paul Public Schools district and the oldest on the East Side of Saint Paul, Minnesota
. The school was originally named Cleveland High School, after the U.S. President Grover Cleveland
, although some sources state the school was named after Horace Cleveland
, a local landscape architect.
In 1910, increasing enrollment and overcrowding led to the construction of a second school building at 740 York Ave. The school was renamed John A. Johnson High School in honor of the recently deceased Minnesota governor John Albert Johnson
(18611909). Students attended class at the second location from 1911 to 1963.
By 1959, overcrowding as a result of the post-World War II baby boom
forced the construction of a third school building. Land was purchased in 1960 at the former site of Hastings Pond, which had been filled in during construction of Interstate 94
through Saint Paul, and the building was completed at a cost of $3,663,529.78. Johnson High School has been located at the third school building since the fall of 1963.
In 2002, Johnson received $1.1 million in grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education. Johnson used the money to create eight smaller learning communities
for the 2003–2004 school year. In the first five years the graduation rate at Johnson increased 19% with state-required 10th grade
reading and writing tests also seeing double digit increases. The money from the grants ran out before the 2006–2007 school year. Currently, there are eight smaller learning communities within the school. All students start in the Freshmen FOCUS Academy and then choose one of seven other academies for the remainder of the their high school career based on their interests. Beginning with the class of 2006, graduating seniors are required to engage in the Senior Project, a program designed for students to showcase the skills they have developed during their stay at Johnson and as a practice for building a résumé or portfolio when applying for jobs.
Johnson athletic programs competed in class AAAA of the Minnesota State High School League
, until the 2007-08 school year, when the school was moved to class AAA. The school was a founding member of the Saint Paul City Conference
in 1898 when the school was still Cleveland High School.
The Governors have won the Saint Paul City Conference title for football
13 times, their last conference title coming in 2006. Johnson's chief rival is Harding Senior High School
, and the two football squads play each other annually for the Hatchet trophy. The rivalry is the oldest continuous one in the Saint Paul City Conference with the teams meeting each year since 1932.
In 2010, the Governors won their first boy's basketball state title, beating out Grand Rapids High School
and capping off an undefeated season. Johnson made another state tournament appearance in 2006, but lost in the semi-finals to eventual state AAAA champion Hopkins
.
tournament for the first 25 years. Herb Brooks
, who coached the Miracle on Ice
gold medal winning team, played on the school's 1955 state championship winning team. Brooks' number five jersey was retired following his death in 2003. During the 1950s students shoveled off parts of Lake Phalen
because there were no enclosed ice arenas. Most of the bantam hockey team players from the East Side attend either Johnson or Hill-Murray School
. During the 1950s and 1960s Johnson was considered a feeder school for the University of Minnesota's ice hockey team
. Recently the school's teams have suffered from lack of enrollment in the sports teams. Johnson is along with Como Park the only Saint Paul City Conference school to field a hockey team.
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
to 12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, USA. Originally named Cleveland High School, the school was renamed after Minnesota governor John A. Johnson
John Albert Johnson
This is an article about the former Minnesota governor. For the former Minnesota legislator and speaker of the house, see John A. Johnson.John Albert Johnson was an American politician. He served in the Minnesota State Senate from January 1897 to January 1901...
in 1911. Johnson is the second oldest high school in the Saint Paul Public Schools
Saint Paul Public Schools
Saint Paul Public Schools is a school district that covers all of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota.Saint Paul supports a robust network of publicly-funded primary and secondary schools....
district and is only surpassed in age by Central High School
Central High School (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
Central High School of Saint Paul, is the oldest high school in the state of Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1866 in downtown Saint Paul, Central has educated many leaders in business, government, literature, arts, sciences, and education throughout the state of Minnesota and the United States...
. The school has operated in three different buildings since 1897, all located on the East Side of Saint Paul.
Johnson is the third largest high school in the district and enrolls 1647 students. The school offers Advanced Placement classes as well as the University of Minnesota-affiliated College in the Schools
College in the Schools
College in the Schools is an educational program for high school students run by the University of Minnesota. It allows students to take college level classes in their high school and, as a result, earn college and high school credit for free. The classes are taught by high school teachers who...
program. In 2002 the school received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. It is "driven by the interests and passions of the Gates family"...
which led to the introduction of eight Small Learning Communities.
Johnson offers over 40 extracurricular clubs and organizations including an Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFJROTC) unit, one of only three in the state. The school was a founding member and currently competes in the Saint Paul City Conference
Saint Paul City Conference
The Saint Paul City Conference is the conference for seven high schools in the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Much like the divisions in professional sports, the Saint Paul City Conference is one of many in the state that divides schools in close proximity into different conferences. It is the...
. The school's hockey team has had success, winning four state titles, but in the last decade has suffered from low participation.
History
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. The school was originally named Cleveland High School, after the U.S. President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
, although some sources state the school was named after Horace Cleveland
Horace Cleveland
Horace William Shaler Cleveland was a noted American landscape architect, sometimes considered second only to Frederick Law Olmsted...
, a local landscape architect.
In 1910, increasing enrollment and overcrowding led to the construction of a second school building at 740 York Ave. The school was renamed John A. Johnson High School in honor of the recently deceased Minnesota governor John Albert Johnson
John Albert Johnson
This is an article about the former Minnesota governor. For the former Minnesota legislator and speaker of the house, see John A. Johnson.John Albert Johnson was an American politician. He served in the Minnesota State Senate from January 1897 to January 1901...
(18611909). Students attended class at the second location from 1911 to 1963.
By 1959, overcrowding as a result of the post-World War II baby boom
Post-World War II baby boom
The end of World War II brought a baby boom to many countries, especially Western ones. There is some disagreement as to the precise beginning and ending dates of the post-war baby boom, but it is most often agreed to begin in the years immediately after the war, ending more than a decade later;...
forced the construction of a third school building. Land was purchased in 1960 at the former site of Hastings Pond, which had been filled in during construction of Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
through Saint Paul, and the building was completed at a cost of $3,663,529.78. Johnson High School has been located at the third school building since the fall of 1963.
Enrollment
Students are able to enroll from throughout the city, however most students live on the East Side. Johnson is the third largest high school in the Saint Paul Public Schools district with 1647 students attending in the 2006–2007 school year. The plurality of students identified as Asian, with 31%, while students identifying as Black and White composed 29% and 26% of the student body respectively. Finally 12% of students identified as Hispanic and 2% American Indian. 76% qualified for Free or Reduced Price Lunch and 36% of students had limited English Proficiency.Education
Johnson participates in the Advanced Placement (AP) program, offering college-level courses in twelve subject areas. Students can also earn college credit through College in the Schools (CIS) classes offered by the University of Minnesota, and Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) classes at area colleges and universities. Language classes in Spanish and French are offered.In 2002, Johnson received $1.1 million in grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education. Johnson used the money to create eight smaller learning communities
Small Learning Community
A Small Learning Community , also referred to as a School-Within-A-School, is a form of school structure that is increasingly common in secondary schools to subdivide large school populations into smaller, autonomous groups of students and teachers....
for the 2003–2004 school year. In the first five years the graduation rate at Johnson increased 19% with state-required 10th grade
Tenth grade
In majority of the world,Tenth grade is the tenth year of school post-kindergarten. The variants of "10th grade" in various nations is described below.-Australia:...
reading and writing tests also seeing double digit increases. The money from the grants ran out before the 2006–2007 school year. Currently, there are eight smaller learning communities within the school. All students start in the Freshmen FOCUS Academy and then choose one of seven other academies for the remainder of the their high school career based on their interests. Beginning with the class of 2006, graduating seniors are required to engage in the Senior Project, a program designed for students to showcase the skills they have developed during their stay at Johnson and as a practice for building a résumé or portfolio when applying for jobs.
Athletics
Minnesota State High School League
The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, non-profit association for the support and governance of interscholastic activities at high schools in Minnesota, United States. The association supports interscholastic athletics and fine arts programs for member schools...
, until the 2007-08 school year, when the school was moved to class AAA. The school was a founding member of the Saint Paul City Conference
Saint Paul City Conference
The Saint Paul City Conference is the conference for seven high schools in the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Much like the divisions in professional sports, the Saint Paul City Conference is one of many in the state that divides schools in close proximity into different conferences. It is the...
in 1898 when the school was still Cleveland High School.
The Governors have won the Saint Paul City Conference title for football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
13 times, their last conference title coming in 2006. Johnson's chief rival is Harding Senior High School
Harding Senior High School (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Harding Senior High School is a public comprehensive high school located on the East Side of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school is one of six high schools in the Saint Paul Public School District and is the largest high school in the city of Saint Paul with enrollment at approximately 2400...
, and the two football squads play each other annually for the Hatchet trophy. The rivalry is the oldest continuous one in the Saint Paul City Conference with the teams meeting each year since 1932.
In 2010, the Governors won their first boy's basketball state title, beating out Grand Rapids High School
Grand Rapids High School
Grand Rapids High School is a four year public high school located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota on 800 Conifer Drive. GRHS offers a wide range of extra curricular activities, and boasts one of the only competitive field show marching band programs north of Minneapolis/St...
and capping off an undefeated season. Johnson made another state tournament appearance in 2006, but lost in the semi-finals to eventual state AAAA champion Hopkins
Hopkins High School
Hopkins High School is a public high school located in Minnetonka, Minnesota, a southwestern suburb of Minneapolis. It offers classes for grades 10, 11, and 12. Hopkins High School is part of the Hopkins School District 270 and draws students from the city of Hopkins, central and eastern parts of...
.
Hockey
Johnson also has a history of success in ice hockey including four State Championships (1947, 1953, 1955, 1963), three second-place finishes, and three third-place finishes in 22 State Tournament appearances. Johnson was the only Twin Cities high school to win the Minnesota high school boys hockeyMinnesota high school boys hockey
The Minnesota High School Boys Hockey program is a high school ice hockey program in the State of Minnesota. Based on tournament attendance, ice hockey is the most popular high school sport in the state...
tournament for the first 25 years. Herb Brooks
Herb Brooks
Herbert Paul Brooks, Jr. was an American ice hockey player and coach. He notably coached the United States' men's hockey team to a 4-3 upset of the heavily favored Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York on February 22, 1980...
, who coached the Miracle on Ice
Miracle on Ice
The "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
gold medal winning team, played on the school's 1955 state championship winning team. Brooks' number five jersey was retired following his death in 2003. During the 1950s students shoveled off parts of Lake Phalen
Lake Phalen
Lake Phalen is an urban lake located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and in its suburb of Maplewood. It is one of the largest lakes in Saint Paul and is the centerpiece of the Phalen Regional Park System. The lake drains into the Mississippi River after traveling through Phalen Creek...
because there were no enclosed ice arenas. Most of the bantam hockey team players from the East Side attend either Johnson or Hill-Murray School
Hill-Murray School
Hill-Murray School is a coeducational private Catholic school serving grades 7-12. It is located on a site in Maplewood, Minnesota, a suburb of Saint Paul. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, it was established in 1971 through the consolidation of Archbishop...
. During the 1950s and 1960s Johnson was considered a feeder school for the University of Minnesota's ice hockey team
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. They are members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey...
. Recently the school's teams have suffered from lack of enrollment in the sports teams. Johnson is along with Como Park the only Saint Paul City Conference school to field a hockey team.
Clubs and organizations
Johnson's literary magazine the Gleam was first published in 1912 but stopped publishing in 1926. In 1992 the magazine began again to help students improve scores on writing tests. The current literary annual is titled the "Mirror." Johnson is one of only three high schools in Minnesota to have an Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFJROTC). There are over 40 extracurricular clubs or organizations for students.- 3M Step
- Academy of Finance
- Admission Possible
- Band
- Choir
- Color Guard/AFJROTC
- Debate
- Drill Team/AFJROTC
- Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual Transgender (GLBT) Support Group
- Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA)
- Educational Talent Search
- Flag Detail/AFJROTC
- Fresh Force, Service Learning,
- and Leadership Program
- Habitat for Humanity
- Hip Hop Dance Club (HDC)
- Indian Education Program
- Jazz Band
- Johnson Asian Culture Club (JACC)
- Johnson Mirror (Arts Magazine)
- Junior Class Board
- Latino Culture Club
- Link Crew
- Marching Band
- Mathematics Team
- Multicultural Excellence Program (MEP)
- Musical
- National History Day
- National Honor Society
- Newspaper
- Pep Band
- Pit Orchestra
- Orchestra
- Ordway Honors Concert
- Rocket-Model Club/AFJROTC
- Theater/Drama
- Speech
- Solo/Ensemble Contest
- Son Seekers
- Stage/Tech Crew
- Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
- Student Council
- Teen Parent Support Group
- Upward BoundUpward BoundUpward Bound is a federally funded educational program within the United States. The program is one of a cluster of programs referred to as TRIO, all of which owe their existence to the federal Higher Education Act of 1965. Upward Bound programs are implemented and monitored by the United States...
- Yearbook
- Youth Leadership Initiative
Reunions
- The class of 1960 will have their 50th reunion in late August or early September, 2010. See the reunion website for more details.
- The class of 1987 has an official Web site. Planning for the next reunion will be announced at Govies '87 as well as on Facebook.
- The class of 1999 will have their 10 year reunion on August 29th, 2009. Find the JHS 1999 group on Facebook or email governor1999 at yahoo.com for more info!
- The class of 1990 will have their 20 year reunion on September 22, 2010. Find out details on Facebook.
Notable alumni
- Wendell AndersonWendell AndersonWendell Richard "Wendy" Anderson is an American politician and was the 33rd Governor of Minnesota from January 4, 1971 to December 29, 1976. In late 1976, he resigned the governor's office in order to be named U.S. Senator to replace Walter Mondale, who had been elected Vice President of the...
, former Minnesota Governor and Olympic Medalist - Les AugeLes AugeLester Alexander Auge was an American ice hockey defenseman who appeared in a total of 6 National Hockey League regular season games with the Colorado Rockies in 1980–81 but spent most of his career in the minor leagues. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota...
, hockey player - Alana BlahoskiAlana BlahoskiAlana Blahoski is an American ice hockey player. She won a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics.-External links:*...
, Olympic Gold medalist in hockey - Herb BrooksHerb BrooksHerbert Paul Brooks, Jr. was an American ice hockey player and coach. He notably coached the United States' men's hockey team to a 4-3 upset of the heavily favored Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York on February 22, 1980...
, hockey coach of the "Miracle on IceMiracle on IceThe "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
" gold medal winning U.S. Olympic hockey team - Warren E. BurgerWarren E. BurgerWarren Earl Burger was the 15th Chief Justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986. Although Burger had conservative leanings, the U.S...
, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1969 to 1986. - Jim Hau, hockey player
- Amy PetersonAmy PetersonAmy Peterson is an American short track speed skater. Peterson competed in five consecutive Olympic games from when short track speed skating was exhibition sport in 1988 to 2002....
, three time Olympic medalist - Warren StrelowWarren StrelowWarren A. Strelow was a hockey goaltending coach. He coached goaltending for the United States Olympic Ice Hockey Team during the 1980 Miracle on Ice, and also coached for the New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League.Current NHL goaltenders that...
, ice hockey goal tending coach - Arnold Sundgaard, playwright
- Louie AndersonLouie AndersonLouie Perry Anderson is an American stand-up comedian. Anderson created the cartoon series Life with Louie, has written three books, and was the initial host of the second revival of the game show Family Feud, from 1999 to 2002....
, comedian and actor - Barry TallacksonBarry TallacksonBarry Tallackson is an American ice hockey forward who plays for the Eisbären Berlin of the DEL.-Playing career:...
, hockey player - Ray HitchcockRay HitchcockRaebern Brooks Hitchcock Jr is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Minnesota and attended Saint Paul Johnson High School.He currently serves as the offensive line coach at...
, professional football player, formerly for the Washington Redskins. - Thomas TapehThomas TapehThomas Teah Tapeh is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
, professional football player, formerly for the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. - Bruce VentoBruce VentoBruce Frank Vento was an American politician, a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 until his death in 2000...
, U.S. Congressman - Eric Langness, Republican politician, formerly for the Forest Lake Area Schools board member.