Perry Meridian High School
Encyclopedia
Perry Meridian High School is a high school
located at 400 W. Meridian School Road in Indianapolis
, Indiana, 46217, on the far southside of the city. It is one of two public high schools serving grades nine through twelve in the Perry Township, along with Southport High School
. Enrollment count, submitted to the Indiana Department of Education for the 2009-10 school year, was 2,250.
Perry Meridian High School is part of the Metropolitan School District of Perry Township
.
The school colors are Navy Blue
, Carolina Blue
and Silver
. The school mascot is the Falcon. The school mission statement is the acronym ACHIEVE for Accountability, Character, Honor, Integrity, Effort, Volunteer, Excellence.
Instead of Homecoming, Perry held Forthcoming in its first year, as there were no alumni to return to the school. Prom was held in the foyer. Students had a six-period day and, because of the emphasis on involvement, a homeroom for clubs and activities. period scheduling was introduced in the 1990s, but ended after the 2009-10 school year because of budget constraints.
in her classroom against the principal's instructions not to do so. Because of the racial slurs and sexual content in the book, the principal instructed Heermann to wait for the book to be approved by the school board.Ms. Heermann sent permissions slips home with her students and used the book in her lessons despite the principal's wishes. The school board contended that Heermann did not properly follow the rules to receive permission to use the book.http://www.wibc.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=87478 The school library also maintains a copy of this book on its shelves.http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/06/29/tuchman.in.banned.book.cnn
, as well as club and intramural teams. The Falcons have produced a handful of notable athletes. Katie Douglas
graduated from Perry Meridian in 1997. She is a member of the Indiana Fever
of the WNBA. She was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006 WNBA All-Star Game.
Andre Owens
graduated from PMHS in 2000. He played for the Utah Jazz
of the NBA for one season. Before the 2006-2007 season, he signed with the Golden State Warriors
, although he did not play in a regular season game. On July 3, 2007, Owens signed with the hometown Indiana Pacers
. He now plays for Red Star Belgrade.
Secondary education in the United States
In most jurisdictions, secondary education in the United States refers to the last six or seven years of statutory formal education. Secondary education is generally split between junior high school or middle school, usually beginning with sixth or seventh grade , and high school, beginning with...
located at 400 W. Meridian School Road in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana, 46217, on the far southside of the city. It is one of two public high schools serving grades nine through twelve in the Perry Township, along with Southport High School
Southport High School
Southport High School is a high school located at 971 East Banta Road in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Located in Perry Township, on the south side of the city, Southport is a part of the Metropolitan School District of Perry Township....
. Enrollment count, submitted to the Indiana Department of Education for the 2009-10 school year, was 2,250.
Perry Meridian High School is part of the Metropolitan School District of Perry Township
Metropolitan School District of Perry Township
The Metropolitan School District of Perry Township serves Perry Township, Marion County, Indiana, United States, a southern part of the city of Indianapolis.-Elementary Schools:*Homecroft Elementary*Southport Elementary*Douglas MacArthur Elementary...
.
The school colors are Navy Blue
Navy blue
Navy blue is a very dark shade of the color blue which almost appears as black. Navy blue got its name from the dark blue worn by officers in the British Royal Navy since 1748 and subsequently adopted by other navies around the world....
, Carolina Blue
Carolina blue
Carolina blue is the shade of blue used as one of the official school colors of the University of North Carolina. The name is derived from the popular usage of "Carolina" to refer to the university...
and Silver
Silver (color)
Silver is the metallic shade resembling gray, closest to that of polished silver.The visual sensation usually associated with the metal silver is its metallic shine. This cannot be reproduced by a simple solid color, because the shiny effect is due to the material's brightness varying with the...
. The school mascot is the Falcon. The school mission statement is the acronym ACHIEVE for Accountability, Character, Honor, Integrity, Effort, Volunteer, Excellence.
History
Perry Meridian opened its doors in the fall of 1973 under principal James Head. Students and teachers came from Southport High School, which previously was the only high school in Perry Township. Perry Meridian only enrolled grades 9-11 during its first year. Southport students picked the school colors and mascot for Perry during the 1972-73 school year. Options included: the Cobras, the Pirates, and the Falcons.Instead of Homecoming, Perry held Forthcoming in its first year, as there were no alumni to return to the school. Prom was held in the foyer. Students had a six-period day and, because of the emphasis on involvement, a homeroom for clubs and activities. period scheduling was introduced in the 1990s, but ended after the 2009-10 school year because of budget constraints.
Freedom Writers Controversy
On March 24, 2008, an English teacher at the high school, Connie Heermann, was suspended for a year-and-a-half without pay for using the book The Freedom Writers DiaryThe Freedom Writers Diary
The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them is a non-fiction 1999 book written by The Freedom Writers, a group of students from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, and their teacher Erin Gruwell. It is the...
in her classroom against the principal's instructions not to do so. Because of the racial slurs and sexual content in the book, the principal instructed Heermann to wait for the book to be approved by the school board.Ms. Heermann sent permissions slips home with her students and used the book in her lessons despite the principal's wishes. The school board contended that Heermann did not properly follow the rules to receive permission to use the book.http://www.wibc.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=87478 The school library also maintains a copy of this book on its shelves.http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/06/29/tuchman.in.banned.book.cnn
Athletics
Perry Meridian High School has 20 varsity sports teamsVarsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
, as well as club and intramural teams. The Falcons have produced a handful of notable athletes. Katie Douglas
Katie Douglas
Kathryn Elizabeth “Katie” Douglas is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA...
graduated from Perry Meridian in 1997. She is a member of the Indiana Fever
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
of the WNBA. She was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006 WNBA All-Star Game.
Andre Owens
Andre Owens
Andre Owens is an American professional basketball player.A 6'4" guard, he played competitively at Perry Meridian High School where he was an Indiana All-Star in his senior season. Owens attended Indiana University and then transferred to the University of Houston...
graduated from PMHS in 2000. He played for the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA for one season. Before the 2006-2007 season, he signed with the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, although he did not play in a regular season game. On July 3, 2007, Owens signed with the hometown Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. He now plays for Red Star Belgrade.
Extracurriculars
Perry Meridian offers a multitude of clubs and activities. They include- Ambassador Corps
- African American Club
- Art Club
- Best Buddies
- Blue Crew Spirit Club
- Bowling Team
- Brain GameBrain Game (Indiana)The Brain Game is a weekly quiz bowl show for high school students that airs on NBC-affiliate WTHR-13 in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is currently broadcast at 7 pm on Saturdays, and the host is WTHR lead meteorologist Chris Wright. It is sponsored by Westfield Insurance, which also sponsors four...
- Creative Writing Club
- Cyber Blue Robotics (FIRSTFirstFirst or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one.First or 1st may also refer to:* First , minor summit below the Schwarzhorn in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland* First , mountain in Bernese Alps in Switzerland...
) - Drama (Musicals and Plays)
- FADD (Falcons Against Destructive Decisions)
- Falcon Foundation
- FalconTV (Morning Announcements)
- Fellowship of Christian AthletesFellowship of Christian AthletesThe Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
(FCA) - FOCUS Newspaper
- International Thespian SocietyInternational Thespian SocietyThe International Thespian Society is an honorary organization for high-school and middle-school theatre students located at more than 3,600 affiliated secondary schools across the United States, Canada, and abroad. The International Thespian Society was founded in Fairmont, West Virginia...
- Jazz Band
- Key ClubKey ClubKey Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
- Link Crew
- Marching BandMarching bandMarching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
- Math League
- National Honor SocietyNational Honor SocietyThe National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
- Pep Band
- Schools for SchoolsSchools for SchoolsSchools for Schools is a fundraising program created by the nonprofit Invisible Children Inc. The goal of the program is to have students and schools in the western world creatively compete to raise money and rebuild schools in northern Uganda, a region whose education standards and facilities have...
- Service Learning
- Show Choir
- Speech Team (National Forensic LeagueNational Forensic LeagueThe National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
and Indiana High School Forensic Association) - String Orchestra & Full Orchestra
- Student Council
- Super Scrabble Society
- Tri-M
- Winter Drumline
- World Languages Club
Notable alumni
- Katie DouglasKatie DouglasKathryn Elizabeth “Katie” Douglas is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA...
- WNBA basketball player, Indiana Fever - Andre OwensAndre OwensAndre Owens is an American professional basketball player.A 6'4" guard, he played competitively at Perry Meridian High School where he was an Indiana All-Star in his senior season. Owens attended Indiana University and then transferred to the University of Houston...
- NBA basketball player, Indiana Pacers - Andy HillenburgAndy HillenburgAndy Hillenburg is an American race car driver, team owner and track owner. He began his racing career at age 11, when he competed in the Indianapolis soap box derby. He currently owns Fast Track Racing Enterprises, a racing team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA...
- World of Outlaws Sprint car driver and Indy 500 participant - John BarkerJohn BarkerJohn Barker may refer to:John Barker South African film maker*John Barker , Old Etonian logician*Sir John Barker, 4th Baronet , English MP for Ipswich*John Barker John Barker may refer to:John Barker (South Africa) (born 1968) South African film maker*John Barker (scholar) (fl. c. 1471–1482),...
- Former professional wrestler, writer of "The Dead Cell" on Arcana Comics - Mike NeuMike NeuMike Neu is a former head coach in the Arena Football League for the New Orleans VooDoo. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and attend high school at Perry Meridian High School...
- Former CFL quarterback, arena football coach - Greg WilsonGreg WilsonGreg Wilson is a DJ and producer associated with both the early 80’s electro scene in Manchester, and the current disco / re-edit scene, for which he’s acquired a global following...
- Actor and casting director, Georgia Rule (2007) - Claire Buffie - Miss New York 2010