Chanhassen High School

Chanhassen High School
Address
2200 Lyman Blvd.
Chanhassen, Minnesota
USA
Coordinates 44°50′37″N 93°34′47″W / 44.843619°N 93.579854°W / 44.843619; -93.579854Coordinates: 44°50′37″N 93°34′47″W / 44.843619°N 93.579854°W / 44.843619; -93.579854
Information
Type Public high school
Established 2009
School district Eastern Carver County Schools
Principal Timothy Dorway
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 1612
Color(s) Navy Blue, Wu-Tang Gold, & White
            [1]
Mascot Thunder
Rival Chaska
Yearbook Tempest
Website

Chanhassen High School (CNS) is a public high school located in Chanhassen, Minnesota, a southwestern suburb of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. CNS has a grade 9–12 school program.[2] Construction of the school was approved by voters in 2006 in response to rapidly growing enrollment in Carver County and overcrowding at Chaska High School, the district's other high school. Chanhassen had an enrollment of 1,576 students during the 2014-15 school year, with an 18:1 student teacher ratio.[3] There are 82 teachers at the school, and more than 80 percent of them have a master's degree or higher.[4] The student body makeup is 52 percent male and 48 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 9 percent.[3] The stated mission of Chanhassen is "to prepare each learner for successful completion of a post-secondary educational program, life-long learning, career opportunities, and meaningful contributions as a citizen of a local and global community by providing personalized, rigorous, and relevant learning experiences." [5]

History

As a result of steady population increases in Carver County, Chaska High School's enrollment surpassed its building's designed capacity, with future growth in the school district expected. As a result, voters approved a referendum in 2006 to provide funding for a new high school. The vote was very close, a matter of 2% of the population. Opponents of the bond referendum claimed the school district did not provide support that it looked into other ideas for the district beyond building a new high school and the district did not take into consideration other options they may have had (using buildings in other ways).[6] The school has had five graduating classes as of 2015. During its inaugural year the school did not have a senior class.

Academics

In the five years the school has been open Chanhassen has excelled in academics, already ranking in the top 3% of high schools nationwide.[7] Chanhassen offers 25 different Advanced Placement courses and in 2015 had a “Challenge Index” of 2.570, which means that about more than two AP exams were taken across the school for every member of the most recent graduating class.[8]

The administration at Chanhassen has received wide stemming accolades for their commitment to "personalized learning", they will stay small in size yet continue to offer college preparatory courses and comprehensive curricula.[9] Students choose electives from four Areas of Interest designed to offer depth in an area of particular relevant for emerging passions and interests.

Theses Areas of Interest are:

Within each area, students select a Program of Study to deepen and focus learning in specific paths. The selection becomes the basis for a Capstone Course, which is a graduation requirement.

Athletics

Chanhassen's athletic teams competed in the Lake Conference of the Minnesota State High School League for their first year as a school. They joined the Missota Conference in 2010–2011. As of the 2014-2015 school year, Chanhassen High School has joined a new conference, Metro West Conference that the district 112 school, Chaska High School, and Chanhassen started. Both district 112 high schools were co-conference champions for football in the conference's inaugural year.[10]

In the spring of 2015 the Chanhassen Baseball Team finished the season with a 26-4 record and the Class 3AAA MSHSL State Championship.[11]

Music

The Chanhassen Marching Band performing at the Chanhassen Fourth of July Parade

Chanhassen has three concert bands including Concert Band, Varsity Band, and Symphonic Winds. Chanhassen has a string orchestra directed by Kate Kowalkowski. Chanhassen has a marching band that has participated in the Chanhassen Homecoming Parade and Steamboat Days Parade in Carver, Minnesota annually since the establishment of the school. Along with that, Chanhassen has three jazz bands, and a pit orchestra. Paul Swanson directs all of these ensembles. In February 2016, Chanhassen's top jazz band, Jazz 1, also known as the Monday Night Big Band, performed at the prestigious Minnesota Music Educators Association Mid-Winter clinic. Later in April 2016, the band received a Superior rating and the "Best in Site" award at the Region 2AA Jazz Contest.[12]

Along with multiple bands, Chanhassen High School also has a choral department of over 260 student and 8 choirs. These choirs include Concert Choir, Bel Canto, Vivace, the 9th Grade Women's Chorale, Men's Choral, Chamber Singers, and Vox.[13] It also has one choir, "Men Who Sing", known for their less than traditional performances.

Alternative Learning Program

Chanhassen High School used to house Chaska High School's Alternative Learning Program (ALP); the supervisor of this program was Pat Ames through the 2010–2011 school year. This program has been moved to the Peavy Road building. This program is designed to help students who are in need of a different learning environment find success. Students have smaller classes and additional support structures so that guided learning is more available to each individual.

Security

Chanhassen High School has one of the most advanced and modern security systems for schools today. In 2013 the Eastern Carver County school district passed a referendum that put 1.8 million dollars towards renovating entryways for security, adding security cameras, creating key-less entries for employees, and installing electronic visitor systems in all of the schools in the district.[14] This referendum created a very safe environment for the students in Chanhassen High School.

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Relerford, Patrice (2008-01-05). "Growing, yes, but at a slower pace". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  3. 1 2 "Chanhassen High School in CHANHASSEN, MN | Student Body | US News". www.usnews.com. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  4. ↑ "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Chanhassen High School". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  5. ↑ "Chanhassen High School: Mission Statement". Edline. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  6. ↑ Carver County (2006-11-08). "2006 General Elections - School District Referendum Question's - Unofficial Results". Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  7. ↑ "National Schools - The Washington Post". apps.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  8. ↑ "Chanhassen High School: CNHS Named 18th Most Challenging High School in Minnesota". Edline. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  9. 1 2 Dorway, Timothy. "Chan High Profile" (PDF). Chanhassen High. Retrieved 2/18/16. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  10. ↑ Relerford, Patrice (2008-06-04). "West metro school briefs". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  11. ↑ "Chanhassen Beats Lakeville North 2-0 to Claim 3A Baseball Championship". KSTP.com. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  12. ↑ "CNHS's spring jazz concert is May 20". SWNewsMedia.com. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  13. ↑ http://cns.district112.org/pages/112CNS/Academics/Music/Director_Bio
  14. ↑ "2013 Referendum" (PDF). Eastern Carver County Schools. 10/10/13. Retrieved 4/7/15. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)

External links

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