Paw Paw High School (Michigan)
School in Paw Paw, Michigan, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paw Paw High School is a public secondary school in Antwerp Township, Michigan, United States. It serves grades 9-12 for Paw Paw Public Schools.
| Paw Paw High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| , 49079 United States | |
| Coordinates | 42°13′16″N 85°51′00″W |
| Information | |
School district | Paw Paw Public Schools |
| Superintendent | Rick Reo[1] |
Principal | Tammy Southworth[1] |
Teaching staff | 36.60 (on an FTE basis)[2] |
| Grades | 9-12[2] |
| Enrollment | 665 (2023-2024)[2] |
Student to teacher ratio | 18.17[2] |
| Colors | Red and white[1] |
Athletics conference | Wolverine Conference[1] |
| Nickname | Red Wolves |
| Website | www |
Academics
Paw Paw ranked 133rd in Michigan and 3,781st nationally in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report annual survey of public high schools.[3] Vocational education classes are available through the Van Buren Technology Center. Students can pursue dual enrollment at either Western Michigan University or Kalamazoo Valley Community College.[4]
Demographics
The demographic breakdown of the 860 students enrolled for the 2022-23 school year was:
- Male - 50.0%
- Female - 50.0%
- Asian - 1.0%
- Black - 1.0%
- Hispanic - 7.0%
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific islanders - N/A
- White - 88.0%
- Multiracial - 3.0%
31.0% of the students were eligible for free and 3.0% were eligible reduced-cost lunch.[2]
Mascot controversy
The mascot used to be the Redskins. The mascot brought much controversy and was heavily criticized by many outside the community.[5] Having voted to retain the mascot in 2017,[6] the school board decided to end the continuing controversy in March 2020 and retire the name at the end of the school year.[7] On July 13, 2020, the school changed its mascot to the "Red Wolves".[8]
Athletics
The Paw Paw Red Wolves compete in the Wolverine Conference. School colors are red and white. The following Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) sanctioned sports are offered:[1]
- Baseball (boys)
- Basketball (girls and boys)
- Bowling (girls and boys)
- Competitive cheerleading (girls)
- Cross country (girls and boys)
- Football (boys)
- Golf (girls and boys)
- Ice hockey (boys)
- Soccer (girls and boys)
- Boys state champion - 1998[9]
- Softball (girls)
- Tennis (girls and boys)
- Track and field (girls and boys)
- Boys state champion - 1934, 1935, 1936, 1947[10]
- Volleyball (girls)
- Wrestling (boys)
Notable alumni
- Susan Kaiser Greenland (1974), author and teacher of mindfulness and meditation[11]
- John Bonamego (1983), football coach for the Iowa State Cyclones[12]
- Jason Babin (2000), former Pro Bowl linebacker and defensive end who played for nine NFL teams[13]
- Karsen Barnhart (2019), offensive tackle for the Michigan Wolverines[14]
