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Altoona High School is a public high school located in Altoona, Wisconsin. It serves students in grades 9 through 12 and is the only high school in the Altoona School District.

History

Although elementary education had been provided for Altoona residents since the late nineteenth century, a public high school was not opened until October 1913. The original building burned down in 1951, and a successful February 1952 referendum authorized a new building, which opened in October of that year. A 1981 referendum to address overcrowding by building a new high school failed, but a 1986 referendum for a new building passed.

Demographics

The school's student population is 86 percent white, five percent Hispanic, two percent Asian, and two percent black. Four percent of students identify as a part of two or more races. 28 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Academics

Advanced Placement classes are offered at Altoona; just under half of students take an AP class.

Athletics

AHS athletic teams are known as the Railroaders and compete in the Cloverbelt Conference. In the fall of 2019, a new sports complex with artificial turf opened, housing contests for the football, soccer, and track and field. The football field is named after former Green Bay Packers player Fuzzy Thurston, a graduate of the school.

Performing arts

Altoona High has a competitive show choir. The group was originally named "Northland Singers", but is now known as "Locomotion". At times, the school also had a jayvee-level group, "Enginuity". The school has hosted its own competition, "Locopalooza", annually since 2000.

Notable alumni

• Leonard Haas, former chancellor of University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
• Tod Ohnstad, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• Fuzzy Thurston, Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame member

References

1. ^ "Altoona High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
2. Hagen, Gerald A. (1987). A History of Altoona. Altoona, Wis.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
3. "Altoona High School Student Body". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
4. "Altoona High School Test Scores". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
5. "Cloverbelt Conference Member Schools". Cloverbelt Conference. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
6. Pautsch, Mary (August 30, 2019). "Altoona High School unveils new sports complex". WQOW. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
7. Junewicz, Nikki (January 29, 2015). "Altoona honors Packers legend "Fuzzy" Thurston with his own week". City of Altoona. WEAU. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
8. "State Team Championships". Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
9. "SCC: Viewing School - Altoona High School". Show Choir Community. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
10. Clark, Judy (January 21, 2020). "NOON INTERVIEW: Locopalooza Show Choir Competition". WEAU. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
11. "Graduates of Altoona High School from 1915 through 1940". USGenWeb Archives. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
12. "Representative Tod Ohnstad". Wisconsin State Legislature. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
13. "Fred "Fuzzy" Thurston". Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 14, 2020.

• High schools in Wisconsin
• 1913 establishments in Wisconsin
• Educational institutions established in 1913
• Schools in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin