Maconaquah High School

Maconaquah High School
250px Brave Pride
Address
256 East 800 South Bunker Hill, Indiana 46914 United States
Coordinates
Information
School type	Public high school
Established	July 1, 1962
School district	Maconaquah School Corporation
Principal	Chad Carlson
Faculty	35.50 (on FTE basis)
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	654 (2013-14)
Student to teacher ratio	18.42
Campus type	Rural
Color(s)	Red, White and Columbia blue
Athletics	IHSAA
Athletics conference	Mid-Indiana Conference
Nickname	Braves
Website	mhs.maconaquah.k12.in.us
The front entrances to Maconaquah High School

Maconaquah High School is located at 256 E 800 South, just outside the city limits of Bunker Hill, Indiana. The building houses grades 9–12 and functions as the primary athletic building. It is the only high school in the Maconaquah School Corporation.

History

On July 1, 1962, Maconaquah School Corporation was formed by consolidating two high schools (Clay and Bunker Hill) in southern Miami County, Indiana. The corporation is named after Frances Slocum, who was captured as a child by Delaware Indians in 1778 from her Pennsylvania home. She grew up with the Miami tribe and married a Miami Indian Chief. She lived in the area near Peru, Indiana, and became known as "Little Bear Woman" or Maconaquah. She is buried in a state historical site near the corporation boundaries.

Maconaquah class of 1964 attended classes in the old Bunker Hill High School. The current high school facility, located approximately 2 miles from Bunker Hill, Indiana, proper, held its first classes in August 1965. The following year the building proper was finished and the class of 1966 was the first to attend in MHS. Three years later, the Industrial Arts/Agriculture Wing was added on, allowing students to gain insight into different trades and career paths. In 1977, the Fine Arts Wing was added, expanding the school, with the additions including a 900+ seat auditorium with a full scene shop, a band room, a choral chamber, a green room, a black-box theater (later converted into a television studio), as well as numerous classrooms. The most recent addition is the remodeling of the Science and Business Department in 2005: The science laboratories were updated, and an additional lab was built. The building has two multi-purpose computer labs, CAD lab, accounting lab, Cisco Network Academy, and a graphic arts lab. Each teacher has a room computer with access to Internet, Web and various programs. Teachers also have access to video, digital cameras, VCR, laser disc, film strip, CD-Rom, still video, 35mm slides, 16mm film, satellite TV, in-house TV, and voice mail. The high school continues to serve constituents of six townships in southern Miami County (population: approximately 36,000). The district includes a farming community and nine small towns or communities and includes Grissom Air Reserve Base.

Demographics

The demographic breakdown of the 654 students enrolled in 2013-14 was:

• Male - 49.7%
• Female - 50.3%
• Native American/Alaskan - 1.1%
• Asian/Pacific islanders - 1.1%
• Black - 1.2%
• Hispanic - 1.8%
• White - 90.2%
• Multiracial - 4.6%

45.0% of the students were eligible for free or reduced lunch.

Academics

Maconaquah High School (MHS) is accredited by the Indiana Department of Public Instruction.

Band Program

File:Maconaquahband.png

Maconaquah Band Logo.

The Marching Braves compete at a Class C level in Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) competitions. The (ISSMA) is the governing body of Indiana state marching band competition. Maconaquah has qualified for the ISSMA State Finals 19 times since the organization's inception in 1981.

Prior to ISSMA's formation, Maconaquah competed in the Northern Indiana School Band, Orchestra, and Vocal Association (NISBOVA) and All-State Band circuits beginning in 1971. In NISBOVA competition, the Marching Braves competed in class B, winning the class B championship in 1978.

Performing Arts

A full performing arts curriculum is offered including Music History & Appreciation, Music Theory and Composition, Advanced Concert Band, Advanced Chorus, Intermediate Chorus, Vocal Jazz, Theatre Arts, Technical Theatre, and Dance Performance: Ballet, Modern, Ethnic-Folk. The Maconaquah Performing Arts Center includes a 900+ seat auditorium and scene shop, choral chamber, green room, and television studio/black box theatre. The full-time Performing Arts faculty includes two band directors, one choral director, and one theatre/television teacher.

Speech and Debate

The forensics (speech) team has three Indiana High School Forensic Association (IHSFA) Class A State Championships, in 2002, 2003, and 2008, and has qualified for the National Forensic League (NFL)'s National Tournament 47 times as of 2008.

Athletics

The Maconaquah Braves compete in the Mid-Indiana Conference. The school colors are red, white and Columbia blue. The following IHSAA sanctioned sports are offered:

• Baseball (boys)
• Basketball (girls & boys)
• Cross country (girls & boys)
• Football (boys)
• Golf (girls & boys)
• Soccer (girls & boys)
• Softball (girls)
• Swimming (girls & boys)
• Tennis (girls & boys)
• Track (girls & boys)
• Volleyball (girls)
• Wrestling (boys)

Notable alumni

• Betsy Bobel, Miss Indiana
• Bridget Bobel, Miss Indiana USA for 2006
• Mike Otto, 2007 NFL Draft Selection of the Tennessee Titans
• Tavis Smiley, American author, political commentator and talk show host