Portage Northern High School
| Portage Northern High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
1000 Idaho Ave. , 49024-1233 | |
| Coordinates | 42°14′04″N 85°36′03″W / 42.2345°N 85.6007°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public |
| Founded | 1965 |
| School district | Portage Public Schools |
| Superintendent | Johnny Edwards [1] |
| Principal | Tre Lowder [2] |
| Teaching staff | 60.27 (FTE)[3] |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 1,235 (2023-24)[3] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 20.99[3] |
| Language | English |
| Area | Urban |
| Color(s) | |
| Mascot | Huskies |
| Website | Portage Northern High School |
| Student assessments | |
|---|---|
2021–22 school year[4] Change vs. prior year[4] | |
| M-STEP 11th grade proficiency rates (Science / Social Studies) | |
| Advanced % | 21.9 / 12.5 |
| Proficient % | 24.0 / 27.8 |
| PR. Proficient % | 13.9 / 44.4 |
| Not Proficient % | 40.3 / 15.3 |
| Average test scores | |
| SAT Total | 1034.7 (  −21.1) |
Portage Northern High School is a high school in Portage, Michigan. Northern High School serves 1,235 students from ninth through twelfth grades.[3] In addition to meeting the regular education needs of students living in the PNHS attendance area, the school also houses several special education programs that address the needs of students throughout the Portage district. In addition, Northern is one of nine Michigan high schools currently authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, a rigorous curriculum for grades 11 and 12 that focuses on globalism and interdisciplinary study.[5]
History
Portage Northern was built in 1965 to accommodate overcrowding at Portage Central High School, the school's crosstown rival. In 2007, Portage voters approved a bond issue that funded major renovations at Portage Northern as well as an entirely new Central High School.[6] The renovations concluded in 2011.
Student activities
Arts
Portage Northern has an arts program with a band, choir, orchestra and visual arts program.
Athletics
Portage Northern High School has numerous Varsity and club teams, including: American football, soccer, baseball, softball, swimming, diving, marching band, tennis, golf, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse, cross country running, track, competitive cheerleading, hockey, gymnastics, and water polo. Portage Northern competes in the west division of the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference.[7]
Notable alumni
- Keegan Bach, record producer, songwriter, and producer[8]
- Brandon Bye, member of the New England Revolution, part of Major League Soccer[9]
- Steve Carra, member of the Michigan House of Representatives [10]
- Andrew Evans, competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in the discus throw event[11]
- Timothy Granaderos, model and actor known for 13 Reasons Why[12]
- Tommy Henry, Major League Baseball player[13]
- Nick Keizer, NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs[14]
- Scott Oudsema, professional tennis player[15]
- Leon Roberts, Major League Baseball player[16]
- Matthew A. Scogin, president of Hope College in Holland, Michigan[17]
- Max Schuemann, Major League Baseball player[18]
References
- ^ "PPS BOARD NAMES NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO LEAD THE DISTRICT." Portage Public Schools, Portage Public Schools, 29 May 2025, www.portageps.org/article/2241183.
- ^ https://www.portageps.org/o/nhs/staff/
- ^ a b c d [1]
- ^ a b "MI School Data Annual Education Report". MI School Data. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "Portage Northern - About PNHS". Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
- ^ "Portage Public Schools - Bond Project Updates". Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2007.
- ^ Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference
- ^ Marshall, Dana MarshallDana (December 4, 2023). "Portage Northern High School Graduate Lands on Forbes 30 Under 30". 103.3 WKFR. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ "Official Site of Western Michigan Athletics". wmubroncos.com.
- ^ Kriss, Will. "Southwest Michigan leaders sworn in as State Representatives". COOL FM | WQXC & WFAT | Battle Creek & Kalamazoo, MI. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ Edwards, Lauren (August 4, 2016). "Portage native competing in Rio Olympics". FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI). Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ "Tim Granaderos - Men's Soccer". Michigan State University Athletics. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ "Tommy Henry - Baseball". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ Fagan, Liam. "Huskie alumni Nick Keizer set to play in Super Bowl LV". The Northern Light. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ Greviskes, Amber (March 1, 2006). "Pro circuit gets younger". The Daily Illini. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ Yoder, Roger (February 15, 2022). Detroit Tigers: Michigan's Favorite Sports Team. Gatekeeper Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-6629-1527-7. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ PR, Hope (February 19, 2001). "Scogin Named Truman Finalist". Hope College. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ "Max Schuemann's High School Bio". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved August 6, 2025.