Forest Hills Central High School

Forest Hills Central High School
Address
5901 Hall St SE

Grand Rapids
,
Michigan
49546

United States
Coordinates 42°56′37″N 85°31′22″W
Information
Type Public high school
Established 1958 (first graduating class 1961)
Principal Steve Passinault
Teaching staff 55.82 (on an FTE basis)
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 1,225 (2017-18)
Student to teacher ratio 21.95
Campus type Suburban
Color(s) Forest Green, White and Black
Athletics conference Ottawa-Kent Conference White Division
Nickname Rangers
Website www.fhps.net/high-schools/central

Forest Hills Central High School is located in Ada Township, Michigan, near Grand Rapids. It is one of three high schools in the Forest Hills Public Schools system. The district also includes Forest Hills Eastern High School (FHE) and Forest Hills Northern High School (FHN).

History

Forest Hills Central High School (originally "Forest Hills High School") became the first high school of the newly formed Forest Hills School District in the fall of 1958. The doors opened in September with only freshman and sophomore students. The first graduating class was 1961.

The school was memorable for its campus style construction consisting eventually of thirteen separate buildings, including an auditorium added in 1977. The classroom buildings were long hallways, which connected five or six individual rooms. Michigan winters were not amenable to the open campus and the constant walks outside from building to building. In addition, the student population continued to grow, and the buildings began to quickly deteriorate. In 1986, Central High was completely rebuilt with the exception of the auditorium, the gymnasium, the cafeteria, and the art/industrial arts wing, all of which were incorporated into one new building. Since that time, the school has undergone numerous building and remodeling projects.

In 2009, the building underwent a multimillion-dollar construction project that included a new weight room, student and staff parking lots, main office renovation, athletic field entrance, athletic office, classrooms, and a new gym entrance and foyer. Also added to the new gym entrance were heated sidewalks. In 2010, the auditorium was remodeled.

Demographics

The demographic breakdown of the 1,315 students enrolled in 2015-16 was:

GENDER

  • Male - 49.0%
  • Female - 51.0%

ETHNIC BACKGROUND

  • Native American/Alaskan - 0.3%
  • Asian - 6.2%
  • Black - 2.5%
  • Hispanic - 1.7%
  • White - 85.6%
  • Multiracial - 3.7%

7.1% of the students were eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch.

Athletics

Forest Hills Central's athletic teams compete under the "Rangers" mascot. Most teams compete in the Ottawa-Kent Conference White division. Forest Hills Central offers the following varsity sports:

Boys' sports

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Cross-country
  • Football – 1994, 2022 state runner-up Division 2, 2023 Champions Division 3
  • Golf – 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2010 state runner-up, 2009, 2011 state champions
  • Hockey
  • Lacrosse – 2007 was the first year of competition separate from Forest Hills Northern. Prior to that, the two schools fielded a combined team. 1990 state champions, 2008 runners-up. 2010 Division II State Champions. 2012 Division II State Champions 2013 Division II state runners-up. 2016 State Champions, 2018 Runner Up State Champions, 2019 State Champions, 2022 State Champions, 2023 State Champions.
  • Skiing – 1996 state champions
  • Rowing — 2022 JV4+ SRAA Nationals 3rd place medalist, 2023 Varsity 4+ SRAA Nationals 3rd place medalist
  • Soccer – 2004, 2015 state champions
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis – 1998, 2003, 2014, 2015 state champions; 2001, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2016 runner-up
  • Wrestling

Girls' sports

  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Cross-country
  • Competitive cheer
  • Field hockey
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Lacrosse
  • Rowing – 2022 JV8+ SRAA Nationals 7th place finisher
  • Skiing – 2017 state champions
  • Soccer – 2005, 2007, 2008, 2017, 2022 state champions; 2003 runner-up
  • Softball
  • Swimming and diving – 1993, 1994 state champions, 1995, 2007 runner-up
  • Tennis – 1985, 2023 state runner-up
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball – 1986, 1987 state runner-up
  • Water polo
  • Wrestling – 2020 state champions

Weekend education

The Grand Rapids Supplemental School (グランドラピッズ補習授業校 Gurando Rappizu Hoshū Jugyō Kō), a part-time Japanese school, holds its classes at the high school.

Notable alumni

In popular culture

In the film American Pie, the "Central Chicks" and "Central" Lacrosse team that East Great Falls High School plays against is an amalgam of Forest Hills Central High School. East Great Falls, in turn, is based off the nearby East Grand Rapids High School.