Copper Hills High School is located in West Jordan, Utah, United States, situated just east of the Oquirrh Mountains in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley near the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine. It is part of the Jordan School District. This modern educational facility opened its doors in the fall of 1995 and has an enrollment of 2,424.
The school operates on a rotating A/B block schedule consisting of 84-minute class periods.
Academics
Copper Hills offers concurrent enrollment classes at the school via Salt Lake Community College. Students attend the college-level classes at Copper Hills for either a quarter, semester, or full year (depending on the class). Credit is received based on overall grade performance and, in most cases, a cumulative exam of the information learned in the class. Additionally, Copper Hills offers nationwide Advanced Placement (AP) classes to its students.
Copper Hills offers clubs and extracurricular activities including American Sign Language, Cheerleading, Chess Club, Dance, Debate, DECA/FBLA, Drama, Future Farmers of America, French Club, Chasms literary magazine, Yearbook, FCCLA, Social Ballroom Dance, Student Government, Band, National Honors Society, Newspaper, Skills USA/VICA, Spanish language Club, Technology Student Association, and Science Club.
Copper Hills has a history of continuously striving to implement and improve programs to best address student needs. Starting in the 2006-2007 school year, the school required students to take "Partner Adults With Students" (PAWS). PAWS was a mandatory 30-minute class taken every Wednesday where students discussed concerns/issues with their teachers, who would provide further instruction on a provided topic.
Starting in the 2007-2008 school year, Copper Hills included five academies within the school: Business and Information Technology, Performing Arts/Crafts, Industry/Mathematics and Science, English/Social Studies, and Athletics. All students were required to choose an academy. The school grouped students of the same academy to take classes geared toward that particular academy.
At one point, Copper Hills was the only high school in the district with a late-start schedule. This modification was created after student surveys revealed that over 80% of students held after-school jobs. Currently, Copper Hills' schedule includes a homeroom class on Mondays and late start on Fridays. In homeroom, students are grouped with others in their same grade, and continue to meet with the same group during their three years at the school (a change made in the 2013-2014 school year). Friday late start schedules allow time for teachers to meet and collaborate across the school and across departments.
Test scores
American College Test (ACT) The ACT includes testing in the areas of Math, Science, Reading and English. Scale scores range from 1 (low) to 36 (high) for each of the four tests and for the composite. The composite score is the average of the four test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.
Advanced Placement Test (AP) Advanced Placement classes are college-level classes offered at the high school campus. Advanced Placement is a national program administered by the College Board. Many colleges and universities around the nation award credit based on scores on AP exams.
Orchestra program
The orchestra is led and conducted by Jenna Baumgart. It has achieved many state titles since 2002.
In the 2006-2007 school year, the Chamber Orchestra attended a tour of San Diego, California, playing Handel's Concerto Grosso 1 as well as Paul Hindemith's Acht Stuke. They achieved superior ratings at the Utah State level competition for orchestras held at Brigham.
Student Government
The Student Government of Copper Hills High is currently advised by Scott Adamson and Rae Boren.
The officer corps is made up of ten Student Body Officers and fifteen Class Officers, elected during April of each year.
Choir program
The Concert Choir and Madrigal choirs are lead and conducted by Marc Taylor, and have attained many region, state, and national titles.
The choral department is one of the largest in the school. It includes the Concert Choir (made up of more than 60 students), Madrigal Choir (made up of 20 to 28 students), Mixed Choir(made up of more than 60 students), Men's Choir and Ladies' Choir.
Athletics
- Region championships
- 1998, boys' basketball
- 2002, baseball
- 2005, girls' cross country
- 2006, girls' cross country
- 2008, girls' golf
- 2009, boys' soccer
- 2010, boys' soccer
- 2011, boys' soccer
- 2012, softball
- 2012, girls' track
- 2012, drill team
- 2013, drill team
- 2013, girls track
- 2014, drill team
- 2015, drill team
- 2015, wrestling
- 2015, boys' track
- 2015, softball
- State championships
- 2000, boys' basketball (5A)
- 2013, drill team
- 2013, softball
- 2013, color guard, AA division
- 2014, drill team
- 2014, color guard, Scholastic Regional A division
- 2015, drill team
- 2016, racquetball
- National championships
- 2010, drill team, 2nd at Nationals
- 2011, drill team, 1st at Nationals
Dance controversy
In 2004, the school adopted a "policy requiring same-sex couples to get parental permission before attending school dances." This prompted a complaint from the ACLU on December 7, 2004. Two weeks later, the school revoked the policy.
Notable alumni
- Kelly Chapman, Class of 1997, 2002 Miss Utah USA, contestant on Fear Factor; reporter with KMAX-TV in Sacramento
- Sealver Siliga, Class of 2008, player in the National Football League, Super Bowl winner
References
External links
- Official website