Decorah High School

Decorah High School is a public high school located in Decorah, Iowa. The school colors are red and royal blue, and the mascot is the Vikings. It is a part of the Decorah Community School District.

Decorah High School
Location
100 Claiborne Drive Decorah, IA 52101 United States
Coordinates	43.3068°N 91.785419°W / 43.3068; -91.785419
Information
Type	Public secondary
School district	Decorah Community School District
Principal	Brad Hurst
Staff	37.82 FTE[1]
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	576 (2022-23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	15.23[1]
Campus type	Rural, fringe
Color(s)	Red and Royal Blue
Athletics conference	Northeast Iowa
Mascot	Vikings
Website	decorah.k12.ia.us/school/decorah-high-school/

In addition to Decorah,^[2] the census-designated place of Burr Oak is in the district boundary, and therefore the high school's attendance area.^[3] Other unincorporated areas in the district include Bluffton, Freeport, Hesper, Highlandville, Locust, and Nordness.^[4]

This map shows the incorporated and unincorporated areas in Winneshiek County, Iowa, highlighting Decorah in red.

History

In 2001 the North Winneshiek Community School District ended its high school program. That year it entered into an agreement with Decorah CSD to allow students from its boundary to attend Decorah High.^[5] Effective July 1, 2018 the North Winneshiek district consolidated into the Decorah district.^[6]

Athletics

Decorah is a founding member of the Northeast Iowa Conference, and participates in the following sports:^[7]

• Cross Country
  • Boys' 15-time State Champions (1957, 1958, 1959, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1990, 1992, 2012)^[8]
  • Girls' 5-time State Champions (1976, 1980, 1982, 2007, 2012)^[9]
• Volleyball
• Football
  • 5-time Class 3A State Champions (1974, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2012)^[10]
• Basketball
• Swimming
• Wrestling
• Track and Field
  • Boys' 2-time Class 3A State Champions (2004, 2012)^[11]
• Soccer
• Tennis
  • Boys' 4-time Class 1A State Champions (1996, 1997, 1998, 2015)^[12]
  • Girls' 5-time Class 1A State Champions (1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003)^[9]
• Golf
  • Boys' 2-time State Champions (1968, 2012)^[13]
  • Girls' 3-time Class 2A State Champions (1981, 1982, 1984)^[9]
• Baseball
  • 3-time State Champions (1970, 1990, 1991)^[14]
• Softball

According to an online database compiled by the Des Moines Register, Decorah has won 46 state championships, which is believed to be sixth most statewide, most among schools classified as 3A or smaller, and more than twice the number of any other conference school.^{[citation needed]}

Decorah has won the Northeast Iowa Conference All-Sports Championship ten times since its creation in the 1976–77 school year.^[15]

Decorah has won the Northeast Iowa Conference Sportsmanship Award eight of the ten years it has been awarded. The award is based on ratings of players, coaches and fans reported to the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union by contest officials.^[16]

Former Decorah baseball coach Dennis Olejniczak has the second most wins of any high school baseball coach in the United States.^[17][18]

Since 2004, the Decorah girls cross country team has been a powerhouse program, appearing in 13 out of 14 State 3A meets (2004-2017) with 12 top-5 finishes and state titles in 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.^[19] The team currently holds the longest consecutive championship streak in the Northeast Iowa Conference with an active streak of 15 consecutive titles.^[20]

Awards

Decorah High School was awarded a National Blue Ribbon School in 2011.^[21]

Decorah has been awarded the Bank Iowa Challenge Cup for the 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012-13 school years.^[22]

Bond issue

The voting population of Decorah approved, in 2010, a referendum on a roughly $20 million bonding bill to pay for a renovation of Decorah High School. It was approved with a 69% public "yes" vote. Changes will include a new gymnasium, completed in the spring of 2012, and a complete renovation of the entire building, including updating and replacing the heating, cooling, electrical and communication systems, repairing the roof, creating a "safe room" for security and safety during severe weather, and restructuring the cafeteria and gym areas.^[23][24]

Notable alumni

• Josey Jewell, American football player^[25]
• Georgann Johnson, actress^{[citation needed]}
• Rob Sand, Iowa State Auditor^[26]

See also

• List of high schools in Iowa

References

1. "Decorah High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
2. "Decorah" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-04-05. Retrieved 2020-04-05. - Boundary prior to the merger with North Winneshiek CSD
3. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Burr Oak CDP, IA" (PDF). 2010 U.S. Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-04-06. - Compare to the map of Decorah CSD.
4. "Comprehensive Plan" (PDF). Winneshiek County. December 2016. p. 91. Retrieved 2020-04-06. - (PDF p. 92/512) - Since Decorah CSD and North Winneshiek CSD are now in the same district, unincorporated places from both are included here.
5. "North Winneshiek Community School History". North Winneshiek Community School District. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
6. "Iowa Educational Directory 2019-2020 School Year" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. p. 175. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-04-05. Retrieved 2020-04-05. (PDF p. 177/186) - From section "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66"
7. "Northeast Iowa Conference". Northeast Iowa Conference. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
8. "2020 IHSAA Cross Country Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
9. "Decorah". Iowa High School Sports. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
10. "Record Book Football 2020 Complete Edition" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
11. "2020 IHSAA Track & Field Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
12. "2020 IHSAA Tennis State Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
13. "2019-2020 Golf Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
14. "2020 IHSAA Baseball State Tournament Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
15. "All-Sport Conference Championships" (PDF). Northeast Iowa Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
16. "Sportsmanship Championships" (PDF). Northeast Iowa Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
17. "Kee's Schultz Owns National Coaching Record - MaxPreps". 5 September 2007.
18. Petaros, Nick. "Decorah baseball coach Dennis Olejniczak, ranked No. 2 in wins, retires after 55 years". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
19. "Rankings & Archives - Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union". Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
20. www.irocwebs.com, Iroc Web Design Services -. "decorahsports.com - Decorah sports NOW! Decorah, Iowa | Decorah girls cross country team keeps the streak alive with their 15th straight NEIC Championship". www.decorahsports.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
21. "Login". decorahhs.sharpschool.net. Archived from the original on 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2014-12-22.
22. "Bank Iowa Traveling Challenge Cup". ihssn.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2014-12-22.
23. "Decorah School District voters approve bond referendum and PPEL renewal". decorahnews.com. September 13, 2010. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
24. "District launches bond issue campaign - Decorah Newspapers". www.decorahnewspapers.com.
25. "Josey Jewell". NFL.com. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
26. https://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2017/11/17857.html ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Decorah Community School District
• Northeast Iowa Conference