Paw Paw High School is a public secondary school in Antwerp Township, Michigan, United States. It serves grades 9-12 for Paw Paw Public Schools.
Academics
Paw Paw ranked 133rd in Michigan and 3,781st nationally in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report annual survey of public high schools.[3] Vocational education classes are available through the Van Buren Technology Center. Students can pursue dual enrollment at either Western Michigan University or Kalamazoo Valley Community College.[4]
Demographics
The demographic breakdown of the 860 students enrolled for the 2022-23 school year was:
- Male - 50.0%
- Female - 50.0%
- Asian - 1.0%
- Black - 1.0%
- Hispanic - 7.0%
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific islanders - N/A
- White - 88.0%
- Multiracial - 3.0%
31.0% of the students were eligible for free and 3.0% were eligible reduced-cost lunch.[2]
Mascot controversy
The mascot used to be the Redskins. The mascot brought much controversy and was heavily criticized by many outside the community.[5] Having voted to retain the mascot in 2017,[6] the school board decided to end the continuing controversy in March 2020 and retire the name at the end of the school year.[7] On July 13, 2020, the school changed its mascot to the "Red Wolves".[8]
Athletics
The Paw Paw Red Wolves compete in the Wolverine Conference. School colors are red and white. The following Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) sanctioned sports are offered:[1]
- Baseball (boys)
- Basketball (girls and boys)
- Bowling (girls and boys)
- Competitive cheerleading (girls)
- Cross country (girls and boys)
- Football (boys)
- Golf (girls and boys)
- Ice hockey (boys)
- Soccer (girls and boys)
- Boys state champion - 1998[9]
- Softball (girls)
- Tennis (girls and boys)
- Track and field (girls and boys)
- Boys state champion - 1934, 1935, 1936, 1947[10]
- Volleyball (girls)
- Wrestling (boys)
Notable alumni
- Susan Kaiser Greenland (1974), author and teacher of mindfulness and meditation[11]
- John Bonamego (1983), football coach for the Iowa State Cyclones[12]
- Jason Babin (2000), former Pro Bowl linebacker and defensive end who played for nine NFL teams[13]
- Karsen Barnhart (2019), offensive tackle for the Michigan Wolverines[14]
References
- ^ a b c d e "MHSAA > Schools". www.mhsaa.com. Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Paw Paw High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "Paw Paw High School". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Paw Paw High School". www.ppps.org. Paw Paw Public Schools. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ The Hephaestus Brought His Knives to Dinner Edition, February 15, 2017, retrieved January 18, 2023
- ^ Cam Smith (February 9, 2017). "Michigan school keeps Redskins mascot despite vocal opponents". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Miller, Kayla (March 10, 2020). "Michigan school scraps Redskins mascot, citing division". mlive. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Michigan high school changes name from 'Redskins' to 'Red Wolves' after NFL decision". wusa9.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Yearly Champions | Boys Soccer | MHSAA Sports". www.mhsaa.com. Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Team Champions | Boys Track & Field | MHSAA Sports". www.mhsaa.com. Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Kaiser Greenland, Susan (July 9, 2012). "Parenting with the Brain in Mind". HuffPost.
- ^ "John Bonamego - Football Coach". Central Michigan University Athletics.
- ^ "Jason Babin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Karsen Barnhart - Football". University of Michigan Athletics.
External links