High Point High School

{{About||the high school in North Carolina which had this name|High Point Central High School|the high school in New Jersey|High Point Regional High School}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}  {{Infobox school | name = High Point High School | logo = HighPointHSMDlogo.png | image = High Point High School sign building Beltsville MD 2022-07-14 16-30-22.jpg | type = Public high school | address = 3601 Powder Mill Road | city = Beltsville | state = Maryland | zipcode = 20705 | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|39|2|33|N|76|56|38|W|display=inline,title}} | established = 1954 | grades = 9-12 | enrollment = 2,972 | enrollment_as_of = 2025-2026 | teaching_staff = 138.20 (FTE) | ratio = 17.55 | principal = Miguel Chacon | nickname = Eagles | colors = Blue and Gold | district = Prince George's County Public Schools | superintendent = Dr. Shawn Joseph | website = {{URL|https://www.pgcps.org/highpoint/}} | footnotes = <ref name="ed.gov">{{cite web|url=http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?ID=240051001059|title=Search for Public Schools - School Detail for High Point High|work=ed.gov|access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref> }}

'''High Point High School''' (HPHS) is a public high school located in Beltsville, an unincorporated section of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The school, serving children in grades 9 through 12, is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district system.

It is outside Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) and in proximity to Interstate 95.<ref name=Tippitmagnet>{{cite news|author=Tippit, Sarah|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1987/05/28/languages-may-become-magnet-for-high-point/3aaf258b-c77b-4029-9b7d-9497aca456a8/|title=LANGUAGES MAY BECOME 'MAGNET' FOR HIGH POINT|newspaper=Washington Post|date=1987-05-28|access-date=2018-01-30}}</ref>

Opened in fall 1954,<ref name=Knepperp109>Knepper, Cathy D. ''Greenbelt, Maryland: A Living Legacy of the New Deal''. JHU Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0801864909}}, 9780801864902. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YRvfDQFa4d0C&pg=PA109 109].</ref> High Point High School was originally going to be named Cherry Hill High School.{{citation needed|date=August 2016|reason=}} However, school officials eventually settled on the name "High Point High School" because of the school's location on what residents believed to be the highest point in the county.<ref name=Janesfootball>{{cite news|author=Janes, Chelsea|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/recruiting-insider/wp/2013/09/20/high-point-football-beginning-long-climb-back-to-the-top/|title=High Point football beginning long climb back to the top|newspaper=Washington Post|date=2013-09-20|access-date=2018-01-30|quote=According to local lore and {{sic|i|t's}} name, the school and the fenced-in, fully lighted-football field adjacent to it, sit at the highest point in Prince George's County.}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|The highest point in Prince George's County is located about {{convert|3|mi|km}} north along Brooklyn Bridge road in Hillsborough<ref>[http://arcg.is/2E2JHhS Beltsville 7.5' Topographic map (1979)], United States Geological Survey</ref>}} Upon its opening High Point High began serving Greenbelt, and the former Greenbelt High School became Greenbelt Junior High School. By the late 1950s High Point used a "split class" system as it was over capacity.<ref name=Knepperp109/> Greenbelt is now served by Eleanor Roosevelt High School, which was scheduled to open in fall 1976.<ref name=Knepperp149>Knepper, Cathy D. ''Greenbelt, Maryland: A Living Legacy of the New Deal''. JHU Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0801864909}}, 9780801864902. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YRvfDQFa4d0C&pg=PA149 149].</ref>

High Point received the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement in 2004. High Point was ranked #1,361 on Newsweek's Top 1500 Public High Schools in America, in 2010. U.S. News & World Report named High Point a Silver Medal School in 2010.

In 2014, the district's board agreed to do a feasibility study on building a new school building.<ref>{{cite news|author=Wiggins, Ovetta|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/prince-georges-boe-accepts-feasibility-study-for-new-high-point-high-school/2014/06/16/19c90a6e-f592-11e3-8aa9-dad2ec039789_story.html|title=Prince George's BOE accepts feasibility study for new High Point High School|newspaper=Washington Post|date=2014-06-16|access-date=2018-01-30}}</ref> By 2017, the existing building had 2,700 students when it was designed for around 2,100 students.<ref>{{cite web|author=Keyes, Candace Rojo|url=http://www.thesentinel.com/pgs/news/local/item/4077-pgcps-looks-for-short-term-solutions-to-high-point-overcrowding|title=PGCPS looks for short-term solutions to High Point overcrowding |publisher=The Prince George's Sentinel|date=2017-09-20|access-date=2018-01-30}}</ref>

==Demographics== The demographic breakdown of the 2,972 students enrolled for the 2025–2026 school year was: *Gender: **Male - 53.3% **Female - 46.7% *Ethnicity: **Asian/Pacific Islanders - 3.1% **Black - 13% **Hispanic - 83% **White - 0.9% **Other - 0.3%

65% of the students qualified for free or reduced lunch. This is a Title I school.<ref name="ed.gov"/> Around 292 students in High Point High are multilingual.

As of 2006, many residents of northern PG County are of Hispanic and Latino ancestry, contributing to a large enrollment of Hispanic and Latino students at High Point High.<ref>{{cite news|author=Anderson, Nick|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/12/AR2006041201156.html|title=High Point, Northwestern Students Stage Mass Protests|newspaper=Washington Post|date=2006-04-13|access-date=2018-01-30|quote=Several hundred students at High Point High School in Beltsville[...]Most of the demonstrators were Hispanic, a reflection of the high Latino population in the county's northern sector.}}</ref> In 2016 Sandra Jimenez, the principal at the time, described the school as a "Central American Ellis Island" in an interview with ''NPR''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Anderson, Nick|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/01/17/463405722/attendance-drops-at-maryland-high-school-as-deportation-fears-rise|title=Attendance Drops At Maryland High School, As Deportation Fears Rise|publisher=NPR|date=2016-01-17|access-date=2018-01-30}}</ref>

Communities within the school's attendance zone include:<ref>"[http://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20High.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD HIGH SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2017-2018]." Prince George's County Public Schools. Retrieved on January 31, 2018.</ref> the unincorporated census designated places (CDP) of Adelphi,<ref>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2400400_adelphi/DC10BLK_P2400400_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Adelphi CDP, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on January 31, 2018.</ref> Beltsville,<ref>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_000.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Beltsville CDP, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on January 31, 2018. Pages: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_001.pdf 1], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_002.pdf 2], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_003.pdf 3]</ref> and Langley Park,<ref name=LPmap>"[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2445525_langley_park/DC10BLK_P2445525_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Langley Park CDP, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on January 31, 2018.</ref> and portions of the CDPs of Chillum and Konterra,<ref>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2416875_chillum/DC10BLK_P2416875_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Chillum CDP, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on January 31, 2018.</ref><ref name=Konterramap>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2444715_konterra/DC10BLK_P2444715_000.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Konterra CDP, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 26, 2018. Pages: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2444715_konterra/DC10BLK_P2444715_001.pdf 1], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2444715_konterra/DC10BLK_P2444715_002.pdf 2], and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2444715_konterra/DC10BLK_P2444715_003.pdf 3].</ref> as well as the sections of Calverton and Hillandale CDPs in PG County.<ref>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2412350_calverton/DC10BLK_P2412350_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Calverton CDP, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on January 31, 2018.</ref><ref>"[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2438850_hillandale/DC10BLK_P2438850_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Hillandale CDP, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 2, 2018.</ref> Also within the boundary is a portion of the City of College Park.<ref>"[http://www.collegeparkmd.gov/document_center/District_BIG_WALL_MAP_2009d_36x48_July_2013.pdf District_BIG_WALL_MAP_2009d_36x48_July_2013.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222113557/http://www.collegeparkmd.gov/document_center/District_BIG_WALL_MAP_2009d_36x48_July_2013.pdf |date=2016-12-22 }}." City of College Park. Retrieved on January 31, 2018. See also: [http://www.collegeparkmd.gov/programs_and_initiatives/livesmart/local_schools.php City's listing of area schools] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131200944/http://www.collegeparkmd.gov/programs_and_initiatives/livesmart/local_schools.php |date=2018-01-31 }}, [http://www.collegeparkmd.gov/new_programs_and_initiatives/livesmart/neighborhoods_map.php neighborhood map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131200946/http://www.collegeparkmd.gov/new_programs_and_initiatives/livesmart/neighborhoods_map.php |date=2018-01-31 }}</ref> Scott, et al. stated in a 2014 paper published by think tank The Urban Institute that, as of March 2013, 23% of High Point students came from Langley Park.<ref>Scott, Molly M., Graham MacDonald, and Juan Collazos (The Urban Institute); Ben Levinger (Prince George's County Public Schools); Eliza Leighton and Jamila Ball (CASA de Maryland). "[https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/22711/413164-from-cradle-to-career-the-multiple-challenges-facing-immigrant-families-in-langley-park-promise-neighborhood.pdf From Cradle to Career: The Multiple Challenges Facing Immigrant Families in Langley Park Promise Neighborhood]." The Urban Institute, June 23, 2014. [https://www.urban.org/research/publication/cradle-career-multiple-challenges-facing-immigrant-families-langley-park-promise-neighborhood Abstract]. CITED: p. 22/88. See footnote of page 20 on how the think tank identified Langley Park students.</ref>

==Academics== In 1987, the largest English as a second language (ESOL) program in the school district was in High Point High; this program began in 1969, and the school in 1987 had the largest population of students originating from outside the United States of any PG County high school.<ref name=Tippitmagnet/> {{as of|2018}}, the ESOL program includes ESOL 1–3, Advanced Critical Reading, AIM, Language of American History, Language of Math, and Language of Science classes.<ref>"[http://www1.pgcps.org/highpoint/PB_highpoint.aspx?pageid=251314&id=77302 ESOL Department]." High Point High School. Retrieved on January 30, 2017.</ref>

In 1987, it had classes in six foreign languages, and the school district was considering making High Point a magnet school for foreign languages. That year it received 200% of the number of requests for transferring into the school that each other PG County high school got.<ref name=Tippitmagnet/>

==Student discipline== A paper in 2014 by Scott et al. stated that High Point students, compared to students of other high schools in the district, "have a less positive perception of school safety and discipline".<ref>Scott, Molly M., Graham MacDonald, and Juan Collazos (The Urban Institute); Ben Levinger (Prince George's County Public Schools); Eliza Leighton and Jamila Ball (CASA de Maryland). "[https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/22711/413164-from-cradle-to-career-the-multiple-challenges-facing-immigrant-families-in-langley-park-promise-neighborhood.pdf From Cradle to Career: The Multiple Challenges Facing Immigrant Families in Langley Park Promise Neighborhood]." The Urban Institute, June 23, 2014. [https://www.urban.org/research/publication/cradle-career-multiple-challenges-facing-immigrant-families-langley-park-promise-neighborhood Abstract]. CITED: p. 50/88.</ref>

In the 2011–12 school year, 36% of 9th grade students from Langley Park, who attended High Point, did not go to school for at least 20 days per school year compared to 29% district average for 9th graders and 10% district average for 7th and 8th graders; the Langley Park 7th and 8th graders truancy rate was the same as the district average. Scott, et al. stated that a possible reason was that start time of High Point was the same as that of Buck Lodge Middle School even though the high school's distance from Langley Park was {{convert|4|mi|km}} longer than that of the middle school.<ref>Scott, Molly M., Graham MacDonald, and Juan Collazos (The Urban Institute); Ben Levinger (Prince George's County Public Schools); Eliza Leighton and Jamila Ball (CASA de Maryland). "[https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/22711/413164-from-cradle-to-career-the-multiple-challenges-facing-immigrant-families-in-langley-park-promise-neighborhood.pdf From Cradle to Career: The Multiple Challenges Facing Immigrant Families in Langley Park Promise Neighborhood]." The Urban Institute, June 23, 2014. [https://www.urban.org/research/publication/cradle-career-multiple-challenges-facing-immigrant-families-langley-park-promise-neighborhood Abstract]. CITED: p. 53/88.</ref>

During the period of Michael Brooks as principal, some parents, guardians and students stated that his responses to incidents of fighting and truant students were insufficient. In 2011, the district placed the assistant principal, as an interim principal after a video of a fight at the school appeared on YouTube.<ref>{{cite news|author=Robert Samuels|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/08/AR2011030805371.html|title=Prince George's replaces High Point High principal after attack is shown on YouTube|newspaper=Washington Post|date=2011-03-08|access-date=2018-01-30}}</ref>

==Athletics== High Point High has an American football team. In 2013, Chelsea Janes of ''The Washington Post'' stated it had been "a long time since" the team had performed strongly, but that it was regaining its power.<ref name=Janesfootball/> The school also fields boys' and girls' soccer teams, as well as smaller teams for volleyball, track, basketball and baseball.

==Notable alumni== *Frank Cho (1990), comic book writer and illustrator *A. Jamie Cuticchia (1984), scientist *Raheem DeVaughn, musician *Fred Funk, former coach of University of Maryland golf team and PGA tour player *David Jackson, basketball player *Kevin Jordan, NFL player<ref name=hodges_11081994>{{cite news |last=Hodges |first=Jim |title=Clearly, He's K.J., Not J.J. |date=November 8, 1994 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-08-sp-60171-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119083720/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-11-08/sports/sp-60171_1_kevin-jordan |archive-date=November 19, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> *Jolene Ivey, Maryland state legislator<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-gansler-names-ivey-as-running-mate-20131014-story.html|title=Gansler names Ivey as running mate|last=Dresser|first=Michael|work=baltimoresun.com|access-date=2018-01-30|language=en-US}}</ref> *Elijah Joy, TV personality *Brian Reid (1966), internet innovator<ref>{{cite web|url=http://justus.anglican.org/reid.html|title=Brian Keith Reid, PhD|work=anglican.org|access-date=27 August 2015}}</ref> *Doug Spearman, actor *Paula Vogel (1969), playwright *Martin Berkofsky (1961) American classical pianist

==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}

==Further reading== * [https://www.pgcps.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=235715 High Point High School Feasibility Study, June 2014] * [https://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/pgcps/Board.nsf/files/9KSPCX5868BF/$file/Approval%20of%20High%20Point%20High%20School%20Feasibility%20Study%2006-12-14.pdf Board Action Summary (BAS) for High Point Feasibility]"

==External links== {{commons category}} {{Portal|Maryland|Schools}} * {{Official website|https://www.pgcps.org/highpoint/}} * [http://www1.pgcps.org/ School district website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411064501/http://www1.pgcps.org/ |date=2011-04-11 }}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Beltsville, Maryland Category:Public high schools in Maryland Category:Educational institutions established in 1954 Category:Schools in Prince George's County, Maryland Category:1954 establishments in Maryland