Novi High School Home of the Wildcats

Mission Statement

To provide a safe, caring environment where all students can explore and enhance their individual potential while becoming productive members in a diverse, ever-changing society.

School Profile

• 2020 Students in Grades 9-12
• More than 150 Staff Members including Administrators, Instructional Staff, Secretaries, Paraprofessionals and Food Service Personnel
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
• Nationally Renowned Band and Choir Programs
• Athletic Programs offering 20 Sports, including 57 Teams
• More than 30 Co-Curricular Activities such as Student Council, SADD, Robotics and National Honor Society

About Our School

Novi High School is located in Novi, Michigan, a suburban community 35 miles northwest of the city of Detroit.  Our school district is composed of five K-4 elementary schools, a 5-6 building, and a middle school for grades 7-8, and one high school of 2,020 students in grades 9-12.  As a suburban district, Novi is fortunate to have access to both small-town amenities and the many galleries, theaters, museums, and sports arenas of a busy metropolitan area.

 

Novi encompasses 30 square miles in southwest Oakland County.  A snapshot of Novi High School would include its nearest neighbor, the Fuerst family’s farmhouse and adjacent public park.  Our modern facility shares a corner of land with the former Fuerst homestead and is built on property willed to the Novi community by these early area settlers.  This juxtaposition of old and new accurately reflects the character of a community that values its heritage and anticipates the complex demands of a future society.

Novi’s first graduating class earned their diplomas in 1969.  In the past 30 years enrollment at the high school has grown from approximately 360 students to 2,020 and the city has evolved from a rural crossroads to a thriving Detroit suburb.  Novi is conveniently located at the intersection of numerous major expressways that facilitate the commute to commerce areas throughout the state.  Our community continues to grow as people are attracted to our quality educational and extra-curricular programs, facilities and technology.  Our school buildings and facilities are utilized in the evenings and on weekends for a variety of educational, cultural and recreational events and activities.   Our district enrollment, currently at approximately 6300 has increased steadily over the years.  Our community’s endorsement of our educational programs is evidenced by its financial support, which funded a new middle school that opened in 1999, and an elementary school that opened in 2000, as well as renovations to facilities throughout the district.

In 1996, Novi High School concluded a 30-month renovation project that added 40% to the original facility.  Following completion, the high school covered 382,000 square feet on three levels to include state-of-the-art instructional areas, science labs, media center, physical education and fine arts complexes, and telecommunications systems.  In 2001, following the recommendation of a sixty-member committee comprised of students, teachers, administrators, community and business people, the Board of Education decided that the existing high school should be expanded to meet the needs of the growing student population rather than building a second high school.   Based upon this recommendation, Novi High School undertook a two and a half year renovation/construction project which added an additional 135,000 square feet to the existing school building and renovated nearly every instructional and non-instructional space.   This newly added space makes the total square footage of the high school over 500,000 square feet.   With the current building capacity at 2,400 students, the high school is one of the largest high schools in the area.   The scope of work completed includes:

• the addition of a new wing of classrooms and new media center
• the addition to the music wing which includes a dance studio
• renovated corridors, restroom and classrooms
• renovations to the swimming pool, performance gym and stadium entrance
• renovations to the auditorium
• wireless technology
• increased student and staff parking
• additions to the Career and Technical Education wing, three new Art Rooms
• renovated baseball field and the addition of a South Sports Complex
• renovated broadcasting and radio studios as well as equipment
• addition of an atrium between the existing building and cafeteria

All classrooms have wireless internet access, smart boards and Elmos as well as voice communications and two-way interactive video within and between district buildings.  Our performing arts wing provides rehearsal and performance facilities for both large and small ensembles, and theater facilities for student productions in the 1,024-seat Fuerst Auditorium.  In addition, a black box theater, where drama classes are taught, and a dance studio which houses our dance curriculum, has been added.

Novi High School has a proud tradition of excellence.  Currently, Novi High School has 102 teachers and 57 support staff.   As we continue to meet the challenges of No Child Left Behind, Adequate Yearly Progress, North Central Accreditation and Education: Yes!, our staff is working harder than ever to ensure that Novi High School students are well prepared for their future.   Our students continue to excel beyond the classroom walls, bringing accolades to both themselves and their high school through their academic and extracurricular involvement.  Our school is committed to developing and delivering a well-rounded educational program for all its students.  We believe this includes rigorous academics, varied co-curricular and athletic programs, and an active student leadership program.  Our high school offers a strong academic program congruent with state and national standards, with flexible options to support all learners.  Advanced Placement classes, International Baccalaureate, dual-enrollment options at area colleges, tech-prep community colleges, and partnerships with our community are a few programs available to challenge our students.  A wide variety of course offerings provide the opportunity for students to explore their interests and talents.  A continuum of programs and service options are available to meet the needs of our students with a disability, and many classes are co-taught with regular and special education teachers to provide support and credit recovery for at risk students within a mainstreamed setting.  Also, the district is involved in two cooperative high school programs: Oakland Technical Center provides programs in technical fields to students from western Oakland County; and the district works cooperatively with two nearby school districts to provide an Alternative Education program for students.   Novi High School has more than 20 co-curricular activities that involve over 1000 students in our school and community.  As a member of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA), we have over 1100 students participating on 57 teams representing 20 sports.  In 2009-2010, Novi captured four Varsity State Championships including Individual State Championships in Girls Swimming and Girls Tennis.  The Varsity Pom Pon Squad won the State Title and our Girls Soccer team won their 4th State Championship in the past six years!
Our Student Activities program continues to evolve into an integral part of our comprehensive high school program, providing student leadership development opportunities through clubs and an active student government program.

Our comprehensive high school program is anchored in a child-centered, nurturing environment in which we work collaboratively with parents to prepare students to be critical thinkers and self-directed, life-long learners.  Our school involves parents, students, and community partners in all phases of our comprehensive programs.  Novi High School has received many awards, including the “What Parents Want” award from School Match for seven consecutive years (1993-1999), a Gold Medal District Rating by Expansion Management Magazine for three years 1996-1998), distinction as one of the top 96 “Outstanding American High Schools” by U.S. News and World Report in 1999 and both State and National recognition by the U.S. Department of Education as a Nationally Exemplary Blue Ribbon School in 2000 as well as recognition from Newsweek Magazine as one of the top rated high schools in the country.  We take pride in the fact that our school has experienced many challenges and successes.  However, our staff believes a quality educational program is never static, and demands on-going expansion, revision and improvement in order to anticipate future needs.

Considering all of the above, Novi High School has much to offer its students and contains a plethora of diverse opportunities for every student.  The staff at Novi High School, working collaboratively with central administration and the community, continues to raise the bar for its students and has stepped to the forefront in academic excellence, recognition of diversity and preparing students for their place in the “global village”.

24062 Taft Road, Novi, MI