Lawrence North High School: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:36, 22 May 2006

Latest revision as of 08:13, 18 September 2025

(783 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Use American English|date=September 2025}}

{{Infobox School2 | name =Lawrence North High School

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}

| image =

{{Infobox school

| motto =

| name = Lawrence North High School

| established =1976

| image = Lawrence North High School logo.gif

| type =[[Public school|Public]] [[high school]]

| image_size = 190px

| locale =Large city

| alt =

| grades =9-12

| caption =

| head_name =Principal

| motto = ''Once a wildcat always a wildcat''

| head =Lynn Lupold

| streetaddress = 7802 Hague Road

| head_name2 =

| city = [[Indianapolis]]

| head2 =

| citystate = [[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]]

| zipcode = 46256

| state =[[Indiana]]

| country =[[USA]] United States

| coordinates = {{Coord|39|53|46|N|86|02|05|W|type:edu|display=inline,title}}

| students =3,100

| type = [[Public high school]]

| faculty =

| opened = 1974

| athletics =

| district = [[Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township]]

| school_colors =

| superintendent = Dr. Shawn A. Smith

| mascot =Wildcats

| ceeb =

| free_label =Snapshot

| principal = Jason Floyd

| free =[http://mustang.doe.state.in.us/SEARCH/snapshot.cfm?schl=5276 LNHS]

| faculty = 146 <small>(2019–20)</small><ref name="INviewTeacher"/>

| website =[https://lawrencenorth.ltschools.org/ LNHS]

| grades = [[Ninth grade|9]] to [[Twelfth grade|12]]

| gender = [[Mixed-sex education|Coed]]

| mascot = Wildcats

| newspaper = North Star

| yearbook = LYNX

| principal_label = [[Principal (school)|Principal]]

| enrollment = 2,832 (2023-2024)<ref name=NCES>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=1805670&ID=180567001031|title=Lawrence North High School|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|accessdate=December 17, 2024}}</ref>

| campus_type = Suburban

| colors = {{color box|Red}} {{color box|Green}} Red and green

| feeder_schools = Fall Creek Valley Middle School

| website = {{URL|lawrencenorth.ltschools.org}}

}}

'''Lawrence North High School''' is located at 7802 Hague Road in [[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]], Indiana, 46256, on the Northeast side of that city. It is one of two public high schools serving grades nine through twelve in the Lawrence Township of [[Marion County, Indiana]], and the start of the 2005-2006 school year will see the school with a population of approximately 2,900 students.

'''Lawrence North High School''' is a public high school in [[Indianapolis]], Indiana, United States. The school was founded in 1974 and graduated its first class in 1976. Lawrence North is one of two high schools in the Metropolitan School District of [[Lawrence Township, Marion County, Indiana|Lawrence Township]], the other one being [[Lawrence Central High School]].

It is part of the [[Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township]].

==Academics==

==History=Enrollment===

As of the 2019–20 school year, Lawrence North had an enrollment of 2,619 students.<ref name="INviewEnrollment">{{cite web | title = IDOE: INview (Enrollment) | url = https://inview.doe.in.gov/schools/1053305276/population | access-date = April 7, 2021 }}</ref> The student population is mostly African-American, followed equally by [[White American|White]] and [[Hispanic American|Latino]]. Thirteen percent of the students are involved in [[special education]], ten percent qualify for English language learner support, and fifty-four percent qualify for [[National School Lunch Act|free or reduced price lunch]].<ref name="INviewEnrollment"/> The teachers, however, are seventy-seven percent white, and most of them have more than twenty years of teaching experience.<ref name="INviewTeacher">{{cite web | title = IDOE: INview (Educators) | url = https://inview.doe.in.gov/schools/1053305276/educator | access-date = April 7, 2020 }}</ref>

===Awards and recognition===

Lawrence North opened its doors in the fall of [[1976]].

Lawrence North is recognized by the [[Indiana Department of Education]] as a Four-Star School, the highest honor that body can confer. It is also fully accredited by the [[North Central Association of Colleges and Schools]].<ref name="OfficialAbout">{{cite web | title = About – Lawrence North | url = https://lawrencenorth.ltschools.org/about | access-date = November 15, 2016 }}</ref>

===Programs===

The school colors are Red and Green. The school mascot is the "Wildcat."

Lawrence North offers 23 [[Advanced Placement]] courses, 38 dual credit courses, and houses an [[International Baccalaureate]] program, which was started in July 2003. It is also distinctive for being the only school in the district that is designated as a K-12 Spanish Language Immersion Program, a program recently recognized as an International Spanish Academy by [[Ministry of Education (Spain)|Spanish Ministry of Education]]. Vocational courses are offered in neighboring McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology. In addition, other World Languages program like French, German, and [[American Sign Language]] are also offered.<ref name="OfficialAbout"/>

== Extracurricular activities ==

==Athletics==

=== Athletics ===

Lawrence North High School has 18 varsity sports teams, as well as several club and intramural teams. Lawrence North obtained regional fame for winning the Indiana High School State Basketball Championship in 1989 and for producing NBA athlete [[Eric Montross]]. In recent years LN has regained its fame by taking multiple state titles in track, wrestling, and basketball. [[Greg Oden]], a Senior at Lawrence North, is widely considered to be the best high school basketball player in the nation. During the 2004-2005 basketball season, two Lawrence North basketball games were nationally televised; one on [[INHD]] and another on [[ESPN]].

Currently, it offer ten sports programs for both boys and girls, as well as several club and intramural teams. The Wildcats is a member of the [[Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference]], a member conference of [[Indiana High School Athletic Association]]. They have won 17 state-level championships to date.

Lawrence North is a household name in Indiana high school boys basketball. They have won one national, four state, six regional, 17 sectional, and 16 conference titles under guidance of Jack Keefer, one of Indiana's most legendary basketball coach who had managed the program from its establishment in 1976,<ref>{{cite web | last = Elliott | first = Sam | title = King of his court: Lawrence North renames gym after legendary coach Keefer | url = http://www.geistcurrent.com/king-of-his-court-lawrence-north-renames-gym-after-legendary-coach-keefer/ | date = February 9, 2016| access-date = November 15, 2016 }}</ref> until his retirement in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | title=What Coach K told Jack Keefer that helped Lawrence North coach know it was time to retire | url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/04/15/ihsaa-basketball-jack-keefer-retires-46-years-lawrence-north-coach-greg-oden-mike-conley-indiana/7327535001/ }}</ref> Shooting guard [[Brad Leaf]] led all [[Marion County, Indiana]], scorers as a senior at Lawrence North in 1978 with a 25.5-point average, with a single-game high of 38 points.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/04/08/indiana-basketball-lawrence-north-best-players-greg-oden-mike-conley-eric-montross-john-stewart/1593851001/|title=Build-A-Team: Putting together the best Lawrence North basketball team|first=Kyle|last=Neddenriep|website=The Indianapolis Star|date=April 8, 2020|access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/leaf-happy-be-home-indiana|title=Leaf Happy to be "Home" in Indiana|website=Indiana Pacers|date=June 23, 2017|access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref>

Lawrence North Basketball etched its names into Indiana High School Basketball History, when they won their 3rd consecutive state title in 2006 (2004, 2005, 2006). With the victory, Lawrence North won its 45th straight games tying Indianapolis Crispus Attucks’ streak spanning the 1954-55 and 1955-56 seasons. The Wildcats’ last loss came in January of 2005. They now join Franklin (1920-22) and Marion (1985-87) as the only teams to win three consecutive state championships. The team also became the 10th team in state history to finish undefeated (29-0). The Wildcats also made Indiana history as being the first Hoosier team to finish the season ranked as the #1 team in every National Poll, including the USA Today Poll, which signifies that they are the "mythical" 2005-2006 National Champions.

The first state title came in 1989, when the team was led by [[Eric Montross]]. The next three titles came in a row from 2004 to 2006, guided by future NBA players [[Greg Oden]] and [[Mike Conley Jr.]] The program has also produced 13 Indiana All-Stars. Keefer is the first coach from Indiana to be named National High School Coach of the Year by USA Today, Sports Illustrated and the National High School Coaches Association in 2006, and inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.<ref name="DiPrimioSentinel"/> He is one of eight high school coaches in Indiana history to have 700 or more victories, and in 2016 the gymnasium was renamed in his honor.<ref>{{cite web | title = Lawrence North honors legendary coach Jack Keefer | work = 13 WTHR Indianapolis | url = http://www.wthr.com/article/lawrence-north-honors-legendary-coach-jack-keefer | date = January 30, 2016 | access-date = November 15, 2016 }}</ref>

As a result of going undefeated and winning the state championship, the entire team will be entered into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

{| class="wikitable"

|+IHSAA State Championships<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2025 |title=IHSAA State Championship History |url=https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/State%20Championship%20History.pdf |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=IHSAA}}</ref>

!Sport

!Year(s)

|-

|Boys Basketball '''(4)'''

|1989, 2004, 2005, 2006

|-

|Girls Basketball '''(2)'''

|2020, 2025

|-

|Boys Track '''(5)'''

|1990, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2025

|-

|Girls Track '''(2)'''

|2009, 2011

|-

|Boys Wrestling '''(4)'''

|1992, 1993, 2004, 2005

|}

=== Marching band ===

Members of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC).

Lawrence North's band program was merged with its Lawrence Central counterpart to form Marching Pride of Lawrence Township in 2014. It currently has more than 250 members, divided into various program such as [[marching band]], [[color guard]], [[winter guard]], [[concert band]], jazz band, and [[pep band]]. They are selected to participate in 2017 [[Rose Parade]] in [[Pasadena, California]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Marching Pride of Lawrence Township lands spot in 2017 Tournament of Roses Parade | url = http://www.wthr.com/article/marching-pride-of-lawrence-township-lands-spot-in-2017-tournament-of-roses-parade | date = April 8, 2016 | access-date = November 15, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Elliott | first = Sam | title = Coming up roses: Marching Pride of Lawrence Township selected for the 2017 Rose Parade | url = http://www.geistcurrent.com/coming-up-roses-marching-pride-of-lawrence-township-selected-for-2017-rose-parade/ | date = April 19, 2016 | access-date = November 15, 2016 }}</ref>

===Fan SupportStudent publication ===

The main publication of the school is ''North Star'', a student-run newspaper that is published ten times a year. There is also yearbook program ''LYNX'', video news program ''Cat's Eye'', and literary magazine.

LN is also regionally known for its fan support, particularly at basketball games. Students are often clad in military-style camoflage and body paint and are known for their taunts, chants, signs,the crowd's open alcohol abuse during games, and the cheerleader's drunkeness during their performances, and general rowdiness. In the fall of 2005, a number of LN cheerleaders werre arrested for coming to a game drunk, and for drinking while at the game. The spectacle was captured by a local tv station, WISH-TV, and was prominently displayed as a marker of shame for several months afterward. It will probably continue to do so in the future. In recent years the LN fan section has won the WTHR Operation Basketball Spirit Award repeatedly.

Students in the stands of Lawrence North games are also known for a traveling door mat which adorns the phrase "Our House" which was started with the class of 1997, and has been passed down through the years. This is just one example of the great lengths that LN students and fans do to help cheer on and support the basketball team.

===Athletic Department===

*Grant Nesbit, Athletic Director

*Jim Zeller, Assistant Athletic Director

==Academics==

=== Other activities ===

Lawrence North holds academics in a high position and is recognized by the Indiana Department of Education as a Four-Star School, the highest honor that body can confer. Lawrence North offers Advanced Placement testing in:

Other Lawrence North clubs and organizations including [[Model United Nations]], [[National Honor Society]], Academic Team, Drama Club, Speech and Debate, Inside/Out, Spanish Honor Society, Show Choir, Chess Club, Bilingual Newsletter, Performance Dance Team, International Club, Lynx (Yearbook), Ski and Snowboarding and Principal's Advisory Councile.

*Biology

*Calculus

*Chemistry

*Comparative Government and Politics

*English Language

*English Literature and Composition

*French

*German

*Latin Literature

*Macroeconomics

*Microeconomics

*Music Theory

*Physics

*Psychology

*Spanish

*Statistics

*Studio Art

*US History

*US Government and Politics

*World History

==Notable alumni==

*[[Steve Bellamy]]&nbsp;– Sports and media entrepreneur, founder of [[The Tennis Channel]] and [[The Ski Channel]]

*[[Garrett Burhenn]]&nbsp;– MLB pitcher in the [[Detroit Tigers]] organization<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsandtribune.com/sports/notebook-10-local-baseball-players-named-all-state/article_e2dfc552-8196-11e8-a33e-df8f258675dc.html|title=NOTEBOOK: 10 local baseball players named All-State|work=[[News and Tribune]]|date=July 6, 2018|access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref>

*[[Eddie Casiano]]&nbsp;– Puerto Rican basketball player, former coach of [[Puerto Rico national basketball team]]

*[[Mike Conley Jr.]]&nbsp;– NBA player for [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]<ref name="MannixYahoo">{{cite web | last = Mannix | first = Chris | title = Mike Conley on Greg Oden: Could have been 'one of the best bigs of all time' | url = https://sports.yahoo.com/news/mike-conley-reflects-on-career-of-friend-greg-oden-143501187.html | date = October 31, 2016| access-date = November 15, 2016 }}</ref>

* [[Omar Cooper]]&nbsp;– [[wide receiver]] for the [[Indiana Hoosiers]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Woods |first1=David |title=IU football recruit Omar Cooper Jr. does it all for Lawrence North, including hoops, long jump |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/05/12/iu-football-recruit-omar-cooper-jr-also-basketball-track-star/9715966002/ |website=IndyStar |date=12 May 2022 |access-date=13 September 2025}}</ref>

* [[Daeshon Francis]] (born 1996)&nbsp;– basketball player in the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]]

*[[Nick Hardwick (American football)|Nick Hardwick]]&nbsp;– Former [[National Football League|NFL]] [[Center (American football)|center]] for the [[San Diego Chargers]]<ref>{{cite web | last = Remeika | first = Bill | title = Former Purdue standout retires from the NFL | work = FOX59 | url = http://fox59.com/2015/02/02/former-purdue-standout-retires-from-the-nfl/ | date = February 2, 2015 | access-date = November 15, 2016 }}</ref>

*[[Kenny Irwin Jr.]]&nbsp;– Former NASCAR driver, killed in crash on 2000

*[[Felisha Johnson]]&nbsp;– Ranked 14th at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's shot put|women's shot put]]<ref name="ThomasIndyCh"/>

*[[Caleb Jones (American football)|Caleb Jones]]&nbsp;– [[American football]] player for the [[Green Bay Packers]]

*Forrest Landis&nbsp;– Former child actor, best known for his role as Mark Baker in [[Cheaper by the Dozen (2003 film)|''Cheaper by the Dozen'' 1]] & [[Cheaper by the Dozen 2|2]]

*[[Scott Leonard]]&nbsp;– Frontman of the music group [[Rockapella]]

*[[Brad Leaf]]&nbsp;– [[American-Israeli]] basketball player for [[Hapoel Galil Elyon]] and [[Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]] of the [[Israel Premier League]]

*[[Christine Montross]]&nbsp;– Psychiatrist and writer<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/106135666/|title=The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana on April 22, 1990 · Page 62|website=Newspapers.com |date=April 22, 1990 }}</ref>

*[[Eric Montross]]&nbsp;– Former NBA player for the [[Boston Celtics]], [[Dallas Mavericks]], [[New Jersey Nets]], [[Philadelphia 76ers]], [[Detroit Pistons]] and [[Toronto Raptors]]<ref name="DiPrimioSentinel">{{cite web | last = DiPrimio | first = Peter | title = Thrills remain for Lawrence North's Jack Keefer - High School Basketball - News-Sentinel.com | url = http://www.news-sentinel.com/sports/high-school-basketball/Thrills-remain-for-Lawrence-North-s-Jack-Keefer | date = January 22, 2016| access-date = November 15, 2016 }}</ref>

*[[Greg Oden]]&nbsp;– Former NBA player for the [[Miami Heat]] and [[Portland Trail Blazers]]<ref name="MannixYahoo"/>

*[[Nick Roberts (politician)|Nick Roberts]] - Politician, elected to the [[Indianapolis City-County Council]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nick Roberts |url=https://youarecurrent.com/2023/12/03/meet-city-county-councilmember-nick-roberts-district-4/ |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=Current in Lawrence/Geist |date=December 3, 2023 }}</ref>

*[[Ashley Spencer (athlete)|Ashley Spencer]]&nbsp;– Bronze medalist at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres hurdles|women's 400 metres hurdles]]<ref name=ThomasIndyCh>{{cite web | title = Two former Lawrence North Wildcats headed to Olympic Games in Rio - TheIndyChannel.com

| url = http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/two-former-lawrence-north-wildcats-headed-to-olympic-games-in-rio | date = July 14, 2016 | access-date = November 15, 2016 | first = Derrik | last = Thomas }}</ref>

*[[Tiara Thomas]]&nbsp;– Singer-songwriter and record producer<ref>{{Cite news|last=David|first=Lindquist|date=17 March 2015|title=Look and listen for these 10 Hoosier acts at SXSW|work=[[The Indianapolis Star]]|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/03/17/sxsw-indiana-freddie-gibbs-tiara-thomas-big-damn-band/24909629/|access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

*[[Kyle Walker (politician)|Kyle Walker]]&nbsp;- Politician, elected to the [[Indiana State Senate]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kyle Walker |url=https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com//kyle-walker |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=Indiana Senate Republicans |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115134243/https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/kyle-walker |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*[[Nolan Watson (baseball)|Nolan Watson]]&nbsp;– minor league baseball player <ref>{{cite web | last = Bumbaca | first = Chris | title = Royals announce signing of No. 33 overall pick, pitcher Nolan Watson | url = http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article24916882.html | date = June 18, 2015 | access-date = November 15, 2016 }}</ref>

==See also==

In July of 2003, LN was accepted into the [[International Baccalaureate]] Program and 15 students entered the program during its initial offering in the fall of 2004.

*[[List of schools in Indianapolis]]

*[[List of high schools in Indiana]]

== References ==

From the class of 2005, 10 of the 588 students in the class received the honor of becoming National Merit Semifinalists, while 7 of these advanced to Finalist Status with the National Merit Corporation.

{{Reflist|30em}}

==FreshmanSee Schoolalso==

* [[List of high schools in Indiana]]

In the fall of 2001, the Freshman School was opened to the 650 incoming students of the class of 2005. The goal of the Freshman school was to serve as a "school within a school" and to facilitate the transition between middle school and high school by decreasing class sizes and localizing nearly all Freshman-level courses on the second floor of the building.

{{Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC)}}

==Extracurriculars==

Lawrence North has many extracurricular clubs and activities to go along with academics and athletics. Lawrence North currently has these extracurricular activies:

*Academic Team

*[[Anime]] Club

*Best Buddies

*Bowling Team

*Color Guard

*Chess Club

*Dance

*Drama (Musicals and Plays)

*Jazz Band

*Jon Dahlem Fan Club

*[[Key Club]]

*Latin Club ([[National Junior Classical League]])

*LN Regime ([[Marching Band]])

*[[LNXC Stallions]]

*[[National Honor Society]]

*PEERS

*Pep Band

*Robotics ([[FIRST]])

*Rock Climbing

*Science Club

*Show Choir

*Skiing

*Speech and Debate ([[National Forensic League]])

*Spellbowl

*Tri-Hi-Y

*Winter Guard

{{authority control}}

==External links==

* [https://lawrencenorth.ltschools.org/ Lawrence North High School website]

[[Category:Educational institutions establishedSchools in the 1970sIndianapolis]]

[[Category:HighEducational schoolsinstitutions established in Indiana1976]]

[[MarionCategory:Public County,high schools in Indiana]]

[[Category:International Baccalaureate schools in Indiana]]

[[Category:1976 establishments in Indiana]]