Dream big within these walls. Oak Park High School has been a cornerstone of this community since 1954. It stands as a beacon of learning for generations of students from Oak Park and surrounding Detroit areas.
Oak Park High School serves nearly a thousand students from grades 9 to 12. The school’s motto is “We enter to learn, we leave to achieve”. This reflects the school’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and personal growth.
Did you know that Oak Park High School was once identified as one of the lowest-achieving schools in Michigan? But here is the smart-aleck part. In 2010, Oak Park High School received a grant of $4.2 million to improve academic performance. The school successfully used the funds to raise student achievement.
The school colors are red, black, and white. The mascot is the Oak Park Knights. Students proudly wear these colors during athletic events and other school activities.
Oak Park High School boasts a rich athletic history. Alvin Delidow coached Oak Park High School to win the Class-A team championship at the 1972 Michigan High School Athletic Association Boys’ Track and Field Finals. The 440-yard relay team brought home gold. In 2010, Dissa Swint-Cook won the 200-meter dash at the MHSAA Girls’ Track and Field Finals. This made her Oak Park High School’s first individual state champion in nearly thirty years. The school won the MHSAA Class-B boys’ basketball championship in 1984.
Many notable alumni have walked the halls of Oak Park High School. Among them are Jamie Arnold a retired American-Israeli professional basketball player and Edwin Baker an NFL running back. Rayshaun Benny plays college football for the Michigan Wolverines. The Bass Brothers helped Eminem start his career. Vincent Chin was an industrial draftsman. Marcella Detroit is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. Les Gold is the founder of American Jewelry and Loan. Andrew Lippa is a composer. Paul Milgrom is a Nobel Prize-winning economist. Jeffrey Sachs is an economist and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Don Was is a musician, bassist, and record producer.
Oak Park High School offers a variety of academic, fine arts, and elective opportunities. There are honors-level courses and Advanced Placement classes. Students can gain technical skills through the Oakland Technical Campuses. The school also has a planetarium and a health clinic. There are computer labs, a coding studio, and a robotics lab. The athletic facilities include a weight room, a turf football field, and a competition-grade track. Oak Park High School also has clubs such as web design, anime and cartooning, and robotics.
Oak Park High School is more than just a school. It is a place where students discover their talents and prepare for the future. The school’s commitment to excellence ensures that graduates are ready for life’s challenges. Oak Park High School continues to be a source of pride for the community.