The facility, also known as H.H. Dow High School, Dow High or Midland Dow is one of two high schools in the Midland Public School district, and a member of the Saginaw Valley High School Association. The facility was intended to alleviate overcrowding at Midland High School and construction of the 270,000-square-foot (25,000 m2) building was completed in 1968 at a cost of $9,172,303. The school was named in honor of Herbert Henry Dow, founder of the Dow Chemical Company, based in Midland. When the school opened in 1968, only sophomores were in attendance, and they would be the first class to graduate in 1971. One grade was added each year and the school included grades 10–12 until a freshman class was added in 1997. A$2.2 million science wing with 4,800 square feet (450 m2) was added in 1999. Music and athletic facilities were enhanced in 2005 as part of a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) building expansion which cost $3,827,697.[5]
Dow High School fields teams for cross country, football, soccer, golf, swimming, tennis, volleyball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, hockey, wrestling, baseball, lacrosse, softball, track and gymnastics.[13] The school's athletic teams compete in the Saginaw Valley League, MHSAA.
Hockey
The Dow High School Hockey team captured the school's first hockey state championship on Saturday, March 12, 2022, defeating Orchard Lake St. Mary's in the finals by a score of 2–0.[14]
Tennis
The Dow High School Tennis team won their 7th tennis state championship on Saturday, October 15, 2022, besting the field of 20 teams and finishing with 32 points.[15] The team was coached by Terry Schwartzkopf, the recipient of the 2017-18 NFHS National Boys Tennis Coach of the Year.[16]
Activities
The school offers more than 55 co-curricular clubs and activities open to students depending on level of interest, including student government, debate, quiz bowl, community service, language clubs.
Music choices include band, marching band, orchestra, choir, jazz ensembles, chamber music groups, and solo.
Drama activities include all facets of a theatre production.
Art starts with beginning art, intermediate art, advanced 2D design, advanced 3D design, commercial art and IB/AP Visual Art.[17]
Approximately 80% of the student body is involved in co-curricular activities.[9]
Demographics
Student population for 2021–22 was 1,243 with 84% White, 7% Asian, 4% Hispanic, 2% African American and 3% Other.
Males comprise 49.9%; females 50.1%.
Student/Teacher ratio was 20.79:1
Enrollment by grade was balanced: 9th/338 10th/321 11th/283 12th/301
Free or reduced-cost lunch was available to 20.5% of the students.[1]
The 2016 school improvement plan states that Dow Chemical Company is the major area employer and has been downsizing since 2012, resulting in a decrease of 160 students. The merger of Dow Corning and DuPont is expected to exacerbate the situation. The number of suspensions and total students suspended was halved from the 2011–12 school year (156/89) to the 2015–16 school year (65/45).[9]
