Chandon Hammersmith

School Setting & Context

Rocky Mountain High School
Rocky Mountain High School originated in 1973, making up of students from
Poudre High School and Fort Collins High School. The students learn on a
block schedule of four classes that ultimately allows students to spend more
time to focus and learn on just a few subjects at a time. There are
approximately 32 students enrolled in each academic class as an average,
and 126 professional, dedicated staff members that currently make up Rocky.
Each teacher is devoted to develop individual relationships with each student
to ensure they are learning to their fullest potential.
Mission Statement
Rocky Mountain High School inspires, guides, and supports our students,
faculty and staff to reach their maximum potential in a caring, challenging
and safe environment.
Student Culture
In accordance with the tradition of the "Lobo Way," the Rocky Mountain High
School community believes in the value and dignity of each individual, in the
development of intellectual and creative skills, in the importance of selfdiscovery, in equal opportunity for learning, in preparation for life's work and
lifelong learning, in a safe environment, in opportunities for service to
society, that all members are empowered through participation, and that
education thrives in a democratic environment. Rocky Mountain High Schools
mascot is the Lobo. The Lobo, which is Spanish for wolf, is known for
protecting its pack until the end. This symbolizes how students work together
as a whole towards success; students work together and learn together as a
pack. The campus is supplied with school resource officers, campus security
officers, and deans to facilitate campus security and ensure a safe
environment for all Lobos.

Programs/Learning Climate

Rocky offers very extensive AP programs and also essential Integrated

Service programs that work as a way to address and accommodate to
students, whether that is making the content more challenging or more
adaptable. AP courses are available to all students in grades 10-12 who have
completed the prerequisites. The AP participation rate at Rocky Mountain
High School is 35 percent (2013). PaCE (Professional and Community
Experience) and ACE (Alternative Cooperative Education) are also available
programs to students who wish to extend their learning experiences outside
of the classroom. Students also gain experience and additional credits at
Rocky through paid employment, apprenticeships, shadowing, and
volunteering.
RMHS holds many opportunities for students to stay involved and some of the
extracurricular activities include but are not limited to: a large variety of
clubs, a student government, interscholastic athletics, service committees,
forensics, music and theatre, and visual arts. The students are provided with
up to date technology in the Tech-Ed program while also getting the option to
choose from a large list of visual art programs to enhance critical thinking
skills. Just a small example of the participating clubs at RMHS range from Key
Club, Drama Club, Lobo Mess, MESA, Anime Club, Card Club, Forensics Club,
to many, many more. RMHS TV program allows students to create a video to
be displayed during the morning announcements. This allows the student
body to disperse any important information to students and faculty. Eightythree percent of graduates are continuing their education in institutions of
higher learning (53% in 4-year schools; 25% in 2-year schools and 17% in
other pursuits). As part of the Rocky way, a diverse curriculum facilitates
outstanding academic opportunities for all students, and the many clubs and
extracurricular activities continue to obtain student participation and
involvement.
Student Services
To ensure the students are safe and comfortable at Rocky there are seven
counselors and three vocational guidance consultants, a counseling
secretary, two registrars, and a college/career center counselor. There are

also campus security officers, school resource officers, and deans to

guarantee a safe campus community and also an appropriate learning
environment. Parents are encouraged to stay actively involved by checking
out the RMHS website regularly and volunteering in possible programs like
SAC and PIC. The Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) encourages student
success and the School Accountability Committee (SAC) is a collaborative
decision making body; improving education through involving parents and
other community members as partners in the education of all children. SAC
brings a sense of mutual purpose and involvement among parents,
community members, teachers, students, support staff and administrators.
Rockys School Improvement Team (SIT) is made up of parents, community
members, teachers and staff, students, and the principal.
Demographics
Rocky Mountain High School is ranked 42nd within Colorado. The student
body makeup is 52% male and 48% female, and the total minority enrollment
is 22%. Rocky Mountain High School is 1 of 10 high schools in the Poudre
School District R-1. Total Enrollment is 1,966 students. The total Economically
Disadvantaged come to 27% (2013 Data). Total Minority Enrollment is 22%,
American Indian/Alaskan Native Enrollment is 0.5%, Asian Enrollment 2%,
Black Enrollment is1%, Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander 0.1%, Hispanic
Enrollment 14%, White Enrollment 78%, and Two or More Races Enrollment is
3% (2013). The following chart consists of the percentages of the school's
students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, based on data reported to
the government.
Free Lunch Program (% of total)
Reduced-Price Lunch Program (% of

22%
5%

total)
Total Economically Disadvantaged
(% of total)
(2013)

27%