Decorah High School

Decorah High School
Location
100 Claiborne Drive
Decorah, IA 52101

United States

43°18′24″N 91°47′08″W / 43.3068°N 91.785419°W / 43.3068; -91.785419
Information
TypePublic secondary
School district
Decorah Community School District
Principal
Brad Hurst
Staff38.54 (FTE)
Grades9-12
Enrollment569 (2023-2024)
Student to teacher ratio
14.76
Campus type
Rural, fringe
ColorsRed and Royal Blue
   
Athletics conference
Northeast Iowa
MascotVikings
RivalWaverly-Shell Rock High School
Websitedecorah.k12.ia.us/school/decorah-high-school/

Decorah High School is a public high school located in Decorah, Iowa. The school colors are red and royal blue, and the mascot is the Vikings. It is a part of the Decorah Community School District.

In addition to Decorah, the census-designated place of Burr Oak is in the district boundary, and therefore the high school's attendance area. Other unincorporated areas in the district include Bluffton, Freeport, Hesper, Highlandville, Locust, and Nordness.

text
This map shows the incorporated and unincorporated areas in Winneshiek County, Iowa, highlighting Decorah in red.

History

In 2001 the North Winneshiek Community School District ended its high school program. That year it entered into an agreement with Decorah CSD to allow students from its boundary to attend Decorah High. Effective July 1, 2018 the North Winneshiek district consolidated into the Decorah district.

In September 2025, Decorah High School partnered with Luther College (Iowa) to award students with preferred admission and scholarship opportunities. To be awarded preferred admission and an associated $500 award, students must have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.25 and complete Algebra II by the end of their junior year.

Athletics

Decorah is a founding member of the Northeast Iowa Conference, and participates in the following sports:

According to an online database compiled by the Des Moines Register, Decorah has won 46 state championships, which is believed to be sixth most statewide, most among schools classified as 3A or smaller, and more than twice the number of any other conference school.[citation needed]

Decorah has won the Northeast Iowa Conference All-Sports Championship ten times since its creation in the 1976–77 school year.

Decorah has won the Northeast Iowa Conference Sportsmanship Award eight of the ten years it has been awarded. The award is based on ratings of players, coaches and fans reported to the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union by contest officials.

Former Decorah baseball coach Dennis Olejniczak has the second most wins of any high school baseball coach in the United States.

Since 2004, the Decorah girls cross country team has been a powerhouse program, appearing in 13 out of 14 State 3A meets (2004–2017) with 12 top-5 finishes and state titles in 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016. The team currently holds the longest consecutive championship streak in the Northeast Iowa Conference with an active streak of 15 consecutive titles.

Awards

Decorah High School was awarded a National Blue Ribbon School in 2011, and again in 2025.

Decorah has been awarded the Bank Iowa Challenge Cup for the 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012-13 school years.

Bond issue

The voting population of Decorah approved, in 2010, a referendum on a roughly $20 million bonding bill to pay for a renovation of Decorah High School. It was approved with a 69% public "yes" vote. Changes will include a new gymnasium, completed in the spring of 2012, and a complete renovation of the entire building, including updating and replacing the heating, cooling, electrical and communication systems, repairing the roof, creating a "safe room" for security and safety during severe weather, and restructuring the cafeteria and gym areas.

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Decorah High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Decorah" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020. - Boundary prior to the merger with North Winneshiek CSD
  3. ↑ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Burr Oak CDP, IA" (PDF). 2010 U.S. census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2020. - Compare to the map of Decorah CSD.
  4. ↑ "Comprehensive Plan" (PDF). Winneshiek County. December 2016. p. 91. Retrieved April 6, 2020. - (PDF p. 92/512) - Since Decorah CSD and North Winneshiek CSD are now in the same district, unincorporated places from both are included here.
  5. ↑ "North Winneshiek Community School History". North Winneshiek Community School District. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Iowa Educational Directory 2019-2020 School Year" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. p. 175. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020. (PDF p. 177/186) - From section "Reorganization & dissolution actions since 1965-66"
  7. ↑ Staff, KCRG (September 18, 2025). "Luther College, Decorah Community Schools launch preferred college admission program". www.kcrg.com. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Luther College and Decorah Schools Launch Preferred Admission Partnership to Expand College Access – Decorah Community School District". decorah.k12.ia.us. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Northeast Iowa Conference". Northeast Iowa Conference. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  10. ↑ "2020 IHSAA Cross Country Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. December 16, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  11. ↑ "2024 Cross Country Record Book" (PDF). Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. October 28, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Record Book Football 2020 Complete Edition" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. June 9, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  13. ↑ "IGHSAU State Championships". Track Wrestling. Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
  14. ↑ "2020 IHSAA Track & Field Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. December 16, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  15. ↑ "2020 IHSAA Tennis State Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. June 10, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  16. ↑ "2019-2020 Golf Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. December 16, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  17. ↑ "IGHSAU State Golf Records" (PDF). ighsau.org. Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
  18. ↑ "2020 IHSAA Baseball State Tournament Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. June 10, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  19. ↑ "All-Sport Conference Championships" (PDF). Northeast Iowa Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Sportsmanship Championships" (PDF). Northeast Iowa Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Kee's Schultz Owns National Coaching Record - MaxPreps". September 5, 2007.
  22. ↑ Petaros, Nick. "Decorah baseball coach Dennis Olejniczak, ranked No. 2 in wins, retires after 55 years". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Rankings & Archives - Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union". Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  24. ↑ www.irocwebs.com, Iroc Web Design Services -. "decorahsports.com - Decorah sports NOW! Decorah, Iowa | Decorah girls cross country team keeps the streak alive with their 15th straight NEIC Championship". www.decorahsports.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Login". decorahhs.sharpschool.net. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Bank Iowa Traveling Challenge Cup". ihssn.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Decorah School District voters approve bond referendum and PPEL renewal". decorahnews.com. September 13, 2010. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  28. ↑ "District launches bond issue campaign - Decorah Newspapers". www.decorahnewspapers.com.[dead link]
  29. ↑ "Josey Jewell". NFL.com. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  30. ↑ https://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2017/11/17857.html [dead link]