Mount Desert Island High School

Mount Desert Island High School (MDIHS) is a public high school in Bar Harbor, Maine, United States. It was established in 1968 and is part of the Mount Desert Island Regional School District.

Mount Desert Island High School
Address
1081 Eagle Lake Road Bar Harbor , Maine 04609 United States
Coordinates	44°22′23″N 68°18′04″W / 44.372952°N 68.301203°W / 44.372952; -68.301203
Information
Other name	MDIHS
Type	Public high school
Established	1968 (1968)
School district	Mount Desert Island Regional School System
NCES School ID	230850000061^[1]
Principal	Matthew Haney
Teaching staff	51.60 (on an FTE basis)^[1]
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	545 (2018–2019)^[1]
Student to teacher ratio	10.56^[1]
Color(s)	Green, white, and golden yellow.
Athletics conference	Penobscot Valley Conference Big East Basketball Eastern Maine Indoor Track League
Mascot	Troy the Trojan
Nickname	Trojans
Accreditation	NEASC
Newspaper	Trojan Tribune
Yearbook	Islander
Website	www.mdihs.net

History

Mount Desert Island High School opened in fall 1968, absorbing students from Bar Harbor High School, Pemetic High School and Mount Desert High School (which previously merged with Gilman).^[2] Consolidation votes in 1949 and 1959 failed, but a successful 1965 vote started the process.^[3] Proponents of the consolidation stressed more opportunities for students and a better preparation for the professional life, while dissenters stressed a loss of local identity.^[3] After the consolidation, students from the three high schools stayed in cliques according to geographic area.^[4]

In 2019, the school converted to relying solely on solar energy.^[5]

Athletics

Beginning in 2020, the Trojan football team played in an 8-man format.^[6] They had previously played in the Big 11 Football Conference.^[7]

The school achieved the following state championships:

• Swimming and Diving (boys)^[8] — 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Swimming and Diving(girls)^[9] — 1982, 1989, 2011, 2020
• Tennis (girls)^[10] — 1987, 1988, 1989
• Track and Field (boys, outdoor)^[11] — 2018 (tie), 2021
• Track and Field (boys, indoor)^[12] — 2017
• Track and Field (girls, indoor) ^[13] — 1980, 1981, 1982
• Cross Country (girls) ^[14] — 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2021
• Cross Country (boys) ^[15] — 1972, 1973, 1986
• Soccer (girls) ^[16] — 1997
• Basketball (boys) ^[17] — 2017
• Basketball (girls) ^[18] — 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003
• Football ^[19] — 2023

Music

The school fields three vocal ensembles a concert choir and two competitive show choirs: a mixed-gender group and the all-female "Trojan Trebles".^[20] The school also has many instrumental ensembles including a pep band, symphonic band, string orchestra, competition jazz big band, and several jazz combos.^[21] In 2008 and 2011 the school's pep band performed in the London New Years Day parade.^[22]

The music department has achieved the following state championships:

Show Choir — 2013,^[23] 2015,^[24] 2016,^[25] 2018, 2019^[26]

Jazz Big Band — 1988,^[27] 2016^[28]

Drama

MDI has a theater program that produces three or four shows a year. A fall musical, winter competition one-act play, and one or two spring plays.^[29]

MDI Drama has achieved the following state championships.

One-Act Play ^[30]— 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1996, 2017, 2018

Technology

The school has had a strong VEX robotics team. In 2018 the team won the Maine State Championship.^[31] In 2021 MDIHS introduced an esports team.^[32] The team won the League of Legends State Championship in 2021.^[33]

Notable alumni

• Matthew Dunlap, politician^[34]

References

1. "Search for Public Schools - Mt Desert Island High School (230850000061)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
2. "Bar Harbor High School Reunion Draws Big Crowd". The Ellsworth American. August 26, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
3. Lawrence, Barbara Kent. "Consolidation of Rural Schools: Mount Desert Island, Maine: A Case Study" (PDF). ERIC Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
4. Messer, Vince. "Basketball: From Rivals to Teammates". Mount Desert Island: Shaped by History. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
5. Mundry, Jackie (September 18, 2019). "Mount Desert High School becomes first school in Maine to run completely on renewable energy". WCSH. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
6. Clark, Ernie (December 10, 2019). "Mount Desert Island to join 8-player football ranks next fall". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
7. Broom, Dick (December 10, 2019). "MDI football team set to join 8-man ranks in 2020". The Ellsworth American. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
8. "Swimming - Interscholastic Activities & Committees". Maine Principals Association. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
9. "Swimming - Interscholastic Activities & Committees". Maine Principals Association. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
10. "Tennis - Interscholastic Activities & Committees". Maine Principals Association. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
11. "Outdoor Track - Interscholastic Activities & Committees". Maine Principals Association. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
12. "Indoor Track - Interscholastic Activities & Committees - Maine Principal's Association (MPA) (ME)". www.mpa.cc. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
13. "Indoor Track - Interscholastic Activities & Committees - Maine Principal's Association (MPA) (ME)". www.mpa.cc. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
14. "Cross Country - Interscholastic Activities & Committees - Maine Principal's Association (MPA) (ME)". www.mpa.cc. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
15. "Cross Country - Interscholastic Activities & Committees - Maine Principal's Association (MPA) (ME)". www.mpa.cc. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
16. "Soccer - Interscholastic Activities & Committees - Maine Principal's Association (MPA) (ME)". www.mpa.cc. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
17. "Basketball - Interscholastic Activities & Committees - Maine Principal's Association (MPA) (ME)". www.mpa.cc. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
18. "Basketball - Interscholastic Activities & Committees - Maine Principal's Association (MPA) (ME)". www.mpa.cc. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
19. "Eight-man football: MDI shuts out Greely to win its first state title". Press Herald. November 11, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
20. "SCC: Viewing School - Mt. Desert Island High School". Show Choir Community. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
21. "MDIHS MUSIC". MDIHS MUSIC. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
22. archived (October 5, 2009). "MDI High musicians accept London invite". The Ellsworth American. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
23. "MDIHS Vocal Program". sites.google.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
24. Lincoln, Nan (March 30, 2015). "MDI High show choir best in Maine". Mount Desert Islander. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
25. Popper, Chris PopperChris (April 3, 2016). "MDI 1st EHS 2nd". WDEA AM 1370. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
26. "SCC: Maine State Show Choir Festival 2018". www.showchoir.com. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
27. "Legislative Record of the One Hundred And Thirteenth Legislature of the State of Maine" (PDF). December 3, 1986 – December 6, 1988.
28. "Sentiment Text". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
29. "CreativeGround". www.creativeground.org. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
30. "MDIDRAMA.ORG". sites.google.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
31. Staff, Islander (March 7, 2018). "MDI robotics state champs!". Mount Desert Islander. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
32. Rein, Ninah (February 27, 2021). "MDI high school launches first-ever esports program". Mount Desert Islander. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
33. Barr, Ben (November 22, 2021). "MDI Esports team hoping to grow sport after state championship". www.wabi.tv. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
34. . Maine Department of the Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.

External links

• Official website