Hortonville High School

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Hortonville High School is a public high school in Hortonville, Wisconsin. It is the only high school in the Hortonville Area School District and serves students in grades 9–12 from Hortonville, Greenville, and parts of nearby towns. The school has about 1,332 students (2023–2024) with around 72 teaching staff, for a student–teacher ratio of about 18:1. School colors are red and white, and the mascot is the Polar Bear.

Location and campus
The school sits on a 37.5‑acre campus at 155 Warner Street. The campus includes an 800‑seat performing arts center, a field house and auxiliary gym, a fitness center open to residents, a cafeteria and commons, and the 3,000‑seat Wolf River Community Bank Stadium at Akin Field for football, soccer, and track. Other athletic facilities are located in nearby communities.

Academics
Hortonville High School offers a wide range of classes across many subjects, including art, business, English, science, world languages, and technology. It provides Advanced Placement (AP) courses, distance learning through KSCADE, and opportunities to earn college credit through Fox Valley Technical College and the Youth Options program. Graduation requires at least 24 credits and 36 hours of community service.

Activities and clubs
Students can join many activities, such as anime and debate clubs, National Honor Society, robotics, drama, band and choir, student council, and more. The school also supports various student organizations and activities to fit different interests.

Athletics
The Polar Bears compete in Division 1 of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and are members of the Fox Valley Association, with football in the Valley Football Association. Sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, track and field, volleyball, wrestling, and hockey through cooperative teams with nearby high schools. Hortonville has appeared in 15 state tournaments, winning state titles in baseball (1987, 1997, 1998) and softball (1996, 2000).

History and background
The first Hortonville high school began in 1899, with the first graduating class in 1906. The nickname Polar Bears comes from early athletic events held in cold venues. The current campus opened in 1956 after district consolidation in 1953. The school has undergone several additions and remodeling projects over the years, including major work in 1994 and 2014, and a 2018 football field renovation.

A notable event in the school’s history occurred in 1974 when teachers went on strike. The district replaced striking teachers, which drew national attention and led to a U.S. Supreme Court case about the board’s authority to discipline teachers.