Dutchtown High School (Louisiana)

Dutchtown High School is a 5A school that was completed in 2003 in Geismar, an unincorporated area of Ascension Parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is within the Ascension Parish School Board. Dutchtown Middle and Bluff Middle Schools feed into Dutchtown High. The architecture is based on that of the old Dutchtown High, which was situated across the highway at the current Dutchtown Middle School.

According to the Louisiana School Performance Scores/Letter Grades released by the Louisiana Department of Education, Dutchtown High School is an "A" school and is the #1 high-performing open-enrollment public high school in the state of Louisiana.

In 2017, Dutchtown High School was named a 2017 World-Leading Learner and was invited to join the Global Learning Network (GLN), a community of educators from schools that develop, practice, and share innovative approaches to education.

In the Fall of 2024, Prairieville High School opened to relieve a large portion of Dutchtown's enrollment.

== Administration == Dutchtown High's administration is structured as follows:

Barry Whittington - Principal

Keragan McCready - Associate Principal (Freshman Academy)

Gina Rachal - Assistant Principal (Seniors)

TBD - Assistant Principal (Juniors)

Jennifer Bordelon - Assistant Principal (Sophomores)

Tara Trabeau - Assistant Principal (Freshmen)

Academics
Dutchtown High School is a comprehensive public senior high school. DTHS has an Honors program, an Advanced Placement program, and a Dual Enrollment.

AP Courses Offered

 * AP English Language and Composition
 * AP English Literature and Composition
 * AP United States Government and Politics
 * AP European History
 * AP United States History
 * AP Human Geography
 * AP World History
 * AP Biology
 * AP Chemistry
 * AP Environmental Science
 * AP Physics I
 * AP Physics II
 * AP Physics C
 * AP Art: 2D Design and Drawing
 * AP Art History
 * AP Computer Science A
 * AP Computer Science Principles
 * AP Seminar
 * AP Research
 * AP Music Theory
 * AP African American Studies

Dual Enrollment Courses Offered

 * English IV - SELU ENGL 101/102
 * Advanced Math (Pre-Calculus) & Trigonometry - SELU MATH 161/162
 * Business Calculus - LSU MATH 1431
 * African American History - LSU HIST 2061
 * Psychology - SELU PSYC 101
 * US History - LATECH HIST 201/202
 * Western Civilization - LATECH HIST 101/102
 * Intro to Engineering - LSU ENGR 1050
 * Pre-Educator Pathway - SELU EDUC 202
 * Introduction to Process Technology - RPCC PTEC 1010
 * Plant Safety - RPCC PTEC 2030
 * Political Science - SELU PS 201

Certifications Offered
IBC stands for Industry Board Certification


 * Membership to National FFA Organization (All Agriscience Courses)
 * Agritechnology IBC (Agriscience III)
 * EETC 4-Stroke Technician IBC (Ag Power Equipment)
 * Level 1 Carpentry IBC (Carpentry I)
 * HVAC Excellence Certification (HVAC Prereq)
 * Level 1 Electrician IBC (Electrical Level 1)
 * National CCMA Certification (Certified Medical Assistant) Additional Coursework Required
 * CPR Certification (Certified Patient Care Technician/Sports Medicine I)
 * Emergency Medical Responder License (Emergency Medical Responder)
 * EMT Licensure (Emergency Medical Technician)
 * National Customer Service Certification (Customer Service/Principles of Marketing)
 * Micro-Enterprise Credential (Entrepreneurship I/II)
 * Adobe InDesign (Intro to Business Computer Applications)
 * Microsoft Office (Intro to Business Computer Applications/Principles of Business)
 * AP Capstone Diploma (AP Seminar & AP Research)
 * Fashion Design for Costume in Film (Custom Sewing I/II)
 * ServSafe Food Handler (Food Science I/ProStart I)
 * ServSafe Food Manager (Food Science I/ProStart II)
 * Students Teaching and Reaching Certification (Pre-Educator Pathway)
 * CompTIA Security+ (Cybersecurity)
 * IT Fundamentals (Computer Electronics I)
 * CompTIA A+ (Computer Electronics II)
 * Fundamentals of Software Development Certification (Fundamentals of HTML, CSS, and Javascript)
 * Advanced Software Development Certification (Advanced Software Development)
 * 911 Dispatch Certification (Criminal Justice)
 * FAA Part 107 - Remote Pilot Certification (Remote Controlled Vehicle Technology)
 * AutoDesk AutoCAD (Basic Tech Drafting)
 * AutoDesk Investor Certified User (CMAD Drafting)

Freshman Academy
The Freshman Academy at Dutchtown High School is divided into four teams - black, white, silver, and purple - and students are placed on a team that consists of the same english, math, science, and social studies teachers. Each week, each team selects a Student of the Week.

On December 18, 2017, Dutchtown High opened a $12.8 million official Freshman Academy, which will serve over 600 freshmen.

Trades
Associated Builders & Contractors, Pelican Chapter located on Highland Road offers trade training in:


 * Electrical
 * Millwright
 * Pipefitter
 * Welding

BRCC offers an Automotive Internship

HVAC/Remote Controlled Vehicle Technology-DRONES/PTEC classes are available through the career center.

Academies
Each of Ascension's east bank schools (Dutchtown, Prairieville, St. Amant, East Ascension) offer an "academy" program.

Dutchtown houses the ProStart Culinary program. Prairieville houses the Criminal Justice program. St. Amant houses the Health program, and East Ascension houses the Information Technology program.

Additionally, while Patient Care Technician, Clinical Medical Assistant, and CTE Medical Internship are taught at St. Amant, Emergency Medical Technician is taught at Dutchtown.

Other Internships Pre-Educator Pathway

Public Information Officer Internship

Yearbook Club (Publications)

Allied Health

Letterman's Jacket and Graduation Cords The Allied Health Center students who have been active and remained in good standing in the program for three (3) consecutive years may purchase an academic letterman's jacket. Patches and caduceus inserts will be provided for senior level students. Students who have been active and remained in good standing in the program for three (3) consecutive years will be rewarded with a graduation cord to be worn during graduation ceremonies.

Clubs and organizations

 * 4H
 * Band
 * Choir
 * Chess/ Game Club
 * Colorguard
 * Dungeons and Dragons
 * DECA
 * FBLA
 * FCCLA
 * Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
 * Foreign Language Club
 * Gallant Griffins
 * Griffin Girls
 * Griffins Rubik's Cube club
 * GSA
 * Homecoming
 * Interact Club
 * Jazz Band
 * Junior Class
 * JV Cheerleaders
 * Mentoring
 * Mu Alpha Theta
 * National Art Honor Society
 * National Honor Society
 * Newspaper
 * NJROTC
 * PBIS
 * Quiz Bowl
 * Scholarship Club
 * Science Club
 * Senior Class
 * Skills USA
 * Speech and Debate
 * Spoken Word/Poetry Club
 * Sports Medicine
 * Student Council
 * Thespian Society
 * Varsity Cheerleaders
 * Yearbook
 * Youth Government Club

Athletics
Dutchtown High athletics competes in the LHSAA.

Sports offered:


 * Cross Country
 * Volleyball
 * Football
 * Swimming
 * Wrestling
 * Boys' Basketball
 * Girls' Basketball
 * Boys' Soccer
 * Girls' Soccer
 * Tennis
 * Gymnastics
 * Golf
 * Track & Field
 * Softball
 * Baseball
 * Bowling

Instrumental music program “The Dutchtown Sound”
Dutchtown's marching and concert bands are directed by Ms. Sheily Bell, who has been teaching music for 37 years and has been awarded with Louisiana Bandmaster of the Year as well as the John Philip Sousa's Legion of Honor Award, presented to only 20 directors around the world. Ms. Bell is assisted by Mr. Daniel Modenbach and Mr. Connor McElwee. Dutchtown's marching band competes in a variety of competitions, including the Louisiana Showcase of Marching Bands. Dutchtown is the 2023 Grand Champions, the only Ascension Parish School Band to do so. Dutchtown also placed 4th in 2022, and 6th at Showcase in 2017 and 2019. Dutchtown also hosts their own competition every fall and features dozens of bands from all over the state of Louisiana. In concert season, Dutchtown places numerous students into LMEA's all state concert and also host an annual Christmas and spring concert.

Notable alumni

 * Eddie Lacy (Class of 2009), former University of Alabama running back and former running back for the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL); 2013 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year; Pro Bowl (2013)
 * Eric Reid (Class of 2010), former Louisiana State University safety and former safety for the San Francisco 49ers and the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL); Pro Bowl (2013)
 * Landon Collins (Class of 2012), former University of Alabama safety and current safety for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL); 3× Pro Bowl (2016–2018), First-team All-Pro (2016)
 * Justin Reid (Class of 2015), former Stanford University safety and current safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL)
 * Lloyd Cushenberry (Class of 2016), former Louisiana State University center and current center for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL).
 * Dylan Sampson (Class of 2022), college football running back for the Tennessee Volunteers