Samuel C. Mumford High School is a public high school located on the near-northwest side of Detroit, Michigan. It was operated by the Detroit Public Schools,[3] and had been operated by the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan (EAA). DPS re-assumed control of Mumford High in fall 2017.[4]

Mumford High School
Address
Map
17525 Wyoming Avenue

,
48221-2414

United States
Information
School typePublic
Established1949
School districtDetroit Public Schools Community District
PrincipalDamon Pitt
Teaching staff48.00 (FTE)[1]
Grades912
Enrollment889 (2022–23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio18.52[1]
LanguageEnglish
AreaUrban
Color(s)Powder blue and burgundy    
MascotMustangs
Student assessments
2021–22 school
year[2]
Change vs.
prior year[2]

M-STEP 11th grade proficiency rates
(Science / Social Studies)
Advanced %≤5 / ≤5
Proficient %– / –
PR. Proficient %8.0 / 44.5
Not Proficient %87.0 / 49.2
Average test scores
SAT Total762.5
(Decrease −54.8)

History

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Following war-delayed construction, Mumford High opened in September 1949; a time when large segments of Detroit's Jewish-American population had already begun an inexorable movement toward the suburban communities of Oakland County.[5] Mumford's architectural profile featured imported powder blue limestone block and exquisite Art Deco styling similar to other Detroit high schools. During much of the 1950s and early 1960s, Mumford High served a predominantly Jewish student population.

The original building was demolished during the summer of 2012.[6] A new building was constructed at the same Wyoming Avenue address and opened in August, 2012.[citation needed]

It was named after Detroit School Board member and Detroit Edison treasurer Samuel C. Mumford.[7]

When it was operated by Detroit Public Schools (DPS), communities within Mumford's attendance zone included Palmer Park, Palmer Woods and Sherwood Forest.[8]

In 2015 the United States Department of Justice charged former EAA-era principal Kenyetta "K.C." Wilbourn-Snapp with bribery and conspiracy charges. Wilbourn, who had been principal of Mumford and Denby High School,[9] agreed to plead guilty as part of a plea bargain.[10] She pleaded guilty to tax evasion and accepting a $58,000 bribe.[11]

Athletics

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1959 graduate, Barry Shapiro set a city record on his way to winning the 100-yard breaststroke, at the 1959 Detroit Public School League (DPSSAL) swimming finals. In fact, Shapiro's time was superior to the existing Michigan High School Athletic Association record for the event. Barry was among the fastest breaststrokers in the state, during a period (1931–1961) when Detroit schools did not participate in MHSAA championship events; he never had the chance to swim for a state title.[12]

Another Mumford athlete, Richard Golden made the best of his opportunity to compete at the state level. During the 1963 MHSAA finals, Richard finished third in the 50-yard freestyle; to this day, Golden is Mumford's only All-State swimmer.[13]

In 1966, in his first year as Mumford's basketball[14] coach, Sam Taub led Mumford to the east side championship in the Detroit Public School league[14] before losing to Northwestern by 3 points in the city championship game. Mumford went on to win district and regional championships in the state tournament before losing to East Detroit in the state quarterfinals. All-State center Larry Moore averaged 27 points a game to lead the Mustangs.

In 1969, Coach Taub guided the Mustangs to the PSL title; Mumford defeated Northern High 72–55 to claim the trophy. The Mustangs advanced to the state semifinals before losing to Ypsilanti.[15] Taub was also the school's golf coach and a collegiate basketball referee.

More recently, Mumford's track and field program has been nothing less than dynastic; winning a total of six Michigan High School Athletic Association championships since 1999. The Lady Mustangs won state titles in 2004 and 2005; while Mumford's men brought home the MHSAA crown in 1999, 2002, 03 and 04.[16][17]

In 2005, Mumford won its first DPSSAL football title; the Mustangs defeated Finney High, 26–13 to claim the championship trophy.[18]

Notable alumni

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Jemele Hill
 
Gilda Radner

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Mumford HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "MI School Data Annual Education Report". MI School Data. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  3. ^ "The Mumford High School Alumni A". Archived from the original on 2009-02-07. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  4. ^ "Welcome EAA Community Archived 2017-04-29 at the Wayback Machine." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on May 2, 2017.
  5. ^ "History of Mumford High School". Archived from the original on 2009-02-07. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  6. ^ "Mumford High School destruction, 2012". mstecker.com. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Inside Detroit Public Schools » Mumford High School Archived 2016-04-22 at the Wayback Machine." Detroit Public Schools. December 16, 2008. Retrieved on June 16, 2016.
  8. ^ "High School Boundaries - 2012/13 School Year." (Archive) Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 1, 2012.
  9. ^ Gross, Allie. "Former EAA principal indicted on bribery charges" (Archive). Metro Times. December 10, 2015. Retrieved on January 21, 2016.
  10. ^ Gross, Allie. "Update: Former EAA principal cuts deal with feds, pleads guilty to bribery and tax evasion " (Archive). Metro Times. Thursday October 15, 2015. Retrieved on January 21, 2016.
  11. ^ Riley, Rochelle, Tresa Baldas, and Ann Zaniewski. "Ex-Detroit principal to plead guilty in corruption probe" (Archive). Detroit Free Press. October 16, 2015. Retrieved on January 21, 2016.
  12. ^ http://www.mhsaa.com/games/sports/bbb/psl.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2010-12-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ a b Bianchi, Nolan (April 15, 2019). "'The last of an era:' Former Detroit Mumford coach, athletic director Sam Taub dies at 89". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. During his seven-year tenure as basketball coach, Taub led Mumford to its only Detroit Public School League championship and a state semifinal appearance in 1969. Mumford also captured the PSL East Side championship in 1966, Taub's first year on the job.
  15. ^ "Detroit PSL Basketball » PSL Champions 1960s".
  16. ^ "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Team Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  18. ^ "The Champs; Mumford, Murray-Wright capture first PSL football titles". Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Paul D. Borman". Detroit Center. University of Michigan. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  20. ^ Jerry Bruckheimer
  21. ^ "Kenneth Ferguson". USA Track & Field.
  22. ^ "Individual Champions". mhsaa.com. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  23. ^ "School of Criminal Justice Wall of Fame: Past Honorees". Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  24. ^ Cornelius Grant's Flashbacks Newtracks Magazine http://www.corneliusgrant.com/Magazine/motown_alumni.html
  25. ^ Judith Guest
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42°25′17″N 83°09′53″W / 42.4215°N 83.1646°W / 42.4215; -83.1646