Olive Branch High School (Olive Branch, Mississippi)

Olive Branch High School is a suburban public high school in Olive Branch, Mississippi, United States, part of the Memphis metropolitan area. Its mascot is a conquistador and its school colors are blue, gold, and white. Olive Branch is a part of the DeSoto County School District.

Olive Branch High School
Address
Map
9366 Sandidge Road

,
38654

United States
Coordinates34°56′58″N 89°49′22″W / 34.9495°N 89.8227°W / 34.9495; -89.8227
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1970 (1970)
School districtDeSoto County School District
PrincipalJacob Stripling[1]
Teaching staff72.73 (on an FTE basis)[2]
Grades912
Enrollment1,117 (2022–23)[2]
Student to teacher ratio15.36[2]
Color(s)Blue, Gold and White    
Team nameConquistadors
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
Websiteobh.desotocountyschools.org

History

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Original Olive Branch High School

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Although the town of Olive Branch was extremely small for much of the 20th century, with a population of about 400 during the 1930s, newspaper records indicate the existence of a high school in the town no later than 1936.[3] At that time the school had approximately 120 students, implying that students from outside city limits also attended.[3]

In the era of formalized racial segregation in Mississippi, it appears there were both black and white high schools in Olive Branch.[4]

Integration

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Today's Olive Branch High School was established in 1970 after amalgamating Olive Branch High School and East Side High School. The school's mascot — the Conquistador — was chosen because "it was neither black nor white. It was seen as a conqueror to overcome the racial segregation of the past."[5]

The high school moved into its new and current building in 1996.

Athletics

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Teams

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Olive Branch's athletic teams are nicknamed the Conquistadors and the school's colors are white, gold, and blue. Olive Branch teams compete in the following sports:

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Powerlifting
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball

State championships

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Football

  • 2011 Mississippi 6A State Champions[6]

Basketball

  • 2018 Mississippi 5A State Champions[7]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Jacob Stripling named new Olive Branch principal". DeSoto Times-Tribune. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "OLIVE BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Associated Press, "Olive Branch School Has Two Principals," Daily Herald [Biloxi], March 17, 1936, p. 1.
  4. ^ "Nine School Buildings Approved". Jackson Clarion-Ledger. May 28, 1957. p. 5.
  5. ^ "Olive Branch High School". Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  6. ^ "Olive Branch High School". Public School Review. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  7. ^ "Olive Branch claims 5A state championship".
  8. ^ "Kelvin Bell". University of Iowa Athletics. 2020-04-09. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  9. ^ "Olive Branch lineman Shon Coleman, Aubrey Phillips back with Auburn Tigers". AL.com. 26 March 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  10. ^ Miller, Brody (March 24, 2018). "Meet the 2018 Clarion Ledger All-State boys' basketball team". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  11. ^ Costabile, Annie (28 July 2017). "Mississippi State leads for Olive Branch's Fabien Lovett". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Ex-Quistor McManis signs with 'Niners". Desoto Times-Tribune. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  13. ^ "About KJ". Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
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