Timeline

• 1966 - Property at the corner of Adams and Tienken Roads was purchased to be the site of the Adams High School Building.

• 1967 – Bonds were sold to finance the cost of building the new high school.

• 1968 – Architectural plans were developed by O’Bell, Hewlett, and Lookin'bash. Construction of the building began.

• 1969 – Adams High School students were housed in the Rochester High School building from 12:30-5:20PM while RHS students attended in the morning. Adams and RHS shared the graduation ceremony.

• 1970 – Adams High School opened its doors to 1100 students.

• 1972 – Due to continued student enrollment, additional classrooms were built.

• 1974 – A swimming pool complex was added to the Physical Education area.

• 1986 – The outdoor mall areas were renovated to increase classroom space. The North Mall and an upper and lower hallway of classrooms were added to the back of the school.

• 1987 – The physical education area was expanded to include an auxiliary gym, additional classrooms, and offices. Adams Stadium was built and the first home games were played under lights.

• 1988 – Bleachers in the stadium were built. (Concession stand and press box were opened in 1993.)

• 1988-89 and 1992-93 – National Exemplary School Award awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.

• 2000-2001 – Adams High School students move to Stoney Creek High School for the school year while extensive renovations and expansions take place. An auditorium is added to the facility.

• 2001-2002 – Adams High School students return to a renovated school.

• 2002 – Adams opened its Performing Arts Center. The state-of-the-art auditorium seats 546. Beautiful quilts have been designed and depicting our performing arts history and are displayed in the performing arts entrance.

• 2005 – With the passage of the 2004 Bond, artificial turf was installed on the football playing field. The first official home football game was played on the new turf on August 26 with a win over league opponent, Clarkston High School.

Main Entrance of Adams High School

Student statistics

Notable former students

Entertainers

• Madonna (Singer / Actress / Producer)

• Karen Moncrieff (Actress / Director)

• Joe Henry (Singer / Songwriter / Record Producer)

• Mike Clark (Local Radio Personality / Other half of WRIF's Drew and Mike)

• Tommy Clufetos (Drummer/Rob Zombie/Alice Cooper/Ted Nugent)

Athletes

• Michelle Berube (USA Olympian 1984 & 1988 Olympics. Inducted to USA Gymnastic HOF 2004)

• Dominic Moran (NY Jets football player)

• Charlie Sanders Jr. - son of Charlie Sanders and a former Ohio State turned Detroit Lions football player

• Peter Vanderkaay (Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer)

• Alex Vanderkaay (NCAA swimming champion in the 400-yard individual medley)

• Amy Frazier (Professional female tennis player)

• Mary Jo Sanders - Pro female boxer

• Abby Crumpton - 4 Time College All-American; 2003 Big Ten Women's Soccer Player of the Year at University of Michigan; member of WUSA Professional soccer team Atlanta Beat

• Kristin Fisher - Member of U-17 & U-18 Women's National Soccer Teams, Ranked Top-10 Recruit in the country 1999, 1999 Parade All-American, Member of University of Florida Women's Soccer Team (1999-2001), Member UCONN Women's Soccer Team 2003 (National Champion Runners-up)

Other

• Mike Bishop (Michigan State Majority Leader (R))

• George Zamka (NASA Astronaut (Pilot))

• Christopher Dankovich (Convicted Murderer)

• Aric Obrosey (NYC Artist)

• Emily Storms (Los Angeles Artist)

• Geoffrey Berns (Entrepeneur - Forbes Fortune 500 Member 1999-2008)

Varsity sports

State Championships and Runner-Up

Adam's Mascot: The Highlander.