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Watertown High School (Wisconsin)

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Watertown High School
Watertown High School
Location
825 Endeavour Dr.

Watertown
,
Dodge
,
Wisconsin
53098-1728

United States
43°12′31″N 88°44′19″W / 43.208534°N 88.73858°W / 43.208534; -88.73858
Information
School district
Watertown Unified School District
Principal
Joshua Kerr
Teaching staff
66.80 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,087 (2023–2024)[1]
Student to teacher ratio
16.27[1]
ScheduleTrimester
Hours in school day
7.5
ColorsBlue and white    
Athletics conference
Badger Conference
MascotGosling
RivalOconomowoc High School
YearbookOrbit
Websitehttps://www.watertown.k12.wi.us/o/whs

Watertown High School (WHS) is a high school located in Watertown, Wisconsin, in Dodge County. It serves grades nine through twelve. The school is operated by the Watertown Unified School District.

History

The last high school was overcrowded and only housed the upper three grades. At the time the freshman attended Riverside Junior High School, which is now known as Riverside Middle School. There were many possible locations that were looked at for build sites, including an area near Watertown Memorial Hospital and another location on Wisconsin Highway 26. The chosen location was the latter of the two. In 2013, Watertown High School was visited by first lady Michelle Obama and Eva Longoria to encourage healthy drinking habits.[2][3]

In May 2026, six days before the Watertown High School Wind Symphony's spring concert, the Watertown Unified School District's board voted 7-1 to prohibit a performance of A Mother of A Revolution! by Omar Thomas.[4][5][6] The composition, which contains no lyrics, is dedicated to Marsha P. Johnson and references the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York.[5][7] Band director Reid LaDew had notified parents in October 2025 about the piece under the district's controversial issues policy and offered families the option for students to opt out.[7] Initially, three students opted out; however two siblings opted back in on the condition that they only learn the piece in the classroom but not perform it in the concert.[7][8] Board Vice President Sam Ouweneel argued that the composition should be removed from the concert despite LaDew following district policy.[7][9] He criticized its tribute to Johnson, describing her as "a cross dressing prostitute who threw a brick at a police officer".[5][7][9] During the special school board meeting, Ouweneel said the board's decision to remove the piece reflected the platform that board members campaigned on, which he described as "ending indoctrination and radical curriculum".[6] The following day, approximately 350 Watertown High School students participated in a walkout protesting the school board's decision.[4][10] The day before the spring concert, the school board defended their decision to remove the piece with a press release, stating it was removed due to its intention to "persuade students toward emotional alignment with the events of the Stonewall riot" and its "celebration of violence".[11][12][13][14] On May 20th, students performed the piece at an event unaffiliated with the school district with Omar Thomas as their conductor.[15]

Athletics

Watertown's athletic teams are called the Goslings, and they have been members of the Badger Conference since 2017.

Athletic conference affiliation history

Notable alumni

References

  1. "Watertown High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  2. Lemoine, Bret (September 12, 2013). "Students at Watertown High School thrilled to hear First Lady speak". Fox 6 Milwaukee. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  3. Mikkelson, Marti (September 9, 2013). "First Lady Michelle Obama to Visit Watertown". WUWM 89.7 FM. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  4. Lee, Megan; Craig, Denise (May 13, 2026). "Watertown High School students walk out to protest school board's decision to ban song tied to Stonewall". WTMJ-TV Milwaukee. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  5. Greene, Peter (May 8, 2026). "Wisconsin School Board May Silence High School Band Performance Of Trans-Linked Piece". Forbes. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  6. Hess, Corrinne (May 13, 2026). "Watertown school board pulls song tied to LGBTQ+ history from spring concert". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  7. Hess, Corrinne (May 6, 2026). "Wisconsin school board considers pulling piece from spring band concert due to LGBTQ+ history ties". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  8. Johnson, Alec (May 8, 2026). "Watertown School Board considers whether to allow LGBTQ-related song". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  9. Hubbard, Meryl (May 5, 2026). "Watertown student, parent speak out as board considers removing song linked to LGBTQ+ history from concert". WTMJ-TV Milwaukee. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  10. Zagorski, Ed (May 13, 2026). "Watertown students protest school board's decision". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  11. Hess, Corrinne (May 18, 2026). "Watertown School Board defends decision to pull song tied to LGBTQ+ history from spring concert". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  12. Rife, Adam (May 18, 2026). "Supporters stand by Watertown band students as concert night arrives, criticize board's decision to cut song". CBS 58. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  13. Jordan, Ben (May 19, 2026). "Watertown School Board silent on song controversy at latest meeting, refers attendees to written statement". WTMJ-TV Milwaukee. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  14. Jenkins, Ryan (May 17, 2026). "Watertown School Board defends decision to ban concert song, calls it a 'celebration of violence'". WTMJ-TV Milwaukee. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  15. Hubbard, Meryl; Selan, Dan (May 21, 2026). "Watertown students perform 'A Mother of A Revolution!' in community concert". WTMJ-TV Milwaukee. Retrieved May 22, 2026.