# John Adams High School (Indiana)

John Adams High School (often referred to simply as Adams) is a public high school in South Bend, Indiana.

## Location

The campus is located between the historic River Park and Sunnymede neighborhoods in South Bend, Indiana. The neighborhood is on the east side of town, and Adams is referred to as "The Pride of the East Side". The school sits on around 20 acres (81,000 m$^2$) across from Indiana University South Bend.
School Field, the home stadium for Adams football, is on the other side of the Sunnymede neighborhood, next to Jefferson Intermediate School.

## History

John Adams High School opened on September 30, 1940 as part of a program sponsored by the Federal Works Agency and the Public Works Administration. The school opened late due to the polio epidemic of the 1930s. The school auditorium was once the only large performing stage in South Bend. It has been the site of many historical events and performers such as the premiere screening of Knute Rockne, All American, concerts by Kate Smith, Ezio Pinza and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a taping of The Fred Waring Show and a speech by John Wooden.
Selected scenes from the movie Rudy were filmed in John Adams High School.
The school's 2008-2009 enrollment was approximately 2000, which made it the second largest high school in the South Bend metropolitan area. The mock trial team at Adams won two national titles, in 2009 and 2011, as well as 16 state titles, making it the most successful competitive high school mock trial program in state history.

## State and national recognition

John Adams Athletics has a total of 27 Indiana state championships and 2 national championships.
Seven sports have won state championships, and the mock trial program has won two national championships.
| State champions | Years |
| Boys wrestling | 1966 |
| Boys swimming | 1966, 1967, 1968 |
| Girls swimming | 1972 |
| Boys golf | 1973 |
| Boys tennis | 1975 |
| Volleyball | 1977, 1979 |
| Mock trial | 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020 |
| National champions | Years |
| Mock trial | 2009, 2011 |
In 1966, the football team was ranked 3rd in Indiana state rankings and 9th nationally.
In the 1972–1973 season, the boys basketball team finished 2nd in Indiana state tournament.
In the 1978–1979 season, the boys basketball team was ranked 1st in every Indiana regular season poll.
In 1994, boys soccer was changed to a unified state tournament, allowing all Indiana teams to compete on the same level for a state championship. The Adams boys team won their sectional, regional and semi-state games. They were victorious in the first game of the final four, but after a loss in the championship game, they finished the season as state runner-up.
In 2012 and 2013, Adams began to grow as an athletic power. In 2012, the basketball team won a sectional title and defeated the Lake Central Indians in the regional semifinals. The following school year the football team, coached by Craig Redman, compiled a 9–3 record, equaling the school record for wins. Coach Redman won conference coach of the year in football, as well as wrestling. The basketball team again won a sectional title. Along the way they defeated Penn, Mishawaka Marian, and New Haven, all teams who had players committed to play basketball at Notre Dame.

## Fine arts
### Orchestra

The John Adams High School orchestra is currently under the direction of Jaesung Lee.
Under the direction of Jaesung Lee (formerly Kathleen Kohn), the orchestra sends ensembles and soloists to compete at the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) competition, earning several golds each year.

### Choir

The John Adams High School choir is currently under the direction of Heather Durcharme.
Show choir, under the direction of Heather Durcharme (formerly Dr. Donald Moley), is a popular course at Adams. nearly all performers receive a gold or gold with distinction in the ISSMA choral festival. They consistently perform in group I, the top group in ISSMA competitions.

### Band

The John Adams High School Band participates in many school-related events, such as parades, concerts, festivals, and especially ISSMA contests. Dawn Forsythe was the Band Director 1996-2010. The band is currently under the direction of Kevin Graham and Emily Pantelleria.

#### Marching band

The John Adams Marching Eagles are a well known local marching band, which they have performed in various marching events. The Marching Eagles have performed in ISSMA Open Class Regionals in 1996, 2006-2010. Currently, the band is an ISSMA Scholastic Class A band.
In the years of 1998, 2000, and 2005, the Marching Eagles performed at Walt Disney World Magic Music Days in Orlando, Florida during spring break.
While performing in the 2007 ISSMA Open Class Regionals, the Marching Eagles have managed to receive a Gold Rating, earning a score of 70.85, which is the highest score in South Bend history.
In their time being in the ISSMA Scholastic Class, the John Adams Marching Eagles would receive three appearances at ISSMA Scholastic Finals after receiving a Gold Rating at Scholastic Prelims. They have received Gold Ratings for Scholastic Class in 2014, 2022, and in 2024.

#### Concert band

The John Adams High School Concert Bands perform in the ISSMA Organizational Contest every year. Each year, they also send in performers to perform in the ISSMA State Solo and Ensemble contest.

#### Jazz band

The John Adams High School Jazz bands are well known for hosting their local events, such as Jazz Soundsations and Big Band Bash. Every year, the John Adams Jazz Bands perform annually at the ISSMA District Jazz Festival.
The Jazz Bands have performed in state competitions, such as Ball State, Purdue, and Western Michigan University Jazz Festivals.

## Academics

* Nevin Longenecker created the science research program at John Adams High School to further the education of students with a predisposition for science. Over the years Adams students have garnered grants and awards totaling over two million dollars. Recent awards include the two winners of the Indiana Academy of Science State Competition. Also, in 2010, the program produced an Intel Science Talent Search finalist.
* Under the leadership of Rosemary Hess, the school had been approved as an International Baccalaureate (IB) certified school. The present IB program coordinator is Stacee Gehring.
* Colleges attended by recent valedictorians have included Indiana University Bloomington, University of Notre Dame, University of Chicago, Princeton University, Harvard College, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, Georgetown University and Yale University.
* The John Adams Science Olympiad team, founded in 2014, has consistently performed well in the state of Indiana, including a 5th placing in 2019, a 4th placing in 2021, and a 3rd placing in 2023, the highest in the school's history.
* The John Adams Quiz Bowl team, headed by Cecilia Stanton-Verduzco, is a popular academic club within the school. Accolades include 1st place in the district in 2023, 9th place in the state in 2022, 7th place in the state in 2023, and 3rd place in the state in 2024. In addition, the team has sent several students to NAQT individual nationals. The team also qualified for NAQT team nationals from 2022 to 2024.

## IB program

John Adams began offering the IB Program in May, 2006. Adams was the first inner-city school to offer the program, and remains the only South Bend high school to do so. The IB two-year program is among the most rigorous academic programs of study available to high school students. IB test scores for Adams students in 2009 were above the world average in 6 out of the 10 tests.
Budget cuts proposed in early 2010 by the South Bend Community School Corporation that would have raised the cost to families of some IB testing fees were reduced or eliminated in March 2010.

## Notable alumni

* Gita Pullapilly is a Hollywood film director, screenwriter, and producer. Nominated for an Emmy; Guggenheim Fellow. Co-wrote and co-directed the comedy, Queenpins, starring Kristen Bell, Vince Vaughn, Paul Walter Hauser, and Kirby Howell Baptiste.
* Danny Pinter played for Ball State Cardinals football (2015-2019) and 5th Round pick Offensive guard for the Indianapolis Colts.
* Anthony Johnson (1986) – former NFL running back for Jacksonville Jaguars (2000), Carolina Panthers (1995–1999), Chicago Bears (1995), New York Jets (1994) and Indianapolis Colts (1990-1993); played for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team (1986-1989).
* Tom Ehlers (1970) – former NFL linebacker for Philadelphia Eagles (1975-1977) and Buffalo Bills (1978); played for Kentucky Wildcats football team.
* Dan Harrigan (1974) – bronze medalist in men's 200-meter backstroke at 1976 Summer Olympics.
* Walter Ellis (2018) – professional basketball player for the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League, played college basketball for Grand Canyon University and Bucknell University.