Student Life
Being a student at Edina High School provides opportunities for students to not only participate in classroom learning and activities, but also the option to join clubs, extracurriculars, athletic teams, student leadership groups, enrichment classes, and much more!
Activities
Extracurriculars
90% of EHS students are involved in activities, athletics, or arts. With over 25 extracurricular opportunities and clubs, students are encouraged to find their passion outside of the classroom! These high school programs provide learning and social opportunities beyond the school day, where students feel welcome, connected, and valued. Some examples of extracurricular opportunities at EHS include:
- Knowledge Bowl: Senior High Knowledge Bowl is an interdisciplinary academic contest that combines intense competition with the incredible skill of knowledge recall.
- Zephyrus: Zephyrus is the official newspaper produced by students of Edina High School. The purpose of Edina Zephyrus Online is to accurately inform Edina citizens about the current events and inner workings of EHS and the surrounding community.
Student Leadership
Student leadership at EHS uses a model that includes multiple types of learners and leaders. Students participate in leadership development and team building activities that help meet the missions of the entire school and its respective leadership groups. That mission is to develop student leaders who are committed to community outreach, equity and inclusion, school spirit, student learning, and personal health. Examples of leadership opportunities at EHS include:
- Student Council: Become a force for good in Edina High School as we build a community of lifelong leaders!
- Student Senate: The Edina High School Student Senate serves as a liaison between EHS students and the administration; providing student voice in our efforts to make our high school a great place to be a student. The Senate consists of approximately 20 student leaders that have been chosen through an interview process with the goal of a diverse, multi-age representative body.
Student Led Clubs
Student Led Clubs created by and for students in grades 9-12 create spaces, times, and activities that encourage students to develop skills, connect with peers, and grow independence. With over 50 student led clubs, students are sure to find a group that interests them. Some examples of student led opportunities at EHS include:
- Creative Writing Club: A club that provides an opportunity for creative minds to gather together to share ideas and tell stories. Using writing and storytelling strategies, we will have opportunities to work together on one big project.
- Free of Stress Club: A stress-free club for anyone who wants to participate in a wide variety of activities to let out some stress. Every other week we’ll decide a stress-reducing activity through polls. Some activity examples are movies, photography, and yoga!
- Weight Lifting Club: A club that is meant to create a strong community of lifters at EHS and help one another improve.
Interested in starting a Student Led Club?
EHS encourages students to submit applications for new clubs that contribute to a more inclusive community!
Arts
Band
The Edina High School Band program consists of more than 340 students in grades 10, 11, and 12. There are three high school bands: Concert Band, Varsity Band, and Symphonic Band. All three bands form the Edina Hornet Marching Band each fall. There are also two extracurricular Jazz Bands, three Pep Bands, and numerous Chamber Ensembles.
Many band students are actively involved in a wide variety of musical endeavors, such as pit orchestras for musicals, wind and percussion members for the EHS Orchestra, and activities such as MSHSL Solo and Ensemble Contests. There is no private lessons offered at the Edina High School, but a majority of Edina band students study with one of the many outstanding private teachers in the area.
Choir
More than 500 students sing in the Edina High School Choral program, a department comprised of seven curricular choirs, four extracurricular ensembles, and a weekly men’s chorus open to all male singers in the high school and local community. The curricular choirs include:
- Grade 9: Soprano & Alto
- Grade 9: Tenor & Bass
- Grades 10-12: Varsity Soprano & Alto
- Grades 10-12: Varsity Tenor & Bass
- Grades 10-12: Bel Canto (Advanced Soprano & Alto)
- Grades 10-12: Cantemus (Advanced Tenor & Bass)
- Grades 11 & 12: Concert Choir (Advanced Mixed Chorus)
Orchestra
The Edina Orchestras encompass over 500 students, elementary through high school, in ensembles that promote and nurture student participation in orchestra, chamber, small group, and solo performance.
The professional staff at Edina schools are dedicated to nurturing the gift of music and performance in their students, hence setting up a lifetime skill. The core values of the program consist of: respect, amplify, community, and creativity.
Theatre
The EHS Thespians is the umbrella title for the Edina High School Theatre program. At its core, we are a group of educators, students, parents, alumni, and community members who believe in the power of the theatre arts to change and improve the lives of young people. We believe in helping ALL adolescents find their voice and helping our community tell their stories.
The Edina High School Thespians are an award-winning high school theatre program committed to Excellence in the theatre arts. Led by a group of dedicated theatre educators, our artistic team is comprised of licensed, certified staff and local theatre artists.
Community Engagement
Letter
Students complete at least 120 hours of community service to earn a letter in Community Service. 60 of these hours must be focused on a particular cause or issue. Students can accumulate hours during the course of one year or over several years. Students can earn up to four service letters, one each school year in grades 9-12. Only one service letter is awarded per year.
Interact Club
A responsible and engaged citizen is someone who has a high level of integrity and ethical action. They work for the good of community. They are a person that is empathetic, compassionate, and open-minded. Accepting responsibility for oneself is an attribute of this competency.
The Interact Club is a student led club strives to get high school students who are interested in community service involved in the Edina community. The Interact Club is passionate about bringing people together thorough community service. We work to open avenues of personal leadership and group collaboration skills that create a well-rounded and active community member.
212 Leadership Group
The Edina 212 Leadership Group works with and for youth to create positive change in Edina. Our mission is to connect student leaders with volunteer opportunities in the school and community, while teaching advocacy, responsibility, and accountability, as well as maintaining a connection between the student body and administration. We aim to empower student leaders constructively to explore their interests and improve the world around them.
212 serves the Edina Community through 5 major avenues:
- Student Ambassadors
- District Communications
- Digital Media
- Community Service
- Fundraising
Global Focus
Global Scholars
The mission of the Edina Rotary Global Scholar program is to encourage and inspire Edina students to prepare for global careers through depth of study, community partnerships, mentoring, peer collaboration, cultural experience, and innovation. We will provide students with opportunities to:
- Foster a sense of global citizenship and strengthen United States’ relationships abroad and promote cross-cultural collaboration.
- Engage in a capstone experience that addresses a global issue in an academic area of concentration, incorporates global dialogue, and leads to an actionable outcome.
- Develop the knowledge, skills, and disposition necessary to engage with the global marketplace.
World Languages
The study of world languages prepares students to be linguistically and culturally competent and to communicate, work, and collaborate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds at home and abroad.
Edina High School offers a variety of world languages including: American Sign Language, Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish. For those students who are likely to study a world language in college, it is recommended to take that language continuously through grade 12. Students have many enriched course offerings from which to choose. Specific world language courses that are designed to provide an enriched approach and provide preparation for Advanced Placement examinations at EHS consist of:
- AP Chinese Language & Culture
- AP French Language & Culture
- AP Spanish Language & Culture
- AP Latin 5
- Enriched French 4
- Enriched Spanish 4
World Culture Clubs
Globally competent individuals possess a diverse and informed world perspective. They embrace individual and cultural diversity, and seek multicultural interactions. Some even effectively communicate in two or more world languages.
EHS promotes global competency through a variety of world language and culture clubs that come together to learn and celebrate customs and heritage from all across the globe. Some examples of clubs that currently meet regularly are:
- Chinese Club: Edina Chinese Club focuses on Asian, primarily Chinese, culture, customs, and language. Students will learn Chinese cultural aspects through hands-on applications such as calligraphy, traditional Chinese games, music, and movies.
- German Club: Come celebrate German culture, language, and heritage!
- Latin Club: The goal of this club is to build a community of students who are interested in Latin. Learn more about Roman mythology and history, as well as celebrate Rome's birthday with a Latin surprise!