About Neptune, Michigan and Neptune High School

[Admin]

Neptune is approximately four square miles large and contains roughly 40,000 people within its borders. The demographics of the city are roughly: 50% white, 35% black, 10% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 2% Indian, and 1% other. 52% of the population is female and 48% male. The median age of the population is 31. Approximately 35% of the population has children. Of that, 35% of the population is married, 30% of the population is single parent households, and the remainder is non-families. The median household income is $29,000 gross and about 25% of the households live below the poverty line.

Neptune strattles the borders of Livingston, Jackson, Ingham and Washtenaw Counties. The South border of Neptune touches Territorial Road (we will expand it to a four lane road opposed to the two lane road it actually is at 55mph) a/k/a M-52. Avery Lake and McConahie Lake (both real) are within the city limits. Because Neptune strattles four counties, there are frequent disputes between the county sheriff departments as to whom has jurisdiction. Therefore, most issues are left to the Neptune city police who are underpaid and overworked (imagine a situation like Pontiac or Detroit Michigan where the forces have been reduced by half and only serious crimes are handled and even in those circumstances there is often a long wait for service). The city is very flat (like most of mid-Michigan), although a few hills can be found if one looks hard enough for them.

Neptune is further divided by the in state college rivalries between Michigan (the Wolverines, school colors maize and blue) and Michigan State (the Spartans, school colors green and white) since it is roughly half way between Michigan’s home in Ann Arbor and Michigan State’s home in East Lansing. The rivalry is mostly friendly but high school students will readily identify their affiliation with one school or the other.

Neptune is a dying industrial city. Neptune, like much of Michigan, was heavily dependent on the auto industry. Neptune originally helped manufacture parts for Oldsmobile; however, when GM closed the Oldsmobile division, it converted the factory to Chevrolets. Unfortunately, that conversion did not last long and the main plant closed in the summer of 2008. The Southern end of Neptune contains the more affluent society members, with many of their children opting for school of choice in the Chelsea school district or private schools rather than the Neptune public school system.

Neptune public schools have two elementary schools (Filmore and Milliken), two middle schools (6-8 Grade) one on the East side of the city and the other on the West side (with the unoriginal names of East and West Neptune Middle School, referred by the locals as East or West for short). East has a slightly newer and relatively wealthier set of families than West. Neptune High School is a Division 1 (or A under the MHSAA (Michigan High School Athletic Association) categories) and has overcrowded classrooms. While a second school might be advisable, the city neither has the money or enough students (the high school has approximately 1.5 high schools worth of students to the city council’s mind) to justify the cost.

Neptune High School’s “mascot” is the trident and its school colors are green and blue. However, in accordance with MHSAA rules, the Tridents either wear white or blue depending on whether they are home or away. The Tridents enjoy no fame whatsoever and have never won their division or their district in any sport, though it has come close a couple of times in track and girls basketball. Coaches are underpaid, overworked, and often are teachers (so they can make more money than their pitiful regular teacher’s income) with a passing knowledge of the sport. Coaches from the private sector are rarely hired, regardless of whether such coaches have more knowledge or could improve sports performance.

In a day at Neptune High, there are seven class periods, with either 3rd or 4th being a lunch period for students. I recommend that players be in the 3rd hour lunch period. Your class schedule can be whatever you want (as long as you meet your core requirements – please see http://education-portal.com/articles/Ea ... ploma.html for Michigan requirements) and you are consistent with the class hours. Homeroom is called prior to first hour.