Three schools with the same name in three different states explore their differences and similarities

Megan Serfontein, Copy Editor & Sameeksha Agarwal, Staff Writer

In the US there are approximately 24,000 secondary schools and 15.3 million students attending them. Each of those schools has different cultures, traditions, and demographics. Even schools with the same name are vastly different depending on where they are located. Northview in Johns Creek, Georgia, Northview in Sylvania, Ohio and Northview in Century, Florida all share a name but each consists of its own unique individuals, traditions, and culture.

A key difference between these schools is their structure and scheduling. Northview (Ohio) starts the earliest, at 7:35 a.m., and has nine class periods a day, then Northview (Ga.) starts at 8:20 a.m. with six class periods, and Northview (Fla.) starts the latest at 8:40 a.m. Northview (Fla.) has block scheduling with seven classes total but only four periods a day. Also unique to these schools are their history and demographics. While two of the Northviews (Ohio and Fla.) opened in the 20th century, 1976 and 1994 respectively, Northview (Ga.) did not open until the beginning of the 21st century in 2002. Another key difference between the schools is the student population. Northview (Ga.) has the largest student population and is the most diverse with almost 2,000 students, 73% of whom are people of color. Northview (Ohio) has the second-largest student body with nearly 1,500 students and is the least diverse with 13.5% of students being people of color, and Northview (Fla.) has only 500 students with 26% of them being people of color. 

“We really try to highlight the diversity of school and celebrate the cultures of the students especially through clubs,” Regan Fordham, a senior at Northview in Sylvania, Ohio and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the school’s student newspaper, said.

Another aspect that sets the schools apart are their traditions. While all three schools share the standard high school customs of holding homecoming celebrations, pep rallies, musicals and sporting events, each of them also has their own unique customs. Northview (Fla.) has a homecoming parade every year where each grade level decorates a float. The parade starts at the elementary school and travels a mile, ending at the high school where the pep rally then takes place. Northview (Ohio) students have an annual charity event called Dance Gold. Hosted by their National Honors Society, the event raises money for the local charity The Victory Center to help cancer patients with the financial burdens of their treatment. Northview (Ga.) students get a chance to explore their cultural diversity at their annual International Night celebration held in January with food and a night full of student performances.

Northview (Fla.), Northview (Ohio),Northview (Ga.) each have their own distinct cultural identities.

Photos courtesy of Reegan Minor, Regan Fordham, Hannah Hughes, and Northview Messenger

One of the specialties of Northview (Ga.) is its broad variety of extracurriculars, as it has a club for almost every area of interest, including but not limited to sports, arts (theater, dance, art, etc.), and STEM. Even with this large amount of activities, students still find ways to start creative clubs every year. All of these extracurriculars have a plethora of students participating in them. However, the most popular activities are sports-related ones. Northview (Fla.) has a similar case.

“Sports are a big part of our school and community, especially football. Our school sports include football, baseball, softball, girls’ and boys’ basketball, track, cross country, volleyball, golf, girls’ and boys’ weightlifting, cheer,” Hannah Hughes a senior at Northview in Century, Fla. and an editor of the school’s yearbook, said. 

For Northview (Fla.), the sports and the training corps are only 2 major parts of their community.

Photos courtesy of Hannah Hughes

Another major program at Northview (Fla.)  is the National Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, which is a program through which the Navy prepares students for the military. The school also has clubs in other areas, such as Beta Club and Math Club, but due to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, Northview (Fla.) is not able to host as many extracurriculars as usual. At Northview (Ohio), although sports are prominent, Student Council is a popular activity as well.

“I think Student Council is super popular here. That is our most populated club, just because of the amount of events that they coordinate,” Fordham said. “We're really good with planning.”

Aside from student council and sports, media-related extracurriculars like the Boza Club, a club where students discuss and play video games, and the drama department are favored greatly. The drama department hosts many theater productions and competitive musicals, receiving ample support from the school, especially the student body. 

“I see it every day at my school, people -- athletes -- coming into the drama department, and actually being fascinated and wanting to see like, ‘Where do you guys keep the lights? Where do you guys keep this?’ Everyone's so intrigued, and it is people that you never would have thought would have ever [have] common ground,” Reegan Minor, a senior at Northview in Sylvania, Ohio and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the school’s student newspaper, said.

School spirit and an intense environment make Northview (Ga.) what it is.

Photos by Jennifer Xia, Editor-in-Chief

The three towns that the Northviews are located in also are distinctive cities in themselves. Century, Fla. is the smallest of the three cities with a population of fewer than 2,000 people. Sylvania, Ohio has almost 20,000 residents, and Johns Creek, Ga. is the largest with nearly 85,000 residents. Century, Fla. has the warmest climate, therefore, leading to an abundance of outdoor activities for the community. Johns Creek, Ga. is the second warmest of the three towns, prompting the city to have festivals all year long with appropriate activities for each season. Sylvania, Ohio is the coldest and is the only one of the three to get regular snowfall and, accordingly, has plenty of winter sports and activities for families to enjoy the cold weather. Johns Creek, Ga. is the most racially diverse of the three towns and the most affluent, with a household median income of nearly $110,000 compared to Century, Fla.’s $29,000 and Sylvania, Ohio’s $75,000. One thing all three of the towns share in is their geography, they are near a body of water; Sylvania, Ohio is near the Ottawa Creek, Lake Michigan, and the Maumee Creek, Johns Creek, Ga. is adjacent to the Chattahoochee River, and Century, Fla.’s western edge is marked by the Escambia River.

“Sylvania is very much a small town where everyone knows everyone, but it being a small town really drives that sense of community and support,” Minor said.

In Sylvania, Northview’s environment encompasses a variety of interests and mentorship.

Photos courtesy of Reegan Minor and Regan Fordham

In fact, it is this inclusiveness that makes Northview (Ohio) so unique and special. Students at this school not only concentrate on maintaining good grades and being well-rounded, but they also aim to preserve the school’s support and success by mentoring the freshmen and other grades on everything they can do to improve the school, such as how to run certain clubs. 

“It really is the community involvement. It's really not like super separate and cliquey. It's amazing to see like people talk to or stand up for you or other people,” Minor said. “Within the school, that’s extraordinary.”  

Northview (Fla.) also has a similar unique touch to it. The school is the smallest in its district, making it extremely easy to get to know everyone, even for the teachers and administrators. Although Northview (Ga.) also has inclusivity, the major factor that distinguishes it from others is its diversity. Most schools, like Northview (Ohio), are predominantly white with small percentages of other ethnicities. However, Northview (Ga.) is extremely diverse in its racial and cultural makeup, like a melting pot for all of its students.

Though all three schools are vastly different and unique in their owns ways, all the students of these schools embrace their community and experience no matter what it looks like, looking forward to the views on their journey to graduation.