Oakland High School (Tennessee)

History

OHS opened in 1972 along with a sister school Riverdale High School (RHS). The schools were the first two high schools built after Central Magnet School in the Rutherford County school system.

While the school began as a traditional high school, OHS would add specialized programs to its curriculum, such as the AP program, the IB program, and vocational programs like the Mechatronics program. These programs led to the school becoming a choice school through OHS Choice.

In 2022, the Rutherford County School board proposed a renovation to OHS including 140,000 square feet of new construction, adding an additional 2 hallways including a 1st and 2nd story hallway, and a smaller hallway. All with new classrooms, connecting it to the annex. The Rutherford County Budget, Finance, and Investment committee met in April 2023 and approved the allocation of $47 million to the project. The construction began in the summer of the 2023 and has finished as of August 2025. In addition to that, the school has also been re-modeled with new flooring, re-painted and much more!

Leadership

In June 2018, Bill Spurlock was assigned the role of Director of Schools after 10 years of service as the principal of OHS. He was replaced by John Marshall in August 2018, who has been in the role since.

Sports rivalry

In 1972, students from Central High School were split between OHS and Riverdale High School, leading to a fierce rivalry between the students. This rivalry was intensified by fierce competition in football and basketball.

While the rivalry has cooled down in recent history due to the founding of Blackman High School, and Siegel High School, it still remains very strong. In October 2022, a shooting occurred in the parking lot of a Riverdale-Oakland football game. Thankfully, nobody was injured.

Mechatronics

OHS offers an award-winning Mechatronics program in partnership with Motlow State Community College. This program allows students to earn up to 61 college credit hours in Mechatronics Engineering. Optionally, students can enroll in the AAS program, in which they can earn a Mechatronics Associate degree through Motlow while attending OHS. Multiple Tennessee Universities, such as MTSU, UT Chattanooga, and Tennessee Tech offer a "2+2 program",{{cite web | url=https://ohs.rcschools.net/apps/pages/mechatronics | title= HOW DOES THE MOTLOW AAS DEGREE TRANSFER? | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230407184557/https://ohs.rcschools.net/apps/pages/mechatronics |access-date=April 7, 2023 | archive-date= April 7, 2023 }} which allows students to obtain a Mechatronics Bachelor's degree in 2 years if they obtain the Mechatronics ASS degree.

Additionally, students can earn multiple certifications, as listed below:

• Siemens Level 1 certification
• FANUC robotic Material Handling Tool and Programming Level 1 certification
• Solidworks CSWA certification
• 6 Precision Measurement Instruments (PMI) certifications
• 3 different Yaskawa Robotics certifications
• Siemens Level 2 certification through Motlow, if the student completes the ASS path.

The school won Tennessee's 2017 Excellence in action, Manufacturing award for its Mechatronics and automotive technology programs. In 2017, Betsy DeVos visited the school to commemorate this achievement.

Leonard Ciletti has led the OHS Mechatronics program since its inception.

Notable alumni

• Bryan M. Clayton - businessman and real estate investor, CEO and cofounder of GreenPal
• Isaiah Horton, American college football wide receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide
• Jordan James, American college football running back for the Oregon Ducks
• Bayer Mack, writer, record executive, and film producer
• Stephen McAdoo, NFL/CFL player with the Cleveland Browns and Shreveport Pirates, CFL Coach, currently offensive line coach for the Toronto Argonauts
• Robert J. Schwalb, (writer), Sci-Fi/Fantasy Author, Game Designer
• Emmanuel Smith, American football linebacker and Super Bowl LIV champion
• JaCoby Stevens, American football safety
• Woodi Washington, American college football cornerback for the Oklahoma Sooners
• Chris Young, country music singer

References

References

1. "School Detail for Oakland High School". [[National Center for Education Statistics]].
2. "Oakland High School". National Center for Education Statistics.
3. [http://www.ohs.rcs.k12.tn.us/guidance/forms/profile.pdf OHS Profile]{{Dead link. (November 2025)
4. "List of Schools".
5. [http://www.ibo.org/school/003332/ IB School Link]
6. "Riverdale vs. Oakland 2-17".
7. "OHS Choice".
8. "Rutherford County Minutes of the Meeting topic 8: Board of Education 5 Year Building Plan".
9. "Bill Spurlock named next Director of Schools for Rutherford County".
10. "Oakland vs. Riverdale football: Battle of the 'Boro hasn't been a back-and-forth series".
11. "Oakland vs. Riverdale football: What to know about Battle of the Boro 2017".
12. "Oakland-Riverdale rivalry still exciting for Patriots' veterans, newcomers".
13. "No injuries reported after shooting during Riverdale-Oakland football game".
14. "Motlow awarded $250K state grant for mechatronics program at Oakland High".
15. "Mechatronics is a very rigorous program".
16. "Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program (SMSCP)".
17. "Mechatronics and Robotics Programs".
18. "Oakland mechatronics program among nation's best".
19. "U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos visits Oakland High School".
20. "'It can't be done without our partners'".
21. [https://www.dnj.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/07/28/football-recruiting-oaklands-isaiah-horton-commits-miami-fla/8060104002/ Why Oakland four-star wide receiver Isaiah Horton committed to Miami Hurricanes]
22. (January 28, 2022). "Where would 4-star RB Jordan James fit best between Georgia football, Florida and Oregon?".
23. (2 February 2022). "Oakland running back Jordan James flips commitment to Oregon".
24. "Find Bayer Mack from Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, TN".
25. "Steve McAdoo CFL Stats and Bio".
26. Kreager, Steve. (August 7, 2016). "5 things about Oakland's JaCoby Stevens, who's committing Monday".
27. (6 July 2018). "Oakland's Woodi Washington commits to Oklahoma".