About the School

Olive Branch High School exists to provide students with the opportunity to nurture beliefs, to develop personal honor and to provide the tools with which all can be successful.

Our Beliefs:

• Student Learning is the chief priority for the school.
• Student achievement is affected by the expectations of the school.
• Teachers, administrators, parents, and the community share the responsibility for advancing the school's mission.
• The school's mission should work to create a desire for lifelong learning rather than short term goals.
• Students that are actively involved in the learning process have a better chance to excel and appreciate their learning experiences.
• Students need a variety of opportunities in which to apply their learning.
• A variety of instructional approaches should be used to accommodate the different learning styles of students.
• Students prepare for the future through the use of advanced technology.
• Expectations of student achievement and responsibility should build with each grade completed.
• Each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.
• Assessments of student learning should provide students with a variety of opportunities to demonstrate success and achievement.
• In today's climate, a learning environment that is physically safe is of the utmost importance.
• Students need to be given opportunities in which they can work independently with little supervision in order to gain confidence and learn first hand responsibility.
• Cultural diversity is essential and can help prepare the student for the demands of a changing world.

The great thing in this world is
not so much where we are
but in what direction we are moving

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Olive Branch High School is a Mississippi Tech Prep School and a part of the DeSoto County School System. It has a student body of over 1200 and a faculty and staff of approximately 100. The principal is Mr. Jacob Stripling.  He is assisted by Mr. Todd Nichols, Mr. Sid McNeil and Mrs. Dana Kendrick.  The Superintendent of Education for the DeSoto County Schools is Mr. Corey Uselton.

The school moved into the present facility in January of 1996. This building was part of a $35 million building initiative taken on by the county schools that provided one new high school, three middle schools, and renovations to several other schools in the county, including Olive Branch Intermediate and Olive Branch Middle.   To keep pace with the growth in the county, eight new classrooms were added to the facility in 1999.  During the spring and summer of 2001, 8 additional rooms, along with an additional building containing 3 technology labs, an art lab, and 6 classrooms were added to the school.  The middle school has added an additional 17 rooms, a band hall and renovated the existing building.  This project was completed for the 2000 - 2001 school year.   Olive Branch is currently one of the the fastest growing communities in the state of Mississippi, as well as the nation.  Since 1990, Olive Branch has grown from a small town of 3,000 to a large community of over 32,000.  A bond issued was passed in 2004 to 10 new schools were finished in 2006. In 2012 a performing arts center is scheduled to be added to the campus.

Olive Branch High School was formed in 1970 by combining East Side High School and Olive Branch High School. The mascot, Conquistador, was chosen because it was neither black nor white. It was seen as a conqueror to overcome the racial segregation of the past. A Conquistador helmet was donated by the class of 1996, and is displayed in the common area of the "new" high school.  

Olive Branch offers the student body many challenges. There are numerous clubs and organizations that are available to the students. From the Art Club to the Spanish Club, with Interact and FCA in between, the students contribute to the community in which they live.  Interact has awarded several Make A Wish presentations.  Several groups provide the students with the chance to travel abroad. 

Multiple extra curricular activities and sports provide Olive Branch High School students with a wide range of activities in which they can participate. Boys' sports are:  football, baseball, track, basketball, tennis, golf, power lifting, and soccer.  Girls sports include:  bowling, swimming, fast pitch softball, tennis, golf, soccer, volleyball, track and basketball.   The boys' varsity basketball team,  boys' varsity golf team and the girls' volleyball team have won Class 5A state titles.  The varsity football team has regularly competed in the North Half playoff games.  In 2011 the football team won the 6A state championship.   In addition to these athletic teams, the cheerleading and dance teams regularly compete successfully in regional and national competitions.  Olive Branch also has an award winning vocal and instrumental tradition. Both the band and choirs consistently receive superior ratings at the state level and many other regional competitions. 

When the school moved into its new home, it also moved into a new football stadium, named for legendary Coach Leslie Pool. It was a very sad night when the Quistors played the last game in "The Hollow" as the field at the old school was named. One tradition ended and a new one started on "The Hill" as then play-by-play announcer  Mr. Jimmy Woods, called the new stadium. The facility, which includes an astroturf field, rivals any in the state.  Due to the rapid growth of Olive Branch and the school, the Conquistadors now compete in Class 6A, challenging state powerhouses Starkville, Columbus, and South Panola.