McMinn County High School

McMinn County High School
Location
2215 Congress Parkway Athens, Tennessee 37303 United States
Information
Type	Public
Motto	"Respect, Responsibility, Tolerance"
Established	1903
School district	McMinn County School System
Principal	John Burroughs (effective since 2008-2009 school year)
Faculty	82 Teachers
Grades	9-12
Number of students	1,500+
Athletics	Football, Basketball (Boys and Girls), Soccer (Boys and Girls), Swimming, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Wrestling, Tennis, Golf, Track, and Bowling
Mascot	Cherokee
Website	http://www.mcminnhigh.com/

McMinn County High School is a four-year public high school founded in 1903 in Athens, Tennessee. In 2010-2011 there were over 1,500 students enrolled.

History

In 1890, Mr. M. R. Burke became president of Athens Female College, which become McMinn County High School shortly after the start of the 20th century. The first graduating class numbered only seven students in 1903.

McMinn established itself in a new school in 1926 on West Madison Street, which was also the route of old Highway 11. McMinn County is the oldest high school in East Tennessee and the second oldest in the state of Tennessee.

McMinn County has had several outstanding principals through the years with B. L. Hale and J. Will Foster both establishing long tenures as outstanding leaders during difficult times.

Mr. Hale become principal in 1928, serving a long tenure during the Depression and through World War ll. During Mr. Hale's tenure, the school lost enrollment due to the depression, but was beginning to grow when World War II started.

Lt. A. R. Cassavant became the first band director at MCHS in 1939. The low enrollment forced Lt. Cassavant to use elementary students in order to have enough band members.

Mr. Foster took over in 1943 and watched the returning veterans from the war swell the ranks of the school. The class yearbook for 1946 was dedicated to the students whose lives were lost in the war. They were given the name "Gold Stars", and their pictures appeared in the yearbook.

In 1951 McMinn County High suffered a fire that destroyed the wing opposite Madison Avenue. Classes were held at nearby Keith Memorial Methodist Church and the National Guard Armory. Another minor fire in a part of the building over the school library delayed the opening of the school year in August 1952. Students attended classes at Tennessee Wesleyan College for two weeks and did not have classes for the next two weeks. When school was finally opened, classes again met at Keith Memorial Methodist Church and the National Guard Armory.

The school joined the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1954. This affiliation has continued through the years.

The first basketball team to advance to the State Basketball Tournament was the team of 1954. The team, under the direction of Coach J. B. "Ace" Adams, advanced to the second round of the tournament before being defeated.

In 1955, the school began to grow by leaps and bounds. MCHS had a Freshman class of over 300 in 1955 and over 400 in 1956. The school went from an enrollment of 500 in 1954 to over 1,200 in 1960. The "baby boomers" had arrived.

After Mr. Foster left as principal, he was followed by R. E. Childers, D. E. Weir, Ralph Nunley, Jim Parris, John Forgety, Oran Creasman, J. C. Burris, Johnny Grubb and John Burroughs. Mr. Burroughs is the current principal.

McMinn built additional classrooms and a new gymnasium for its students in 1960. Cook High was absorbed in 1967 and Calhoun High in 1978.

In 1980 a new 10 million dollar complex was built on Congress Parkway with academic and vocational classes on the same campus. Classes were moved from the old building to the new complex in October 1980. New athletic facilities were completed later.

Presently McMinn County High is still growing with an enrollment over 1,500 students who are looking forward to a brighter academic future.

McMinn County High School—home of the "Cherokees"!

McMinn County has an in county rivalry dubbed the "Across the Creek" rivalry of McMinn County High School vs. McMinn Central High School. McMinn County High School and Bradley County High School A.K.A. "The Bradley Bears" hold the 2nd oldest rivalry in the state of Tennessee.

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Principals

McMinn County High School has had several principals through the years including B. L. Hale and J. Will Foster both of whom established long tenures as great leaders during hard times.

Mr. Foster took over in 1943 and watched the returning veterans come back to the high school. After Mr. Foster left as principal, he was followed by R. E. Childress, D. E. Weir, Ralph Nunley, Jim Parris, John Forgety, Oran Creasman, J. C. Burris, Johnny Grubb, and John Burroughs.

In 2008, Johnny Grubb announced his retirement from the position of principal. The replacement was for the following school year of 2008-2009 in which John Burroughs, former Head Director of the school's band took the position.

Principal John Burroughs has been acting principal since the retirement of Johnny Grubb along with, Vice-Principal Preston Moser, Vice-Principal Vivian Lynch, Athletic Director Jimmy Haynie, and Principal of the CTE Center Ed McCleary.

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Departments

McMinn County High School has 24 departments which are:

English
Math
Science
Social Studies
Foreign Language
Visual & Performing Arts
Physical Education
Family & Consumer Science
Driver's Education
Special Education
Agriculture
Auto Mechanics
Business
Carpentry
Collision Repair
Computer Technology
Cosmetology
Culinary Arts
Drafting
Health Science
Leisure Craft
Marketing
Metals
Visual Communication

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Advanced Placement Program

McMinn County High School offers its students the opportunity to take up to six Advanced Placement classes. The AP classes that MCHS offers are:

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Clubs

McMinn County High School has 26 recognized clubs which are:

Annual
Chess Club
Creative Writing
Band
Choir
FCA
Anchor Club
Student Council
Key Club
National Honor Society
FFA
National Technical Honor Society
FBLA
Mu Alpha Theta
Tribe TV
Drama Club
J-Teens
Art Club
Outdoor Club
SkillsUSA
Science Club
International Club
FCCLA
HOSA
DECA
Recycling Club

SkillsUSA host an annual national championship event known as the NLSC, National Leadership and Skills Conference. The SkillsUSA Championship is the showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels.

McMinn County High School's "Career and Technical center" is the home of the only SkillsUSA Quiz Bowl team in the United States to have four (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) back to back gold medal National Championships.

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School Days

The students attend six classes a day with forth period extended to a ninety (90) minute block for the 2011-2012 school year. During the 2007-2008 school year, the "Pow Wow Period" was initiated. This period consisted of a one hour lunch time combined with club meetings and other activities. The Pow Wow Period was removed at the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year and replaced with "Tribe Time," which is a set time every Friday after lunch where students have club meetings and participate in clubs and intramurals. The "Tribe Time" was activity removed at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.

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External links

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Last modified on 21 May 2013, at 08:05