Haines City High School
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| Haines City High School | |
| Breaking Molds - Building Bridges | |
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| School type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1922 |
| Principal | Dr. Duane Collins |
| Students | 1643 |
| Colors | Kelly Green & White |
| Mascot |  Hornet |
| Athletics | 3A |
| Location | 2800 Hornet Drive Haines City, FL 33844  United States |
| Information | PHONE: (863) 421-3281 or (863) 421-3282 FAX: (863) 422-3283 |
| Website | http://www.hainescityhighschool.com/ |
Haines City High School or HCHS is the oldest public high school in Haines City, Florida. The school has existed in three separate locations.
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[edit] Overview
Haines City High School belongs to the Polk County School Board and is a member of Polk District Schools. Haines City High School was the original high school in the city, opening in 1922. In the fall of 2005, a new school called Ridge Community High School opened, becoming Haines City High School's new rival (the old one being Lake Wales High School). During the 2005-2006 school year there was a Tuberculosis scare due to one of the students being diagnosed with Tuberculosis.[citation needed]
[edit] History
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The first settlers arrived in Haines City in 1881. Two years later, they built the first school on Hinson Avenue where the current City Hall building is located. The two-story wooden structure had a school enrollment of nine students. In 1918, a yellow brick elementary school for grades one through eight was built. Any student wishing a high school education had to attend classes in Lakeland, located 25 miles away from Haines City. Clay Cut was the original name of this quaint little town that we call home. In 1883, when trains would pass through this Central Florida area, they were lost from sight because of the railroad tracks that were built so deep in the clay. Later, when an officer with the South Florida Railroad named Colonel Henry Haines brought about the building of the town's train station, he was honored with the city being named after him. Thus, Haines City was born.
In 1916, the first citrus processing plant in the United States was built in Haines City and made the city all that it is today. The city lived and died with the successes and failures of this processing plant. The town experienced a mighty growth in population through these years until the mid-1890's. Haines City suffered immensely from severe freezes on the citrus crop and the city was almost destroyed by a fire. The citrus industry eventually recovered from the devastation, and in the 1920's, Haines City profited from a large population boost. As a result the community was incorporated, the city limits were expanded and many residential and commercial building were erected. Haines City has grown by leaps and bounds since then and has become a community to be proud of.
The first serving grades one through twelve was built in 1922-23 on Ledwith Avenue where the city tennis court facility is now located. A new school, called Central Elementary, was built in 1925-26 Across the street, and it was here in 1926 that Haines City's first high school graduation ceremony took place. A new high school was built next to Central Elementary on Ledwith Avenue in 1949. It received national recognition in an architectural periodical for its innovative design. When it opened, it housed grade seven through twelve, but was later changed to grades ten through twelve and three additions were added to the school. With continued enrollment demands, the school was forced to seek a new location which could accommodate the rapidly growing area around the community.
In 1976, the school moved to a new location on Grace Avenue. In the past twenty year since moving, the high school has added a gymnasium, a new agricultural and industrial arts complex, a new science building in 1990 and a new social studies wing in 1991. In addition, the old football facility at Yale field, owned by the city of Haines City, was renamed in honor of former longtime coach Joseph Stangry and relocated to the new campus. Since that time, track and field facilities, baseball, softball, and soccer fields have been constructed. The school recently purchased land north of the school complex to house additions to the agricultural program and develop a Land Lab. The school also experienced massive growth when the ninth grade was added to the campus from Haines City Junior High School, adding approximately twenty percent to the enrollment figures. In 1992, the Student Council petitioned the city of Haines City to name the portion of Grace Avenue adjacent to the school after its mascot, The Hornets. The City Commission unanimously approved the request, renaming the street to Hornet Drive.
[edit] Athletics
[edit] Football
Haines City High is home to a competitive high school football team that is currently under the coaching of Bill Buldini. The football team has two intra-county rivals: Lake Wales, and their newest, Ridge Community
[edit] 2006 season
2006 Record: 3-7
[edit] Mascot
Haines City High School's mascot is the Hornet.
[edit] School songs
[edit] Alma Mater
Thru the years of golden moments Memories of friendship dear Hail to thee our Alma Mater Sing our praises clear Green and White our colors bright Mean to all a guiding light O're our campus green and rolling Give us knowledge tried and true. Hail to thee our Alma Mater, Now we sing to you.
[edit] Fight song
Hail Haines City High School Hail Green and White Our Hornet Flag will Wave on High Tonight Here's Good Luck to You Team Here's to What You've Done And Here's to the Glory You - Hornet have Won!
[edit] Band
Haines City High calls their band the Emerald Brigade.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Arthur Blake, notable Olympian from HCHS.
