Gaffney High School

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Cherokee County School District
The entrance to Gaffney High School. February 2006.
The entrance to Gaffney High School. February 2006.
School type Public
Religious affiliation None
Location Gaffney, South Carolina, USA
Enrollment Approx. 2,100 students
Grades 9-12
School location Suburban
School Mascot Indian
School colors Black and Gold
Student/Teacher Ratio 17:1

Gaffney High School is a public high school in Gaffney, South Carolina and is part of the Cherokee County School District. It is located at 149 Twin Lake Road. The school was founded in 1924. Prior to 2000, the school was located at 805 East Frederick Street; 2½ miles away. There are currently about 2,100 students. Gaffney High School is the 13th largest high school in South Carolina.

Contents

[edit] Mission statement

"The mission of Gaffney High School is to create a student centered atmosphere of excellence by providing a diverse education in a safe, supportive environment, thus encouraging students to become productive and responsible citizens who will succeed and contribute to the global community."[1]

[edit] Upcoming expansions

In March 2007, the school board approved a plan to construct a "9th Grade Academy" — a separate building connected to the high school with a covered walkway. The new building will be used by freshman students, who numbered about 600 in the 2006-2007 school year, for classes and meals. School officials said the new building should relieve overcrowding on the campus, opened in 2001 with a designed maximum capacity of 2,000 students but with a 2006-2007 enrollment of about 2,100.[2]

The school board also approved a new stadium for the school's Twin Lakes Road campus.[3] The new stadium is to replace the 70-year-old William K. Brumbach stadium, known locally as "the Reservation" and located at the former Gaffney High School site on East Frederick Street that is now home to Gaffney Middle School.[4] On the home side of the current stadium, Gaffney's teams enter through a tunnel, described by the Spartanburg Herald Journal as "a revered entrance for Gaffney teams."[5]

The projected minimum cost of the stadium is $7.2 million, and another $1.5 million might be spent to build a new field track, more parking and a team meeting room, if school officials can get the money from contingency funds or if construction costs elsewhere come in under budget, according to a consultant for the school district.[3]

[edit] History

The current high school building was opened at its current 65-acre campus in 2000 at a cost of $22 million. But faulty construction work led to the district suing the bonding company, architects and construction company. The district received a $10 million settlement, $6 million of it for replacing brickwork and $4 million for mediation and architectural fees.[6]

[edit] Extracurricular activities

Boys & Girls Track, Boys & Girls Soccer, Boys & Girls Cross Country, Boys & Girls Tennis, Boys & Girls Basketball, Boys Golf, Girls Softball, Boys Baseball, Football, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Rodeo, Swimming, Wrestling, Miss Cherokean Pageant, Mr. GHS, Gospel Choir, and Step Team.

[edit] Achievements/awards

Awards received by Gaffney High School include:[7]

  • South Carolina's Palmetto's Finest Award
  • 2002-2003 Red Carpet School
  • Annual Regional Science Fair Winners/International Science Fair
  • Odyssey of the Mind State Champions in 2001-2002
  • 2000-2001 Schools of Promise Flagship Award, Renewal of status in 2003

[edit] Athletics

Gaffney High School's athletic teams have in recent years won several AAAA state championships. Its boys' varsity basketball team won this honor a total of four times in the 2002-2003 season, the 2003-2004 season, the 2004-2005 season and the 2005-2006 season; its boys' golf team won the same award in 2003; and its varsity football team was the AAAA State Champion in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

  • The Gaffney High School Football team has the most South Carolina High School League State Football Championships in the BIG 16 AAAA with a total of 15 championships.[8]
  • 2003, 2005 and 2006 Big 16 AAAA State Football Champions
  • 2003, 2004, and 2005 Boys Basketball State Champions, becoming the first SC 4A high school to win three in a row
  • Malcolm Long, 2006 South Carolina Mr. Football
  • Sidney Rice, Gaffney Alumnus, was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2007 NFL Draft
  • Rocky McIntosh, Gaffney Alumnus, was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 2006 NFL Draft
  • Arizona Reid, Gaffney Alumnus, plays basketball for High Point University

[edit] Facts

  • The principal is Ms. Marlene Davis.
  • Student attendance is an average of 92.8%.
  • Percent of 2004 graduates entering post-secondary education is 60%.

[edit] School facilities

  • The number of classrooms is 97.
  • The number of computer labs is 6.
  • The size of the campus is 63 acres.

[edit] Staff profile

  • There are 7 administrators.
  • There are 124 teachers.
  • There are 21 support staff members.
  • There are 5 guidance counselors.
  • Teachers with master's degree or above: 73
  • The average teacher attendance is 95.6%.
  • The Media Center has 2 media specialists and 1 DELC Coordinator.

[edit] Academic achievements

  • 82% of students passed HSAP ELA on first attempt in Spring 2006
  • 80.8% of students passed HSAP math on first attempt in Spring 2006
  • 94% of student athletes passed HSAP in Spring 2006
  • More than $30,000,000 awarded in academic scholarships for the 2002/2006 graduating class.[7]

[edit] SAT

SAT Scores
Year Average Score
2001 918
2002 926
2003 947
2004 952
2005 939
2006 972

[edit] References

  1. ^ 2006-2007 Student Handbook, Gaffney High School, p. 1. Accessed June 11, 2007.
  2. ^ Spencer, Janet S. "Second 9th grade facility to be built in Gaffney". Spartanburg Herald Journal, March 15, 2007. Accessed April 1, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Spencer, Janet S. "Construction of new Gaffney stadium approved", Spartanburg Herald Journal, March 14, 2007. Accessed April 1, 2007.
  4. ^ Spencer, Janet S. "Cherokee trustees look to cut costs for new stadium", Spartanburg Herald Journal, January 10, 2007. Accessed April 1, 2007.
  5. ^ Spencer Janet S. "Duncan woman files complaint over stadium's handicap access", Spartanburg Herald Journal, December 21, 2006. Accessed April 1, 2007.
  6. ^ Spencer, Janet S. "Masonry project at high school nearly over", Spartanburg Herald News, January 24, 2007.
  7. ^ a b Achievements / Awards, accessed April 21, 2007.
  8. ^ STUDENT SPORTS FAB 50 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RANKINGS, accessed April 21, 2007. "Quarterback Malcolm Long finished the game with 254 yards and three touchdown passes in Gaffney’s 45-0 victory over Irmo in the state championship game. The title marks a state-record 15 championships for Gaffney"

[edit] External links