West Carteret High School

West Carteret High School is a public secondary school located in Morehead City, North Carolina on Country Club Road, and is part of the Carteret County Public School System. The school serves the student populations of Morehead City, Newport, Atlantic Beach, and surrounding areas. It opened in 1964, and has since grown to be the largest high school in Carteret County. Its school mascot is Pete the Patriot.

West Carteret was recognized by the state of North Carolina in the 2009-2010 school year, and then again in the 2010-2011 school year, as a Honor School of Excellence. This represents the highest ranking possible with at least 90% of students at grade level and making adequate yearly progress (AYP).

History

As early as 1958, it became apparent that the local high schools were becoming over crowded as a result of the growing population in Carteret County. This was especially true for Morehead City High School, which, at the time, consisted of approximately 500 students. As a result of the growing need, a school bond referendum was proposed which included, money for a new Morehead City High School. However, the proposal was rejected by the voters.

In 1960-1961, the need for a new school became county-wide. Programs offered in two of the high schools (Morehead and Newport) were limited due to the lack of space and money. The county lacked the funding to build a new high school for each community and furnish each with the necessary equipment. Thus, the idea of consolidation began. A new high school, large enough to accommodate the entire west side of the county, seemed to be the solution to the crowded school problem. Two committees were created to study the problem; one representing the Newport area and the other Morehead City. In 1962, a second school bond referendum was proposed. An aggressive campaign to educate the voters on the growing need for new school facilities resulting in the bill passing.

First, a site for the new school was selected. The original site chosen for the Morehead City High School, was not suitable because of the distance from Newport. A site was needed that was equal distance from both schools. The two committees considered different tracts of land, deciding on the area on which the school is now located.

The next issue was the school curriculum. The two schools offered different programs. For instance, Newport did not have a football program - Morehead did. Newport had an agricultural program - Morehead did not. A combination of the two curricula, along with a few new programs, were woven together to form the new high school curriculum. Once the curriculum was established, the architects began planning the layout of the building. Using ideas from schools across the county, they designed the building to fit the needs of the classes offered. With this major segment of the planning completed, the students helped resolve the remaining details. The students decided upon the school mascot, colors, seal, and motto. The school mascot would be The Patriot and the colors were red, white, and blue. The shape of the Crest of Arms is a battle shield. The crown denotes patriotism. The motto, Loyall Devoir, is the seal of Lord Carteret, Earl of Granville and means “Loyalty to Duty.” Polaris, symbolic of the guiding star of knowledge quarters the inside of the shield. The symbol in each quarter of the crest represents a balanced education. The Grecian Lamp, whose light gives understanding to students, denotes general education. The Atomic Symbol symbolizes science. The Lyre represents the fine arts. The Winged Foot of Mercury denotes physical fitness and fair play and is the symbol of the athletic program. The date, 1964, is the founding date of the school. The original class ring portrayed the seal on one side, The Patriot on the other, with the name of the school encircling a synthetic ruby. Red was chosen as the ring’s color by the first graduating class of West Carteret.

Mission

The mission of West Carteret High School is to ensure all students graduate with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to reach their potential and become responsible citizens in a changing world.

Vision Statement

The vision of WCHS is that it is our desire to promote an environment where students value integrity, take ownership in their work, and are committed to their own success within the greater community.

Notable Alumni

• Matt Dodge - Former New York Giants and East Carolina University punter.
• Lonnie Chisenhall - Current Cleveland Indians third baseman.