Rockmart High School

Rockmart High School (also known as the Fighting Yellow Jackets or RHS) is the only high school in Rockmart, Georgia. It is fed by Rockmart Middle School and by the Aragon, Georgia community. As of the 2011/12 school year, the school had an enrollment of 837 students and 50.10 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 16.71.^[2]

History

In 1912, the Georgia Legislature created the public school system in the state of Georgia. That year, the city of Rockmart began the Rockmart School System in the building vacated by the Piedmont Institution (established in 1889 by the Methodist North Georgia Annual Conference). It had closed after a 23-year existence in 1912 after it was purchased by the Rockmart School Board of trustees. Rockmart High School was in the building for 3 years until the building burned down in 1915. The building was later rebuilt, but the building burned down again in 1940. The current lot is now the Rockmart Governmental Complex. Prior to the Polk County School System of Georgia, RHS had its own city school system and rival school Cedartown High School also had its own city school system in Cedartown, Georgia.

Racial Integration

Prior to the racial integration of the Polk County School System, two high schools existed in Rockmart — RHS and Elm Street High School, which served the African American community of Rockmart. The integration of the school system began in 1964, when some African American students began attending Rockmart High School until total integration was achieved in 1965 with the closing of Elm Street High School.

Demographics

According to a NCES 2011-2012 school year census^[2] the racial makeup of the school was 653 (78.02%) White, 133 (15.90%) African American, 6 (0.71%) Asian, and 25 (2.99%) from two or more races. 20 (2.38%) Hispanic or Latino were of the school's population. 405 of those students were male and 432 female.^[2]

Extracurricular activities

Clubs

Rockmart High School has 18 thriving clubs and prides itself in having one of the largest Future Farmers of America teams in the Northwestern region of Georgia. RHS also enjoys a news channel which is viewed by students throughout the school every morning known as "Stinger News."

Athletics

Rockmart High School competes in Region 5 of the AAA Class. It sponsors 38 athletic teams on campus, with both boys and girls participating in varsity, junior varsity, and 9th grade competitions. RHS athletics is sponsored by many local businesses, and football games are a consistent attraction for the community. Rockmart High School has produced many accomplished athletes from Ironman Triathlon finishers to NFL competitors.

The first football team of RHS was established in 1923. The Rockmart football team of 1950 beat Valdosta High School for the state title and went on to beat Holyoke High School in the Peanut Bowl, giving them bragging rights as National Champions.^[3]

Drama

The drama department at Rockmart High School is known for its involvement with the community. Every spring the advanced acting class performs at a GHSA one-act play competition. When the new Rockmart High School was constructed, performance space was not included. Instead, the Rockmart Thespians use the historic Rockmart Art Center Theatre for their productions. The department has produced many theatrical feats such as "Seussical," "Grease," and most recently "Hairspray." In October 2008, the Rockmart High School Thespians placed first at the Region AA One Act Competition with their performance of Godspell. The RHS Thespians then took the show to the State AA One Act Competition and placed 3rd out of four schools.^[4] In 2013, Rockmart Thespians placed first in the State AAA One Act Competition with a riveting production of the thriller "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?" In 2014, the thespians placed first in the Region AAA One Act Competition with their production of Tennessee Williams's play "Suddenly, Last Summer." The production also achieved the best actor and best actress award for two of its senior thespians.

Alma Mater

Notable alumni

• Nathan Dean, Georgia State Senator from the 31st District^[5]

• Danny Ware, former running back for the New York Giants

See also

• Rockmart, Georgia
• Polk County School District, Georgia
• Education in Georgia
• List of high schools in Georgia

References

External links

• Rockmart High School
• The Georgia Department of Education's Website for Rockmart High School
• Rockmart High School Alumni
• RHS Band