Carmel High School (Indiana)

Carmel High School
Address
520 East Main Street Carmel, Indiana, 46032 United States
Coordinates	39°58′45″N 86°7′10″W / 39.97917°N 86.11944°W / 39.97917; -86.11944Coordinates: 39°58′45″N 86°7′10″W / 39.97917°N 86.11944°W / 39.97917; -86.11944
Information
Type	Public High School
Established	1887
Locale	Suburb
School district	Carmel Clay School District
Principal	John Williams
Faculty	260[1]
Grades	9-12
Number of students	5010[1]
Color(s)	Royal Blue and Gold
Athletics	Indiana High School Athletic Association; Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference
Mascot	Greyhound
Newspaper	HiLite
Yearbook	Pinnacle
Website	Carmel High School

Carmel High School (CHS) is a public high school in Carmel, Indiana, United States. The high school is part of the Carmel Clay School District and has an enrollment of 5,010 students as of 2015-16,^[1] making it the largest high school in the state of Indiana by number of students.^[2]

History

Carmel High School has a long history dating back to 1887 when the cornerstone for the first CHS was laid on a building located on the south side of the town of Carmel. A second building was opened in 1922 on the present school site and housed students K through 12 until 1958. Only sophomores, juniors, and seniors attended the school from 1964 to 1995. The current high school building dates from 1958. Since that opening there have been five additional construction projects that have expanded and renovated the building. The 2005-2006 school year marked the opening of the newest addition, the Freshman Center. In 2012 the gym department was expanded into the Fieldhouse parking lot. That area includes a 10,000 square foot work out area as well as another indoor pool. On one of the top floors, they added an indoor track, to complement the already present running track, which lies atop the varsity gym.^[3]

Extracurricular

Athletics

The Greyhound has been the school's mascot since the early 1920s, and athletics have been a source of community activity and pride throughout the years. CHS offers 20 sports in interscholastic competition. Students are also offered many extracurricular and intramural opportunities through an extensive activities program. CHS has won the most Indiana state championships, coming in at over 100 total with the hundredth being the 07-08 girls basketball state championship. In 2016, the Girls' Swimming and Diving team won its 30th straight state title. Also, the Girls' Swimming and Diving team holds the national record of the most consecutive state championship titles, inclusive of all girls' and guys' high school sports. Other notable streaks include Girl’s Cross Country (1984-85 through 1988-89), Boys' Swimming and Diving (1989-90 through 1993-94), and Girls’ Soccer (2000-01 through 2004-05) with five consecutive runs; Boys’ Cross Country (1976-77 through 1979-80) and Boys' Swimming and Diving (2000-01 through 2003-04) with four consecutive runs. Most recently, the Carmel High School Boys' Soccer team won the 2006 state championship and finished ranked #2 nationally. They have won 7 Boys' state tennis championships, most recently in 2012. Carmel won its 7th (1978, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1989, 2007, 2011) state football championship on November 26, 2011 when the Carmel Football team defeated Penn High School 54-0 to win the Indiana AAAAA State Championship. On March 1, 2008 the Carmel High School Girls' Basketball team defeated South Bend Washington to win the AAAA State Championship, increasing Carmel High School's total of state championships to 100.

Sports offered

Recent championships

On Saturday, October 28, 2006, Carmel High School was home to the state champion soccer team that beat out Elkhart Central 4-1. Carmel had an undefeated season of 23-0.

In the 2007-2008 School Year, Carmel was home to the state champion football, girls' swimming, girls' basketball teams, and Symphony Orchestra, giving Carmel more than 100 state championships. The girl's swim team alone has won 29 consecutive state championships.^[4]

Band

The Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds were Indiana State Fair Band Day champions in 1984 and ISSMA State Champions in 1990, 2001, 2002, and 2012. The band was named BOA National Class AAA Champion in 2001. The band has been a BOA National Finalist 20 times in a row, and was named BOA Grand National Champion in 2005 and 2012. The Marching Band has won regional championships in Toledo, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Oxford, Atlanta, Louisville, Kettering, and San Antonio. The group was invited to follow their 2001 championship by performing in Japan in early 2002, but the September 11 attacks caused concern regarding overseas travel. Later, the Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds were invited to perform in the 2004 London New Year's Parade in London, England. In 2007 the Carmel Marching Band was invited to play on the USS Missouri, and also with the Hawaii's Royal Band. In 2007, the marching band was named Bands of America Regional Champion in Indianapolis and Atlanta, GA. At the 2008 BOA Grand National Finals the marching band won the caption for best music. The marching band was selected to play in the 2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade alongside numerous celebrities, floats, and a few other choice bands. The band has also received an invitation to play in the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade, in Pasadena, California.

Carmel High School also has 6 concert bands and 4 jazz bands, which have produced two state titles. The top concert band, Wind Symphony I, was invited to perform at the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival two times and also performed at the prestigious 2005 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 1999, the Wind Symphony I was named the ISSMA Concert Band State Champion. In 2013, Wind Symphony I claimed a second title.

The program has over 400 students each year.^[5][6][7][8]

Broadcasting

Carmel High School currently operates a local television station, broadcast on Bright House channel 99, and has won best school in the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters 2013-2014. The station's name is CHTV, which stands for Carmel High Television. The radio station, WHJE 91.3 "The Edge" or "The Voice of the Greyhounds" is the 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2012–2013, and 2013-2014 IASB Station of the year, , and is run by the students in three different levels of classes. The first level is radio lab, then radio staff, and finally radio management.^[9] Both the TV station and the radio station broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The TV and Radio station spent a total of 1.2 million dollars on new equipment (2008).

Yearbook

The Pinnacle yearbook is an award-winning student publication, receiving recognition from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and the Indiana High School Press Association.^[10] Additionally, the publication has received the Gold Crown award ^[11] and Indiana Hoosier Star Awards, and has been placed in the Walsworth Publishing Company's Gallery of Excellence. The publication is one of the largest in the United States publishing approximately 500 pages with a staff of 50 students. It also boasts being one of the only yearbooks in the nation to operate an independent website for their journalistic purpose.^[12] Both the website and the "Pinnacle" yearbook are student-run.

Newspaper

The school newspaper, the "HiLite", has received national recognition including a Superior rating from Quill & Scroll, the Hoosier Star award and other general awards from the Indiana High School Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), and several individual awards for "HiLite" staff members. The "HiLite" was a Gold Medalist in the CSPA's annual critique, won a George H. Gallup Award from Quill and Scroll, and has been nominated to be a CSPA Crown finalist for the 2011-2012 publications. The newspaper maintains a staff of 80 students.^[13]

Traditions

Clubs

Due in part to its large size, Carmel High School has many varied clubs. There are over 120 clubs and organizations in the high school. These range in type, with academic clubs such as Academic Super Bowl, Science Olympiad, Brain Game and Math Club; entertainment clubs such as the Chess Club, clubs for innovation including Design for CHS and TedX; Rising Stars the drama club; service clubs like Key Club and Do Something Club, and Student Advocates of Gender Equality. A recently added Ping Pong Club has also attracted many members. Also exists is the CHS Political Discussion Club, a nonpartisan environment club dedicated to discussion and education on the issues of the world today. Many other clubs, such as the Living Hope Club (a club which aids in the fight against female infanticide in eastern nations), also GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) is available for those who wish to talk in a safe environment about their sexuality are available, and students can form clubs by finding a faculty member to sponsor them. Carmel High School is also home to the nation's largest high school dance marathon, which benefits Riley Children's Hospital.^[14]

Robotics Team

Carmel High School has a robotics team called the TechHOUNDS. They participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition with many other high school teams.

Notable alumni

References

External links

• Official website