Ozark High School (Arkansas)

Ozark High School is a comprehensive public high school for students in grades 10 through 12 located in Ozark, Arkansas, United States. Ozark High School is the only high school of the Ozark School District in western Arkansas serving most of northern Franklin County and a small portion of western Johnson County. The district, most notably the high school, is most famous for its mascot, the Hillbilly. Patrons claim that Ozark is the only district in the Union with the Hillbilly as its mascot, though both the nickname and comparable likenesses are used by other schools. However, Ozark is the only district to use the nickname and likeness together.

The high school benefits from the district's membership in the Western Arkansas Educational Service Cooperative (WAESC), which was formed to assist school districts to work collectively and maximize educational funding by providing shared services to schools and students in western Arkansas.

Academics

The assumed course of study follows the Smart Core curriculum developed by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), which requires students complete at least 22 units prior to graduation. Students complete regular coursework and exams and may take Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exam with the opportunity to receive college credit.

In 2012, Ozark High School was listed unranked in the Best High Schools Report developed by U.S. News & World Report.^[3] Also in 2012, an Ozark High School student was recognized as a Presidential Scholars Program candidate.^[4]

Extracurricular activities

Mascot and colors

The high school emblem (mascot) and colors have been shared by all schools in the district. The Hillbilly, which is almost always depicted in purple overalls and armed with a shotgun, was adopted as the school emblem in 1935. Purple and gold were adopted as the school colors the same year, replacing the red and white that had been used. The mascot and colors were similar to that of what was then the College of the Ozarks, whose mascot was the Mountaineer until the 1980s.

The original mascot was the Bulldogs until the 1930s when the school board voted to change it to the Hillbilly. In 2008, the high school baseball team tried to revive the original logo and colors, displaying the original "OHS" logo on their baseball hats which symbolizes a large "O" representing a baseball with an "H" in the middle symbolizing the seams on the baseball and then the letter "S".

Athletics

The Ozark Hillbillies compete in interscholastic activities within the 4A Classification administered by the Arkansas Activities Association. The Hillbillies play within the 4A Region 1 Conference. Ozark fields varsity teams in football, golf (boys/girls), basketball (boys/girls), cross country (boys/girls), cheer, bowling (boys/girls), baseball, fastpitch softball, track and field (boys/girls).^[2]

For 2012–14, members of the 4A Region 1 Conference include:

• Berryville Bobcats
• Farmington Cardinals
• Gentry Pioneers
• Gravette Lions
• Lincoln Wolves
• Ozark Hillbillies
• Pea Ridge Blackhawks
• Prairie Grove Tigers

State championships

The Hillbillies boys cross country team won four state championships between 1970 and 1980. The girls golf team won consecutive state championships in 2002 and 2003 and the boys golf team won a state title in 2008. The Ozark girls basketball team, led by Sarah Pfeifer recognized as female high school athlete of the year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, won consecutive state titles in 2000 and 2001 and were state runner-up in 2002. In 2001, Sarah Pfeifer tossed the shot put 40'-10", which remains an Arkansas state record.^[5][6]

Clubs and traditions

Students participate in a variety of clubs and organizations that offer community service projects, competitions, scholarships and networking to include Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), FCCLA, Quiz Bowl, SkillsUSA, Student Council.

References

1. 1 2 3 4 "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Ozark High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 29 October 2012. 
2. 1 2 3 "School Profile, Ozark High School". Arkansas Activities Association. Retrieved 30 October 2012. 
3. 1 2 "Best High Schools 2012". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 29 October 2012. 
4. ↑ "Presidential Scholars Program 2012" (PDF). U.S. Department of Education (ED). Retrieved 30 October 2012. 
5. ↑ "Arkansas High School Sports Record Book" (PDF). Arkansas Activities Association. Retrieved 30 October 2012. 
6. ↑ Smith, Bill (14 August 2004). "Sarah Preifer, bio". University of Arkansas. Retrieved 30 October 2012. 

External links

• Official website
• Ozark School District website