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Charlotte High School (Punta Gorda, Florida)

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This article is about the educational facility in Punta Gorda, Florida. For the similarily named school in Port Charlotte, see Port Charlotte High School.

Charlotte High School
Aerial image of the Charlotte High School campus
Address
Map
1250 Cooper Street

Punta Gorda
,
Florida

USA
Information
TypeFree public secondary
Established1926
PrincipalBernard Duffy
Grades9–12
Number of students1,977 (as of 2009-10)[2]
Campus size325,000 square feet (30,200 m2)[1]
Color(s)Blue and gold    
MascotFighting Tarpons
Websitehttp://chs.ccps.k12.fl.us/
Charlotte High School
Main building after hurricane, prior to deconstruction
Charlotte High School (Punta Gorda, Florida) is located in Florida
Charlotte High School (Punta Gorda, Florida)
Architectural styleMasonry Vernacular with Neo-Classical elements[4]
NRHP reference No.90001796[3]
Added to NRHPDecember 12, 1990

Charlotte High School is a historic public high school in Punta Gorda, Florida, United States serving ninth through twelfth grade students. The school is part of the Charlotte County Public Schools district, with admission based primarily on the locations of students' homes. Established in 1926, Charlotte High is located at 1250 Cooper Street. The school carries the slogan of "Charlotte County's First and Finest" since it remained the only high school in Charlotte County, Florida for many years[5] until its top rival schools, Port Charlotte High School and Lemon Bay High School, respectively, were built. With 1,977 students, Charlotte High School is the second largest high school in Charlotte County by student population.[6] Enrollment was traditionally based on students' geographic locations,[7]

On December 12, 1990, the main three-story building was added to the United States' National Register of Historic Places.[3] This building was reopened to students in April 2009 after suffering from severe damage due to Hurricane Charley.[citation needed] The rest of the campus is currently being rebuilt in five phases at a cost of at least $87 million with an expected completion date in mid-2010.[1]

History

Punta Gorda Grammar and High School had an enrollment of 150 students when it open in 1928. Construction of a new school on Taylor Street began in 1911 due to overcrowding issues. However, by 1926 after the construction of the first bridge to cross Charlotte Harbor, busing increased Punta Gorda's enrollment to 1,000 which in turn lead to the construction of Charlotte High School.[8]

The fighting tarpon with its boxing gloves was designed in 1959. The class of 1959 claims to have introduced the fighting tarpon logo.[9]

Hurricane Charley and its aftermath

Hurricane Charley hit the Punta Gorda area at the beginning of the school year on August 13, 2004 as a Category 4 hurricane, causing major damage to the high school. After seventeen days of hiatus, the students attended Port Charlotte High School during the 12:45 - 6 p.m. afternoon shift[10] for most of the 2004-2005 school year. Afterwards, the students were moved back on campus to portables.[11] Charlotte High was one of the six schools in the county that were destroyed or heavily damaged[12] however the cafeteria, one of the gyms and the auditorium, CPAC, still remained intact.

Despite the severe damage the three-story main building sustained, it was decided to try to save this historical landmark. The plan incorporated this building to have its entire interior to be redone, but its facade will remain and the rest of the campus will be built around its neoclassical style. A ceremony took place in late May 2007 for the groundbreaking of the aforementioned building and the new facility that will group up to 1,800 students by class and provide a courtyard inside the linked structures. Harvard Jolly is the architectural firm working on the project.[11]

The History Channel's inaugural Save Our History Grant was awarded in 2005 to the Charlotte County Historical Society, in partnership with high school students from Charlotte High School and Port Charlotte High School. Putting aside academic and athletic rivalry, the students collaborated to preserve their community's experience through oral history.[13]

Extra curricular activities

Charlotte High School has a Student Government Association, Interact Club, Key Club, National Honor Society, Scholars' Club, SAPS Club, School Spirit Club (known as the "Blue Crew"), Bowling Club, Future Educators of America, Future Farmers of America, Letterman's Club, Mock Trial Team School Newspaper, Renaissance Club, Student Fitness Club, Scrapbook Club, Academic Team, Art Club, DCT Club, Foreign Language Club, Forum Club, Hospitality Club, Spirit Shop, Model United Nations, Mu Alpha Theta Club, NJROTC Unit, Drama Club, USAD Club, WCHS, Yearbook Club, Marching Band, and Chorus.[14] The school also has a Cheerleading Team (varsity, junior varsity), Cross Country Team (boys and girls separated), Football team (varsity, junior varsity, and freshman), golf team (boys and girls separated), swimming/diving team, basketball team (varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen; boys and girls separated), soccer team (varsity; boys and girls separated), weightlifting team (boys and girls separated), wrestling team (varsity and junior varsity), baseball team (varsity and junior varsity), softball team (varsity and junior varsity), tennis team (boys and girls separated), and track team (boys and girls separated).[15]

Academics

The school has received a "D" rating from the Florida Department of Education for the 2008-2009 school year. The school has received ratings ranging from "B" to "D" from 1999 to 2008. This rating is based on the school's overall performance on the FCAT.[16]

Criticisms

Charlotte High School has been known by the community, including its parents and students, to be more involved with athletics than academics.[17] It is the only school in Charlotte County to have never received an A from the state, and it is the only school in Charlotte County to have ever received a grade lower than a C.[18] Some have also complained about the fact that the rebuilding of the school's football field was prioritized over the actual school itself.[19] Some local residents feel that the local government is spending more money than needed on Charlotte High School. Some also feel that the rebuilding process is taking longer than it should.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ a b Dale, Kevin (2007-05-24). "A new day for Charlotte High". Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
  2. ^ "2006/2007 Demographic Makeup By School of Attendance". Your Charlotte County Public Schools. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  3. ^ a b "FLORIDA - Charlotte County". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 2006-09-25.
  4. ^ "Florida's History Through Its Places - Charlotte County". Myflorida.com. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  5. ^ "About Charlotte High School". Tarpon Alumni. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
  6. ^ "Demographic Makeup By School of Attendance". Charlotte County Public Schools. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
  7. ^ "School Locator". Charlotte County Public Schools. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  8. ^ "Our History". Your Charlotte County Public Schools. Retrieved 2007-03-31.
  9. ^ See 1959 Charlotte High School Year Book, cheerleaders section, art teacher Patadams designed the tarpon flag and drew the fighting tarpon on it
  10. ^ Tierney, Dan (2004-08-25). "School times set". Sun-Herald. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  11. ^ a b Quinn, Carolyn (2007-05-24). "Charlotte High begins rebuilding". Sun-Herald. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  12. ^ Alain Jehlen / Dave Winans (2004). "NEA Today Storm Season". National Education Association. Retrieved 2007-02-04. In Charlotte County, where 6 of 21 schools were destroyed or heavily damaged, students were forced to attend the remaining safe schools in shifts. Some started as early as 6 a.m.: others ended as late as 7:10 p.m. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  13. ^ "Historical Society Receives Save Our History Grant" (PDF). Florida Preservation News. Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources. 2005. p. 5. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  14. ^ "Student Activities". Charlotte High School. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  15. ^ "2008 – 2009 Coaches" (PDF). Charlotte High School. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  16. ^ "School Level Details". Florida Department of Education. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
  17. ^ "Parent Reviews of Charlotte High School". Greatschools Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  18. ^ "School Accountability Reports". Florida Department of Education. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  19. ^ "Parent Reviews of Charlotte High School Page 2". Greatschools Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
  20. ^ Maffezzoli, Dennis (2007-05-25). "Corsaletti gets taste of majors with Rocket". Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
  21. ^ Maffezzoli, Dennis (2007-06-08). "Milwaukee Brewers selects LaPorta". News-Press. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  22. ^ Scott, Anna (2006-01-10). "James Lawless, former schools superintendent, dies at 86". Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  23. ^ "5 SFWL players named to State All-Time Prep Football Top 100". MSNBC. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  24. ^ Fineran, John. "Baseball's return tops 2006 stories". Sun-Herald. Retrieved 2007-05-25.

External links

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