Natrona County High School

Natrona County High School
Natrona County High School
Address
	930 South Elm Street; Casper, Wyoming 82601; United States
Information
Type	Public secondary
Motto	Every Student, Every Chance, Every Day!
Established	1896
School district	Natrona County School District #1
Principal	Aaron Wilson
Faculty	117.91 (FTE)
Grades	9, 10, 11, 12
Number of students	1,794 (2022-23)
Student to teacher ratio	15.21
Color(s)	Black, Orange and white ;
Mascot	Mustang
Website	Natrona County High School
	Natrona County High School
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	Natrona County High School Location in Wyoming Natrona County High School Location in the United States
Location	930 South Elm Street, Casper, Wyoming
Coordinates	42°50′30″N 106°19′47″W / 42.84167°N 106.32972°W
Area	11 acres (4.5 ha)
Built	1927
Architect	Garbutt, Arthur; Weidner, James
Architectural style	Late Gothic Revival
NRHP reference No.	93001491
Added to NRHP	January 7, 1994

Natrona County High School (NCHS) is a public secondary school (grades 9–12) located in Casper, Wyoming, United States. It serves Natrona County School District #1, which encompasses all of Natrona County, Wyoming.

The school remains a rival of Kelly Walsh High School, one of Casper's other two high schools along with Roosevelt High School. A fourth nearby high school is Midwest School in Midwest, Wyoming.

History and facilities

Natrona County High School was originally known as Casper High School. The current building was constructed between 1924 and 1941 in Collegiate Gothic style. It was partially built under the authority of the Works Progress Administration; the crest of the WPA is visible in the sidewalks on the front campus. In exchange for federal assistance, male student participation in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps was mandatory until a few years after Kelly Walsh High School opened in 1965. The JROTC at NCHS is the second oldest unit in the nation and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014.

The school's swimming pool was built in 1929, making it the first indoor pool for educational purposes in the state. It was demolished in 2014 during renovations to the building. A new swimming pool was opened up during the 2021 - 2022 school year. ^[3]

Natrona County High School was the first campus for Casper College, a community college also located in Natrona County Wyoming, which occupied the upper level of NCHS in the late 1940s, before it had a campus of its own.

Natrona County High School was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 1, 1994.^[4]

In 2010–2011 the Natrona County School District began the process of a major re-design to reconfigure the site and renovate the historic building.^[5]^[6] In early 2012 the state allocated $118 million for the design and construction of the NCHS renovations and expansion.^[7] In July 2012 the state released funds for the design, with construction funds to be released in 2013.^[8] In August 2012 preliminary concepts for the design of the renovated school were presented to the community by Bassetti Architects.^[9]

Dean Kelly resigned as principal in September 2014 after a school district investigation into sexual harassment complaints resulting from a skit performed during hazing and initiation of new teachers before the start of the school year. Kelly did not take part in or directly approve the skit, but took responsibility as the head administrator. Kelly Hornby, executive director for curriculum instruction in Natrona County School District #1, filled the role as Acting Principal following the resignation of Dean Kelly.

Aaron Wilson was hired as the new NCHS Principal at the beginning of the 2021 - 2022 School year following Former Principal Sharon Harris hiring as a superintendent for a school district. ^[10]

Academics

In addition to standard core curriculum, NCHS offers courses in several areas of academic and technical specialty, including Agriculture, Automotive, DECA, FBLA, FFA, and JROTC. NCHS has offered the IB Diploma Program through the IB World School program since 2001.^[11] The program is a comprehensive two-year curriculum for students in grades 11 and 12. Graduates of the program are awarded a high school diploma recognized by universities worldwide.^[12]

Athletics

NCHS offers the following athletic programs:

Alpine skiing - unisex'
Basketball – boys'
Basketball – girls'
Cross country - unisex'
Football - unisex'
Golf - unisex'
Indoor track – boys'
Indoor track – girls'
Nordic skiing
Soccer – boys'
Soccer – girls'
Softball - girls'
Swimming – boys'
Swimming – girls'
Tennis - unisex'
Track – boys'
Track – girls'
Volleyball
Wrestling - boys'
Wrestling - girls'
JROTC Drill

State championships

Boys Cross Country

Class A 1963, 1979, 1981, 1982 ^[13]
Class 4A 2010 ^[14]

Girls Cross Country

Class 4A 1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2018, 2019, 2023 ^[15]

Football

Class AA 1933, 1937, 1939, 1942, 1948, 1951, 1957, 1963, 1975 ^[16]
Class 4A 1985, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018

^[17] Boys Golf

Class AA 1976, 1978, 1981 ^[18]
Class 4A 1993 ^[19]

Girls Golf

Class 4A 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2012, 2013 ^[20]

Boys Tennis

1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005 ^[21]

Girls Tennis

1976, 1977, 1978, 2006, 2011, 2012 ^[22]

Volleyball

Class AA 1976, 1981
Class 4A 1998, 1999, 2007, 2013 ^[23]

Boys Team Alpine Skiing:

1998, 2006, 2007 ^[24] ^[25]
Class AA 1960, 1964^[26]

Boys Basketball:

1939 (Casper)^[27]
Class A (Casper) 1940, 1946, 1949, 1955 ^[28]

Notable alumni

Logan Wilson, Linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals
Taven Bryan, Defensive Tackle for the Cleveland Browns
Dick Cheney (Class of 1959), 46th Vice President of the United States
Lynne Cheney (Class of 1959), wife of Dick Cheney
James A. "Jim" Corbett, co-founder of the Sanctuary movement
Lance Deal, silver medalist for the hammer throw in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia
Kenneth S. Deffeyes, petroleum geologist
Daniel Donche, Jr., novelist, actor, and artist
Peter Junger, computer law professor
Mike Lansing, professional baseball player
Mark Lee, professional baseball player^[29]
Geoffrey Lower, television and movie actor
Joseph B. Meyer, Wyoming attorney general and state treasurer
Guy Padgett, Wyoming's first openly gay mayor
Rev. James Reeb, civil rights activist murdered in Selma, Alabama in 1965
Marlan O. Scully, physicist known for work in theoretical quantum optics
Matthew Shepard, murdered near Laramie, Wyoming in 1998
Floyd Volker, NBA player
Pete Williams, NBC news correspondent

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Natrona County High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
^ "Wrecking ball looms for school's historic pool", Casper Star-Tribune, April 10, 2014, retrieved 2014-12-02
^ Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2011-11-02
^ Natrona Schools Scope of Project. Retrieved 2011-11-02
^ Natrona Schools High School Planning. Retrieved 2011-11-02
^ "Natrona County School District gets $175M for high school projects", Casper Star Tribune, March 7, 2012, retrieved 2012-07-04
^ "School construction money released – Officials wrestle with spending plans", Casper Journal, July 2, 2012, retrieved 2012-07-04
^ Plans for renovated Natrona County High School expand theater stage, replace famed gym", Casper Star Tribune, August 28, 2012, retrieved 2012-08-29
^ "NCHS principal resigns after inappropriate skit", Casper Star-Tribune, September 17, 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-02
^ International Baccalaureate Program. Retrieved 2011-11-02
^ School IB Program webpage. Retrieved 2011-11-02
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/crosscountry/CrossCountryTeamChampions-Boys.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/crosscountry/CrossCountryTeamChampions-Boys.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/crosscountry/CrossCountryTeamChampions-Girls.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/football/StateFootballChampions.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/football/StateFootballChampions.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/golf/GolfChampionsBoys.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/golf/GolfChampionsBoys.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/golf/GolfChampionsGirls.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/tennis/TennisChampionsBoys.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/tennis/TennisChampionsGirls.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/volleyball/VolleyballChampions.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/alpine/ASK-1997-2006.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/alpine/ASK-2007.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/basketball/BB-1918-2007.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/basketball/BB-1918-2007.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.whsaa.org/archives/basketball/BB-1918-2007.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ Cummings, Wayne (May 30, 1993). "Odds: Browning, Deveraux, Lansing take advantage of opportunities to become starting players". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 29 September 2022.

External links

Official site
www.schooltree.org
Natrona County High School at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office
Concept plans for renovation, Casper Star Tribune, August 28, 2012

[NCES-1] "Natrona County High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 27, 2024.

[nris-2] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.

[3] "Wrecking ball looms for school's historic pool", Casper Star-Tribune, April 10, 2014, retrieved 2014-12-02

[4] Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2011-11-02

[5] Natrona Schools Scope of Project. Retrieved 2011-11-02

[6] Natrona Schools High School Planning. Retrieved 2011-11-02

[7] "Natrona County School District gets $175M for high school projects", Casper Star Tribune, March 7, 2012, retrieved 2012-07-04

[8] "School construction money released – Officials wrestle with spending plans", Casper Journal, July 2, 2012, retrieved 2012-07-04

[9] Plans for renovated Natrona County High School expand theater stage, replace famed gym", Casper Star Tribune, August 28, 2012, retrieved 2012-08-29

[10] "NCHS principal resigns after inappropriate skit", Casper Star-Tribune, September 17, 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-02

[11] International Baccalaureate Program. Retrieved 2011-11-02

[12] School IB Program webpage. Retrieved 2011-11-02

[13] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/crosscountry/CrossCountryTeamChampions-Boys.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[14] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/crosscountry/CrossCountryTeamChampions-Boys.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[15] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/crosscountry/CrossCountryTeamChampions-Girls.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[16] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/football/StateFootballChampions.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[17] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/football/StateFootballChampions.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[18] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/golf/GolfChampionsBoys.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[19] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/golf/GolfChampionsBoys.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[20] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/golf/GolfChampionsGirls.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[21] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/tennis/TennisChampionsBoys.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[22] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/tennis/TennisChampionsGirls.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[23] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/volleyball/VolleyballChampions.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[24] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/alpine/ASK-1997-2006.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[25] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/alpine/ASK-2007.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[26] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/basketball/BB-1918-2007.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[27] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/basketball/BB-1918-2007.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[28] ttps://www.whsaa.org/archives/basketball/BB-1918-2007.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[29] Cummings, Wayne (May 30, 1993). "Odds: Browning, Deveraux, Lansing take advantage of opportunities to become starting players". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 29 September 2022.

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v t e National Register of Historic Places in Natrona County, Wyoming
National Historic Landmarks	Independence Rock Tom Sun Ranch
Other historic districts	Casper Army Air Base Fort Caspar South Wolcott Street Historic District TA Ranch Historic District
Other properties	Archeological Site No. 48NA83 Big Horn Hotel Bishop House Bridger Immigrant Road-Waltman Crossing Casper Buffalo Trap Casper Federal Building Casper Fire Department Station No. 1 Casper Motor Company-Natrona Motor Company Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Depot Church of Saint Anthony Consolidated Royalty Building DUX Bessemer Bend Bridge Elks Lodge No. 1353 Grant Street Grocery and Market Martin's Cove Masonic Temple Midwest Oil Company Hotel Natrona County High School North Casper Clubhouse Odd Fellows Building Ohio Oil Company Building Pathfinder Dam Rialto Theater Roosevelt School Split Rock, Twin Peaks Stone Ranch Stage Station Teapot Rock Townsend Hotel Tribune Building
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Natrona County, Wyoming and List of National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF
National	United States
Geographic	NCES