Wilkes Central High School
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| Wilkes Central High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
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| , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1953 |
| Principal | Dr. Dion Stocks |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Color(s) | Forest Green and Gold |
| Mascot | Eagle |
| Yearbook | The Golden Eagle |
| Website | www |
Wilkes Central High School is a public high school (grades 9–12) located in Moravian Falls, North Carolina. It is a part of the Wilkes County Schools system. The school's enrollment is typically around 1,000 students. The school's district includes the towns of Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro as well as the southern regions of Wilkes County. The current principal of the school is Dr. Dion Stocks. Wilkes Central has the largest enrollment of Wilkes County's five public high schools.
History
Wilkes Central High School was formed in 1953 from a merger of Wilkesboro High School and North Wilkesboro High School. The school's first campus was located on the southern bank of the Yadkin River in Wilkesboro, the county seat. In 1981 the school moved to a new campus in the community of Moravian Falls, located just south of Wilkesboro in the foothills of the Brushy Mountains. In 1965 Wilkes Central became the first high school in Wilkes County to be racially integrated; that year several students from Wilkes County's all-black high school (called Lincoln Heights) began attending Wilkes Central.
Academics
A normal school day consists of four 90-minute blocks with two 30 minute lunch periods after second block, also known as "Smart Lunch"
The school offers career preparation classes and college preparation classes. It offers Honors mathematics, English, and science courses. Wilkes Central also offers Advanced Placement courses in subjects such as History, Calculus and English. The language department offers courses in Spanish, Latin, and French. Wilkes Central is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, also known as SACS. The school yearbook is called The Golden Eagle; the school newspaper is called The Talon.
Athletics
Wilkes Central's sports mascot is the Eagle. Wilkes Central is a member of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and is classified as a 2A school. The school is a member of the Mountain Valley Athletic Conference, which includes 1A and 2A schools from Wilkes County and neighboring counties in North Carolina. The school's colors are forest green and gold.
State Champions
- 2A Women's Tennis Team State Champions (2002)
- 2A Men's Soccer State Champions (2005)
- Many Individual Men and Women Cross Country and Track and Field State Champions
- 2015 NCHSAA Women's Basketball State Championships - 2A (http://www.journalpatriot.com/sports/wilkes-central-wins-a-state-championship/article_1d2e0bee-ca78-11e4-b080-17ae75cd87cd.html).
Recent athletic achievements since 2000 include conference championships in football, men's soccer, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's cross country, women's basketball, men's tennis, women's soccer, and men's swimming.
Notable alumni
- Bruce Bowers, (born 1948), national award winning television news reporter and documentary filmmaker THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY: A LONG & WINDING ROAD
- Mary Cochran Spainhour, top 10 finalist in the Miss North Carolina Pagent in 1955
- Deneen Graham, (born 1964), the first black woman to be crowned Miss North Carolina (in 1983)
- Zach Galifianakis, (born 1969), actor and stand-up comedian
- Shirrel Rhoades, (born 1942), former executive vice-president of Marvel Entertainment and publisher of Marvel Comics
- John Swofford, (born 1948), Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) since 1997; Athletic Director of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1980 to 1997. Has also served as the Chairman of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in college football.
- William Oliver Swofford (1945–2000), pop singer known as "Oliver", recorded two hit singles in 1969, "Good Morning Starshine" and "Jean"; older brother of John Swofford
See also
List of high schools in North Carolina