Carroll County High School (Virginia)

Carroll County High School is located in Carroll County, Virginia, just outside the Hillsville town limits. Carroll County High School is a three-year, public, comprehensive high school with a full range of curriculum offerings in academic and vocational subjects. The current enrollment of Carroll County High School is 1158 students.

History

The school began its first session in 1969-70 with the consolidation of Woodlawn High School (Woodlawn, Virginia) and Hillsville High School (Hillsville, Virginia), and has had an average of approximately 1000 students each year.

In 1993, the entire county school system was restructured so that all 8th and 9th graders are housed at Carroll County Intermediate School located in the renovated building that was the old Hillsville High School. Carroll County Intermediate School and Carroll County High School work closely together in curriculum and instruction and in extra and co-curricular activities. Both have adopted the Cavalier as the school mascot.

In 2013, all the students of Woodlawn Middle School moved into the Carroll County Intermediate. The Intermediate School, then changed its name to Carroll County Middle School.

Community

While Carroll County High School serves basically a rural community, the student body represents a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. With an increased number of people transferring to local industries, retiring to a beautiful mountain climate and moving from urban to rural areas, Carroll County High School has received students from outside the traditional county population. These students have helped diversify the cultural and social experiences of the student body.

Facilities

The building at Carroll County High School is structured into a vocational wing and an academic wing on two stories. The library/media center is located on the second floor central to both wings. A greenhouse for the horticulture program and the JROTC unit are located in buildings adjacent to the main building. There is a lighted football/soccer field with a track and lighted tennis courts. The school also has separate softball and baseball fields with bleachers.

Staff

Carroll County High School is administered by a principal, two assistant principals and a full-time activities/athletic director. Three counselors serve the student body.

Courses

The academic curricula at CCHS covers a broad spectrum of courses not only in all the basic core curriculum areas but also areas of fine arts, PE, and foreign language. The vocational courses include traditional areas of graphic communications, auto service technology, work and family studies, cosmetology, agriculture, business, marketing, small engine repair, building trades, and manufacturing technology. Four Tech Prep curricula in electronics, drafting, licensed practical nursing, and office systems technology are offered in conjunction with Wytheville Community College. The Crossroads Educational Consortium, comprising WCC and the localities of its service area, is the funding agency for the Tech Prep initiative.

A full range of educational services and settings are provided for students of the school. Inclusion, resource and self-contained classes are offered for students identified as Learning Disabled, Emotionally Disturbed, or Educable Mentally Retarded. Additionally, there is one class of Trainable Mentally Retarded and Educable Mentally Retarded students, many of whom attend school part of the day and attend work adjustment training at the local Industrial Development Center the remainder of the day. Transportation to and from work is provided by the school system. A Severe and Profoundly Disabled class includes students who reside at the Southwest Virginia Training Center.

Alternative education

A regional alternative education program was opened in the fall of 1996 at the Joy Ranch School. This program serves students from Carroll and Galax, who for whatever reason cannot succeed in the regular school setting.

Night school is offered both at CCHS and at Galax High School. The CCHS program serves a group of students who are unable to attend the regular day program. The regional night school at Galax High School is designed to serve those students who have dropped out of school previously and need no more than four core credits for graduation. Diplomas are awarded from the school of attendance for those students completing this program.

Post-secondary students

At the other end of the educational continuum, approximately 60% of the graduating seniors enter post-secondary education with about 20% of the total entering four-year colleges. Many students earn college credit while in high school through a dual enrolment option with Wytheville Community College. Some students are scheduling both college and high school courses in the same semester, for example, a student may take one or two courses at CCHS in the morning and travel to Radford University or another college for afternoon or night courses.

Community ties

Beyond the regular school program, Carroll County High School is an integral part of the community and provides additional services to both the student population and the general public. The school serves as a regional site for Wytheville Community College, as a meeting place for local groups. The gym and auditorium facilities are used by a wide variety of groups and individuals on a weekly and often daily basis.

Graduation rates

Approximately 51 percent of the population are high school graduates. In 1972, when the first self-study for CCHS was completed, 16.2 percent of the parents of high school students had graduated from high school; in 1981, a similar study of parents of high school students, showed 43% were high school graduates. While not a scientific comparison, it is apparent that the dropout rates are decreasing and students are staying in school to obtain their diplomas.

References

External links

• CCHS Official Site
• Carroll County Public Schools
• Chillsnet - Official Site for Carroll County & Hillsville, VA