Fayette County High School (Georgia)

Fayette County High School is located in Fayetteville, Georgia, United States. It was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1999[2] and a Georgia School of Excellence in 2000.[3] The school enrolls approximately 1,322 students in grades 9-12. Fayette County High is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school's mascot is a tiger.

Fayette County High School
Address
1 Tiger Trail

Fayetteville
,
Georgia
30214

United States
Coordinates33.451677°N 84.45844°W / 33.451677; -84.45844
Information
TypePublic secondary
Established1929
School districtFayette County School District
PrincipalYolanda Briggs-Johnson
Teaching staff92.00 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,398 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio15.20[1]
CampusSuburban
Color(s)Black and Vegas Gold        
AthleticsFootball, Basketball, Baseball, Wrestling, LAX, Track & Field, Golf, Volleyball, Soccer, Swimming, and Riflery
MascotTiger
RivalsMcIntosh High School; Griffin High School (historic rival)
WebsiteFayette County High School

Academics

The school graduates over ninety percent of its attendees. Its students' standardized test scores often exceed state and national testing averages.[4][5] Most graduates who go to college attend in-state schools, particularly Agnes Scott College, Emory, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, and Morehouse College.[6]

History

Fayette County High School is at its fourth location. The first two buildings burned: the first in the 1930s, and the second on March 4, 1954.[7] Before 1954, Fayette County offered no secondary education to its African-American citizens. After the 1954 fire, Fayette County built two high schools in different locations: the white Fayette County High School on Lafayette Avenue, and the black Fayette County Training School on Booker Avenue. When Georgia integrated its public schools in 1969, black students moved to Fayette County High, and the old Fayette County Training School became Eastside Elementary School. In the mid-1990s, Fayette County High moved into a new campus across Tiger Trail from the old school. The building that had housed FCHS from 1955 to 1995 is now home to Fayette Community School. For about twenty years after the 1954 fire, Fayette County's football team played home games on a field behind the remains of the burned school building. The field has been converted into the school system's school bus parking lot. The current football field's concrete home stands were constructed in the late 1970s. In 2016, Tiger Stadium received an upgraded pressbox and restrooms on the home side, and all-new away stands. In 2017, all of Fayette County's public high schools installed artificial turf fields at their football stadiums.

Fine arts

In the 1990s, the band, choral, orchestra, and drama departments received awards on the local, state, regional, and national levels.[8][9]

The choral department's Select Chorus performed in Europe in 1999.[10]

The FCHS band program came to national recognition under the direction of Eastman School of Music graduate and master teacher Kenneth F. Beard Sr. The program is now under the direction of Dr. Myra Rhoden and Andrew McMillen, and has continued this long tradition of excellence. The 200-member marching band is among Georgia's most successful programs, with a reputation for staging highly entertaining field shows that annually win state and regional championships. The Marching Tigers have been a Bands of America regional finalist multiple times. The band performed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony, the 2005 London New Year's Day Parade, the 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif, and returned for the 2009 London New Year's Parade. Matthew McCord is the drum major instructor. He has served with the program since 1996. John D. Duncan directs the color guard and winter guard programs.[11][12] The fight song that the band plays after touchdowns is the Tiger Rag, a common fight song for schools with Tiger mascots. Auburn, Clemson, and LSU all use the Tiger Rag in some capacity.

Athletics
Fayette County High School gym

The school colors are black and Vegas gold. The Tigers send competitors to state playoffs in baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling on a regular basis.

In 2008, the girls' and boys' varsity basketball teams both played in the State Championship Finals.

Football

The 1980 team (10-2) was ranked #4 at season's end by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The 2007 varsity team was the most successful in school history, going undefeated in the regular season and earning Region Champion honors. The Tigers advanced to the second round of the state playoffs, losing to Bainbridge at home and finishing the season 11–1, ranked 6th in the state.

Wrestling

The 2007–2008 wrestling team were the Region 4-AAAA Champions.

The 2010 Tiger wrestling squad won the Area 5-AAAA Duals title.[13]

Girls' basketball

The Fayette County Lady Tigers basketball team first rose to prominence in the mid-1980s, when current Hofstra University Head Basketball Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey starred for FCHS.[14] In the mid-2000s, longtime Fayette County High Head Track Coach John Strickland took over as head varsity girls' basketball coach. The Lady Tigers advanced to the Class AAAA state championship game in both 2008 and 2009, falling to Southwest Dekalb both times.[15]

Boys' basketball

The Fayette County boys' basketball team achieved a high level of success in 2006, with a 27-0 record.

Softball

The Lady Tigers softball team won the 2002 Class AAAAA Championship. Ashley Holcombe, a member of the 2002 state title team, went on to star at Alabama and made Team USA in 2009 and 2010.[16]

Debate

One of the most decorated activities at the school is the Speech & Debate Team. The Fayette County Debate Team has won Region Championship every year but three since 1988. In the 2008–2009 season, the debate team won the GFCA AAAA Policy Debate State Championship[17] and GFCA Lincoln Douglas State Championship.[18]

Notable alumni
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References
  1. "Fayette County High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  2. Fayette High honored with Blue Ribbon School status Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 8, 2000
  3. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND: Latest listings surprise educators Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 21, 2003
  4. Report Card on Public Schools: Fayette grads outnumber state average Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 11, 2003
  5. Fayette leads metro in latest SAT scores Atlanta Journal-Constitution, AUgust 29, 1996
  6. College, Morehouse. "Morehouse College - Home". morehouse.edu.
  7. "Emergency Quarters Serving School After Disastrous Fire Last Week". The Fayette County News (36). 11 March 1954.
  8. School Watch Profile: Fayette County High School Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 30, 1997
  9. Education Notebook: Newnan High student wins art contest Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 1, 1999
  10. Fayette High's singers heading for Europe Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 9, 1999
  11. Upbeat about going Down Under: Fayette band off to Olympics Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 31, 2000
  12. Band offers doughnuts for fund-raiser Archived 2014-12-09 at the Wayback Machine The Citizen, November 21, 2006
  13. Around the Region... By Trey Alverson, Fayette County News, January 15, 2009
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. Lady Tigers fall short by Trey Alverson, Fayette County News, March 17, 2009
  16. Holcombe returns to Team USA By Trey Alverson, Fayette County News, January 28, 2010
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-04-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-03-21. Retrieved 2009-04-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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