Mena High School

Mena High School is an accredited public secondary school located in Mena, Arkansas, United States. The school provides comprehensive education to more than 550 students annually in grades nine through twelve. Mena High School is the largest of four public high schools in Polk County and is the sole high school administered by the Mena School District.

Mena High School
Address
700 South Morrow St

Mena
,
Arkansas
71953

United States
Coordinates34°34′49″N 94°13′16″W
Information
TypePublic secondary
EstablishedAugust 1922 (1922-Aug)
School districtMena School District
NCES District ID0509750[1]
CEEB code040650
NCES School ID050975000713[2]
PrincipalShane Torix
Faculty47.35 (on FTE basis)[2]
Grades9–12
Enrollment511 (2016-17)[3]
Student to teacher ratio11.89[2]
Campus typeRural; distant[2]
Color(s)     Black
     Red
Athletics conference4A Region 7
SportsFootball, Marching Band, Volleyball, Golf, Cross Country, Bowling, Basketball, Cheer, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Tennis, Athletics
MascotBearcat
Team nameMena Bearcats
AccreditationArkansas Department of Education
AdvancED (1930–)
USNWR ranking     Bronze Medalist
AffiliationsArkansas Activities Association
Websitehs.menaschools.org

History

In 1975, two female students were expelled from Mena High School after spiking the punch at a party with two bottles of beer. Feeling the punishment was excessive, the students took legal action, and the case was eventually heard by the Supreme Court of the United States, which ruled that school boards have a responsibility to assure that the constitutional rights of students are upheld.[4]

Academics

The assumed course of study for students is to complete the Smart Core curriculum developed by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), which requires students complete at least 22 units for graduation. Students complete regular (core and career focus) courses and exams and may select Advanced Placement classes and exams with opportunities for college credit via AP exam. As of 2008–09, Mena High School offered 14 programs of study in career and technical education in 12 career pathways as determined by the Arkansas Department of Career Education.[5] The school is accredited by the ADE and has been accredited by AdvancED since 1930.[6]

Mena High School was nationally recognized as a Bronze Medalist in the Best High Schools Report 2012 by U.S. News & World Report.[7]

Fine arts

Students may participate in various musical and performing arts including: band (e.g., concert band, jazz band), choir (e.g., a cappella, barbershop quartet, beautyshop quartet) and theater (e.g., competitive speech, drama, stagecraft). Students may participate in Art Club. The high school conducts on and off campus performances including at Mena's Ouachita Little Theatre.[8]

Extracurricular activities

The Mena High School mascot is the Bearcat with the school colors of red and black.

Athletics

For the 2012–14 seasons, the Mena Bearcats participate in the 4A Classification within the 4A Region 4 Conference as sanctioned by the Arkansas Activities Association with student-athletes competing in football, volleyball, baseball, basketball (boys/girls), cross country (boys/girls), bowling (boys/girls), cheer, golf (boys/girls), soccer (boys/girls), softball, tennis (boys/girls), track and field (boys/girls).[9]

  • Football: Home football games are played at Randall Whorton Field at Boyd Stadium. The Mena Bearcats won a state football championship in 1976, and were state runner up in 2014.

Clubs and traditions

Mena students participate in a variety of clubs and organization, which provide membership, activities, events and conferences, including Art Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Library Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).

Notable alumni

The following are notable people associated with Mena High School. If the person was a Mena High School student, the number in parentheses indicates the year of graduation; if the person was a faculty or staff member, that person's title and years of association are included:

  • Norris "Tuffy" Goff (1924)—Comedian in radio and film known for his portrayal of Abner Peabody on the rural comedy Lum and Abner.
  • Chester Lauck (1920)—Comedian in radio and film known for his portrayal of Lum Edwards on the rural comedy Lum and Abner.
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References
  1. "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Mena School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  2. "Search for Public Schools - Mena High School (050975000713)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  3. "MENA HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  4. "School 'Rights'". The Robesonian. March 3, 1975.
  5. "Vocational Report Card 2008–09, Mena High School" (PDF). Arkansas Department of Career Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 1, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  6. "Institution Summary, Mena High School". AdvancED. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  7. "Best High Schools Report 2012". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  8. "Welcome to the Ouachita Little Theatre Website". Ouachita Little Theatre. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  9. "School Profile, Mena High School". Arkansas Activities Association. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
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