Natrona County High School

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.

Natrona County High School
Address
930 South Elm Street

Casper
,
Wyoming
82601

United States
Information
TypePublic secondary
MottoPride in Excellence
Established1896
School districtNatrona County School District #1
PrincipalShannon Harris
Faculty110.36 (FTE)[1]
Grades9, 10, 11, 12
Number of students1,684 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio15.26[1]
Color(s)Black, orange and white
            
MascotMustang
WebsiteNatrona County High School
Natrona County High School
Natrona County High School
Location in Wyoming
Natrona County High School
Location in the United States
Location930 South Elm Street, Casper, Wyoming
Coordinates42°50′30″N 106°19′47″W
Area11 acres (4.5 ha)
Built1927
ArchitectGarbutt, Arthur; Weidner, James
Architectural styleLate Gothic Revival
NRHP reference No.93001491[2]
Added to NRHPJanuary 7, 1994

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.

The drama department has the distinction of being home to International Thespian Society Troupe 1. NCHS is an International Baccalaureate World School.

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.[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, will fill the role of acting principal until a new principal is hired.[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
  • Basketball – boys'
  • Basketball – girls'
  • Cross country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Indoor track – boys'
  • Indoor track – girls'
  • Nordic skiing
  • Soccer – boys'
  • Soccer – girls'
  • Swimming – boys'
  • Swimming – girls'
  • Tennis
  • Track – boys'
  • Track – girls'
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling
  • JROTC Drill

Notable alumni
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References
  1. "Natrona County High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  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
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