School type Public High School Grades 9-12 Athletics conference UIL Class AAAA Mascot Rough Riders Color Purple & Gold | Principal Matthew Gregory Enrollment 646 (2012-2013) Rival Carthage High School Number of students 646 (2012–2013) | |
District Center Independent School District | ||
Center High School is a public, 4-year high school located in Center, Texas and is classified as a 4A school by the University Interscholastic League. It is part of the Center Independent School District and is located in central Shelby County, Texas. In 2015, the school was rated Met Standard.
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In 2013, U.S. News & World Report gave Center High School a bronze medal and named the school one of the best high schools in the nation.
History
Center High School dates back prior to 1900 as "Center School". The earliest graduating class dates back to 1903 with a graduating class of six people.
The original high school building is the current middle school building. The building was built back in 1939. The building also caught fire in 1963, but did not burn the entire school down.
The current high school building has a new wing specifically designed for career learning opportunities such as culinary, graphic design, business, etc.
Athletics
The school is home to the Center Roughriders. The team name comes from the Rough Riders, but is spelled without a space.
The Center Roughriders compete in the following sports:
Key: * - has been to state within the past decade.
The current Athletic Director for Center is Barry Bowman. Bowman coached Daingerfield High School in 2008 to 2010. While at Daingerfield, the school won a state championship.
Band
The Roughrider Band is an award winning band program currently under the direction of Chris Smith and Patrick Conn. The marching band has received 1's at marching contest by a panel of judges. To get a 1 is the highest honor.
The band also participates in the National Association of Military Marching Band (NAAMB) competition where the school competes against other 4A schools to place.
The band is frequently referred to as "The Pride of Shelby County".
Theater Arts
The Center High School theater department is active in the UIL One Act Play competition. The director of the theater department is Center High School alumnus, Christopher Watlington.
In 2015, the CHS Theater Department put on the show God (play) by Woody Allen for UIL One Act Play. The show made it to Area and placed as alternate. The lead actor, Chris Caudle, won "Best Actor" at both District and Bi-District competitions. Austin Wright was awarded "All Star Cast" and Braden Wood was awarded "Honorable Mention" at both meets, respectively.
The theater department also puts on an annual Christmas play as well as a traditional production called "Center Stage". The earliest documented Center play dates back to 1930.
Spirit Organizations
The school has Varsity and Junior Varsity cheerleading. The mascot, Rowdy the Rough Rider, is typically worn by an upperclassman.
The school's award winning dance team is known as The Chapparals.
The Twirlers perform at half-time during the football games before the marching band performs. The twirlers date back as far as 1951.