Easley High School

Last updated
Easley High School
Address
Easley High School
154 Green Wave Boulevard

29640

United States
Coordinates 34°47′22″N82°34′57″W / 34.78944°N 82.58250°W / 34.78944; -82.58250
Information
Other nameEHS
Type Public high school
MottoCharacter First, then Scholarship
School districtSchool District of Pickens County
NCES School ID 450333000902 [1]
PrincipalJosh Oxendine
Teaching staff95.00 (on an FTE basis) [1]
Grades 912
Enrollment1,904 (20222023) [1]
Student to teacher ratio20.04 [1]
Color(s)Kelly green and white
  
Athletics conferenceSouth Carolina High School League Division 5AAAAA Region I
Nickname Green Wave
Website ehs.pickens.k12.sc.us

Easley High School (EHS) is a public high school in Easley, South Carolina, founded in 1909. The original auditorium is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Contents

History

The school was built on Russell street in 1909, then relocated to a new building in 1938. [2] The 1909 building, which is noted as an early example of steel-beam construction, [3] is on the National Register of Historic Places. [4] [5] In 2008, construction began on a new building to replace the 1938 facility. [6]

In 1923, the school won the first state championship in livestock judging. [7]

In 1983 it was determined that asbestos levels in the cafeteria posed a serious threat to the health of students and faculty. [8] In 1986 a fund-raising drive raised $186,000 to renovate the auditorium. [9] [10] In 2006, it was reported that the school faced the possibility of staffing problems, with over 40% of existing staff eligible for retirement within five years. [11] In 2010, the school was closed due to the presence of excessive mold., [12] the second time mold issues had come up. [13] In 2015, due to disruption caused by the display of a confederate flag, the school banned flying flags in the school parking lot. After a student was ticketed for displaying a POW/MIA flag, the school updated the rules to allow the American, state, and school flags. [14] In 2016 a teacher was fired for presenting sexual content in a literature class, resulting in a student protest. [15] In 2017 the school faced a title 9 investigation for discriminating against a transgender student, as well as firing a teacher for supporting the student. [16] In 2020 the school initiated a unique program to train students in mental health first aid. [17]

Integration

Before 1969, Black students were not allowed to attend Easley, but went to all-Black Clear View High School, while Easley served white students only. In 1964, the Supreme Court ruled that schools must be integrated. In 1967, The HEW visited Pickens County, and found that they failed to comply with the law. The county school board eventually approved a plan that would close all Black schools, except one elementary school, and would prohibit busing students out of their neighborhood to maintain segregation. [18] [19] [20] In 1974, the school was sued for discriminating against a Black teacher and against Black students. [21]

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

Marching band

In 2018, the school won the state championship in marching band. [30]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

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References

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  2. "Old Easley High on 11th-hour list". The Greenville News. 17 May 1997. p. 29.
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  4. "Easley High School old building on the National Register of Historic Places". The Greenville News. 30 September 2003. p. 45.
  5. South Carolina SP Easley High School Auditorium. File Unit: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: South Carolina, 1/1/1964 - 12/31/2013. Retrieved June 2, 2022.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  6. "Easley High School construction in 2008". The Greenville News. April 2008. p. 143.
  7. "Judging contest held at Clemson". Columbia, South Carolina: The State. June 12, 1023. p. 9. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  8. Six, Anne (May 16, 1983). "Easley High School has traces of fibers". Greenville News. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  9. "Renovating Easley High School auditorium". The Greenville News. 25 April 1986. p. 18.
  10. "Easley High School auditorium donations". The Greenville News. 18 July 1986. p. 15.
  11. Edwards, Lindsay (2 February 2006). "Pickens County faces teacher shortage". The Greenville News. p. 24.
  12. "Easley high school closed because of mold". Anderson Independent-Mail. 7 August 2010. p. 10.
  13. "Easley High School North Carolina mold". The Greenville News. 12 January 1999. p. 18.
  14. "Easley High principal revises flag ban to allow American, South Carolina and school flags".
  15. "Clipped from Anderson Independent-Mail". Anderson Independent-Mail. 2 March 2016. p. 3.
  16. "Clipped from Anderson Independent-Mail". Anderson Independent-Mail. 27 January 2017. p. 3.
  17. Gilreath, Ariel (January 1, 2020). "Easley high is training students to respond to mental health needs". Greenville News. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
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  19. Bowie, Aubrey (March 25, 1969). "Pickens School Trustees add 2 projects to building program". Greenville News. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
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  29. "Easley high school south carolina girls golf". The Greenville News. 2 July 1997. p. 33.
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