Signal Mountain Middle High School

Last updated

Signal Mountain Middle / High School
Address
Signal Mountain Middle High School
2650 Sam Powell Trail

Signal Mountain
,
Hamilton County
,
Tennessee
37377

United States
Coordinates 35°09′42″N85°22′06″W / 35.1618°N 85.3684°W / 35.1618; -85.3684
Information
Type Public
Established2008
School district Hamilton County Schools
PrincipalShane Hardwood
Teaching staff84.50 (FTE) [1]
Grades6–12
Enrollment1,368 (2022–2023) [1]
Student to teacher ratio16.19 [1]
Color(s)Red and Black
  
Athletics conference TSSAA
Team name Eagles
Accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Newspaperwww.thebeakreport.com
Feeder schoolsNolan Elementary
Thrasher Elementary
Website smmhs.hcde.org

Signal Mountain Middle High School is a public high school located in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, United States. The school serves the central west section of Hamilton County for students in grades 6-12.

Contents

The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

History

The school was opened in 2008. [2] Desire for a high school located in Signal Mountain had been present for nearly 50 years, though efforts to actually establish the school did not begin until about 10 years prior. Eddie Gravitte was the school's first principal. In August 2009, Gravitte was removed as principal by HCDE administration and replaced by Dr. Tom McCullough. [3]

SMMHS became an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme school as of 2010 [4] and added the IB Diploma Programme in 2011. [5]

In May 2012, Dr. McCullough announced his plans to retire at the end of the school year, and Robin Copp was announced as his replacement. [6] However, McCullough was soon suspended without pay by the HCDE superintendent over breaches in HCDE policy compliance. [7] The suspension was quickly lifted. [8] Robin Copp became principal beginning in the fall of 2012 and left to take over as principal of Ooltewah High School following the end of the 2015-2016 school year.

Todd Stinson took office beginning in 2016 (and has been transferred to Lookout Valley Middle/High in 2018). Near the end of 2016, some members of the Signal Mountain community began pushing for the town to form its own school district, separate from Hamilton County, that would include SMMHS and its two feeder elementary schools, Nolan Elementary and Thrasher Elementary. The proposal caused some disagreement among Signal Mountain residents. [9] By early 2018, a consensus on the possibility of breaking away had not been met, though a town council committee formed to investigate the viability of the move was disbanded, effectively ending the debate. [10] In May 2018, Dr. Shane Harwood, formerly the principal of the nearby feeder school Nolan Elementary, was announced as the new principal beginning in the fall of 2018. Harwood retired following the 2022-2023 school year and was replaced by Michael Carson, a former Vice Principal at SMMHS.

Currently, around 1300 students are enrolled. As of the 2014-2015 school year, the student population is 93% Caucasian, 3% African American, and 4% Other. [11]

Academics and testing

During the 2017-2018 school year, 38 senior students (roughly 25% of the graduating class) scored a 30 or above on the ACT, including two scores of 36.

Fine Arts

Signal Mountain Middle / High School offers five different fine arts for middle and high school students to pursue. They are: band, art, theatre, chorus and strings. From middle school through sophomore year of high school, all students are required to take one fine art. There are middle school concert bands separated by grade level, a high school concert band, middle and high school strings, chorus and theatre classes, as well as different levels of art classes.

Band

Jessica Graves is the director of bands. Shelby Walker is the assistant director of bands.

Drew Buckner was the Director of Bands from its forming to the 2022-2023 school year.

The Signal Corps Marching Band won the Division II State Championship on November 6, 2021.

The band also went on to place 4th in the Bands of America Grand Nationals Competition Class A in 2021.

Theatre

Ruth Farrimond is the theatre teacher for middle and high school theatre classes. She is the director of all school plays. The Signal Mountain Theatre Department put on productions of "The Odd Couple", "Into the Woods", and "Pride and Prejudice" recently and will be hosting their annual Senior Scenes competition on January 21.

Strings

Brock Ownby is the SMMHS strings teacher.

Extracurricular activities

Signal Mountain has participated in academic competitions, including Youth in Government, Model United Nations, Technology Student Association, and in mock trial. The school also is involved in a program called Youth Court that partners with Hamilton County Juvenile Court.

Athletics

TSSAA-sanctioned sports

The below TSSAA-sanctioned teams have won a combined 15 state championships. Years indicate state championships. [12]

  • Baseball
  • Boys' basketball
  • Girls' basketball
  • Boys' bowling
  • Girls' bowling
  • Boys' cross country: 2019
  • Girls' cross country: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Football: 2010
  • Boys' golf: 2018, 2019
  • Girls' golf: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017
  • Boys' soccer
  • Girls' soccer: 2018
  • Softball
  • Boys' tennis: 2018
  • Girls' tennis: 2018
  • Boys' track: 2013, 2014, 2018
  • Girls' track: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
  • Volleyball: 2010
  • Wrestling: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Woodlands High School</span> Public high school in The Woodlands, Texas

The Woodlands High School is a public high school located in The Woodlands CDP in Montgomery County, Texas, and is a part of the Conroe Independent School District. A section of the Montgomery County portion of The Woodlands and unincorporated areas south of the city of Conroe are served by The Woodlands High School. In 2019, the school received an A grade from the Texas Education Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association</span>

The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), along with the affiliated Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association (TMSAA), is an organization which administers junior and senior high school sporting events in Tennessee. The TSSAA is the only high school athletic organization in the United States to have a five-sport, Olympic-style spring sport championship tournament, known as Spring Fling, for baseball, softball, track and field, team and individual tennis, and soccer. Spring Fling began in Chattanooga in 1993, later moving to Memphis, and then establishing itself in Murfreesboro. The TSSAA was one of the first high school athletic organizations to host a central site for football championships, beginning in 1982.

Fred J. Page High School is a public high school in Franklin, Tennessee, United States. The school serves the eastern section of Williamson County for students in grades 9–12.

Centennial High School is a public high school located in Franklin, Tennessee, United States. The school serves the central section of Williamson County for students in grades 9–12.

Franklin High School is a public high school located in Franklin, Tennessee, United States. The school serves the north central section of Williamson County for students in grades 9–12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independence High School (Tennessee)</span> School in Thompsons Station, Tennessee, United States

Independence High School is a 9–12 public high school in Thompson's Station, Tennessee. It is one of several high schools in the Williamson County Schools district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smyrna High School (Tennessee)</span> Public school in Tennessee, United States

Smyrna High School is a high school in the Rutherford County school district located in Smyrna, Tennessee, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stoney Creek High School</span>

Stoney Creek High School is a public high school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and is part of the Rochester Community Schools school district.

Coronado High School is a public high school in Henderson, Nevada, part of Clark County School District.

Lookout Valley Middle School and High School is a school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. It is operated by the Hamilton County Schools system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland High School (Tennessee)</span> High school in Tennessee, United States

Cleveland High School (CHS) is a public high school in the Cleveland City Schools system located in Cleveland, Tennessee. The school was founded in 1967 and serves 1,662 students in grades 9 to 12. The school's mascot is the Blue Raider, and its school colors are blue, white, and red. The principal is Bob Pritchard. The school maintains a rivalry with the crosstown Bradley Central High School, as with their other crosstown rival Walker Valley High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston High School (Germantown, Tennessee)</span> Public high school in Germantown, Tennessee, United States

Houston High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Germantown, Tennessee, serving students in grades 9–12. The school was previously one of the eight high schools operating in the Shelby County School District. The principal is Hallie Ross. Houston Middle School and Riverdale Elementary (K-8) are the main feeder schools to Houston High since the creation of the Germantown Municipal School District in June 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walker Valley High School</span> Public high school in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States

Walker Valley High School (WVHS) is a public high school in the Bradley County Schools system located in the northern part of Bradley County, Tennessee near Charleston. The school serves about 1,600 students in grades 9–12.

Brentwood High School is a public high school located in Brentwood, Tennessee, United States. The school serves the north central section of Williamson County for students in grades 9–12.

South-Doyle High School is a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' accredited high school in unincorporated Knox County, Tennessee, near Knoxville, operated by the Knox County Schools school district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forrest School (Chapel Hill, Tennessee)</span> Public school in the United States

Forrest School is a public school in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. It serves grades 7-12 and is part of the Marshall County School District. The school is also known as Forrest Middle School for grades 7-8 and Forrest High School for grades 9-12. It is named for Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general, known for his outstanding military leadership in the cavalry, the massacre of African American Union troops stationed at Fort Pillow, and for being the first Grand Wizard of the KKK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ooltewah High School</span> Public high school in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States

Ooltewah High School (OHS) is a public high school located in Ooltewah, Tennessee, near Chattanooga. It is part of the Hamilton County Schools system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hixson High School</span> Public school in the United States

Hixson High School is a public high school for grades 9–12 in the Hamilton County Schools system located in Hixson, a suburb of Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brainerd High School (Tennessee)</span> Public high school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States

Brainerd High School is a public high school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is operated by the Hamilton County school district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Blount High School</span> Public high school in Blount County, Tennessee, United States

William Blount High School (WBHS) is a four-year public American high school located approximately 4.6 mi (7.4 km) from Maryville in Blount County, Tennessee. Established in 1979 and named for Tennessee's territorial governor, WBHS is the largest of four high schools in the Blount County Schools public school district.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Signal Mountain Middle/High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  2. ↑ Ruth Robinson, "Signal Mountain Middle/High School Dedicated", The Chattanoogan , July 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ David Carroll, "Scales Removes Gravitte as Signal Mtn Principal", WRCB TV , August 31, 2009.
  4. ↑ Judy Frank, "SMMHS Certified for International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme", The Chattanoogan , March 15, 2010.
  5. ↑ "IB Diploma Program" at SMMHS website (accessed November 24, 2012).
  6. ↑ Kevin Hardy, "Signal Mountain Principal Retiring After Three Years", Chattanooga Times Free Press , May 16, 2012.
  7. ↑ Kevin Hardy, "Signal Mountain school Principal Tom McCullough Suspended Without Pay", Chattanooga Times Free Press , May 23, 2012.
  8. ↑ David Carroll, "McCullough's Suspension Lifted by Supt. Rick Smith", WRCB TV , May 26, 2012.
  9. ↑ Kendi Rainwater "Signal Mountain to Consider Forming Own School District", Chattanooga Times Free Press , December 1, 2016.
  10. ↑ Taneisha Cordell, "Signal Mountain Council Votes to Disband School System Viability Committee", WRCB TV , February 12, 2018.
  11. ↑ "SMMHS Student Body", US News
  12. ↑ "TSSAA Signal Mountain Middle/High School". tssaasports.com. Retrieved February 26, 2018.

35°09′43″N85°22′05″W / 35.162°N 85.368°W / 35.162; -85.368

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.