Wirt County High School

Last updated
Wirt County High School
Address
Wirt County High School
431 Mulberry Street

Elizabeth
,
West Virginia
26143

United States
Coordinates 39°03′48″N81°23′30″W / 39.0632°N 81.3917°W / 39.0632; -81.3917
Information
Established1915
PrincipalDottie Smith
Staff24.40 (on an FTE basis) [1]
Grades9-12 [1]
Enrollment262 (2018–19) [1]
Student to teacher ratio10.74 [1]
Color(s)Orange and black
Nickname Tigers
Website www.edline.net/pages/wirths

Wirt County High School (WCHS) is a secondary school located in Elizabeth, West Virginia, United States, that serves grades nine through twelve. It is in Wirt County, West Virginia. [2]

Contents

History

Early years

During the early days of the pioneers, children were needed on their farms and “subscription schools” were throughout the county. These were formally taught terms where students would go to school and learn for four, six, eight, and ten week courses, as their farm work would allow. During this time families would take turns boarding the teachers in their homes. [3]

In September 1915, fourteen students met in the fifth room of the Elizabeth Grade School with Mr. C.H. Snodgrass as principal. In 1919, the “high school” moved to the second floor of the Kanawha Motor Co. beside the Wirt County Courthouse. The first class graduated in the following spring of 1920. [4]

In 1921, Elizabeth High School was completed and four year courses were offered. Elizabeth High School was a two-storey building, the first floor had two classrooms with a partition that could be removed for assemblies. The second floor had a classroom and a laboratory. It was designed to accommodate sixty students. [5] In 1920, Elizabeth High School was also classified a first class high school by the State Department. [3] The literary society, athletic association, and school paper were being offered in a limited role due to not having enough space to fully expand on these endeavours. At this point a call for a county high school began in earnest. [4]

Originally, this county plan envisioned a dormitory, and accompanying farm where students could stay and work and live off their own production. [4]

Construction

After several attempts, the high school became a county school, replacing its previous title of a joint-district school. A special levy was passed to build a new county high school soon after. Using county and federal aid, construction began in 1937 on a new building. Wirt County High School was completed and held its first classes in 1938. The new building contained 13 classrooms. [5]

A gymnasium in 1948 at a cost of $44,500; a vocational wing in 1958 were added and the library was built on the current school grounds in 1962. Other additions to the school were made in 1977, 1980, and 1982. [5]

Transportation

Parents and citizens were initially contracted to transport students to the high school by their own vehicles and in return receive a monthly stipend. In 1939, the Board of Education purchased its first bus. [5] In the 1980s the fleet reached a height of 25 buses and routes. With consolidation, the current fleet stands at 13 route buses, and 5 reserve spares.

The Dora B. Woodyard in 1967. Dora B. Woodyard library.png
The Dora B. Woodyard in 1967.

Library

Dora B. Woodyard Library is located on the high school campus. The library is the only library in West Virginia that is both a high school and public library. [6] Established in 1962 and expanded in 1980, this library was built as a memorial to the mother of Elizabeth native, Ronald B. Woodyard. During his lifetime Mr. Woodyard contributed substantial sums of money toward library as well as to other community projects. The library has the distinction of being one of the first cooperative school/public libraries in the state of West Virginia. The Wirt County Board of Trustees and the Wirt County Board of Education have established a unique bond over the which has allowed the library to fully serve the students [7]

In 1962 a new library was constructed to combine the high school library, which was formerly in a classroom and the Sergeant Library located in the Board of Education Office. Mr. Ronald Woodyard made this possible when he donated $15,000 toward the building of a public library to be under the supervision of the Wirt County Board of Education. During the summer of 1980 construction began on addition more than doubled the space at the library and was to be used primarily by the public. The library was dedicated on October 14, 1980, by Senator Robert C. Byrd. [7]

Athletics

The sports available include volleyball, football, cheerleading, basketball, wrestling, softball, baseball, track and field, golf, and cross country.

State championships

SportsYear
Football1966
Wrestling1968, 2017
Volleyball2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
Golf2002
WCHS First Football Team WCHS First Football Team.jpg
WCHS First Football Team

Recent state-title coaches

2015 Volleyball Coaches:

Head Coach- Janet Frazier

Assistant Coaches- Courtney Burns, Mike Shremshock, Erica Whipkey

2017 Wrestling Coaches:

Head Coach-Danny Life

Assistant Coaches- Todd Moore and Matt Dye [8]

Notable alumni

Fine Arts

Wirt County High School offers four different fine art classes: art, Film Studies, band, and choir.

Band

In 1925, there was a boys string band, which was directed by John Woodring. [9] We didn’t have what we call a marching band today until 1935, which was directed by Joseph A. Childs. [10] The band consisted of 40 members which would attend football games and parades for our home town, Elizabeth. Uniforms weren’t purchased until later in 1935. The number of students participating in the band has fluctuated since then, and the band has participated in more events.

Director- Rebekah Ricks (2017)

The First Choir of Wirt County High School taken in 1926. Wchs choir.jpg
The First Choir of Wirt County High School taken in 1926.

Instruments- Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Baritone, Trombone, Sousaphone, Drumline, and Colorguard

Number of Participants- 27 members (2017-2018)

Choir

The earliest documented year of Chorus is 1926. [11] Chorus has been at Wirt County High School even before marching band. In the 1920s, Chorus consisted of between twenty and forty members. They have concerts in the springtime and in the Christmas parade.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Washington High School (Charleston, West Virginia)</span> Free public school in Charleston, West Virginia

George Washington High School is a public high school in Charleston, West Virginia, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheeling Park High School</span> Public, coeducational high school in Wheeling, West Virginia, United States

Wheeling Park High School is a public high school in Wheeling, West Virginia, United States. It is the only public high school in the Ohio County School District. Athletic teams compete as the Wheeling Park Patriots in the WVSSAC Class AAA, as well as the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission</span>

The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission is the main governing body of high school sports, cheerleading, and marching bands in West Virginia, United States. For sports other than basketball schools are divided into three classes by total enrollment in grades 9-12: A, AA, and AAA, with schools re-classed every four years. Football, baseball, cheerleading, golf, softball, track, and volleyball are broken into these three classes. Soccer, Cross country, tennis, and wrestling are broken into two classes. Swimming is one class only. For basketball, schools are divided into four classes. Schools have the option of playing "up" one class in a particular sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musselman High School</span> Public 4-year school in Inwood, West Virginia, United States

Musselman High School is a class AAA high school in Inwood, West Virginia, United States. Inwood is in Berkeley County and just outside the city of Martinsburg, the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle. Musselman High School was established in 1949. Musselman High School was named for the C.H. Musselman Company, an apple processing plant and maker of Musselman's Applesauce. The mascot is the Applemen, a Red Delicious apple with large, muscular arms and legs and an aggressive facial expression.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paden City High School</span> Public school in Paden City, Wetzel, West Virginia, United States

Paden City High School is a 7–12 grade, class A high school in Wetzel County, West Virginia in the small town of Paden City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parkersburg High School</span> Public school in Parkersburg, West Virginia, United States

Parkersburg High School (PHS) is a secondary school located in Parkersburg, West Virginia, United States, that serves grades nine through twelve and is part of the Wood County School District. As of the 2018-2019 West Virginia Secondary School Activity Commission's high school classifications, the school has 1,739 students and the average classroom size is twenty-five. The Wood County School District has 13,746 students in 29 schools. Its partner in education is DuPont.

Morgantown High School is a public high school in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. It is one of three secondary schools in the Monongalia County School District. Athletic teams compete as the Morgantown Mohigans in the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission as a member of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midland Trail High School</span>

Midland Trail High School is a public 6-12 school located in Hico, West Virginia in Fayette County located upon the historic Midland Trail highway from which it gets its name. The 65-acre (260,000 m2) campus is located 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the New River Gorge National River and New River Bridge in Fayette County. This area is in the south central area of West Virginia just 50 miles (80 km) east-southeast of Charleston, the state capitol. The school is headed by Principal Richard Petitt and Assistant Principal Melinda Burdette.

PikeView High School is a public high school serving grades 9–12, located in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. PikeView High School is administered by Mercer County Schools.

University High School is a senior high school in unincorporated Monongalia County, West Virginia, near Morgantown. A part of Monongalia County Schools, it houses just over 1,250 students. It is a part of the Monongalia County Schools. Students largely come from the 2 feeder schools, Mountaineer Middle School, and Westwood Middle School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane High School (West Virginia)</span> Public high school in Hurricane, West Virginia, United States

Hurricane High School is a public high school located in Hurricane, West Virginia, United States. It serves students in grades 9 through 12 and is one of four high schools operated by Putnam County Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankfort High School (West Virginia)</span> Public high school in Ridgeley, West Virginia, United States

Frankfort High School (FHS) is a public high school in Ridgeley, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Mineral County Schools district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Marion High School (West Virginia)</span> Public coeducational school in Marion County, West Virginia, United States

North Marion High School is a public high school in West Virginia, United States. It is one of three high schools in Marion County, alongside Fairmont Senior High School and East Fairmont High School.

Elkins High School (EHS) is a public high school located in Elkins, West Virginia, United States. The school serves students ranging from grades 9 through 12. The school has an enrollment of 933 students as of September, 2009. This makes it the 30th largest school by enrollment in the state, and the second largest within 70 miles (110 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairmont Senior High School</span>

Fairmont Senior High School, is a public high school in Fairmont, West Virginia. The current school building, built in 1928, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Serving grades nine through twelve, it is one of three high schools in Marion County, along with East Fairmont High School and North Marion High School.

Brooke High School is a public high school in Wellsburg, West Virginia, United States. It is the only high school in the Brooke County School District. Athletic teams compete as the Brooke Bruins in the WVSSAC Class AAA as well as the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Monroe High School (West Virginia)</span> Public secondary school in Lindside, West Virginia, United States

James Monroe High School is the only public high school in Monroe County, West Virginia. It has 461 students by the methods of the WVSSAC. The building is also home to the Monroe County Vocational Technical Center.

The WVSSAC Super Six Football Championships is a series of high school football games, typically held on the first weekend of December, that determine the high school champions of the U.S. state of West Virginia. The tournaments that lead to the championship games, as well as regular-season competition, are governed by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC). The games have the name of "Super Six" because six teams play in the state's three championship games. The Championship games are held at Wheeling Island Stadium in Wheeling, a two-day affair, with one game on Friday and two on Saturday.

The West Virginia High School Football State Championships have been held since the early 1900s. The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) began its formal recognition of WV State Football Championships in 1937 with the state's sports writers' vote. The WVSSAC began a class system, dividing larger and smaller schools in 1947. WVSSAC official playoff games began in 1948. Prior to the WVSSAC's involvement in an official playoff, there were other systems in play. From 1916 to 1955 the WVSSAC was called the West Virginia Athletic Association.

Lewis County High School was created in 1966 with the consolidation of Weston High School, Jane Lew High School and Walkersville High School in Lewis County, West Virginia. The original Lewis County High School was located on Court Street in Weston, West Virginia. The Weston Colored School's one high school student was absorbed into Weston High in 1954 after the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Lewis County High moved to its present location, just south of Weston, in 1994. The original Lewis County High now serves as Robert L. Bland Middle School.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "WIRT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Wirt County Highschool".
  3. 1 2 Smith, James L. Elizabeth, W. Va. In Review. pp. 13–15.
  4. 1 2 3 Elizabethan Commencement Number 1924. The Wirt County Journal. 1924.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Coplin, Violet Honaker (1981). Wirt County, West Virginia History. Dallas,TX: Taylor Publishing Company. pp. 53–59.
  6. ↑ "About Us – Dora B. Woodyard" . Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  7. 1 2 Coplin, Violet Honaker. Wirt County West Virginia History . Taylor Publisher CO., 1981.
  8. ↑ WVSSAC (2016). "State Champion History". www.wvssac.org/. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  9. ↑ Snyder, Edna Burton, editor. 1925 Wirt County High School Yearbook. Elizabeth, WV, Elizabeth Joint-District High School of Elizabeth, West Virginia 1925
  10. ↑ Editor not given,1939 Wirt County High School Yearbook. Elizabeth, WV, Elizabeth Joint-District High School of Elizabeth, West Virginia, 1939
  11. ↑ Daniell, Roscoe R, editor. 1926 Wirt County High School Yearbook. Elizabeth, WV, Elizabeth Joint-District High School of Elizabeth, West Virginia, 1926
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.