Columbus High School - Columbus, Georgia/GA

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Columbus High School

1700 Cherokee Avenue, Columbus, GA, 31906-1405 -

tel: (706)649-0701
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Definition of Terms

Columbus High School

School Level

High school

School Type

Magnet School

Grades Offered

Grades 9 - 12

County

Muscogee County, GA

Awards

Blue Ribbon School – Selected in 2004

Students & Faculty

Total Students

1303 students

% Male / % Female

39% / 61%

Total Classroom Teachers

74 teachers

Students by Grade

Grade 9 - 349 students

Grade 10 - 379 students

Grade 11 - 279 students

Grade 12 - 296 students

This School

( GA ) School Average

Teacher : Student Ratio

1:18

1:15

Students by Ethnicity

This School

( GA ) School Average

% American Indian	n/a	n/a
% Asian	6%	2%
% Hispanic	4%	9%
% Black	26%	40%
% White	61%	45%
% Unknown	3 %	5%

Additional Student Information

This School

( GA ) School Average

% Eligible for Free Lunch

15%

45%

% Eligible for Reduced Lunch

% Migrant Students Enrolled

n/a

n/a

( GA ) Statewide Testing Performance

School Statewide Performance

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Muscogee County School District

This School's Agency

( GA ) District Average

Number of Schools Managed	62	6
Number of Students Managed	34,888 students	3,730 students
District Total Revenue	$314,670,000	$29,999,000
District Expenditure	$290,327,000	$27,898,000
District Revenue / Student	$9,019	$9,137
District Expenditure / Student	$8,322	$8,688
District Graduation Rates	70%	74%

Columbus High School is located in Columbus, Georgia. It serves as the Muscogee County School District's Liberal Arts Magnet school. It opened in 1890 and has been located in various locations throughout the city. In 2005, the school shared the ranking as the top high school in the state of Georgia. This distinction is shared with John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, a public seven-year magnet school for the fine and performing arts in Augusta, Georgia.
Magnet Program: Columbus High School is a Liberal Arts Magnet, which is fully college preparatory. The program focuses on SAT and college preparation. Classes are organized in a semester-system, with four 90 minuet classes daily every 18 weeks.
Community Involvement: Each year, students are required to serve 20 hours of volunteer work around the area at various agencies as part of their social study class.
Social Activities: To promote development of well-rounded students, the program incorporates several required social activities. The annual Holiday Social held at the Columbus Iron Works Convention and Trade Center features a formal dinner with a speaker.
Eligibility: Students qualify for entrance into the program based on:
8th grade course averages of "B" with the exception of algebra and foreign languages.
Recommendations from middle school counselor, Math, and English teachers.
Entrance exams performance in math, reading, and composition.
Students must maintain an "C" average (or higher) in each academic course in order to remain in the school.
Location: Columbus High School is located in Columbus, Georgia. The school sits on a hill overlooking Lakebottom Park, which houses some of the school's athletic facilities. The city of Columbus is consolidated with Muscogee County. Together they have a total population of 186,291 (2000 Census).
Columbus is the third largest city in Georgia and the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state. The city is home to many exciting cultural, artistic, and athletic venues. These include the Springer Opera House, which is the state theater of Georgia and [[RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.
Activities: Students can invest their time out of class in the following extracurricular activities.
Athletics: Columbus High School is ranked fourth (2004) in AAAA schools in Georgia. The school is currently rated AAA ny student population. Two thirds of the student participate in 39 different teams:
Boys'/Girls' Cross Country.
Boys'/Girls' Track.
Boys'/Girls' Basketball.
Boys'/Girls' Tennis.
Boys'/Girls' Golf.
Boys'/Girls' Soccer.
Baseball.
Football.
Swim Team.
Softball.
Cheer-leading.
Gymnastics.
Wrestling: 2006 AAA State Champions.
Rifle Team.
Girls' Volleyball.
Girls' Lacrosse.
Fine Arts: The Columbus High Drama department is the recipient of various state-wide awards including two state one act play competition wins. The department typically produces three plays and one musical yearly through their company, Full House Productions in the CHS Auditorium.
The orchestra, concert bands, jazz ensemble and advanced choirs have consistently earned superior ratings at competitions. Many CHS vocalists and instrumentalists are typically chosen for All-District, All-State, and the Governor's Honors Program. In the visual arts, individuals exhibit and compete locally and statewide using a variety of media including painting, sculpture/pottery, and photography.
Clubs/Organizations: Junior Civitan Felloship of Christian Athletes National Art Honor Society National Honor Soceity Beta Club Students Against Destructive Decisions Language Clubs: Spanish, German, French, Latin Science Club Robotics Club (Georgia State Botball compitition winner) Space Program Dead Poet's Society Compitition Mathematics Team Acadimic Decathalon Thespians Drama Society Dance Team Model UN Gavel Club.
Publications: The Blue Streak, Newspaper.
The Sampler, Literature/Art magazine.
COHISCAN, Yearbook (COlumbus HIgh SChool ANnual).
Accomplishments and Recognition: Students and faculty alike have received top national and local honors for their achievements. The members of the graduating class of 2004 qualified for a total of $8.5 million in merit and HOPE scholarships.
School and Faculty Recognitions: One-Act Play Competition State Winners (2003, 2006).
National Blue Ribbon School (2004).
Georgia School of Excellence (2004).
Effective Practices School (2004-2003).
Ledger-Enquirer Coach of the Year (Baseball, 2004).
Academically ranked the #2 public high school in Georgia (2002).
Academically ranked the #1 public high school in Georgia (2003).
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (2004).
Pay for Performance (2004, 2002, 2001).
Girls' Track and Field Coach of the Year (Atlanta Track Club, 2004).
NASA Educator Astronaut Finalist.
Six Fulbright Fellowships.
Vocational Teacher of the Year (2000).
Faculty Representative to the State Teacher Advisory Council.
Georgia Thespians State Board Member.
Sara Spano Page One Top Teacher Award Winners - 4.
Muscogee County School District Teacher of the Year (2000).
Georgia Teacher of the Year Top Five Finalist (2003).
Gifted Certified Teachers - 24.
AP Certified Teachers - 26.
National Board Certified Teachers - 5.
All Bi-City Coach of the Year Awards: Boys' Golf, Cross Country, Girls' Golf, Baseball, Girls' Basketball, Wrestling, Swimming.
National Coach of the Year: Baseball (2004, 2000).
Administrator of the Year (PTSA, 4th District, 2004, 2003).
National Administrator of the Year (Educational Theatre Association, 2003).
Muscogee County Teacher of the Year Finalists/Semifinalists - 4.
Athletic Accomplishments: Boys' Cross Country - 1st Region (2003-1999); Individual State Winners.
Girls' Cross Country - 1st Region (2003-1997); Individual State Winners.
Girls' Basketball - State Runner-up (2004); 1st or 2nd Region (2003-2001).
Boys' Tennis - 2nd Region (2004, 2003, 2001); 1st Region (2002).
Girls' Tennis - 4th State (2004); 1st Region (2004, 2001).
Girls' Soccer - 2nd Region (2004, 2003); 1st Region (2002).
Boys' Soccer - 4th Region (2004, 2003); 3rd Region (2002);.
Baseball - Ranked 2nd in Nation by USA Today; State Champs (2004, 2000, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1992, 1991, 1984); 2nd State (2003, 2001).
Softball - 2nd Region (2003, 2002); 5th State (2001).
Girls' Track - 5th State (2004, 2002); Individual State and National Winner (2004);.
Boys' Track - 4th Region (2004, 2003); 3rd Region (2002).
Girls Golf State Runner-up (2004); State Champions (2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999).
Boys' Golf - 2nd Region, 7th State (2004); 5th State (2003, 2002).
Wrestling,AAA State Champions, Area Champions, Wakula Champions, Auburn Champions(2006) 3-time City Champions(2004-2006).
Cheerleading - 5th State, 2nd Region (2004); State Runner-up (2003).
Knox Culpepper Sportsmanship Award - (2003, 2002, 2001).
Notable alumni: Carson McCullers, American writer.
Frank Thomas, professional baseball player for the Oakland As.
Nunnally Johnson, filmmaker/screenwriter.
Jeff Koon and Andy Powell, proprietors of Dumb Laws and authors of several illustrated books.
Dee Armstrong, WTVM news anchor.
Timeline:
1890: The High School opens with co-educational classes. Classes are held in the existing Boys School at 10th Street and 2nd Avenue.
1891: Mr. Homer Wright is elected principal of the High School and serves until he becomes Superintendent of Schools.
1891-1892: The High School moves into the Bussey Home.
June 1892: The first class graduates from Columbus High School. The class is composed of sixteen girls and two boys. Graduation exercises are held at the Springer Opera House.
1897-1898: A building is constructed to house the High School at 11th Street and 4th Avenue.
Fall 1898: The High School at 11th Street and 4th Avenue openes for classes.
1900: Three alternative curriculums are adopted for students-college preparation, classical and scientific.
1904-1907: Georgia high schools begin to be accredited by the University of Georgia. Oral tradition maintains that CHS was "the first" or "one of the first" high schools in Georgia to be accredited. This fact has not been verified. Research is underway to verify the statement.
1913: The first COHISCAN, the CHS annual, was published. The name is derived from the following: COlumbus HIgh SChool ANnual.
1919: Junior ROTC is added.
1921: Miss Edwina Wood, a member of the 1892 CHS graduating class, is appointed to the School Board. Miss Wood is the first woman appointed to this board and serves for twenty years.
1923: The "Blue Devil" nickname is first applied by Gen. John J. Pershing in reference to spirited game play exhibited against Phillips High in Birmingham, Alabama. Previous to this time several nicknames had been used for the CHS sports teams. The "Orange Avalanche" is perhaps the best known.
May 31, 1924: A bond election is held to approve the purchase of land for and the building of a new high school. The bond passes "overwhelmingly.".
1924-1925: Sixteen acres in Wildwood Park are selected as the site of the new high school. The site is selected by popular vote. Starrett and Van Vlock of New York are chosen as designing architects with Hickman and Martin as local architects.
Sept. 2, 1925: The cornerstone for the new building is set at 1700 Cherokee Avenue.
Sept. 16, 1926: The dedication exercises for the building at 1700 Cherokee Avenue take place.
1934: Home Economics is added to the curriculum.
1943-1945: Miss Annie Massey, the first female CHS High School principal, leads the school during the war years.
1962-1963: The building is expanded and additions are made.
June 12, 1981: Fire ravages the original section of the building.
1981-1983: Construction and renovations to the building are undertaken. Air conditioning is added at this time. Grades are split and classes held at two locations, Rosemont School and Columbus Junior High School.
Aug. 27, 1983: Rededication ceremonies are held.
1990-1991: Centennial Celebration. Ceremonies are conducted including recognizing AFLAC as our Partner In Education.
1991-1992: The first year of the Liberal Arts Magnet program; entering freshman class included the first magnet students. Ms. Linda Kellett is the founding lead teacher of the program. The first section of the Alumni Wall is completed.
1995-1996: A leaky roof threatens accreditation and is the subject of several news reports; it is replaced in the summer of 1996.
1999-2000: Ms. Susan Bryant replaces Dr. Ronnie Shehane as principal. Block scheduling is adopted in a modified 4x4 arrangement with yearlong AP courses meeting on alternate days. The Commemorative Plaza is added in front of the cafeteria. Resilient blue and white tile replaces carpeting in the building's hallways. Trees are removed in the student parking area.
2000-2001: Renovations to the gym are undertaken and completed.
CHS Liberal Arts Magnet becomes a total magnet school.
2004-2005: CHS was named a Georgia School of Excellence and a National Blue Ribbon School.
Summer 2005: The school is renovated. The student parking area, long known for mud and hapazard parking arrangements, is paved.
Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL
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About This Zip Code (31906)

School Zip (31906)

(GA) State Average

Population (Approximate)

24,380 people

7,666,612 people

% (age 25+) w/College Degree

27%

21%

Population Average Age

35 years old

33.4 years old

Average Household size

2.4 persons

2.5 persons

Median Household Income

$28,865

$44,694

Avg. # of Rooms in Household

5.1 rooms

5.6 rooms

Median Age of Housing Structure

47 years old

30 years old

View current housing listings in 31906

Median Value of Housing Unit
Zipcode (31906)

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% Owning / % Renting

50% / 50%

65% / 35%

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Nearby Schools:


1. Carver High School - 1176 students - view location
2. Hardaway High School - 1463 students - view location
3. Kendrick High School - 1236 students - view location
4. Spencer High School - 1082 students - view location
5. Alternative Learning Center - n/a - view location
View all schools in: Columbus Town, Muscogee County, Zip 31906

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Note: Data has been gathered from several government and commercial data sources. School data reflects years 2002-04 statistics (most recent years available). Area and demographic data reflects year 2000 statistics. Public School Review does not ensure the timeliness or accuracy of the information on this site.

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