Garinger High School
Encyclopedia
Garinger High School is a high school
located in the Shamrock area of Charlotte, North Carolina
. Founded in 1959, it was one of the oldest remaining schools in Charlotte. Garinger was in essence the relocation of Central High School, Charlotte's first high school. That school was founded in 1909 as Charlotte High School and renamed Central High in 1923. Central Piedmont Community College
now stands where Central High once stood; one of CPCC's main buildings is known as the Central High building (and was formerly called the Garinger building). The school is named for Dr. Elmer H. Garinger, a former superintendent of the Charlotte City Schools.
In early 2006 the school found itself threatened with closure by the State of North Carolina
, but has received backing from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
.
Garinger's feeder schools are Briarwood Elementary, Devonshire Elementary, Hickory Grove Elementary, Merry Oaks Elementary, Shamrock Gardens Elementary, Windsor Park Elementary, and Winterfield Elementary. The corresponding middle schools are Cochrane Middle School, and some students from Eastway Middle School and Northridge Middle School.
Former National Football League
star Dwight Clark
is Garinger's most famous graduate.
Garinger's campus is designed by AG Odell, Jr., and Associates, who also designed several other famous buildings in Charlotte. The campus covers roughly 63 acres (254,952.2 m²) and consists of several detached buildings, many of which have interior courtyards. Near the center of campus sits a unique round building with a conical roof, which served as the original library. It has since been converted into classroom space and much of the interior integrity has been lost. A new two-story library was added in the 1970s.
The campus was considered state-of-the-art when it first opened, winning many architectural awards for its unique modern buildings. Garinger was even featured in a 1962 edition of National Geographic as Charlotte-Mecklenburg's showplace high school.
Garinger serves a generally low-income and transient population (more than 70% of the student body lives in rental housing). As a result, some in Charlotte have observed that the school gets the "short end of the stick" in the district pecking order.
At one point Garinger found itself unable to employ an entire full-time teaching staff and relied on a revolving door of substitute teacher
s to fill the void.
Garinger's aging facilities and infrastructure have been problematic. Despite a renovation in 1997–1998, the plumbing and HVAC
systems remain unreliable. There have been occasions when the school was without central heating
. This was partially alleviated when the district started a preventive maintenance program.
As Garinger has a somewhat smaller enrollment than many CMS high schools, it was one of the lowest funded high schools in Charlotte. Until recently, many classrooms were extremely overcrowded, sometimes at a rate of 40 students to a teacher.
The school campus is now made up of 5 schools, the most successful and known schools are International Studies School and New Technology Academy, the other 3 schools are Math and Science,Business and Finance , Leadership & Public Service.
On October 22, 2010, Garinger High had a shooting and large fight occur during a homecoming football game against Charlotte Catholic High School
. The game was called with about 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter and Catholic ended up winning, 37-7.
On November 30, 2010, the school was put in a state of lockdown
after a fight among four students led to shots being fired outside of the building. At least two people were arrested in connection with the shooting; there were no injuries.
, and the school colors are royal blue and gray. These traditions harken back to the Charlotte High School days. The School competes in the MEGA 7 3A/4A conference as part of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA)
While competitive and occasionally successful in basketball
and golf
, the Wildcats have struggled greatly in other sports, most notably football
(discussed below). Garinger often sells out its intimate 600-capacity gym for basketball games against West Charlotte and Independence.
One of Garinger's historic forms, Charlotte (later Central) High School, was a football powerhouse and used American Legion Memorial Stadium
as its home field in its latter days.
Garinger's current stadium is Phil Hughston Memorial Stadium, named for a player who died from injuries sustained in a 1971 football game.
(*) As Charlotte or Central.
The all-time record is 59 losses in a row by the now defunct Gumberry High (consolidated into Northampton County High School - West
). On October 6, 2008, while celebrating the school's 100th anniversary and homecoming, Garinger had their first honorable win against West Mecklenburg High School, beating them 32-12. They went on to end the season with a couple more wins and even making it to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2008 playoffs. Garinger lost in the first round but did make history by making it back to the playoffs in 18 years.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools announced that the 5 small school at Garinger High School will become a one big school again with the named of "Garinger High School" for the 2011-2012 School year.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in the Shamrock area of Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. Founded in 1959, it was one of the oldest remaining schools in Charlotte. Garinger was in essence the relocation of Central High School, Charlotte's first high school. That school was founded in 1909 as Charlotte High School and renamed Central High in 1923. Central Piedmont Community College
Central Piedmont Community College
Central Piedmont Community College is a large community college in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The school was founded in 1963; it is the result of a merger between Mecklenburg College and the Central Industrial Education Center....
now stands where Central High once stood; one of CPCC's main buildings is known as the Central High building (and was formerly called the Garinger building). The school is named for Dr. Elmer H. Garinger, a former superintendent of the Charlotte City Schools.
In early 2006 the school found itself threatened with closure by the State of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, but has received backing from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
.
Garinger's feeder schools are Briarwood Elementary, Devonshire Elementary, Hickory Grove Elementary, Merry Oaks Elementary, Shamrock Gardens Elementary, Windsor Park Elementary, and Winterfield Elementary. The corresponding middle schools are Cochrane Middle School, and some students from Eastway Middle School and Northridge Middle School.
Former National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
star Dwight Clark
Dwight Clark
Dwight Edward Clark is a former American Pro Bowl wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987...
is Garinger's most famous graduate.
Campus
Garinger is located in northeast Charlotte at 1100 Eastway Drive. The campus can also be accessed from Shamrock Drive, East Sugar Creek Road, or for sporting events Meadow Lane.Garinger's campus is designed by AG Odell, Jr., and Associates, who also designed several other famous buildings in Charlotte. The campus covers roughly 63 acres (254,952.2 m²) and consists of several detached buildings, many of which have interior courtyards. Near the center of campus sits a unique round building with a conical roof, which served as the original library. It has since been converted into classroom space and much of the interior integrity has been lost. A new two-story library was added in the 1970s.
The campus was considered state-of-the-art when it first opened, winning many architectural awards for its unique modern buildings. Garinger was even featured in a 1962 edition of National Geographic as Charlotte-Mecklenburg's showplace high school.
Traditions
Garinger has many long standing traditions. There have been teams that wear blue and gray and called themselves wildcats in Charlotte since 1909, the year that original Charlotte High School was founded. This school later became Central High School in 1923, and Garinger High School in 1959Willow Tree
The official symbol of Garinger High School is the weeping willow tree. The school's annual literary magazine is called Under the Willow TreeSnips and Cuts
Snips and Cuts is the GHS yearbook. It has been published since Charlotte High School's original founding in 1909. There are archived copies in the school library going back to this date.The Rambler
The Rambler is the school newspaper. It can also trace its history back to the school's founding.Band
Garinger has a highly successful and very proud band program. The Garinger band often wins statewide competitions. BFSM, or the Blue Funk Sound Machine in the year of 2009-2010 have won first place in every competition that they have attended in their division. The high step marching band have also won first place runnerup in the whole state of North Carolina at the state competition.Biggest problems
GHS has many obstacles to overcome. Among these are inexperienced teachers, an aging and outdated physical plant and poor student achievement.Garinger serves a generally low-income and transient population (more than 70% of the student body lives in rental housing). As a result, some in Charlotte have observed that the school gets the "short end of the stick" in the district pecking order.
At one point Garinger found itself unable to employ an entire full-time teaching staff and relied on a revolving door of substitute teacher
Substitute teacher
A substitute teacher is a person who teaches a school class when the regular teacher is unavailable; e.g., because of illness, personal leave, or other reasons. "Substitute teacher" is the most commonly used phrase in the United States, Canada and Ireland, while supply teacher is the most commonly...
s to fill the void.
Garinger's aging facilities and infrastructure have been problematic. Despite a renovation in 1997–1998, the plumbing and HVAC
HVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
systems remain unreliable. There have been occasions when the school was without central heating
Central heating
A central heating system provides warmth to the whole interior of a building from one point to multiple rooms. When combined with other systems in order to control the building climate, the whole system may be a HVAC system.Central heating differs from local heating in that the heat generation...
. This was partially alleviated when the district started a preventive maintenance program.
As Garinger has a somewhat smaller enrollment than many CMS high schools, it was one of the lowest funded high schools in Charlotte. Until recently, many classrooms were extremely overcrowded, sometimes at a rate of 40 students to a teacher.
Student behavior
The school has seen cases of students possessing weapons while on school grounds, though the number of incidents is not the highest in the district. In the 2006 annual student survey given by CMS, only 29% of Garinger students indicated that they felt safe at school, and 11% believed that students were well-behaved (down from 41% and 26%, respectively, in 2005).The school campus is now made up of 5 schools, the most successful and known schools are International Studies School and New Technology Academy, the other 3 schools are Math and Science,Business and Finance , Leadership & Public Service.
On October 22, 2010, Garinger High had a shooting and large fight occur during a homecoming football game against Charlotte Catholic High School
Charlotte Catholic High School
Charlotte Catholic is a diocesan high school in Charlotte, North Carolina founded in 1955. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.-Athletics:...
. The game was called with about 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter and Catholic ended up winning, 37-7.
On November 30, 2010, the school was put in a state of lockdown
Lockdown
There are several definitions for the term lockdown, the most common of which pertains to a state of containment or a restriction of progression....
after a fight among four students led to shots being fired outside of the building. At least two people were arrested in connection with the shooting; there were no injuries.
Sports
Garinger's mascot is a wildcatWild cat
The wildcat is a small cat with several subspecies and a very broad distribution, found throughout most of Africa, Europe, and southwest and central Asia into India, China, and Mongolia. It is a hunter of small mammals, birds, and other creatures of a similar or smaller size. Sometimes included is...
, and the school colors are royal blue and gray. These traditions harken back to the Charlotte High School days. The School competes in the MEGA 7 3A/4A conference as part of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA)
While competitive and occasionally successful in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, the Wildcats have struggled greatly in other sports, most notably football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
(discussed below). Garinger often sells out its intimate 600-capacity gym for basketball games against West Charlotte and Independence.
One of Garinger's historic forms, Charlotte (later Central) High School, was a football powerhouse and used American Legion Memorial Stadium
American Legion Memorial Stadium
American Legion Memorial Stadium is 21,000-capacity stadium located on 7th Street in the Elizabeth community of Charlotte, North Carolina. Memorial Stadium is mainly used for high school sporting events and also serves as a public venue...
as its home field in its latter days.
Garinger's current stadium is Phil Hughston Memorial Stadium, named for a player who died from injuries sustained in a 1971 football game.
Honors
- State Championships (21):
- Baseball (1932*, 1965)
- Men's basketball (1931*, 1932*, 1933*, 1934*, 1989)
- Football (1916*, 1917*, 1923*, 1929*, 1930*, 1932*, 1936*, 1937*, 1943*, 1959)
- Men's tennis (1927*, 1928*, 1940*, 1941*)
(*) As Charlotte or Central.
Rivals
- West MeckWest Mecklenburg High SchoolWest Mecklenburg High School, colloquially known as West Meck is a high school located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System and was opened in 1951. The sports teams are known as the Hawks...
- East MeckEast Mecklenburg High SchoolEast Mecklenburg High School is a public secondary school in Charlotte, North Carolina and one of 19 high schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system. The principal of the school is Rick Parker. East Mecklenburg High School is partial magnet school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools...
- Harding High SchoolHarding University High SchoolHarry P. Harding University High School was established in 1992 as a Math, Science and Technology school in Charlotte, North Carolina. International Baccalaureate was added to the established program in 1995....
(oldest rivalry in Charlotte high school sports) - Independence
- Myers ParkMyers Park High SchoolMyers Park High School is a secondary school in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:The school opened its doors in 1951 and has a rich sense of history and a legacy of academic success.-Facilities:...
- Phillip O. BerryPhillip O. Berry Academy of TechnologyPhillip O. Berry Academy of Technology is a magnet high school located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System and was opened in 2003. The mascot is a cardinal and the school colors are appropriately black and red...
- West Charlotte (Garinger has been seen as representing East Charlotte, and still is to a lesser extent)
Football losing streak
From 2001-2007 Garinger was stricken by North Carolina's longest active losing streak and 2nd longest all-time streak. In September 2007 the streak reached a staggering 51 games before news broke of violations by North Mecklenburg, Providence and Vance High Schools. Garinger was retroactively awarded wins against North Meck and Vance ending the streak. The streak was also reduced to 49 games as a result of having played Vance in August. In July 2008, due to further evidence in a cheating scandal that swept Charlotte football, Garinger's final record for 2007 was declared to be 4-7, the school's best record in well over two decades. http://prepinsiders.blogspot.com/2008/07/post-forfeit-football-standings.htmlThe all-time record is 59 losses in a row by the now defunct Gumberry High (consolidated into Northampton County High School - West
Northampton County High School - West
Northampton County High School – West STEM is a public high school located in Gaston, North Carolina.The school's origins date back to Gumberry High School, which was constructed in the mid 1970s and was located in Gumberry, North Carolina...
). On October 6, 2008, while celebrating the school's 100th anniversary and homecoming, Garinger had their first honorable win against West Mecklenburg High School, beating them 32-12. They went on to end the season with a couple more wins and even making it to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2008 playoffs. Garinger lost in the first round but did make history by making it back to the playoffs in 18 years.
Notable alumni
- John Belk: Business man, benefactor, and former Charlotte mayor (Central High)
- Jim BeattyJim BeattyJames Tully Beatty is a former American track and field athlete who is best remembered as the first person to break the four-minute mile barrier on an indoor track when he ran 3:58.9 on February 10, 1962 in Los Angeles, California.Beatty graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
: First man to break the four minute mile, politician (Central High) - Charles KuraltCharles KuraltCharles Kuralt was an American journalist. He was most widely known for his long career with CBS, first for his "On the Road" segments on The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, and later as the first anchor of CBS News Sunday Morning, a position he held for fifteen years.Kuralt's "On the Road"...
: Award-winning American journalist, and CBS News Sunday MorningCBS News Sunday MorningCBS News Sunday Morning is an American television news magazine program created by Robert Northshield and original host Charles Kuralt. The program has aired continuously since January 28, 1979 on the CBS Television Network, airing in the Eastern US on Sunday from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m...
anchor (Central High) - Dwight ClarkDwight ClarkDwight Edward Clark is a former American Pro Bowl wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987...
: Super BowlSuper BowlThe Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
winning American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. - David Lemonds: Star LHP of '65 state champs; Post 9 American Legion National Championship team, 1965; All American, 1968 College Player of the Year at UNC; UNC number 22 retired; Chicago White Sox.
- Ron Lemonds 3B of '65 state champs; Post 9 American Legion National Championship team, 1965; UNC.
- Sunshine AndersonSunshine AndersonSunshine Anderson is a female American R&B and soul singer and songwriter.-Beginnings:Anderson was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and later moved to Charlotte as a child and became friends with Narisha Foxx...
: R&B Artist and songwriter - Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey & Joel "Jo-Jo" Hailey: R&B artists K-Ci & JoJo and members on Jodeci
- Jeff Johnson: WJZYWJZYWJZY is the CW-affiliated television station for Charlotte, North Carolina licensed to Belmont. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 47 from a transmitter in Dallas along the Catawba River. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 8 and in high definition...
television, local celebrity. - Grady LittleGrady LittleWilliam Grady Little is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007...
: Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
manager - Sarah ParkerSarah ParkerSarah Parker is an American judge, currently the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.-Education and career:...
: (1960) Chief Justice, NC Supreme Court - Young S. Dub (born January 21, 1986) is a rapper currently signed to Def Jam Records. He has produced many mixtapes and has become famous from 'Hey', a song from the collaborative Waist Deep soundtrack.
- Marquita Rochelle Little United States Air Force member who served at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom (war in Afghanistan).
- Edgar J. Acosta United States Army member who served four tours in the Global War on Terrorism with direct support to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004-2005-2006-2007-2009-2010.
- Xavier Sims-Attended Freshman Year - American Professional wrestler.
- Darius Lee Graduate of Kings College with an AAS degree in Computer Network Administration.
Historical landmark
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historical Landmarks Commission is considering placing Garinger High School on their study list. If placed on the study list a motion would go before the city council who would vote on the issue.New Schools On Campus
In the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year two schools were inaugurated to the CMS system, on the Garinger Campus; New Technology High School @ Garinger and International Studies @ Garinger. But these 2 schools wouldn't be alone because a year later in the beginning of the 07-08 year 3 more schools were added; School of Math and Science @ Garinger, School of Leadership and Public Services @ Garinger, and School of Business and Finance @ Garinger.- School of Math and Science- Green and Blue, The Navigators, Principal- Mike Jones
- New Technology High School- Black and Gray, The Chargers, Principal- Barry Blair
- International Studies- Purple and Red, The Dragons, Principal- Kondra Rattley
- School of Leadership and Public Service- Red and Black, Wolves, Principal- Natasha Thompson
- School of Business and Finance- yellow and black, Jaguar, Principal- Carol Rodd
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools announced that the 5 small school at Garinger High School will become a one big school again with the named of "Garinger High School" for the 2011-2012 School year.
External links
- Garinger from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Garinger - Central High School Alumni Association website