Lone Oak High School (Kentucky)
Encyclopedia
Lone Oak High School is a public secondary school (grades 9–12) located in Lone Oak, Kentucky
, a community served by the post office of nearby Paducah
. Its nickname is Purple Flash, and its school colors are purple and gold, although some athletic teams, such as the marching band and football team, are adopting the colors purple and black, excluding gold. Lone Oak High School's enrollment is approximately 900 students.
and Reidland High School. Paducah Tilghman High School is part of the Paducah Public Schools.
The plans ultimately changed; in December 2008, the McCracken County Public Schools received state approval of a plan calling for a single county high school that would consolidate grades 10 though 12. Under this plan, the three current high schools in the county district (Lone Oak, Reidland, and Heath) would each house grades 7 through 9. The current middle schools would house grades 4 through 6. Then, the current elementary schools would house pre-school through 3. The new school is currently scheduled to open in fall of 2013.
Lone Oak, Kentucky
Lone Oak is an unincorporated community in McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 454 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a city. It is a part of the Paducah, KY-IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, a community served by the post office of nearby Paducah
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
. Its nickname is Purple Flash, and its school colors are purple and gold, although some athletic teams, such as the marching band and football team, are adopting the colors purple and black, excluding gold. Lone Oak High School's enrollment is approximately 900 students.
School system
Lone Oak High School is one of four public high schools in Paducah/McCracken County, which is located in Western Kentucky. Lone Oak High School is part of the McCracken County Public Schools, in addition to Heath High SchoolHeath High School
Heath High School may refer to either of the following high schools in the United States:*Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky, the site of a notable shooting in 1997 in which three students were killed and five wounded...
and Reidland High School. Paducah Tilghman High School is part of the Paducah Public Schools.
History
Lone Oak almost became the site of the first McCracken County High School, which was founded in 1910 by Professor Joe Ragsdale. But, in the face of all kinds of odds, Professor Ragsdale founded the county school at Heath; at first students attended classes out of doors, under some trees. Lone Oak High School succeeded Kentucky Western School in 1919 in the white frame building that was remodeled and stuccoed after Ragsdale set up the county school at Heath. But Lone Oak High School continued in the old college building until it burned in the mid-1920s when Miles Meredith, still living in Paducah, was principal. The first Lone Oak High School (in the "college" building) had three rooms and a hall downstairs and four rooms upstairs. One room was used as a chapel. In it Lone Oak Methodist Church was organized; Mrs. Ava McKinney Sanderson (Mrs L. E. Sanderson) was a charter member. In 1928, recalls Mrs. McCarty, the first typing class came to Lone Oak. She was a freshman when the alma mater was written; "We are Loyal to You Lone Oak High." M. Randolph wrote it.Future plans
In the summer of 2007, several public hearings were held discussing the future of Lone Oak High School, and to address the major overcrowding issues in each Lone Oak district school. An initial decision was made that a new Lone Oak High School will be constructed, housing grades 10, 11, and 12. The current high school building will then house grades 7, 8, and 9. The current Lone Oak Middle School building will house grades 4, 5, and 6. The current elementary schools in Lone Oak will then house grades K–3. This solution should put an ease on the excessive overcrowding at Lone Oak Elementary, Hendron Lone Oak Elementary, Lone Oak Middle, and Lone Oak High.The plans ultimately changed; in December 2008, the McCracken County Public Schools received state approval of a plan calling for a single county high school that would consolidate grades 10 though 12. Under this plan, the three current high schools in the county district (Lone Oak, Reidland, and Heath) would each house grades 7 through 9. The current middle schools would house grades 4 through 6. Then, the current elementary schools would house pre-school through 3. The new school is currently scheduled to open in fall of 2013.
Notable alumni
- Lynn Zimmerman, later to be known as Jeri RyanJeri RyanJeri Lynn Zimmermann Ryan is an American actress best known for her roles as the liberated Borg, Seven of Nine, on Star Trek: Voyager; Tara Cole on Leverage; and Veronica "Ronnie" Cooke on Boston Public. She was also a regular on the science fiction show Dark Skies and the legal drama series...
, born February 22, 1968, graduated from Lone Oak High School in 1986. The actress has starred in the CBS crime drama Shark, and more notably on Star Trek: VoyagerStar Trek: VoyagerStar Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
as Seven of NineSeven of NineSeven of Nine is a fictional character on Star Trek: Voyager, portrayed by actress Jeri Ryan. Born human, she was assimilated by the Borg at the age of six. Eighteen years later, Voyager left Borg space with Seven on board, after attempts to negotiate passage through Borg space proved only...
and Boston PublicBoston PublicBoston Public is an American drama television series created by David E. Kelley and broadcast on Fox. It centered on Winslow High School, a fictional public high school located in Boston, Massachusetts. The show was named for the real public school district in which it takes place...
as Ronnie Cooke. - Current PGA TourPGA TourThe PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
golfer Kenny PerryKenny PerryJames Kenneth Perry is an American professional golfer who currently plays on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, for which he became eligible following his 50th birthday.-Early years:...
, born August 10, 1960, graduated from Lone Oak High School in 1978. He started high school at Franklin-Simpson High School, but transferred to Lone Oak High School in McCracken County, Kentucky, when his father's job took him to work in nearby Paducah.