Middlesboro High School is a public high school in Middlesboro, Kentucky, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It is the only high school in the Middlesboro Independent School District.

History

Middlesboro High School has been educating students for over 110 years. Although the first graduating class graduated in 1894, the first formal high school opened its doors in 1896 for the first time and received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...

 in January 1929. Middlesboro's first school superintendent, Dr. J.W. Bradner, was a graduate of Columbia University

Columbia University

Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...

 and a well respected educator and administrator not only in Kentucky, but around the nation as well. He held many roles in his career as superintendent, the most prestigious being selected by the Governor of Kentucky to head the Kentucky Department of Education. Under his leadership, the Middlesboro school system was considered to be the top school district in the state. The class of 1996 unveiled a framed banner marking 100 years of excellence at Middlesboro High School during the graduation ceremony, which is on permanent display in the Central Arts Building.

Mission statement

The Middlesboro High School staff will educate all students to reach proficiency by encouraging understanding of the academic, intellectual, and cultural skills necessary for living in a global society.

School song

Middlesboro High School is unique in that it does not have an "official" fight song. However, the school song "Loyalty" is commonly performed as a fight song at sporting events. In the fall, it is played in parades and football games by the marching band and by the pep band in the spring at both girls and boys basketball games. The song is modeled after the University of Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...

 school song "Illinois Loyalty

Illinois Loyalty

Illinois Loyalty is the main school song of the University of Illinois.First performed March 3, 1906, 'Illinois Loyalty' is one of the oldest songs of its kind in the United States...

" (note that Illinois has a separate fight song

Oskee Wow-Wow

Oskee Wow Wow is the official fight song of the University of Illinois.The song was written in 1911 by two Illinois students, Howard Green and Harold Hill. The school had recently discovered that its official school song, Illinois Loyalty, was not well suited to rousing a crowd during a game.There...

).



We're loyal to you, Middlesboro!

We're yellow and white, Middlesboro!

We'll back you to stand

'Gainst the best in the land,

For we know you have sand,

Middlesboro, Rah! Rah!



So crack out that ball, Middlesboro!

We are backing you all, Middlesboro!

Our team is our Fame, Protector,

On, boys, from we expect a

Victory from you Middlesboro!



Che-Hee! Cha-Hah! Cha-Hah! Hah! Hah!

Middlesboro High School,

Rah! Rah! Rah!



Fling out that dear ol' flag of yellow and white,

Lean on thy sons and daughters,

Fighting for right.

Like men of Auld Lang Syne:

Shouting defiance,

Placing reliance,

Os-ke-wah-wah-wah!



Amid the broad green fields that nourish our land,

For honest labor and for learning we stand,

And unto thee we pledge our hearts and hands,

Dear ol' Alma Mater- Middlesboro!

Campus

Middlesboro High School shares its campus with Middlesboro Middle School; although they are two separate schools. The campus is located on the west end of Cumberland Avenue, a main highway that runs through downtown. The two schools are separated by the Central Arts Building which provides students with a 1,500-seat auditroium, a state-of-the-art sound and lighting booth, a visual arts hallway for both middle school and high school art classes, and a performing arts hallway for choir, theatre, and instrumental music programs. The facility also contains an athletic Hall of Fame area off of the main lobby. The Central Arts building is used for both school and community events. It is primarily used for theatre productions, choir and band concerts, and graduation. Also located on the campus are:

Six tennis courts,
football practice field with track (stadium is located in downtown Middlesboro),
baseball field,
softball field,
soccer field,
and a marching band practice field.

Arches of Roses

A long lost tradition at Middlesboro High School is "Arches of Roses." Unlike most schools whose graduates march to "Pomp and Circumstance" before the graduation ceremony, MHS chose the song "Arches of Roses." Junior girls, dressed in long formal gowns and silky white gloves, carried arches wrapped in gold and white ribbon covered with roses down the aisles leading the Senior class into the auditorium. This unique tradition has been with MHS since its beginning but it has lost its spot in recent graduation ceremonies. However, in 2007, "Arches of Roses" was performed by a group of Seniors to bring the tradition back to Middlesboro High School.

Extracurricular activities

Middlesboro High School students have the opportunity to participate in academic team, The "Pride of the Cumberlands" Yellow Jacket Band, Beta Club

National Beta Club

The National Beta Club is an organization for 5th-12th graders in the United States, recognizing academic achievement, leadership, character and service....

, choir, DECA

DECA (organization)

DECA, also known as Collegiate DECA on the college level) is an international association of students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service . DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing,...

, diversity club, drama, FBLA

FBLA-PBL

The Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, or FBLA-PBL, is an American career and technical student organization that has its headquarters in Reston, Virginia...

, FCCLA

Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America , formerly known as Future Homemakers of America , is a nonprofit U.S. career and technical student organization for young men and women in family and consumer science education in public and private schools through grade 12 across the United States...

, Future Educators Association, First Priority, history club, journalism (yearbook, newspaper), JROTC, Key Club

Key Club

Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...

, National Honor Society

National Honor Society

The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...

, Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey of the Mind, often called OM , is a creative problem-solving competition involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined problem ; and present their solution to the problem at a competition...

, pep club, Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad is an American elementary, middle, or high school team competition which tests knowledge of various science topics and engineering ability. Over 6,200 teams from 49 U.S. states compete each year. Most teams compete in three levels of competition: regionals, states, and nationals...

, Spanish club, speech, student council, Technology Student Association

Technology Student Association

The Technology Student Association is an international Career and Technical Student Organization made up of over 150,000 Middle School and High School Technology Education Students. TSA is the premier CTSO dedicated to STEM Standards: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics...

, Teens Against Tobacco Use, and VICA

SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a United States career and technical student organization serving more than 320,000 high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled, and service occupations, including health occupations. Since 2010, SkillsUSA has had Thomas...

.

Athletics

Middlesboro High School's athletic teams are known as the Yellow Jackets, or Lady Jackets for the girls' teams, and compete in basketball, cheer leading, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball (fast pitch), tennis, track and volleyball. In 2005, the MHS softball team won the first ever All "A" State Softball Tournament in Kentucky. The school is also known for repeated appearances in the All "A" Classic State Basketball Tournament by both the girls and boys basketball teams, softball, and baseball teams.

Middlesboro High School is also home to the class 1998 Class A State Champions in football defeating Mayfield in the Championship game. Dustin Wynn, a former kicker for the MHS football team, set the Kentucky High School Athletic Association's state record for the longest field goal attempt at 57 yards during a game at Harlan High School. The kick was successful, setting the state record that has yet to be broken. Wynn graduated from Middlesboro High School in 1999.

The Middlesboro Yellow Jackets football program is one of the top ten winningest programs in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The team also holds numerous records in other areas of football and is considered to be one of the most well respected high school football programs in Kentucky.

Curriculum

Middlesboro High School follows Kentucky's Pre-College Curriculum as mandated by Kentucky Education Association. Seniors who wish to pursue a vocational curriculum may attend the Bell County Area Technology Center, which offers programs in auto body repair, automotive technology, carpentry, computer technology, health services, and office technology.

Notable alumni

• Lee Majors
  Lee Majors
  Lee Majors is an American television, film and voice actor, best known for his starring role as Colonel Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man and as Colt Seavers in The Fall Guy ....
  
  (class of 1957), television actor. The football field located downtown is named in his honor, Bradner Stadium-Lee Majors Field.