Drew Central High School

Drew Central High School is a public secondary school in Monticello, Arkansas, USA. It is part of Drew Central School District, which was established in 1927 and covers 570 square miles (1,500 km²), all in rural Drew County, from where all the students are bussed into Monticello. Monticello itself is not in Drew Central School District, but forms a district of its own, Monticello School District.^[1] This means that the school is in the unusual position of being located outside the boundaries of the school district it serves.

The Principal of the High School is Mr Frank Ferguson. The district's other schools are the Elementary School and the Middle School. All three share the same campus in Monticello.

At the High School, there are some 400 students in grades 7 to 12. The average class size is less than 25.^[2]

The school participates in the Arkansas Scholars program of the Arkansas Business and Education Alliance.

The school's football team is the PIRATES and the senior students produce an annual yearbook called THE PIRATE.

Academics

Drew Central offers two levels of curriculum: College Prep, and General. The College Prep curriculum must be completed by students to be eligible for:

1. Academic Challenge Scholarship (requires a 2.50 GPA)*

2. Seal on graduation diploma (requires a 2.75 GPA)

3. Unconditional admission to an Arkansas higher institution of learning (2.0 GPA)*

4. Honor graduate status/member of National Honor Society (3.50 GPA)

Organisations and Extra-curricular

Students may take part in:

Student Council (elected by the student body)

Teachers of Tomorrow

Library Club

Senior National Honor Society

Junior National Honor Society

Future Business Leaders of America

Drama Club

Choral Music

Boys' sports comprise football, cross country, basketball, baseball, tennis, cheerleading and dance.

Girls' sports consist of cross country, basketball, tennis, cheerleading, dance team and softball.

Discipline

Disciplinary programs for student misconduct at Drew Central are Detention Hall, in-school suspension, and out-of-school suspension, depending on the seriousness of the infraction. In extreme cases a student may be recommended for expulsion from the school.

Detention Hall takes place each day, beginning at the start of the lunch period. Students eat their lunch in detention and must work on an assignment.^[3]

Drew Central High also offers a corporal punishment program, under which a student chooses a paddling (swats) instead of attending Detention Hall. Students wishing to receive swats must report to the office at the beginning of their lunch period on the day they are scheduled to attend Detention Hall. After being spanked in the office they are then free to join the normal school lunch.^[3]

In the case of tardies, the corporal punishment option is available only after the third tardy in each nine-week grading period. After a sixth tardy the student is assigned to In-School Suspension.

The school administration may also decide to administer a paddling in other cases, particularly for fighting, except where parents have signed a form requesting exemption from corporal punishment. In the latter case, alternative discipline will be assigned, which may include suspension.^[3]

The district also operates the Drew County School-Within-A-School (SWAS) Program, a boot camp providing an alternative to long-term suspension or expulsion of junior high and high school aged students in the Drew Central and Monticello School Districts. Students are exposed to a rigorous program of physical training, leadership development, community service and academics in a highly disciplined environment. The program is staffed by full-time certified police officers.^[4]

External links

• Drew Central School District

References

1. ^ History of the Drew Central Schools.
2. ^ Drew Central Quick Facts.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Drew Central High School Student Handbook.
4. ^ Drew County School-Within-A-School Program.