Prestonsburg High School

Infobox School
name = Prestonsburg High School


imagesize =
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streetaddress = 825 Blackcat Boulevard
city = Prestonsburg
state = KY
zipcode = 41653
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website = [http://www.phs.floyd.k12.ky.us School website]
schoolnumber =
district = Floyd County Schools
enrollment = 627 (as of 2005-06)
faculty = 33.0 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 19.0
schoolboard =
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trustee =
principal = Ted George
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schooltype = Public
grades = 9–12
feeders =
campus = Small town
language =
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mascot =
teamname = Blackcats and Lady Blackcats
colors = Red, black, and white

Prestonsburg High School, located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, is one of four public schools in the Floyd County School District of eastern Kentucky. The principal is Ted George. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, Mr. George will enter his 5th year as principal of Prestonsburg High School making him one of the longest serving principals at the school in recent times.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 627 students and 33.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 19.0. [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=2101950&ID=210195000423 Prestonsburg High School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 30, 2007.]

History

In 1949, the school and the town was shaken by the sensational murder of one of its cheerleaders. One of the two men initially charged was a member of the Board of Education. Charges against the Board member were eventually dropped, and the other man was acquitted, leaving the murder unsolved to this day. [ [http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyjohnso/MMBaldridge.htm Unsolved murder stunned Prestonsburg ] ]

In 1958, 26 students from the high school and local grade schools died, along with the bus driver, in the Prestonsburg bus disaster. ["28 in School Bus Die In a Kentucky River; 27 Pupils and Driver Are Killed As Bus Falls Into Kentucky River", "The New York Times", March 1, 1958.] [ [http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyjohnso/Bus.htm Big Sandy Bus Accident 1958] . Accessed October 13, 2007.] In terms of death, the accident is tied for the worst bus accident in United States history with the 1988 Carrollton bus disaster, which also occurred in Kentucky, [Belkin, Lisa. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE7DE143FF931A1575AC0A96F948260 "19 Texas Students Die When Bus Plunges Into Water"] , "The New York Times", September 22, 1989. Accessed October 13, 2007. "The two worst such accidents in the nation's history occurred in Kentucky. In 1988, 24 children and three adults on a church outing died in a fiery collision near Carrollton. In 1959, 27 people were killed when a bus went into a creek in Prestonsburg."] although the Carrollton crash resulted in more injured.

Academics

The school offers basic Kentucky core curriculum and many other extra-curricular classes. Advanced Placement courses are also offered in certain academic areas. These classes are taught by the PHS faculty, KET (Kentucky Education Television) Learning Courses, and the Kentucky Virtual High School. There are also optional classes offered through a dual credit course program joined with Big Sandy Community and Technical College. The students are graded on a 4-point GPA scale.

Athletics

Prestonsburg High is a member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) and home to the Blackcats; the school colors are red, black, and white. Football games are played on the Josh Francis Memorial Field, but a variety of other sports activities are also offered.

In 2006, a Kentucky Court of Appeals judge became embroiled in a recruiting scandal as part of his duties as an assistant coach at the school. The school was fined $6,600. This violation, in addition to two previous violations in as many years, led to a major shake-up in the school's athletic department. The school is now in good standing with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. [Casagrande, Michael. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2930&purchase_type=ITM&item_id=0286-15685993 "Appeals court judge blamed for football recruiting violations at Prestonsburg High"] , "Lexington Herald-Leader", June 21, 2006. Accessed October 13, 2007.] On September 28, 2007, the arraignment of the now former judge on charges resulting from trying to get his son to fight another student was delayed. [http://www.ksba.org/news14.htm] The head coach of the Blackcats is John DeRossett. The Blackcats are 85-49 all time under DeRosett. The Blackcats hvae reached the state championship twice. The first under Coach Bill Letton (now head coach at Lexington Catholic) in 1993 losing one game to Mayfield in the finals. Then the second time in 2001 when the Blackcats posted a record of 13-2 losing to Owensboro Catholic in the finals; one of the best seasons since the 93 team. With a core of exceptional players, the 2001 senior class sent 13 to the next level to play college ball including #22 Matt Slone, #45 Kevin Woods (Morehead State), #28 Chris Jervis (Morehead State), just to name a few. Matt Slone owns that rushing record at Prestonsburg, along with other accomplishments. Kevin Woods holds the record for most saks in a single game (3years in a row - 10 each year) as a linebacker. Prestonsburg always produced an exceptional football program, and still maintain the title of "The Pit"The Blackcats have won the region 9 times in 1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1992,1993,2000, and 2001.The Blackcats have won their district 15 times in 1976,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,2000,2001, and 2007. They reached the state semi-finals 6 times in 1981,1982,1992,1993,2000, and again in 2001. The Blackcats have reached the finals twice and have been runner up twice in 1993 and 2001.The Blackcats have a new basketball coach. Jackie Pack returns to the bench replacing Jackie Day Crisp who decided to return to the girl's program where he had much success. The Blackcats have reached the sweet sixteen at Rupp Arena once in 1989. Prestonsburg High School has a baseball team also the Blackcats were coached by the great coach Russell Shepherd then after his retirement his brother Bobby Shepherd took over as coach of the Blackcats. At the end of the 2006 season coach Shepherd gave up the coaching job and the new coach Marc Shepard a science teacher at Prestonsburg became the new head coach. Shepherd has since returned to his Alma Mater Johnson Central High School where he remains out of coaching.

School Song

The name of the school song is "Loyal and True". A clip of the music can be found here [http://www.phs.floyd.kyschools.us/information/loyalandtrue.mid] .

Lyrics

"Loyal and True,
We pledge allegiance to you
This is our motto:
"We are one for all and all for Alma Mater"
Here's to our school,
Long on high may she rule
For evermore you will find us
always Loyal and True!
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
Victory! Victory! P-Burg High!
"

References

External links

* [http://www.phs.floyd.k12.ky.us/ Prestonburg High School]