Garinger High School

Garinger High School (simply, Garinger or The G) is a high school located in the Eastway area of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Garinger High School
Address
1100 Eastway Dr

Charlotte
,
North Carolina
28205

United States
Coordinates35°14′29″N 80°46′58″W
Information
Former namesCharlotte High School
(1908–1920)
Alexander Graham High School
(1920–1923)
Central High School
(1923–1959)
TypePublic
MottoWhere the world meets for class everyday
Founded1908 (1908)
CEEB code340668
PrincipalKelly Gwaltney
Staff122.89 (FTE)[1]
Number of students1,815 (2017–18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio14.77[1]
Color(s)Blue and gray
  
MascotWildcat
NewspaperThe Rambler
YearbookSnips and Cuts
Websiteschools.cms.k12.nc.us/garingerHS/Pages/Default.aspx

History

Garinger was in essence the relocation of Central High School, making it one of the oldest remaining schools in Charlotte. The schools origins go back to 1908–09, when the class of 1909 received their diplomas in the first graduation of Charlotte High School. In 1920, Charlotte High moved to a larger building on East Morehead Street and became Alexander Graham High School. Then in 1923, a new school building located on Elizabeth Avenue opened as Central High School. Central received all students who were attending Alexander Graham High.[2][3]

In 1959, Central High moved to its current facility on Eastway Drive and was renamed Garinger High School in honor of Dr. Elmer H. Garinger, a former principal of Central High and superintendent of the Charlotte City Schools. The closing of Central High School in Charlotte was a direct attempt by the school administration to avoid integration of students of color; four years after the landmark United States Supreme Court decision in Brown vs The Board of Education which paved the way for nationwide integration of public schools. However, loopholes still existed to skirt the laws and gerrymander school districts to only accommodate white students. This was perpetrated by closing schools where students of color attended and reopen schools in all-white neighborhoods; such as was done with Central High School when the building was erroneously "condemned" just twenty three years after it opened, and the new Garinger High was erected in time for the new school year to begin in the fall of 1959. 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).

In early 2006 the school found itself threatened with closure by the State of North Carolina, but received backing from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

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.[4]

New schools on campus

In the beginning of the 2006–2007 school year, two schools were inaugurated in the CMS system on the Garinger Campus. New Technology High School at Garinger, and International Studies at Garinger. The following year, three more schools were added: the School of Math and Science at Garinger, the School of Leadership and Public Services at Garinger, and the School of Business and Finance at Garinger.

  • New Technology School at Garinger
  • Math and Science School at Garinger
  • International Studies School at Garinger
  • Leadership and Public Service School at Garinger
  • Business and Finance School at Garinger

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools announced that the five small schools on the Garinger campus will become a one large school again with the name of "Garinger High School" for the 2011–2012 school year.

Campus

Garinger is located in East 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 was designed by AG Odell, Jr., and Associates, who also designed several other famous buildings in Charlotte. The campus covers roughly 63 acres (250,000 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 featured in a 1962 edition of National Geographic as Charlotte-Mecklenburg's showplace high school.

Traditions

Garinger has many long standing traditions, many of which were carried over from Central High. The teams are known as the "Wildcats," and the school colors are blue and white; high school teams under that nickname and colors have played since 1909 at Charlotte High/Central High.

Fight song

Garinger's fight song is based on The Washington and Lee Swing

Willow tree

The official symbol of Garinger High School is the weeping willow tree. The school's annual literary magazine is called Under the Willow Tree

Sports

Garinger's mascot is a wildcat, and the school colors are royal blue and gray. These traditions harken back to the Charlotte High School days. The School competes in the Southwestern 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.

Honors
  • NCHSAA State Championships:
    • Baseball (1930*, 1932*, 1965)[5]
    • Men's basketball (1931*, 1932*, 1933*, 1934*, 1989)[6]
    • Football (1916*, 1917*, 1923*, 1929*, 1930*, 1932*, 1936*, 1937*, 1943*, 1959)[7]

(*) As Charlotte or Central High

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.[8]

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 made it to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2008 playoffs, the first time in 18 years.

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. "Garinger High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  2. Garinger High School - The Garinger Education Foundation. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  3. Central High School | Charlotte Mecklenburg Story. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  4. "Garinger - Central Alumni Association - News - Historical Landmarks Commission". Archived from the original on 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  5. Baseball State Championships. NCHSAA. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  6. Men's Basketball Champion List. NCHSAA. Retrieved Aug 25, 2020.
  7. Football State Champions List. NCHSAA. Retrieved Aug 25, 2020.
  8. Sports, Observer (2008-07-25). "Post-forfeit football standings". Prep Insiders. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  9. Mary Belk Fact Sheet. (PDF). Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  10. Camilo Benitez (Charlotte, NC). maxpreps.com. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  11. "Nflacarolinas.org". www.nflacarolinas.org.
  12. Mark Davidson - BR Bullpen. Retrieved Aug 25, 2020.
  13. Walter E. Dellinger III | Duke University School of Law. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  14. Sonny Dixon Stats. Baseball-Reference. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  15. John Donaldson Stats. Baseball-Reference. Retrieved Dec 24, 2019.
  16. Chris Folk - Obituary. legacy.com. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  17. K-Ci & JoJo Are Born. The Urban Daily. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  18. Jack Helms Stats. Pro-Football-Reference. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  19. Charlotte Mayor Patsy Kinsey. Retrieved Aug 25, 2020.
  20. Legacy the Myers Park Story by Kratt, Mary Norton. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  21. Doris Leeper House. Retrieved Aug 25, 2020.
  22. Honors - Dan Locklair. Dan Locklair, Composer. Retrieved Dec 24, 2019.
  23. Robert Massy - Pro Football Archives. Retrieved Aug 25, 2020.
  24. Edwards, Jay. (November 26, 2014). Garinger's Tresor Mbuyu, Weddington's Powell Williams reap Observer's annual men's soccer honors. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  25. Jim Richards Stats. Pro-Football-Reference. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  26. Garinger High School Class of 1962 Alumni. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  27. http://ncpreptrack.org/OlympiansFromNC.html. Retrieved 6 March 2019.

Notes
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