Port Charlotte High School (PCHS) is a four-year, comprehensive, U.S. publichigh school located in Port Charlotte, Florida and is located adjacent to Charlotte Technical College. The school opened in 1981, graduated its first class in 1984, its mascot is the pirate, and the school motto is "Yes, I am a Pirate."[2] It is operated by Charlotte County Public Schools.[4]
At one point in time, Port Charlotte High School was the largest high school in Charlotte County, with 2,082 students enrolled in grades Grades 9 through 12.[5] Enrollment was traditionally based on students' geographic locations,[6] but is now by choice under the more recently created open enrollment program.[7]
The school was originally built in 1981, and opened its doors that year for 9th and 10th graders. For each of the next two years, a class was added, and PCHS graduated its first class in 1984. The original "G" and "B" buildings were completed in 1983.[10] The auditorium was built in 1984.[10] The science building, also known as A building, was built in 1987.[10] The BB building was built in 1990.[10] A swimming pool was added in 1991.[10] The "C building", which houses the library and some classrooms, was built in 2001.[10] In 2003, the new "B building", the two story academic classroom building, was finished.[10] In 2007, the new gym was finished.[2] The new gym did not replace the older one, but rather, was an addition.[2]
Hurricane Charley
On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley brought devastation to the Port Charlotte region.[11] Although Port Charlotte High School suffered only minor damage from the hurricane, other regional high schools suffered significant damage.[12] In the aftermath, Port Charlotte High School shared its facility with the students of Charlotte High School, with Port Charlotte High School students attending morning class and Charlotte High School students attending in the evening.[13] Later in September, Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne prompted Charlotte County Schools to be closed once again. In total, the three hurricanes caused students to miss 13 days of school during the 2004–2005 school year, requiring make-up days that infringed on student and staff days-off.[14][15]
Westboro Baptist Church protest
Port Charlotte High School has a Gay-Straight Alliance club.[16] On December 19, 2005, the club attracted protestors from the recognized hate group Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. Then 17-year-old Asher Levine, the club's founder and leader at the time, attempted to organize a counter-protest despite school officials prohibiting it, but some students laughed at the situation.[17]
Recognition
In 2009, Port Charlotte High School was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America's best high schools and a "Bronze Medal School"[18] for academic excellence. PCHS was one of 1,189 schools nationwide to receive a bronze medal.[19]
COVID-19 pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charlotte County Public Schools system reopened, albeit delayed, for the 2020–2021 school year after closing in spring during the 2019–2020 school year at the order of Governor Ron DeSantis.[20] The school reported the first case of the virus among the school system during the pandemic on September 8, a day after school reopened. The school went on to record at least 75 cases of the virus in students and staff, more than any other school in the county.[21] Unlike the previous school year, in which graduation ceremonies were held virtually due to the pandemic, Port Charlotte High School hosted a graduation ceremony at Charlotte Sports Park.[22]
Port Charlotte High School's 2020-2021 school year graduation taking place at Charlotte Sports Park on May 26, 2021 after virtual graduation the year prior due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]
In the subsequent school year, still amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charlotte County Public Schools system reopened once again, this time during a surge of the virus throughout the state, including in Charlotte County.[23] Unlike the beginning of the previous school year, some teachers and students would be vaccinated against the disease, but not all.[24] In total, 276 cases of the virus were reported among students and staff from the day the school reopened on August 10, with the first case being reported the very day the school reopened.[21]
While COVID-19 cases were initially reported for the 2022–2023 school year, the dashboard which Charlotte County Public Schools ran was eventually phased out.[21]
Hurricane Ian
On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian brought considerable wind as well as flooding and storm surge damage to the Port Charlotte region. All schools and ancillary facilities in the Charlotte County Public Schools system received considerable injury from Ian. However, Port Charlotte High School was one of the 19 schools in Charlotte County able to re-open 3 weeks after the schools had been forced to close due to the storm.[25][26][27] The school was closed for another day due to Hurricane Nicole in early November, which passed northeast of the school and brought tropical storm conditions to the area.[28] In total, 16 school days were missed because of the systems during the 2022–2023 school year. Because of damage to the football field and weight room, the football team had to play the rest of their games away from home and players were forced to weight lift on the school tennis court under a tent. Despite that the Pirates secured their first district title since 2013 following a win against Braden River.[29][30]
Academics
Port Charlotte High School currently has 15 English teachers, 17 math teachers, 8 intensive reading teachers, 14 science teachers, 15 social studies teachers, 8 foreign language teachers, 14 vocational teachers, 5 exceptional student education (for students with disabilities) teachers, and 1 ESOL teacher.[31] There are seven periods in a school day.[32] The school has a student/teacher ratio of 23.39.[33] The curriculum is based on the Sunshine State Standards.[34] Because of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the school's grade for the 2019–2020 school year was not calculated by the Florida Department of Education.[35]
PCHS Pirate Pride poster seen on the walls throughout the PCHS campus as well as on the back of the PCHS Student Planner. Pirate P-R-I-D-E is "Preparation, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence."
Port Charlotte High School Accountability Report[36]
Port Charlotte High School's Model United Nations Academic Team was ranked by the BEST DELEGATE website as the number five best Model UN team in America for the 2010–2011 school year.
The school's Model United Nations (MUN) is the most successful competitive team of any kind in Charlotte County history. For almost two decades, the PCHS Model United Nations Academic Team has been recognized as one of the very best Model UN teams in the country or its winning performances at conferences at both the national and international levels.[39] In 2012, PCHS MUN was ranked the fourth best Model United Nations team in the United States by Best Delegate, a Model United Nations Database recognized all over the world.
The team has won coveted Best Large School and Best Small School Awards at many national and international conferences, like Harvard (HMUN), Yale (YMUN), the University of Pennsylvania (ILMUNC), McGill University in Montreal, Canada (SSUNS), as well as multiple awards at other noteworthy conferences such as University of Chicago (MUNUC), Brown University (BMUN), Northwestern University (NUMUN, Georgia Tech (GTMUN), The College of William and Mary (WMHSMUN), Duke University, and the Southwest Florida/FGCU (SWFLMUN).
The team also does significant community outreach work. For the past 16 years team members have operated their award-winning International Market. They import and sell arts and crafts created by struggling indigenous artisans from all across the planet. They work closely with the Fair Trade Federation to ensure that all of the artists they work with are treated fairly and paid top wages for their creations. The team has sold well over $100,000 worth of arts and crafts. Their efforts keep people in the developing world solvent and ancient art forms alive.
Team members also put on a yearly Mini-Mun conference for students from local public and private middle schools. They also present six-week-long public speaking/debate seminars at several local elementary schools. The seminars culminate in a public debate between teams from the elementary schools. The event is attended by over 200 friends and relatives.[38][40]
PCHS NJROTC's official logoNJROTC Color Guard just before the performance of the national anthem at a football game, flanked by cheerleaders.
The Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NJROTC) is a program allowing high school students to participate in the academic and physical training aspect of naval service, while also providing leadership opportunities to those involved in the program.[41] It does not require a commitment to military service following high school graduation.[42] Port Charlotte's NJROTC program was established in the early 1990s; since then, it has grown significantly. The company of cadets are overseen and instructed by two retired United States Navy personnel,[43] who are in turn overseen by the United States Navy itself through the form of Area Managers.[44] Port Charlotte's unit is a member of NJROTC Area Seven, and is known for service to its community.[45]
The Pirate NJROTC unit has received many awards over the years, including, but not limited to the "Distinguished Unit Award," which it has been awarded over seven consecutive academic years - 2001–2007.[46] The unit is a part of Area 7, which consists of units in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.[47]
The unit has seven "teams" within its infrastructure that allow participating cadets to receive extracurricular training and experience of their choice: an armed and unarmed Drill Team, Color Guard, honor guard, academic team, orienteering team, marksmanship team and a physical training ("PT") team.[48] The teams compete against other Area Seven units at colleges, universities, military installations, and other high schools. The teams also compete with other units across the United States.[49]
Pride of Port Charlotte Bands
The Pride of Port Charlotte Marching Band performing in a Christmas parade in Downtown Punta Gorda
As of 2008, Port Charlotte High School's "Pride of Port Charlotte" Bands have consistently ranked among the top bands in the state of Florida for several years. The Pride of Port Charlotte Marching Band has participated at many famous events, such as the Fiesta Bowl, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the New York CitySaint Patrick's Day Parade, the New Year's Day Parade in London, England, and the Cotton Bowl Parade in Dallas, Texas among many others.[50] The Pride Concert and Jazz Bands are also extremely successful, consistently receiving superior ratings from the Florida Bandmasters Association.[51]
Demographics
As of the 2021–22 school year, Port Charlotte High School hosted 1,559 students. Of the student body, 827 of the students were male and 732 were female. 434 were in ninth grade, 397 were in tenth grade, 368 were in eleventh grade, and 360 were in twelfth grade. 872 students were white, 341 were Hispanic, 205 were black, 98 were "two or more races," 29 were Asian, 9 were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 5 were American Indian or Alaska Native.[52]
^ ab"Port Charlotte High School Athletic Department". Archived from the original on 2007-05-19. Retrieved 2007-12-30. John Hall, class of '91, is a kicker for the Washington Redskins. Tony Hargrove, class of '01, is a defensive end for the Buffalo Bills.
^"Matt LaPorta". GatorCountry.com (an official ESPN affiliate). 2008-06-09. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
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