Hurricane High School

A great deal about Hurricane High school can be gleaned from an analysis of the community. The city is nestled between the major metropolitan areas of Huntington and Charleston, and many families select Hurricane so that they can be close to their place of work without having to live in a larger population center. This has resulted in a population growth and urban sprawl that has been constant since the year 2000. Every year, the population of Hurricane High school has gone up, reaching 1,291 students as of the 2019-2020 school year.

The early history of the school is one of continued growth over time. The student body originally gathered in rooms above an A. N. Sumners store. This changed in 1922 when a new high school was constructed to accommodate students. The original number of graduating students was not quite as large as the current student body. Only twenty-three students composed the graduating class in the year 1922. At the time the 1934 yearbook was published, thirty-three students composed the graduating class.

Putnam County's school system was established in 1933 by the state of West Virginia. Prior to that time, the schools of the county operated as parts of various districts. As the area grew, the previously-established Curry District was integrated into Putnam County Schools. The county funded the creation of several larger schools that could hold more students and that led to the closure of area one-room schoolhouses and the creation of graded schools. As Hurricane continued to be viewed as a desirable place to live, and with the creation of I-64 facilitating commuting between Huntington and Charleston metro areas, area high schools grew leading to consolidation and the creation of Hurricane High.

This school has acquired many awards and victories over its history. The graduation rate rests at an almost one hundred percent every year regardless of race or gender. The attendance rate from 2010-2020 has consistently been above ninety percent. A large percentage of the students go on to complete four-year programs while a smaller percentage goes on to complete two year programs. The staff at Hurricane High school also have many accomplishments that enhance the education of the students. Several staff members have National Board Certification and operate clubs for the students to explore their interests.

While this school draws mostly positive attention, there have been a few controversies in the school's history. The primary source of controversy comes from the name of the school's mascot, the Hurricane Redskins. A national debate has risen to question the ethics and morality of calling a sports team something that is universally known as a racial slur. While many residents feel that the name should not be changed out of respect for the school's traditions and history, others strongly believe that it should be changed. As of 2020, the name has not been changed and the debate persists.

About Us, https://www.putnamschools.com/. Accessed September 16th 2020. http://hhs.putnamschools.com/o/hhs/page/about-us--1413.

Headcount Enrollment Summary, https://wvde.us/. Accessed September 16th 2020. https://zoomwv.k12.wv.us/Dashboard/dashboard/2056.

Sentelle, Sam. Putnam County Schools, the First Ten Years. Hurricane, WV. 1993.

Graduation Summary, https://wvde.us/. Accessed September 16th 2020. https://zoomwv.k12.wv.us/Dashboard/dashboard/2111.

Gutman, David. "Is Hurricane High School’s mascot a racial slur?." Charleston Gazette-Mail (Charleston) June 15th 2014. .

Hurricane High School Yearbook. Hurricane, West Virginia. 1934.