East Coweta High School
Encyclopedia
East Coweta High School is a public high school
located in Coweta County
, Georgia
, U.S.
The school serves about 2800 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Coweta County School System
. It is the second oldest high school in Coweta. It was founded in 1917.
(Taken from "The Historical Significance of the Names of the Buildings and Grounds and the School Seal of East Coweta High School," Michael Wayne Mayhall, 1988)
territory in the early 19th century. At that time, what would become Coweta County, was a lush wilderness inhabited by "squatters" seeking to establish themselves in rapidly expanding Georgia (Tranquil Cemetery near Turin has headstones indicating interment as early as 1807). Children were often sent to learn reading and writing from any nearby neighbor who had those skills.
The county was established June 9, 1825, following the controversial Treaty of Indian Springs (March 1825). Once the county was established settlers entered and made homes spanning from the eastern Coweta County all the way to western Coweta County. Thus eastern Coweta was the first-settled part of the county with Kedron, Preston, White Oak, and Haralson as the leading early communities.
The wealthy established privately funded white academies almost immediately. It is believed that Preston Academy was existent in 1827. The poor of that day had to swear a pauper's oath to receive "poor school" funds for their education—few would do so. Even so, in 1833, five school districts were laid out in the county, and trustees were authorized to apportion the "Poor School Fund." It is unknown exactly which districts were formed. They probably included Kedron, White Oak, and Haralson.
In 1836, a "common school" fund was established by the state to combine academies and poor schools resulting in free education for all. However, the funding stopped in 1839. Once again, private academies and poor schools characterized the years 1840-1958. The major academy established in this part of the state in that era was eastern Coweta's own Longstreet Institute (1849), attracting the brightest scholars and professors from throughout the area.
Few white schools continued consistently through the war years of 1861-1865 and the reconstruction years through 1870. An exception was the Methodist-sponsored Senoia Institute, which flourished from the time of the founding of that city in 1865. Also, the Freedman's Bureau established free black schools in 1865 but funded them only through 1870 (we have no record of the names of any of those black schools). Nevertheless, the Coweta County Public School System was optimistically established in 1871 with Radford E. Pitman of Sharpsburg as commissioner (superintendent.) Common schools free to all the children of Georgia were resurrected in that year. However, in the three months of school offered then by Coweta schools, only 671 whites of 2055 eligible were enrolled.
Those early, shaky years gave way to an era of unbroken progress beginning in 1873. By 1879, Coweta County Schools employed forty-five white and twenty-six black teachers, and by 1893 there were forty-eight white and forty-four black schools. In 1898 the school year was increased to 100 days, and by 1927, Coweta was one of only fifteen counties statewide to have a full nine-month term and ranked third in the percentage of rural pupils in high school. Hoke Smith donated the first library (circulating among the various schools of the county), in 1901.
Consolidation efforts began earnestly in 1918 when J. Marvin Starr became superintendent. The first major consolidation took place around Sharpsburg and Turin. Ultimately, when Starr High School opened in 1921, it was hailed statewide as the most modern and innovative of rural high schools.
In 1922 there were thirty-two white public schools in the Coweta County School System. At that time Senoia area schools had an independent public system. By 1926, that number had been reduced to five, and by 1937 to twelve. Yet there were still forty black schools throughout the county.
Total integration began in Coweta County Schools, along with the merger with the Newnan School System, in 1970. With extensive metropolitan Atlanta's growth during the 1970s and 1980s, especially in eastern Coweta County, additional construction was required.
In the fall of 1988, the high school students of Moreland, East Newnan, White Oak, Major, the traditional East Coweta area, and all parts in between merged to culminate the consolidation efforts begun so long ago.
In an effort to recapture and preserve some of eastern Coweta's educational roots and to honor our forebears, the buildings and grounds of the new (1988) campus bear the names of three groups:
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Coweta County
Coweta County, Georgia
Coweta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 89,215. The 2009 Census Estimate placed the population at 131,936...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
The school serves about 2800 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Coweta County School System
Coweta County School System
The Coweta County School System is the primary education system in Coweta County, Georgia, USA. Its headquarters are an antebellum building on Jackson Street at Sprayberry Road in Newnan, Georgia. Coweta County is the 9th fastest growing county in Georgia and the 26th fastest in the country...
. It is the second oldest high school in Coweta. It was founded in 1917.
History
East Coweta High School History(Taken from "The Historical Significance of the Names of the Buildings and Grounds and the School Seal of East Coweta High School," Michael Wayne Mayhall, 1988)
Early Coweta County
Education in eastern Coweta County probably began for the children of frontiers venturing into IndianNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
territory in the early 19th century. At that time, what would become Coweta County, was a lush wilderness inhabited by "squatters" seeking to establish themselves in rapidly expanding Georgia (Tranquil Cemetery near Turin has headstones indicating interment as early as 1807). Children were often sent to learn reading and writing from any nearby neighbor who had those skills.
The county was established June 9, 1825, following the controversial Treaty of Indian Springs (March 1825). Once the county was established settlers entered and made homes spanning from the eastern Coweta County all the way to western Coweta County. Thus eastern Coweta was the first-settled part of the county with Kedron, Preston, White Oak, and Haralson as the leading early communities.
The wealthy established privately funded white academies almost immediately. It is believed that Preston Academy was existent in 1827. The poor of that day had to swear a pauper's oath to receive "poor school" funds for their education—few would do so. Even so, in 1833, five school districts were laid out in the county, and trustees were authorized to apportion the "Poor School Fund." It is unknown exactly which districts were formed. They probably included Kedron, White Oak, and Haralson.
In 1836, a "common school" fund was established by the state to combine academies and poor schools resulting in free education for all. However, the funding stopped in 1839. Once again, private academies and poor schools characterized the years 1840-1958. The major academy established in this part of the state in that era was eastern Coweta's own Longstreet Institute (1849), attracting the brightest scholars and professors from throughout the area.
Few white schools continued consistently through the war years of 1861-1865 and the reconstruction years through 1870. An exception was the Methodist-sponsored Senoia Institute, which flourished from the time of the founding of that city in 1865. Also, the Freedman's Bureau established free black schools in 1865 but funded them only through 1870 (we have no record of the names of any of those black schools). Nevertheless, the Coweta County Public School System was optimistically established in 1871 with Radford E. Pitman of Sharpsburg as commissioner (superintendent.) Common schools free to all the children of Georgia were resurrected in that year. However, in the three months of school offered then by Coweta schools, only 671 whites of 2055 eligible were enrolled.
Those early, shaky years gave way to an era of unbroken progress beginning in 1873. By 1879, Coweta County Schools employed forty-five white and twenty-six black teachers, and by 1893 there were forty-eight white and forty-four black schools. In 1898 the school year was increased to 100 days, and by 1927, Coweta was one of only fifteen counties statewide to have a full nine-month term and ranked third in the percentage of rural pupils in high school. Hoke Smith donated the first library (circulating among the various schools of the county), in 1901.
Consolidation efforts began earnestly in 1918 when J. Marvin Starr became superintendent. The first major consolidation took place around Sharpsburg and Turin. Ultimately, when Starr High School opened in 1921, it was hailed statewide as the most modern and innovative of rural high schools.
In 1922 there were thirty-two white public schools in the Coweta County School System. At that time Senoia area schools had an independent public system. By 1926, that number had been reduced to five, and by 1937 to twelve. Yet there were still forty black schools throughout the county.
Founding
After World War II, consolidation efforts intensified. East Coweta High School was founded on April 17, 1946 when the Coweta County School Board "ordered that the Haralson, Raymond, Starr, and Senoia school operate East Coweta High School at Starr School for the ensuing year." This ended a series of ever more inclusive consolidations which had begun years earlier. By 1955, the black schools had been combined into four schools.Total integration began in Coweta County Schools, along with the merger with the Newnan School System, in 1970. With extensive metropolitan Atlanta's growth during the 1970s and 1980s, especially in eastern Coweta County, additional construction was required.
In the fall of 1988, the high school students of Moreland, East Newnan, White Oak, Major, the traditional East Coweta area, and all parts in between merged to culminate the consolidation efforts begun so long ago.
In an effort to recapture and preserve some of eastern Coweta's educational roots and to honor our forebears, the buildings and grounds of the new (1988) campus bear the names of three groups:
Other Consolidations
The major consolidated schools ultimately resulting in the present East Coweta High School.- Preston Academy - Preston Hall is the area housing the Main office/Guidance Office/Attendance Office. Preston Academy was the oldest documented school in East Coweta County (1827?-1884)
- Brantley Institute - Brantley Halls, East and West, houses the English, Social Studies, and International Languages Departments. Brantley Institute of Senoia was recognized as the leading school of its day in a multiple county area.
- Longstreet Institute of the Ebenezer/Coke's Chapel community - Longstreet Institute was the major antebellum school in a multi-county area producing a host of outstanding alumni. Longstreet Hall is the main hall of the school running the entire length of the building.
- Starr High School of Sharpsburg - Starr Hall is the history and business education hall. Starr High School was the first consolidated high school in Coweta County.
- Moreland High School - Moreland Hall is the science hall. Moreland High School was the major consolidated high school for south central Coweta County.
- Haralson High School - Haralson High School was the major consolidated high school for extreme southeastern Coweta County. Haralson Hall is the fine arts hall.
- Rock Springs Academy/School - Located in the community of Major. Rock Springs Academy/School was the most significant school in northeastern Coweta County. Rock Springs is the name of the greenhouse at ECHS.
Notable Educators
Educational leaders who founded and strengthened the school system.- Radford Edward Pitman - Pitman (1835–1880) was Coweta County's first public school superintendentSuperintendent (education)In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
(1871–1880). He was a settler on the land on which East Coweta High School is currently located. He was the great grandfather of Eddie Hewlette Pitman who provided the land for the school. Pitman Hall is now known as the Media Center. - Hoke Smith - Was a lawyer, publisher, politician, educator and a crusader for improving education in rural schools of Georgia. In 1901, Smith donated to Coweta County Schools its first library. Hoke Smith Reading Room is now referred to as the Career Center.
- Sarah Fisher Brown - Brown High School of Moreland was the major black high school of its era; it was founded by and named for Sarah Fisher Brown, who was an innovative educator. Brown Hall is the Technology/Career Education (Vocation) hall.
- Walter B. Hill - Walter B. Hill Industrial School was a major black area school. Walter Hill was named for the long-time state supervisor of black schools. It closed in 1954 when it was consolidated into Eastside School. Walter B. Hill Courts is the name of the school's tennis courts.
Athletic Complexes
- Broken Arrow Field - The football practice field
- Garland Shoemake Memorial Stadium - The football stadium
- Cusseta Field - The baseball/softball field
Notable alumni
- Keith BrookingKeith BrookingKeith Howard Brooking is a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech...
, graduated from East Coweta in 1994, and then went on to play at Georgia tech. Was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2001 in the first round of the NFL draft,and then in 2008 was signed to the Dallas Cowboys. - Chris HansonChris HansonChristopher David Hanson is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1999...
,Drafted by the Green Bay Packers, and then became the punter for the New England Patriots. - Brad EmausBrad EmausBradley Mark Emaus is a Major League Baseball second baseman in the Colorado Rockies organization.-College career:Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 18th round of 2004 Major League Baseball draft out of East Coweta High School in Sharpsburg, Georgia, Emaus instead elected to enroll at Tulane...
, New York Mets Second Baseman - Chris Young, Safety at Georgia Tech. Drafted in the 2002 7th Round (17th pick) by the Denver Broncos.
- Karsten BaileyKarsten BaileyKarsten Mario Bailey is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn....
, Wide Receiver at Auburn University. Drafted in the 1999 3rd Round by the Seattle Seahawks. - Nate Novarro, Drummer of the band Cobra Starship
- Trevor Bachman, water polo player for the University of Georgia.