Port Charlotte High School
Encyclopedia
Port Charlotte High School (PCHS) is a four-year, comprehensive, public high school
located in Port Charlotte
, Florida
, US. The school opened in 1982, its mascot is the pirate, and the school motto is "Yes, I am a Pirate." It is operated by Charlotte County Public Schools
. With 2,082 students enrolled in grades Grades 9 through 12
, Port Charlotte High School has more students than any other public school in Charlotte County
. Enrollment was traditionally based on students' geographic locations, but is now by choice under the more recently created open enrollment program. The school has grown much, and it survived Hurricane Charley
. The school has high academic standards, and is known for its performance in extracurricular activities. The school's main feeders are Murdock Middle School
, Port Charlotte Middle School, and Punta Gorda Middle School
. The school's top athletic rivals are Charlotte High School
and Lemon Bay High School
. The property value of the school is $15,797,719 US. PCHS has educated two NFL players and one major league baseball
player who also performed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
PCHS has experienced growth through its twenty-five years of existence. The campus structure has grown with the population. The school was originally built in 1981, and opened its doors in 1982. The original "G" and "B" buildings were completed in 1983. The auditorium
was built in 1984. The science building, also known as A building, was built in 1987. The BB building was built in 1990. A swimming pool
was added in 1991. The "C building", which houses the library
and some classrooms, was built in 2001. In 2003, the new "B building", the two story academic classroom building, was finished. In 2007, the new gym was finished. The new gym did not replace the older one, but rather, was an addition.
In 2004, Hurricane Charley
brought devastation to the Port Charlotte region. Although Port Charlotte High School suffered only minor damage from the hurricane, other regional high schools suffered significant damage. 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.
In 2009, Port Charlotte High School was recognized by US News and World Report as one of America's best high schools and a "Bronze Medal School" for academic excellence. PCHS was one of 1,189 schools nationwide to receive a bronze medal.
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. There are six periods in a school day. The school has a student/teacher ratio of 21.2. The curriculum is based on the Sunshine State Standards
.
, basketball
, baseball
, softball
, track
, cheerleading
, golf
, wrestling
, soccer, volleyball
, bowling
, swimming
, lacrosse
, diving
, cross country
, and weightlifting. Athletics at PCHS are regulated by the Florida High School Athletic Association under classification 4A, district 11.
, Environmental Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
(FCA), French Club, Games Club, Interact Club, Key Club
, Mock Trial Team, Model United Nations
(MUN), Mu Alpha Theta
, National Art Honor Society
, National Honor Society
, Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp (NJROTC), Pirate Crew, Pride of Port Charlotte Marching Band
, Recruitment & Educational Assistance for Careers In Health (REACH), Red Cross
Club, Scholars Club, Silver Cord, Spanish Club, Student Government Association, Thespian
Society, Tri-M Music Society, Water Polo
, and Yearbook
Team. Key Club
, an organization for high school
students, is operated by the Kiwanis Club.
(MUN) has been frequently recognized for its performance at conferences at both the national and international level. The team has won honors at both national and international conferences, as well as multiple awards at noteworthy conferences at Harvard University
, Yale University
, University of Pennsylvania
, Georgetown University
, Brown University
, and the Secondary Schools United Nations Symposium conference in Montreal, Canada.
The Naval Junior Reserve Officer 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. It does not require a commitment to military service following high school graduation. 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, who are in turn overseen by the United States Navy
itself through the form of Area Managers. Port Charlotte's unit is a member of NJROTC Area Seven, and is known for service to its community.
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. The unit is a part of Area 7, which consists of units in Alabama
, Florida
, and Georgia
.
The unit has four "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
, academic team, and a physical training ("PT") team. Previously, the unit also had a rifle team. 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.
, Macy's Day Parade, the New York City
Saint Patrick's Day
Parade, the New Years Day Parade in London, England, and the Cotton
Bowl Parade in Dallas, Texas
among many others. The Pride Concert and Jazz Bands are also extremely successful, consistently receiving superior ratings from the Florida Bandmasters Association.
, 14% are African American
, 9 % are hispanic
and 6% are multiracial
or other.
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 Port Charlotte
Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte is a census-designated place in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 46,451 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, US. The school opened in 1982, its mascot is the pirate, and the school motto is "Yes, I am a Pirate." It is operated by Charlotte County Public Schools
Charlotte County Public Schools
Charlotte County Public Schools operates all public K12 schools in Charlotte County, Florida . It covers Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Englewood, Rotonda West, Babcock Ranch and surrounding areas...
. With 2,082 students enrolled in grades Grades 9 through 12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
, Port Charlotte High School has more students than any other public school in Charlotte County
Charlotte County, Florida
Charlotte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 141,627. In 2005, the population of the MSA was 154,030.The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county was 152,814...
. Enrollment was traditionally based on students' geographic locations, but is now by choice under the more recently created open enrollment program. The school has grown much, and it survived Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
. The school has high academic standards, and is known for its performance in extracurricular activities. The school's main feeders are Murdock Middle School
Murdock Middle School
Murdock Middle School is a suburban-based middle school located in Port Charlotte, Florida. Construction initiated in 1986 and the school's first official school year was in 1988. In May 2007, it graduated its 18th 8th grade class...
, Port Charlotte Middle School, and Punta Gorda Middle School
Punta Gorda Middle School
Punta Gorda Middle School is a middle school in Punta Gorda, Florida operated by the Charlotte County Public Schools board. The majority of its students graduate to either Port Charlotte High School or Charlotte High School....
. The school's top athletic rivals are Charlotte High School
Charlotte High School (Punta Gorda, Florida)
Charlotte High School is a historic public high school in Punta Gorda, Florida, United States serving ninth through twelfth grade students. The school is part of the Charlotte County Public Schools district, with admission based primarily on the locations of students' homes. Established in 1926,...
and Lemon Bay High School
Lemon Bay High School
Lemon Bay High School is an American public high school located in Englewood, Florida. It serves grades nine through twelve and is operated by Charlotte County Public Schools....
. The property value of the school is $15,797,719 US. PCHS has educated two NFL players and one major league baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player who also performed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
History
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
was built in 1984. The science building, also known as A building, was built in 1987. The BB building was built in 1990. A swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
was added in 1991. The "C building", which houses the library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
and some classrooms, was built in 2001. In 2003, the new "B building", the two story academic classroom building, was finished. In 2007, the new gym was finished. The new gym did not replace the older one, but rather, was an addition.
In 2004, Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
brought devastation to the Port Charlotte region. Although Port Charlotte High School suffered only minor damage from the hurricane, other regional high schools suffered significant damage. 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.
In 2009, Port Charlotte High School was recognized by US News and World Report as one of America's best high schools and a "Bronze Medal School" for academic excellence. PCHS was one of 1,189 schools nationwide to receive a bronze medal.
Academics
Reading (process)
Reading is a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols for the intention of constructing or deriving meaning . It is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas...
teachers, 14 science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
teachers, 15 social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
teachers, 8 foreign language
Foreign language
A foreign language is a language indigenous to another country. It is also a language not spoken in the native country of the person referred to, i.e. an English speaker living in Japan can say that Japanese is a foreign language to him or her...
teachers, 14 vocational teachers, 5 exceptional student education (for students with disabilities) teachers, and 1 ESOL teacher. There are six periods in a school day. The school has a student/teacher ratio of 21.2. The curriculum is based on the Sunshine State Standards
Sunshine State Standards
The Sunshine State Standards are broad statements that describe what a child should know and be able to do at every grade level. These standards cover seven content areas: social studies, science, language arts, health/physical education, the arts, foreign language, and mathematics...
.
| School Year | School Grade | School Year | School Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–1999 | C | 2004–2005 | C |
| 1999–2000 | C | 2005–2006 | B |
| 2000–2001 | C | 2006–2007 | C |
| 2001–2002 | A | 2007–2008 | A |
| 2002–2003 | C | 2008–2009 | A |
| 2003–2004 | C | 2009-2010 | B |
- These grades are based on FCATFlorida Comprehensive Assessment TestThe Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or the FCAT , is the standardized test used in the primary and secondary public schools of Florida...
testing.
Athletics
The PCHS athletic department, operated by James Vernon,. operates programs in footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, soccer, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, and weightlifting. Athletics at PCHS are regulated by the Florida High School Athletic Association under classification 4A, district 11.
Football
The PCHS Football team is currently coached by David Hoffer. Its home stadium is known as "Pirate's Cove." Its mission is to promote principles of great character, academic excellence, and public service. Individual players have earned several awards and honorable mentions over the years. The team has seen nine different coaches since the school's establishment in 1982, and they have had varying won/lost stats. The team has only defeated cross river rival Charlotte High School twice (1990 and 2007 seasons).Extracurricular activities
Port Charlotte High School has many clubs and groups, including Academic Team Challenge (A-Team), Beta Club, Book Club, Creative Writing Club, Dance Team, DECADECA (organization)
DECA, also known as Collegiate DECA on the college level) is an international association of students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service . DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing,...
, Environmental Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
(FCA), French Club, Games Club, Interact Club, Key Club
Key Club
Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
, Mock Trial Team, Model United Nations
Model United Nations
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
(MUN), Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta is a United States mathematics honor society for high schools and two-year colleges. It has over 89,000 student members in more than 1,800 schools worldwide. Its main goals are to inspire keen interest in mathematics, develop strong scholarship in the subject, and promote the...
, National Art Honor Society
National Art Honor Society
The National Art Honor Society was established in 1978 in the United States by the National Art Education Association for high school students grades 10-12, for "the purpose of inspiring and recognizing those students who have shown an outstanding ability in art" from the National Art Honor Society...
, National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp (NJROTC), Pirate Crew, Pride of Port Charlotte Marching Band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
, Recruitment & Educational Assistance for Careers In Health (REACH), Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
Club, Scholars Club, Silver Cord, Spanish Club, Student Government Association, Thespian
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Society, Tri-M Music Society, Water Polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
, and Yearbook
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
Team. Key Club
Key Club
Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
, an organization for high school
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....
students, is operated by the Kiwanis Club.
Model United Nations
The school's Model United NationsModel United Nations
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
(MUN) has been frequently recognized for its performance at conferences at both the national and international level. The team has won honors at both national and international conferences, as well as multiple awards at noteworthy conferences at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, and the Secondary Schools United Nations Symposium conference in Montreal, Canada.
Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
of cadets are overseen and instructed by two retired United States Navy personnel, who are in turn overseen by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
itself through the form of Area Managers. Port Charlotte's unit is a member of NJROTC Area Seven, and is known for service to its community.
The Pirate NJROTC unit has received many awards over the years, including, but not limited to the "Distinguished Unit Award
Distinguished Unit Award
The Distinguished Unit Award is an award given to a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps unit from their respective Headquarters. HQ will send out a representative to review the Unit every year. The Unit is then given the opportunity to improve on the ratings given by the representative. Units...
," which it has been awarded over seven consecutive academic years - 2001-2007. The unit is a part of Area 7, which consists of units in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and 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...
.
The unit has four "teams" within its infrastructure that allow participating cadets to receive extracurricular training and experience of their choice: an armed and unarmed Drill Team
Drill team
A drill team can be one of four different entities:# A Military Drill Team is marching unit that performs routines based on military drill. Military drill teams perform either armed or unarmed....
, Color Guard
Color guard
In the military of the United States and other militaries, the color guard carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag...
, academic team, and a physical training ("PT") team. Previously, the unit also had a rifle team. 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.
Pride of Port Charlotte Bands
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 BowlFiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
, Macy's Day Parade, the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
Parade, the New Years Day Parade in London, England, and the Cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
Bowl Parade in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
among many others. The Pride Concert and Jazz Bands are also extremely successful, consistently receiving superior ratings from the Florida Bandmasters Association.
Students
Students at Port Charlotte High School generally are between 13 and 19 years of age. 71% of the students are CaucasianCaucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
, 14% are African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 9 % are hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
and 6% are multiracial
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
or other.
Notable alumni
- Chris Demakes, Shaun Grief, and Vinnie FiorelloVinnie FiorelloVinnie Fiorello is an American drummer, lyricist and founding member of the ska punk band Less Than Jake. As a child, Vinnie's family owned a dog named Jake who was "treated like a king" according to the band's website FAQ page. As a result, everything in the house became "Less Than Jake",...
are members of Less Than JakeLess Than JakeLess Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of ska punk. Less Than Jake have also been cited as showing influences from a wide variety of genres including post-grunge, heavy metal, alternative...
, a ska punkSka punkSka punk is a fusion music genre that combines ska and punk rock. It achieved its highest level of commercial success in the United States in the late 1990s. Ska-core is a subgenre of ska punk, blending ska with hardcore punk.The characteristics of ska punk vary, due to the fusion of contrasting...
band. - John HallJohn Hall (American football)John Hall is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He kicked for Port Charlotte High School and played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While at Wisconsin, Hall played and won three bowl games...
(class of 1991) was a place-kicker in the NFL. He played for the New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1997–2002), then was transferred to the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
who he played for until 2006 when he was released; he then retired. - Matthew LaPortaMatthew LaPortaMatthew Vincent LaPorta is an American professional baseball player who is a first baseman and left fielder for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. LaPorta played college baseball for the University of Florida...
is a Major LeagueMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player for the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
who attended PCHS his freshman year, but later transferred to rival Charlotte High School. He was also one of 24 players selected to represent the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. - Tony Hargrove (class of 2001) Currently a defensive endDefensive endDefensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, who Hargrove helped claim victory for in the Super Bowl XLIVSuper Bowl XLIVSuper Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
. He has also played for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
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Notable Faculty
- Doug DunakeyDoug DunakeyDoug Dunakey is a former American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour. He is known for shooting a 59 in the 1998 NIKE Miami Valley Open, becoming only the fourth player to shoot a 59 on a major tour...
- Former professional golfer, became the golf coach for PCHS after his professional career.