Central Cabarrus High School, commonly referred to locally as Central or CCHS, is a comprehensive public
high school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
located in
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is the county seat and largest city in Cabarrus County, in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 105,186, with an estimated population in 2021 of 107,697. In terms of population, the cit ...
. It opened in 1966.
History
Born in Central's first year of operation were publications, The Centarune, the school yearbook, and The Norlande, the school newspaper. Mr. Euell Gary Brady served as the first librarian with 8,000 books and 125 periodicals. "Dear Ruth," Central's first theatrical production was directed by Mrs. Marjorie Hudson. Director Neil Wilson led the first band which consisted of 40 members, and Mr. David Stantz was the first chorus teacher.
The 2015 film ''
Paper Towns
''Paper Towns'' is a novel written by John Green, primarily for an audience of young adults, and was published on October 16, 2008, by Dutton Books. The novel is about the coming-of-age of the protagonist, Quentin "Q" Jacobsen and his search fo ...
'' shot its high school scenes here.
Academics
Central's academic curriculum falls in line with the
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
Standard Course of Study in all core subject areas. The school also offers a variety of
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course ...
courses including
AP Human Geography
Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography (also known as AP Human Geo, AP Geography, APHG, AP HuGe, AP HuG, AP Human, or HGAP) is an Advanced Placement social studies course in human geography for high school students in the US, culminating in an ex ...
,
AP Statistics
Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics (also known as AP Stats) is a college-level high school statistics course offered in the United States through the College Board's Advanced Placement program. This course is equivalent to a one semester, non-ca ...
,
AP Biology
Advanced Placement (AP) Biology (also known as AP Bio) is an Advanced Placement biology course and exam offered by the College Board in the United States. For the 2012–2013 school year, the College Board unveiled a new curriculum with a greate ...
,
AP Studio Art
Advanced Placement (AP) Studio Art (also known as AP Art and Design) is a series of Advanced Placement Courses divided into three different categories: AP Studio Art Drawing, AP Studio Art 2D Design, and AP Studio Art 3D Design.
Portfolio
Unlike ...
, and many others.
As of the 2007–2008 school year, 3% of the student body were listed as pursuing advanced college prep courses and the average class size was 20 students.
Central has been consistently recognized as a "School of Distinction" under the state's ABC standards for public schools.
English teacher Susan Deaton Parker was named Cabarrus County Teacher of the Year for the 2005–2006 academic year. Math teacher Allison Hahn was named Cabarrus County Teacher of the Year for the 2014–2015 academic year.
STEM Magnet Program
Central Cabarrus is also home to a
STEM
Stem or STEM may refer to:
Plant structures
* Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang
* Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure
* Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...
magnet program
In the U.S. education system, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities (usually school boards) as school ...
, where students are able to take classes in relation to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and design. Central is one of only two high schools in
Cabarrus County
Cabarrus County ( ) , from the North Carolina Collection's website at the
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
. Students must apply in middle school for consideration into the program, where they must maintain an overall grade average of 80% (based on the final average of all courses taken each year). Students can take classes in Technology Design, Game Design, Photography, and STEM-oriented core classes, amongst other courses. While students take these courses with only other STEM students, they are free to take AP classes and electives with the general student body of the school.
Marching Band
The marching band have been a finalist at the
Bands of America
Bands of America (BOA) is a music education advocacy organization and promoter of high school marching band competitions in the United States, such as the annual Grand National Championships. Established in 1975 as Marching Bands of America (MBA), ...
Nationals Competition in 1987, 1988, and 1991.
Notable alumni
*
Carol Barbee
Carol Denise Barbee (born May 22, 1959, in Concord, North Carolina) is an Emmy winning American television writer, actress and producer.Jericho
Jericho ( ; ar, أريحا ; he, יְרִיחוֹ ) is a Palestinian city in the West Bank. It is located in the Jordan Valley, with the Jordan River to the east and Jerusalem to the west. It is the administrative seat of the Jericho Gove ...
'' and ''
Swingtown
''Swingtown'' is an American drama television series created by Mike Kelley as a summer replacement series for CBS aired from June 5 to September 5, 2008. The show was a period and relationship drama about the impact of sexual and social liber ...
'', writer, and actor
*
Natrone Means
Natrone Jermaine Means (born April 26, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers from 1993 to 20 ...
,
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
running back and 1994
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (starting in 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's star players.
The format has changed thro ...
Norah Jones
Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar; March 30, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has won several awards for her music and as of 2012, has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. ''Billboard'' named her the ...
,
Hymns
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...
,
Ben Kweller
Benjamin Lev Kweller (born June 16, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
A former member of Radish, Kweller has released six solo albums and appeared on several collaborations.
Early life
Ben Kweller was born in Sa ...
, and
The Candles
The Candles are an American rock band formed in New York City in 2009.
Background Information
Steeped in the evocative, open-road Americana of bands like Gin Blossoms and Whiskeytown, New York City-based alt-rockers The Candles formed in 2009 ...
*
Ish Smith
Ishmael Larry Smith (born July 5, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Smith holds the record of ...
,
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
Clark Whittington
Art-o-mat machines are repurposed cigarette vending machines that dispense cigarette pack-sized artwork.
Clark Whittington installed the first Art-o-mat at an art show in June 1997 that dispensed black & white photographs for $1.00 each.
There ...
, creator of the
Art-o-mat
Art-o-mat machines are repurposed cigarette vending machines that dispense cigarette pack-sized artwork.
Clark Whittington installed the first Art-o-mat at an art show in June 1997 that dispensed black & white photographs for $1.00 each.
There ...