Bassett High School is a comprehensive

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

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 ...

Bassett, Virginia Bassett is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,100 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town was founded along a rail line by the sam ...

, USA. The school currently enrolls about 1,200 students in grades 9–12. It is one of two public high schools operated by Henry County Schools. Opened in 1978, the school is located approximately two miles south of the Bassett community in

Henry County, Virginia Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,948. The county seat is usually identified as Martinsville; however, the administration building (where county offices are located an ...

. Campbell Court Elementary, Carver Elementary, Meadowview Elementary, Sanville Elementary, and Stanleytown Elementary feed into Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School, which feeds into Bassett High School.

History

Bassett High School opened in 1978, replacing the former John D. Bassett High School, which became a

middle school A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school. ...

. Declining enrollment in the 1990s left each of the four Henry County high schools operating at less than 50% capacity. In 2003, the county implemented a controversial reorganization plan which consolidated Fieldale-Collinsville High School and Bassett High School at the Bassett High School site. The school name and mascot remained the same but orange, one of the Fieldale-Collinsville school colors, was added to the Bassett blue and white. Following its closure as a high school, Fieldale-Collinsville became a

, serving students in the Bassett High School attendance zone.

Demographics

Bassett High School's student body is 73% White; 21% Black; and 5% Hispanic. All Bassett students receive free lunch. The school serves a geographic area which encompasses the communities of Bassett, Collinsville, Fieldale, Oak Level, Stanleytown and Villa Heightsbr>
The current principal is Tiffiny M. Gravely.

Academics

The school operates on a block scheduling, 4x4 block schedule. The school year is divided into two semesters and six six-week grading periods. Students may earn eight course credits during one school year. Students are also offered summer school programs to boost their GPAs. Bassett High School's program of studies includes ten Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and other career development and technical courses. The school provides opportunities for some of its students to attend the Piedmont Governor's School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology, which is located at 191 Fayette Street, In

Martinsville, Virginia Martinsville is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,485. A community of both Southside and Southwest Virginia, it is the county seat of Henry County, althou ...

Accreditation

Bassett High School is fully accredited based on the 2010-2011 results of the Virginia Standards of Learning tests. The school has met federal standards for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Athletics and extracurricular programs

Bassett teams play in the AA Piedmont District of the

AA Region IV The Virginia High School League (VHSL) is the principal sanctioning organization for interscholastic athletic competition among public high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VHSL first sponsored debate and also continues to sponsor ...

. The mascot is the Bengal. The Bengal athletic program competes in the

Virginia High School League The Virginia High School League (VHSL) is the principal sanctioning organization for interscholastic athletic competition among public high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VHSL first sponsored debate and also continues to sponsor sta ...

's interscholastic sports. The varsity football team won the

championship in 2006. Prior to consolidation, the school won the state AA girls' basketball championship in 2000 and the AA boys' track title in 1980.VHSL Record Book
Martinsville High School has been a traditional rival, but a strong rivalry has emerged with Magna Vista High School since the reorganization of the county schools. Bassett High School's Quizbowl team won third in the state at the 2020 state Beta Convention.

Bassett Marching Band

Bassett's marching band is a nationally recognized organization that participates in several local, state, and national competitions. In 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, the band won the Virginia state title in the

United States Scholastic Band Association United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...

and placed second in its class in the national competition in 2009 and 2011, third in 2010 and 2017, and fourth in 2012.

Notable alumni

DeVone Claybrooks Natravis DeVone Claybrooks (born September 15, 1977) is the former head coach of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for seven different teams ( ...

, Former NFL player *

Randy Hundley Cecil Randolph Hundley Jr. (born June 1, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, and the San Diego Padres. H ...

, Former MLB player (

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yo ...

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is locate ...

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...

) *

Jim Phillips Sr. Jimmie Watkins "Jim" Phillips, Sr. (July 21, 1931 – May 25, 2018) was an American politician who served in the North Carolina Senate from 1997 to 2001. A Democrat, he represented senate district 23. Early life and education Phillips was born ...

, North Carolina state senator

References

External links

*
Bassett High School BandHenry County SchoolsVirginia School Report CardSchoolMatters
{{authority control Public high schools in Virginia Schools in Henry County, Virginia Educational institutions established in 1979 1979 establishments in Virginia