Port Neches–Groves High School (PNG) is a public
high school
A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...
located in
Port Neches, Texas
Port Neches is a city in Jefferson County, Texas, Jefferson County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,692 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, an increase over the figure of 13,040 tabulated in 2010. It is part of the Beaumont� ...
. It is a part of the
Port Neches-Groves Independent School District
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manche ...
, and is classified as a 5A school by the
UIL, serving portions of Port Neches,
Groves, and
Port Arthur. It was built in 1925.
History
Port Neches High School, the predecessor to Port Neches–Groves High School, was built in 1925 at a cost of approximately $175,000. The Indian mascot and the purple and white school colors were chosen around this time.
The Indianettes dance team was founded in 1951, with the marching band, "Indian Spirit" mascot, and adoption of the fight song "Cherokee" being implemented over the following decade. A student serving as the drum major, Lynne James née Jeffrey, wrote the lyrics to the fight song. She later became the principal of Port Neches Middle School in the early 2000s.
The current Port Neches High School on Merriman Street was first used in 1953, with the original high school building becoming Port Neches Junior High.
The current name of the school was adopted in 1956.
Athletics
The Port Neches-Groves Indians compete in the following sports:
Cross Country, Volleyball, Football, Basketball, Powerlifting, Soccer, Baseball, Softball, Track and Field, Swimming and Diving, Tennis and Golf.
State Titles
*Football
**1953(3A), 1955(3A), 1975(4A), 2023(5A/D2)
*Volleyball
**1971(4A), 1979(4A), 1981(5A)
Mascot controversy
The high school's "Indian" mascot has garnered controversy for being racist and culturally insensitive, in line with
a greater trend in the United States.
These depictions include the use of the chant "
Scalp
The scalp is the area of the head where head hair grows. It is made up of skin, layers of connective and fibrous tissues, and the membrane of the skull. Anatomically, the scalp is part of the epicranium, a collection of structures covering th ...
'Em", referring to the school's football field as "the
reservation", and cheerleaders crafting and wearing ersatz
war bonnets, among others.
No residents of Port Neches or Groves identify as solely American Indian.
The school administration has repeatedly stated they would not change their traditions or mascot, including turning down a general offer from
Adidas
Adidas AG (; stylized in all lowercase since 1949) is a German athletic apparel and footwear corporation headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, and the second largest in the ...
to provide free design resources and financial assistance to change the imagery.

In 2020, the
Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation ( or ) is the largest of three list of federally recognized tribes, federally recognized tribes of Cherokees in the United States. It includes people descended from members of the Cherokee Nation (1794–1907), Old Cheroke ...
called for the school to discontinue its use of the mascot. This was a change from a 1979 certificate from then-Principal Chief
Ross Swimmer recognizing the high school as "ambassadors of goodwill," with the
Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
Principal Chief is today the title of the chief executives of the Cherokee Nation, of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, the three federally recognized tribes of Cherokee. In the eighteenth ...
Chuck Hoskin Jr. stating that the mascot and imagery "perpetuate inaccurate misconceptions of Native American culture and invokes ideations of savagery which only perpetuates harmful stereotypes and inaccurately depicts our culture."
In March 2022, the school's "Indianettes" drill team chanted the phrase "Scalp 'Em" during a performance at
Walt Disney World
The Walt Disney World Resort is an destination resort, entertainment resort complex located about southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Wa ...
's
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom Park is a Amusement park, theme park at the Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. It opened on October 1, 1971, and is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Disney Experiences, Expe ...
after being told they would not be allowed to wear their war bonnets.
Disney released a statement condemning the performance and stating the Indianettes had not been in the school's audition tape.
In the wake of the controversy, the Cherokee Nation renewed its demand that the high school drop the mascot and end its Indian-related traditions. Principal Chief Hoskin stated "I can tell you no Chief of the Cherokee Nation, whether it's me or
..Chief Swimmer
..would condone the kind of imagery or depiction of Native peoples that we see PNG not only do, but stubbornly refuse to even consider that those displays are offensive," he said. "They're not authentic. They have no connection to the Cherokee people, in fact, in many ways make a mockery of our wonderful and beautiful traditions."
Hoskin's statement was echoed by the Vice-Chair of the
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, whose original lands would have included the area of Port Neches.
The high school has deleted many of its social media accounts.
Notable alumni
*
Greg Davis, retired college football coach
*
Andrew Dismukes
Andrew Vincent Dismukes (; born June 21, 1995) is an American comedian, actor, and writer. Dismukes was hired as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' in 2017, ahead of its Saturday Night Live (season 43), 43rd season. ...
,
Saturday Night Live
''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...
cast member
*
Lew Ford, Major League Baseball player
*
Lee Hazlewood
Barton Lee Hazlewood (July 9, 1929 – August 4, 2007) was an American country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, most widely known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy during the late 1950s and singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s ...
*
Roschon Johnson,
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The N ...
running back for the
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
*
L.Q. Jones, actor
*
Wade Phillips
Harold Wade Phillips (born June 21, 1947) is a former American football coach. He has served as head coach of the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Roughnecks and San Antonio Brahmas. He has also served as interim head coa ...
, defensive coordinator,
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...
; former head coach,
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
*
Carson Roccaforte, MLB outfielder
*
Ben Weber, Pitcher,
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...
; World Series Champion,
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...
See also
*
List of sports team names and mascots derived from indigenous peoples
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Port Neches-Groves High School
1925 establishments in Texas
Educational institutions established in 1925
High schools in Jefferson County, Texas
Public high schools in Texas