Alexander Central High School

Alexander Central High School (ACHS) is a public, co-educational secondary school located in Taylorsville, North Carolina. It is the only high school in the Alexander County Schools system.

Alexander Central High School
Location
223 School Drive Taylorsville, North Carolina 28681 United States
Coordinates	35°55′05″N 81°11′25″W
Information
Type	Public
School district	Alexander County Schools
CEEB code	343938
NCES School ID	370009000028[1]
Principal	Jacob Lail
Teaching staff	84.65 (FTE)[2]
Enrollment	1,248 (2023–2024)[2]
Student to teacher ratio	14.74[2]
Campus type	Rural
Color(s)	Blue and Vegas gold
Athletics conference	Northwestern Conference
Mascot	Cougars
Yearbook	The Alexcentrian
Feeder schools	East Alexander Middle School, West Alexander Middle School
Website	alexander.k12.nc.us/Domain/8

History

Alexander Central was expanded in 2001 to double in size. Construction was completed in just one year.^[3]

Demographics

For the 2010–2011 school year, Alexander Central High School had a total population of 1,714 students and 94.43 staff on a (FTE) basis.^[1]

Administration

The principal of the school is Doug Rhoney. He started in 2011 and was previously principal of West Caldwell High School in Lenoir, North Carolina.^[4] Assistant principals are Crystal Hoke, Brian Lewis, and Janel Lingle.^[5]

Athletics

Alexander Central is part of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) and are classified as a 4A school. It is a member of the Northwestern 3A/4A Conference. The school colors are blue and vegas gold, and its team name are the Cougars.^[6]

The school competes in various sports throughout the school year. Fall sports include cheerleading, cross country, football, girls golf, boys soccer, girls tennis, and volleyball. Winter sports include boys and girls basketball, cheerleading, indoor track and field, swimming, and wrestling. Spring sports include baseball, boys golf, girls soccer, softball, boys tennis, and outdoor track & field.^[7]

The school softball team has had a history of success, winning NCHSAA state championships in 1979, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2018.^[8][9]

Extracurricular activities

Alexander Central High School has many extracurricular activities for students to participate in:^[10]

• The Actor's Attic
• The Alexander Muse, a yearly magazine of student art and writing.
• Art Club
• Chess Club
• Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
• Future Farmers of America (FFA)
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
• Future Teachers of America (FTA)
• Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
• History Club
• Interact Club
• Junior Beta Club
• Latin Dance
• LEO Club
• Minority Awareness
• National Beta Club
• SkillsUSA
• Spanish Club
• Step Team
• Student Council
• Teen Poetry Happens

Yearbook

The yearbook of ACHS is called the Alexcentrian. In 2003, it won a yearbook award from the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association.^[11]

Other activities

An atlas created by the Geographic Information Services (GIS) class at ACHS was published in 2007. Instructor, and county IT director, Eric Walker worked with the county's GIS department head, George Brown, for assistance in the project. Originally planned as just a 60-page booklet, the Alexander County Mapbook is a 160-page atlas of the county divided into seven sections: geography, history, government, education, economy, retail and arts and recreation.^[12]

The Agricultural Education program was awarded a $3,300 grant by Lowe's Home Improvement during the 2011–2012 to build an aquaculture facility at the school. Along with learning about safe food supplies and alternatives to natural river fishing, students will learn about conversion of fish waste to plant food.^[13]

Notable alumni

• Zach Brzykcy, MLB pitcher^[14]
• Kyle Troup, professional ten-pin bowler
• Onur Tukel, filmmaker