Charlotte Catholic High School (CCHS) is the first of two Roman Catholic high school in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The other is the newly established Christ the King High School near Lake Norman.
It was the first, and until six years ago, only, high school in Mecklenburg Area Catholic School (MACS) system, and is under the Diocese of Charlotte headed by Bishop Peter Jugis along with the Vicar of Education, Father Roger Arnsparger. Students commit to 70 hours of community service to complete over their four years at the school.
The school’s motto is, “the soul of education is the education of the soul.” It’s colors are Columbia blue, red, and white.
The principal is Kurt Telford and Dean of Students is Randy Belk
Charlotte Catholic is established as a college prep school,
History
Charlotte Catholic was established in 1955, originally located on Park Road where the current MACS middle school, Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School, is currently. It was named by the Sisters of Mercy who worked as teachers at the school, and had a cloister next to it’s Park Road location. In 1995, it moved to its Pineville-Matthews Road location. The facility it is presently in is newer, larger and also has a chapel connected to the building.
Athletics
There are 26 sports at Charlotte Catholic, including football, basketball, baseball, rugby, softball, lacrosse, tennis, soccer, field hockey, swimming and diving, cheerleading and wrestling. The athletics department at CCHS has been extremely successful in its past. According to former players from each team, in 2016 alone, the school went undefeated in football, including winning its state championship, men’s soccer made it to the third round of playoffs, men’s golf came in fourth place at regionals, and the swimming and diving team ended its 13-year winning streak coming in third at the state championship, and its basketball team won the state championship at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
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It’s mascot is the cougar, and fight song is the Notre Dame Victory March.
Fine Arts
Charlotte Catholic is home to several programs in the arts, including theatre, art, photography, chorus and band.
The CCHS marching band earned international renowned after winning Best International Parade in Limerick, Ireland, and Best Overall Band in Dublin, Ireland at the 2015 International Marching Band Competition and St. Patrick’s Day Parade Festival respectively.
The theatre department puts on two major shows a year, a fall play and spring musical, with a few shows presented by the acting class under Marcus Riter.
Controversy
The school has faced two major controversies, including former principal Jerry Healy being accused and sentenced to a half-way house after taking money from the school’s foundation for personal affairs, and a former teacher losing his job after announcing his plans to marry his long-time same-sex partner.
Citations
https://www.charlottecatholic.org/
http://www.charlottecatholicbands.org/about-us/index.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article72618157.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/education/article125835989.html
