Lexington High School (South Carolina)

Infobox Secondary school
name = Lexington High School
type = Public
city = Lexington 29072
state = SC
country = USA
established =
accreditation =
principal = B. Creig Tyler
grades = High school (9-12)
enrollment = 2,600 (2008)
mascot = Wildcats
colors = Blue and Gold
newspaper = The Wildcat
website = [http://www.edline.net/pages/Lexington_High_School]

Lexington High School is a public high school (grades 9-12) located in Lexington, South Carolina, a suburb of the state's capitol, Columbia, South Carolina. It is one of four high schools in Lexington School District One. The school's mascot is the Wildcat and its primary athletic rivals are Irmo High School in Columbia, SC and White Knoll High School, a school that was opened to relieve overcrowding at Lexington in August 2000. A new school is planned to ease current overcrowding at Lexington High School. The new school will be located inside Lexington city limits and is planned to open with room for 2000 students. Without this new opening, Lexington High School's enrollment is expected to reach 3,450 by 2013.

Lexington is well known for its band program, directed by Dr. Jerry Gatch. The marching band is the only band in South Carolina to be a 5A finalist every year since the class began in 1988. The band was the state champion 5 times and made a 'second place streak' from 1997-2001 during which time the program made its debut into the Bands of America circuit. In 1998, the band placed second behind national champion Lassiter High School from Marietta GA at the BOA Southeastern regional in Johnson City, TN. The band was a finalist in Johnson City and Atlanta 6 times. The marching band has participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Rose's Parade in Pasadena, California. Recently the band traveled to Hawaii and performed on the dock of the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor. The Wind Ensemble, the schools top performing group, has performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival. The group won the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational in 1993. Lexington High School also has award-winning chorus and orchestra programs. Lexington performs well in athletics, having won state championships in baseball, men's basketball, men's and women's golf, softball, and men's tennis in the recent past [http://www.schsl.org/palfine.htm] .

Advanced Placement courses offered at Lexington include: English Language and Composition, English Literature, United States History, United States Government, Statistics, Calculus AB and BC, Physics 2B and 2C, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Sciences, European History, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, World History, German, Latin, Spanish, Studio Art, Music Theory, and Computer Science.

Lexington is, as of May 2006, an International Baccalaureate World School under the Coordination of Dr. Sherry Walters. The first IB diplomas will be awarded to seniors in the class of 2008. IB classes offered include: HL English, HL Math, HL History of the Americas, HL Biology, HL Physics, HL Chemistry, HL Theatre, SL Economics, SL Math, SL French, SL Spanish, and Theory of Knowledge.

External links

* [http://www.edline.net/pages/Lexington_High_School Official Website]
* [http://www.lexingtonwildcats.com/ Athletics Website]
* [http://www.catband.com/ Band Website]

Notable Alumni

*Kira Campbell, University of South Carolina scholarship soccer player; scored first point on an assist against Clemson her freshman year.
*Caitlin Upton, Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2007
*Lacie Lybrand, Miss South Carolina USA 2006
*Lauren Poppell, Miss South Carolina USA 1999
*Demetrius Summers, former University of South Carolina football player and national high school record holder for most 100 yard games.
*Floyd Spence, former US congressman.
*Tim Heskett, three-time all state point-guard and career 3 point field goal percentage record holder at Oklahoma. Currently an assistant coach at Lynn University.
*Tyrone Wright, all WAC and all Mountain West basketball player at Air Force. Currently an assistant there.
*Rashunda Taylor, professional softball player.
*Brett Jodie, former player for the New York Yankees.
*DT Cromer, former player for both the Oakland A's and Cincinnati Reds.
*Almar Fitzgerald, Marine killed in Iraq.
*Thomas Caughman, Marine killed in Iraq.
*Heath Rollins, prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system and former first round pick.