Lee High School (Lee County, Virginia)
| Lee High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
|
Rt. 2 Box 3145 | |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, high school |
| Founded | 1989 |
| School district | Lee County Public Schools |
| Superintendent | Mr. Brian D. Austin |
| Principal | Mrs. Michelle Warner |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 712[1] (2016) |
| Language | English |
| Color(s) | Red and Gold |
| Athletics | Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Wrestling, Tennis, Golf, Cross Country, Track, Soccer |
| Athletics conference |
Clinch Mountain District Region D |
| Mascot | U.S Military General |
| Rival | Gate City High School,[2] Abingdon High School[3] |
| Website | Official Website |
Lee High School is a public school located in unincorporated Lee County, Virginia, near Jonesville. It is a part of the Lee County School District.[4] It is one of two high schools in Lee County, Virginia.
History
Founded in 1989, Lee High School was formed by consolidating Jonesville High School, Dryden High School, Keokee High School, Flatwoods High School and Pennington High School. Some of the schools had enrollments dropping under 200 students, leading the district to duplicate services between small schools (making advanced classes with smaller enrollments difficult to offer). Athletic opportunities were strained at the very small schools.
Thomas Walker High School was not included in the consolidation because of its position at the western end of the county.
Athletics
Lee High was initially a football powerhouse, making the playoffs in their first season and reaching the state championship in 1990. Lee lost the game to Tabb High School in the last minutes of the game, 21-14. In recent years, the school football team, the Generals, have won only a handful of games, not making playoffs since the start of the 21st century. The unexpected decline in football has been due in large part to the highly politicized revolving door that had become the head coaching position following the retirement of head coaches Don Williams (1989–1992, 1997–1998) and Allen Kinser (1993–1996), both former Pennington High School coaches.
Lee High dropped from Group AA to Group A status in the 2007-2008 year (granted due to "travel hardship"). Lee's former district, the AA Highlands District, was dissolved with two members moving to the AA Southwest District and another school moving down with Lee and joining a new district. This new district, which is a part of A Region D, is the A Clinch Mountain District.
The 1990 Golf team is the only team to win a state championship for the school to date, in VHSL Group AA.[5]
In 2008, Lee High's Scholastic Bowl Team (part of the VHSL) qualified for the VHSL State Tournament and participated in the NAQT High School National Championship Tournament in Chicago, Illinois.
2011-Men's Tennis Team; Clinch Mountain District Champions, Region D Champions, and A-State Runner's-Up.
Marching band
Lee High Generals Marching Band
Lee High Generals Marching Band-Photos
The Lee High Generals Marching Band is under the direction of Ben Harding. The marching band has won the McChesney Band Festival several times since the school opened. The band receives high ratings in marching and concert band annually. The band ranges in size from 100-140 members, making the band the largest student participation group from a school of around 712 students.[6] They are widely recognized as one of the top marching band programs in Southwest Virginia, contending with other strong programs from the area such as Graham High School, J.I. Burton High School, Marion Senior High School, Powell Valley High School, and Richlands High School.
2016-
Lee High Generals Marching Band, Awarded a Superior(Highest Possible) rating, at the VBODA State Marching Band Assessment, held at Richlands High School, Virginia
Lee High Generals Marching Band, Awarded Superior Rating, and Reserve Grand Champion at McChesney Band Festival, Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Lee High Generals Marching Band, Awarded Superior Rating, and reserve Grand Champion at Letcher Co. Ky, Band Festival
October 15, 2011- Lee High Generals Marching Band completed at the Letcher County Marching Invitational Lee High placed 1st in all AAA captions, including Band, Drum Major, Colorguard, and Percussion. They received an overall Superior Rating, 1st Place General Effect for the entire competition, as well as 3rd placed in the entire competition.
October 8, 2011- Lee High Generals Marching Band competed at the McChesney Band Festival. Overall Superior Rating, Overall Crowd Favorite, 3rd Place overall for the entire competition.
October 1, 2011- Lee High Generals Marching Band competed at the Lonesome Pine Band Festival Lee High placed 3rd in Class AAA, Superior Band rating, 1st Place overall General Effect Award, 2nd Placed colorguard in Class AAA.
October 23, 2010- Lee High Generals Marching Band competed at the Music in the Foothills Competition Lee High placed 3rd in class AAAA. Lee High colorguard was awarded 1st place in class AAAA.
October 9, 2010- Lee High Generals Marching Band was awarded the following awards at the 30th Annual McChesney Band Festival. Parade: 1st Place Overall Drum Major: 1st Place, Class AAAAA Division I Band: Class AAAAA Class AAAAA/Entire Competition: Audience Choice Award(Monetary Award included) Reserve Champion Award(David R. Tipton Memorial Trophy) See 'McChesney Band Festival' on Powell Valley High School Band Website
September 25, 2010- Lee High Generals Marching Band was awarded the Grand Championship Trophy at the Letcher County Central Marching Invitational(Whitesburg, KY). The band also won 1st place in the parade division, which was awarded a $1,000.00 prize. Letcher County Central Marching Invitational-Results
October 10, 2009- Lee High Generals Marching Band Placed 1st in all caption awards and Overall Categories, winning the McChesney Cup, the McChesney Band Festival held at Big Stone Gap, VA.
In 2008, the band won the Grand Champion award at the United States Scholastic Band Association Western Virginia Regional competition.[7]
DIRECTOR HISTORY:
Chris Aker; 2016-Present
Ben Harding; 2011–2016
Michael Twigg; 1989-2011
Vocational Classes
Lee High School offers students elective vocational classes located in the Lee County Career and Technical Center building.[8] Classes include: Agriculture, Auto Body Repair, Building Maintenance, Building Trade, Business Ed., Childcare, Cosmetology, Criminology, Culinary Arts, Drafting, Electricity, Family Consumer Science, Farm Machine Repair, Horticulture, Marketing, Networking, Nursing, Small Engine Repair, Technology Ed., and Welding.
Also offered at Lee High School is Navy JROTC, which has produced numerous military veterans in the enlisted and officer corps.After his long term as Chief Robert Skiba suffered a heart attack and had to retire. Senior Chief Patrick Dawson and Lt. Commander Kelly J. Reavy both retired from the U.S. Navy are now head of the Navy JROTC program.[9]
References
- ↑ "VHSL 2009-2010 Football Divisions Enrollment" (PDF).
- ↑ http://ahs.wcs.k12.va.us/fac&ovew.html
- ↑ http://ahs.wcs.k12.va.us/fac&ovew.html
- ↑ "Lee High School." Lee County School District. Retrieved on August 23, 2010.
- ↑ VHSL Recordbook
- ↑ http://www.vhsl.org/files/fb-divisions-2009-10.pdf
- ↑ http://bandstuff.org/event_html/E205.php
- ↑ Vocational training at school web site
- ↑ http://www.leehighgenerals.com/index1.php