Harlan County High School

Harlan County High School (HCHS) is a public high school located in the unincorporated community of Rosspoint, Kentucky, served by the post office of another unincorporated community, Baxter. The school opened in August 2008 to replace the three previously separate public high schools in the Harlan County district: Evarts High School, James A. Cawood, and Cumberland High School. (A fourth public high school in the county, Harlan High School, is operated by a separate district and did not participate in the consolidation.) The school has been met with mixed criticism, with praises for its unique architecture, design and educational value.

Harlan County High School
Address
4000 U.S. Highway 119 Baxter , KY 40806 United States
Coordinates	38°53′5″N 83°16′34″W
Information
Type	Public
Established	2008
School district	Harlan County Public Schools
Superintendent	Brent Roark
Principal	Kathy Napier
Teaching staff	66.75 (FTE)
Grades	9 to 12
Enrollment	997 (2022-2023)
Student to teacher ratio	14.94
Campus	Rural
Color(s)	Cardinal, black and silver
Slogan	We Are HC!
Athletics conference	5A
Sports	Archery, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, football, golf, marching band, softball, track and field,soccer,volleyball
Mascot	Black Bear
Nickname	Black Bears and Lady Bears
Team name	Black Bears
Feeder schools	Black Mountain, Cawood, Cumberland, Evarts, Green Hill, James A. Cawood, Rosspoint, and Wallins Elementary schools
Website	harlan.k12.ky.us/hchs/

History

Main construction for Harlan County High School began in 2006 and finished in 2008. Opening orientation was held on August 24, 2008, and school was scheduled to open for students the next day. However, an arson attempt activated several sprinklers throughout the school, forcing the postponement of opening day until September. More than 1,701 students began attending the school on opening day.

The teams were provisionally to be called the Knights, however, public opinion led to the decision to name them the Black Bears in honor of the Ursus americanus bears that inhabit the area. The school is the flagship of the Harlan County Public Schools, whose superintendent is Brent Roark.

Architecture and design

Although Harlan County High School is located in a rural community, the school was built with a generous budget and has been praised for its unique architectural design. Paired with a few defining characteristics - such as the multiple bear statues and giant bear paw painted on its grassy embankment, the black of the bear paw is made from coal - more remarkable qualities distinguish the school. The school's main entrance leads students through a lobby featuring images and artifacts of historic schools and into a three-story atrium, designed as a street that connects all the main functions of the school, from which one can almost view every area in the building as well. Other important areas include the main office, gymnasium, auditorium, lunchroom, library, security office, and classrooms.

Sports, clubs, and organizations

Tom Larkey served as the first head coach for the Black Bears, winning two regional titles and multiple district crowns as well. Larkey and the school parted ways after a 2–9 season, Eddie Creech took over for Larkey as the leader for the Bears on the sideline. The Bears went 4–7 in Creech's first two-season, qualifying for the playoffs both years, but facing first-round exits both years in close games. In 2017, the third season under Creech, the Bears had their first winning season in three years, as well as taking the school's third regional championship. The 2018 season found some success, giving the Black Bears a district title and one playoff win. Beginning in 2019, the Black Bears competed in class 4A football instead of 5A, where they had competed since their second season. In 2023, under coach Amos McCreary, the Black Bears moved back to class 5A.

Below are a list of organizations, clubs, and sports that students may participate in:

Athletics

Boys:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Bass Fishing
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Soccer
• Track and Field

Girls:

• Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Cross Country
• Dance
• Golf
• Soccer
• Softball
• Track and Field
• Volleyball

Clubs and organizations

• Archery
• Academic Team
• Band
• Beta Club
• Choir
• Drama Club
• Breakfast Club
• FBLA
• FCCLA
• FFA
• First Priority
• Jazz Band
• JROTC (Raider, Drill Team, Rifle Team, Color Guard)
• NHS