Garinger High School


Garinger High School is a high school located in the Eastway area of Charlotte, North Carolina.

History

Garinger was in essence the relocation of Central High School, making it one of the oldest remaining schools in Charlotte. The schools origins go back to 1908-09, when the class of 1909 received their diplomas in the first graduation of Charlotte High School. In 1920, Charlotte High moved to a larger building on East Morehead Street and became Alexander Graham High School. Then in 1923, a new school building located on Elizabeth Avenue opened as Central High School. Central received all students who were attending Alexander Graham High.
In 1959, Central High moved to its current facility on Eastway Drive and was renamed Garinger High School in honor of Dr. Elmer H. Garinger, a former principal of Central High and superintendent of the Charlotte City Schools. Central Piedmont Community College now stands where Central High once stood; one of CPCC's main buildings is known as the Central High building.
In early 2006 the school found itself threatened with closure by the State of North Carolina, but received backing from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

Historical landmark

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historical Landmarks Commission is considering placing Garinger High School on their study list. If placed on the study list a motion would go before the city council who would vote on the issue.

New schools on campus

In the beginning of the 2006–2007 school year, two schools were inaugurated in the CMS system on the Garinger Campus. New Technology High School at Garinger, and International Studies at Garinger. The following year, three more schools were added: the School of Math and Science at Garinger, the School of Leadership and Public Services at Garinger, and the School of Business and Finance at Garinger.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools announced that the five small schools on the Garinger campus will become a one large school again with the name of "Garinger High School" for the 2011–2012 school year.

Campus

Garinger is located in East Charlotte at 1100 Eastway Drive. The campus can also be accessed from Shamrock Drive, East Sugar Creek Road, or for sporting events Meadow Lane.
Garinger's campus was designed by AG Odell, Jr., and Associates, who also designed several other famous buildings in Charlotte. The campus covers roughly and consists of several detached buildings, many of which have interior courtyards. Near the center of campus sits a unique round building with a conical roof, which served as the original library. It has since been converted into classroom space and much of the interior integrity has been lost. A new two-story library was added in the 1970s.
The campus was considered state-of-the-art when it first opened, winning many architectural awards for its unique modern buildings. Garinger was featured in a 1962 edition of National Geographic as Charlotte-Mecklenburg's showplace high school.

Traditions

Garinger has many long standing traditions, many of which were carried over from Central High. The teams are known as the "Wildcats," and the school colors are blue and white; high school teams under that nickname and colors have played since 1909 at Charlotte High/Central High.

Fight song

Garinger's fight song is based on The Washington and Lee Swing

Willow tree

The official symbol of Garinger High School is the weeping willow tree. The school's annual literary magazine is called Under the Willow Tree

Sports

Garinger's mascot is a wildcat, and the school colors are royal blue and gray. These traditions harken back to the Charlotte High School days. The School competes in the Southwestern 4a conference as part of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association
While competitive and occasionally successful in basketball and golf, the Wildcats have struggled greatly in other sports, most notably football. Garinger often sells out its intimate 600-capacity gym for basketball games against West Charlotte and Independence.
One of Garinger's historic forms, Charlotte High School, was a football powerhouse and used American Legion Memorial Stadium as its home field in its latter days.
Garinger's current stadium is Phil Hughston Memorial Stadium, named for a player who died from injuries sustained in a 1971 football game.

Honors

As Charlotte or Central.

Football losing streak

From 2001-2007 Garinger was stricken by North Carolina's longest active losing streak and 2nd longest all-time streak. In September 2007 the streak reached a staggering 51 games before news broke of violations by North Mecklenburg, Providence, and Vance High Schools. Garinger was retroactively awarded wins against North Meck and Vance ending the streak. The streak was also reduced to 49 games as a result of having played Vance in August. In July 2008, due to further evidence in a cheating scandal that swept Charlotte football, Garinger's final record for 2007 was declared to be 4-7, the school's best record in well over two decades.
On October 6, 2008, while celebrating the school's 100th anniversary and homecoming, Garinger had their first honorable win against West Mecklenburg High School, beating them 32-12. They went on to end the season with a couple more wins and even made it to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2008 playoffs, the first time in 18 years.

Notable alumni