Fern Creek High School

Coordinates: 38°9′20.90″N 85°35′32.39″W / 38.1558056°N 85.5923306°W / 38.1558056; -85.5923306
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38°9′20.90″N 85°35′32.39″W / 38.1558056°N 85.5923306°W / 38.1558056; -85.5923306

Fern Creek High School
Address
Map
9115 Fern Creek Road

,
40291

United States
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1923
School districtJefferson County Public Schools
PrincipalRebecca Nicholas[1]
Staff94.00 (FTE)[2]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,776 (2018–19)[2]
Student to teacher ratio18.89[2]
CampusSuburban
Color(s)    Orange and black
MascotTiger
WebsiteSchool site School District's Website
Former principal Dr. Nathan Meyer (left) with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in 2015

Fern Creek High School is a communications, JROTC, and a media and arts school in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It is part of Jefferson County Public Schools. Founded in 1923, it was the first high school in the Jefferson County (Kentucky) School System. It has an enrollment of approximately 1,900 students.

History[edit]

On 30 September 2014, at least one shot was fired at the school. One student with non-life-threatening injuries was transported to a local hospital.[3] The high school and a nearby elementary school were placed on lock-down while authorities searched for the gunman.[4][5] A suspect described as a student was apprehended nearby about three hours after the shooting.[6][7]

Academics[edit]

FCHS provides an academic program with a variety of majors to meet students' diverse career and college interests. Students select one of four Schools of Study that best suits their academic or career goals:

  • School of Communication and Media
  • School of Visual and Performing Arts
  • School of Analytical and Applied Sciences
  • School of Leadership and Social Science
  • United States Marine Corps JROTC (MCJROTC)
  • Ivy Plus Academy

Within each School of Study, students choose to participate in one of the following tracks: the comprehensive, honors, or advanced program. Each program is geared toward students' success after graduating from FCTHS.

Comprehensive Traditional Program[edit]

The Comprehensive Traditional Program is a high-standards curriculum that follows Kentucky Core Content. All students have the opportunity to gain skills to prepare them college or other opportunities after high school.

Honors Program[edit]

The Honors Program incorporates a more challenging college-preparation sequence with extensive reading and writing activities. Students must maintain a 2.75 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale to remain in the program.

Advanced Program[edit]

For gifted and highly motivated students, Fern Creek offers an Advanced Program curriculum that provides even more stimulating coursework. Students may choose advance studies in a single class or in multiple classes. This accelerated pre-college curriculum focuses on English, mathematics, science, social studies, and humanities. To participate, students must pass the Advance Program screening test, have a teacher/counselor/parent recommendation, and maintain at least a B average in designated classes. Seniors who complete the pre-college advance program requirements receive an advance-level seal on their diploma upon graduation.

Advanced Placement courses[edit]

FCTHS offers several Advanced Placement (AP) courses: English Language, English Literature, Government, Human Geography, Calculus, World History, U.S. History, Art Studio, Physics, and Statistics. Students who take these courses and then score well on the AP tests may receive college credit. FCTHS faculty members are specifically certified to teach Advanced Placement courses.

Marine Corps Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps[edit]

The Marine Corps JROTC has won top honors in the country over the past several decades, including the MCROA. The MCROA award is presented to the top JROTC Unit in their perspective region that has shown great acts of leadership, teamwork, and organization within their cadets. The Leatherneck and Lady Leatherneck Drill Teams have also received top honors and titles throughout the years. The Lady Leathernecks won the National High School Drill Team Championships in 1997, and consecutively since 2000. They won their 13th consecutive national title in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 7, 2012. The Leathernecks have won multiple runners-up, and place top five in the nation.

Ivy Plus Academy[edit]

Ivy Plus is an application mandatory program within Fern Creek High School. It connects high achieving students with top colleges throughout the US and Canada. The Ivy Plus Academy's purpose is to ensure students’ acceptance into the nation's most selective colleges and universities. Ivy Plus Academy students will travel as a cohort in their core classes to ensure rigorous academic standards and to maintain the integrity of the Ivy Plus Academy philosophy and purpose. Ivy Plus Academy students will take multiple Advanced Placement and dual-credit classes throughout their time at Fern Creek to maximize potential college credit opportunities. Ivy Plus Academy students will have access to one-on-one college counseling services which include college selection, application assistance, financial aid support and extensive college visits. Ivy Plus Academy students will be prioritized and provided. Academy space is limited and preference is given to students within Fern Creek's resides area. Students who are not accepted into the initial Academy cohort will be placed on the waiting list (Students may still choose to attend Fern Creek and may be enrolled in specific Advanced Placement classes as non-Academy participants). Ivy Plus most recently earned over $27 million in merit-based scholarships for the class of 2023.[8]

Athletics[edit]

  • Fall sports
    • Cheerleading
    • Cross country
    • Dance team
    • Field hockey
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Soccer
    • Volleyball
    • Quick Recall
  • Winter sports
    • Basketball
    • Rifle team
    • Swimming
    • Wrestling
    • Bowling
  • Spring sports
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Tennis
    • Track
    • Debate

Notable alumni and faculty[edit]

Alumni

Faculty

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Fern Creek Principal".
  2. ^ a b c "Fern Creek High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  3. ^ "LMPD: Gunman still at large following shooting at Fern Creek High School". WAVE-TV. September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  4. ^ "Suspect sought in Kentucky high school shooting; student injured". CNN. September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  5. ^ "One student injured in shooting at Fern Creek HS". Louisville Courier-Journal. September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  6. ^ "1 injured in shooting at Fern Creek High School, suspect in custody". WHAS-TV. September 30, 2014. Archived from the original on October 2, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  7. ^ Olson, Karan; Ford, Dana (September 30, 2014). "Suspect in Kentucky high school shooting in custody". CNN.com. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  8. ^ "Fern Creek High School Ivy Plus Academy" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  9. ^ Oliver, Greg (July 6, 2017). "Diane Von Hoffman dead at 55". SLAM Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  10. ^ "John L. Ramsey Obituary". Courier Journal. Legacy.com. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  11. ^ "Biography of Dr. James R. Ramsey". University of Louisville. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  12. ^ Wigton, James H. (2010). Lee Roberson -- Always about His Father's Business. Xulon Press. p. 35. ISBN 9781609579883.
  13. ^ Bennett, Brian (December 14, 2007). "Louisville WR Urrutia declares for NFL draft". Courier Journal. USA Today. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  14. ^ Burba, Paula (December 9, 2009). "Johnny Givens, first Colonels coach, dies at 83". Courier Journal. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2014.

External links[edit]