Our Alma Mater in History
The Carmel/Clay Township area was settled by Quakers in the early 1830s. In 1833, a meeting house was constructed on a hill where the older Carmel Cemetery sits today. It was common practice well into the 20th century for Quakers to give names to their meeting places. Benjamin Mendenhall suggested the name Richland for the new meeting. The same year a school was started in the meeting house and, in 1835, the log structure was doubled in size. Throughout most of the19th century, education in Carmel, like most of the nation, was provided by public elementary schools and private academies for post 8th grade education.
Richland School was replaced by a larger wood-frame structure a few years later. It sat on the northwest corner of Rangeline and Smoky Row Roads. In 1845, a frame school building was built near the same site. In 1867, the all-brick Carmel Academy was built on land where the Wesleyana Amistad Cristiana Church sits today. By 1887, the size and population of the community warranted a larger and more permanent structure, so on September 23, 1887, on a small hill on the east side of First Avenue, SE and Fifth Street, SE, the cornerstone of the first Carmel High School was laid. The two-story brick building would house grades one through ten with no frills – just classrooms. Because the town was founded on a boundary separating Clay and Delaware townships, the school was administered jointly by trustees of both. This new Carmel High School was opened in 1888 with its first graduating class in 1890. The first class to receive four years of education graduated in 1901.
In 1921, land was purchased on the east side of Carmel proper and a new school was designed to house grades one through twelve. This facility would contain a gymnasium, a library and a 600-seat auditorium. Local citizens decided in 1955 that the community needed to organize a school district headed by a superintendent. Forest Stoops, the county superintendent, was hired and the state legislature was persuaded to move the township boundary east to White River. Carmel Clay Schools then began in 1956. By 1958, Carmel High School was opened at its present location. An addition was added to the gymnasium in 1961 and a large addition including a swimming pool, an auditorium, and new classrooms opened in 1969. A third, freestanding addition was opened in 1977 located between the 1921 building (affectionately known as Old North) and the new Carmel High School. A final construction project was begun in 1990 and dedicated in April of 1999. In 2006, the CHS Freshman Center was opened to allow incoming freshmen to acclimate to high school life and adapt to the size of the building. Today, Carmel High School sits on 55 acres of land and 22 are under roof.
Carmel High School is a four-year comprehensive high school with over 4,400 students in grades nine through twelve. It is fully accredited by the Indiana Department of Education and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. It has 12 counselors, two media specialists, 10 administrators, 260 classroom teachers (averaging 13 years of teaching experience), and 150 support staff members, i.e, clerical, custodial, food service, technical and other. CHS operates on a block eight schedule with four 90-minute classes each on alternating Blue Days and Gold Days. There are four 27-minute lunch periods with 10-minute passing periods between each class.
Carmel High School has a long history of service to the community and a respected tradition of excellence in academics, athletics, performing arts, and other competitive events. CHS students consistently score higher than state or national norms on standardized tests. The school culture supports that tradition in the mature attitudes of its students and their pride in their school. Over 86% of the students in recent graduating classes have gone on to enroll in some post-secondary college or university.
In athletics, CHS has won 114 IHSAA athletic state championships in just 43 years – the first one in 1970. It has eight more in high school soccer (not IHSAA sanctioned) and three in cheerleading. The Greyhounds have won state championships in 17 of the 20 sports offered at CHS. In addition to the 125 championships, CHS has been the state runner-up 55 times since 1966. They have been state champion or state runner-up in ALL 20 sports currently offered by the IHSAA, the only school to achieve this feat.
Carmel High School has national champion bands, orchestras, and show choir. The robotics team consistently finishes at the top of all competitions attended. The HiLite newspaper also receives awards and acclaim.
From 1833 to 2013 with every student, the tradition of excellence lives on!
Go Greyhounds!
To learn more, please visit: www.ccs.k12.in.us/chs
Richland School was replaced by a larger wood-frame structure a few years later. It sat on the northwest corner of Rangeline and Smoky Row Roads. In 1845, a frame school building was built near the same site. In 1867, the all-brick Carmel Academy was built on land where the Wesleyana Amistad Cristiana Church sits today. By 1887, the size and population of the community warranted a larger and more permanent structure, so on September 23, 1887, on a small hill on the east side of First Avenue, SE and Fifth Street, SE, the cornerstone of the first Carmel High School was laid. The two-story brick building would house grades one through ten with no frills – just classrooms. Because the town was founded on a boundary separating Clay and Delaware townships, the school was administered jointly by trustees of both. This new Carmel High School was opened in 1888 with its first graduating class in 1890. The first class to receive four years of education graduated in 1901.
In 1921, land was purchased on the east side of Carmel proper and a new school was designed to house grades one through twelve. This facility would contain a gymnasium, a library and a 600-seat auditorium. Local citizens decided in 1955 that the community needed to organize a school district headed by a superintendent. Forest Stoops, the county superintendent, was hired and the state legislature was persuaded to move the township boundary east to White River. Carmel Clay Schools then began in 1956. By 1958, Carmel High School was opened at its present location. An addition was added to the gymnasium in 1961 and a large addition including a swimming pool, an auditorium, and new classrooms opened in 1969. A third, freestanding addition was opened in 1977 located between the 1921 building (affectionately known as Old North) and the new Carmel High School. A final construction project was begun in 1990 and dedicated in April of 1999. In 2006, the CHS Freshman Center was opened to allow incoming freshmen to acclimate to high school life and adapt to the size of the building. Today, Carmel High School sits on 55 acres of land and 22 are under roof.
Carmel High School is a four-year comprehensive high school with over 4,400 students in grades nine through twelve. It is fully accredited by the Indiana Department of Education and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. It has 12 counselors, two media specialists, 10 administrators, 260 classroom teachers (averaging 13 years of teaching experience), and 150 support staff members, i.e, clerical, custodial, food service, technical and other. CHS operates on a block eight schedule with four 90-minute classes each on alternating Blue Days and Gold Days. There are four 27-minute lunch periods with 10-minute passing periods between each class.
Carmel High School has a long history of service to the community and a respected tradition of excellence in academics, athletics, performing arts, and other competitive events. CHS students consistently score higher than state or national norms on standardized tests. The school culture supports that tradition in the mature attitudes of its students and their pride in their school. Over 86% of the students in recent graduating classes have gone on to enroll in some post-secondary college or university.
In athletics, CHS has won 114 IHSAA athletic state championships in just 43 years – the first one in 1970. It has eight more in high school soccer (not IHSAA sanctioned) and three in cheerleading. The Greyhounds have won state championships in 17 of the 20 sports offered at CHS. In addition to the 125 championships, CHS has been the state runner-up 55 times since 1966. They have been state champion or state runner-up in ALL 20 sports currently offered by the IHSAA, the only school to achieve this feat.
Carmel High School has national champion bands, orchestras, and show choir. The robotics team consistently finishes at the top of all competitions attended. The HiLite newspaper also receives awards and acclaim.
From 1833 to 2013 with every student, the tradition of excellence lives on!
Go Greyhounds!
To learn more, please visit: www.ccs.k12.in.us/chs