Russell County High School

Russell County High School (RCHS) is a rural Title I public high school located in Seale, Alabama offering grades 9 through 12. The school enrolls 1,050 students in total (as of the 2023–2024 school year)[1][2] and is the only high school in the Russell County School District. The school claims that it is a diverse institution. The student body consists of 43% caucasian, 47% African American, and 10% other ethnicities.[2] RCHS proceeds Russell County Middle School, also the only middle school in the school district. There are five elementary schools surrounding RCHS; those schools are Dixie Elementary, Ladonia Elementary, Mount Olive Intermediate, Mount Olive Primary, and Oliver Elementary.[3][4][5]

Russell County High School
Address
57 Warrior Way

Seale
,
Russell County
,
Alabama
36875

United States
Information
Former nameChavala High School
School typePublic school
Motto"Respectful, Responsible, and Ready for Life"
School boardRussell County Board of Education
School districtRussell County School District
SuperintendentBrenda Coley
CEEB code012400
PrincipalTonya Keene
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,050 Students (2023-2024)
Student to teacher ratio19:3
Color(s)Maroon and gold
  
SportsFootball, Baseball, Volleyball, Softball, Soccer, Bass Fishing, ESports, Basketball, Flag Football,
MascotWarriors
RivalSmiths Station Panthers
Websitewww.myrcsd.org/Domain/8

History

Russell County High School was previously named Chavala High School before changing their name in 1989.[6] Its previous mascot was the Chavala High Wildcats before changing their name to the Warriors. Chavala High School's first held school year is believed to have been 1924–1925.[7] The current high school facility is a rebuilt version of the former Chavala High School. The current version was built in 1989 (as published inside of the facility's office), the same year the school changed its name. With the establishment of the neighboring high school, Central High School of Phenix City, RCHS is one of two public high schools in Russell County.[8][9][10][5]

The enrollment for RCHS grew from 179 students to 651 between 1986 and 1989. Russell County's peak enrollment was 1,004 during the 2022–2023 school year. The bottom enrollment was 179 during the 1986–1987 school year. Ever since 2006, Russell County High School has had an average student enrollment of 750. In the 2018–2019 school year, Russell County High School ranked 73rd in Alabama among Alabama High Schools.[6][11] Russell County High School and the whole district itself has always had a diverse community since integration.[12]

Academics

Russell County High School is a Title I high school, meaning the school receives federal funding. Niche gives Russell County High School a C+ in academics. For state test scores, RCHS scores a low 42% in reading proficiency. (The percentage is students who scored at or above average on their state testing scores.) For the Math Proficiency, Russell County High scored 37%.[12][13][14]

Since RCHS offers College Prep Courses (AP/Pre-AP), they are graded on the proficiency for the students in those advanced classes. The number of students who are enrolled in AP classes is 1% of the whole student body. The number of students in RCHS that are enrolled in AP Math and/or AP Science are below 1%.[12][1]

The average SAT score for Russell County is 840 which is below the state average of 1127. For SAT Math, the average score is 410, and Verbal is 430. The average ACT score for Math is 20, which is below the state average of 27.1. The average ACT score for Reading is 23, which is also below the state average of 27.4. The average ACT score for English is 23, which is below the state average of 28.3. The average ACT score for Science is 21 which is also below the state average of 27.3. Overall, Russell County High School's average ACT score is 22, which is below the state average of 27.4.[15][16][12]

Russell County High School offers tutoring services that are free of charge. The administration has also implemented ACT preparatory classes and opportunities if students wish to enhance their ACT scores. Russell County High School has implemented a fail safe for students who have failed classes and are in danger of repeating a grade. RCHS uses PLATO, an online credit recovery program,[17] in order for students to get the required credit for the class they did not pass.[2]

Athletics

Russell County High School offers a wide variety of different sports to participate in. Those sports include, but are not limited to: baseball, football, softball, volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, cheerleading, dance, boys' and girls' soccer, track & field, and wrestling.[18] Over the 2020–2021 summer vacation, RCHS introduced new sports that were sanctioned by the AHSAA.[18][19]

The mascot for the school is the Russell County High School Warriors, and for sports associated with girls, the mascot is named the Lady Warriors. The Warrior's colors are cardinal red and vegas gold, and operate under the Alabama AHSAA 6A Division, Region 2.[20] Russell County's colors and some of their logos resemble that of the Florida State Seminoles. The arrow and style of color patterns used is that same for FSU.[3][19]

In almost every athletic sport, Russell County High School has rivalries. The Warrior's biggest rival would be the Smiths Station Panthers located in Smiths Station, Alabama. The Warriors and Panthers have met many times across the years in many different sports. Other rivalries would be the Opelika Bulldogs from Opelika, Alabama and Eufaula Tigers from Eufaula, Alabama.[6][19]

Football

Russell County's football team currently plays in the 6A Region 2 division for AHSAA football. Their overall record as a program is 208-463-5 with a 31% winning percentage. The Warrior's overall region record is 47-194 with one region title (1998). The Warriors do not have any Stae Titles. Russell County has made the playoffs four times in school history. Those playoff appearances being 1991, 1998, 2001, and 2013. They possess a 2-4 record in the playoffs. [6]

Basketball

Russell County's basketball program is one of two sports that has Russell County on the map. The Warriors have a state title for basketball when they were in the 2A division back in 1983. They went 25-10 that season. Russell County has 12 Region Championships. Those Titles being: 1973, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1997, 2011, 2014, 2018, and 2020. The Warriors also have six tournament appearances: 1973, 1975, 183, 1983, 1988, and 1997 with a 5-6 overall record.[21][22]

Baseball

The Warrior's baseball team has historically been good. In 2005, Russell County claimed their one and only Baseball State Title in the 5A division. They were crowned National Champs by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association after being ranked number one with a 38-1 record.[23] The Warriors have 17 Area Championships in baseball: 1982, 1983, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, and 2019.[24][25]

Clubs and programs

Russell County High School offers a variety of clubs, classes, and programs for the student body to engage in. These programs range from JROTC to the newly created African American Studies. Each student that attends RCHS has the opportunity to join one of these select clubs/classes and express themselves. Some of these classes have strict requirements, while others are more free and less limited.[26] Below, are some select few clubs/programs that Russell County High School offers.

JROTC/ROTC

The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Russell County High School is a Military-style program that teaches students grades 9 through 12 the principals and responsibilities of being a strong American citizen. The students who participate in this class are taught how to correctly stand in formation, march, and sound off; that similar to how trainees are taught in basic training. Everyone is taught the core values of being an American citizen as well as respect, and how to take responsibility for their actions.[27]

RCHS Warrior Band

The Russell County High School Warrior Band is the primary band that is associated with RCHS. This group is broken up into three sections: Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Symphonic Band. This group is responsible for football halftime performances, band concerts, playing in pep rallies, and band competitions.

The colors for the RCHS Warrior Band are those same for the school. They wear a uniform of mostly white on the right side, a shoulder of cardinal red, and a vegas gold diagonal stripe down the middle.[28]

National Honor Society

Russell County High School offers an exclusive club called the National Honor Society (NHS). This group is filled with a select few students who exceed expectations at RCHS. In this group, you are either chosen, or you apply, but must meet certain expectations and requirements to get accepted by a teacher or approved faculty member.[29]

The NHS is responsible for greeting new students at arrival, introducing elementary and middle school kids to the high school. Sometimes, these students are sent on trips to represent Russell County High School in certain events.[30]

Future Business Leaders of America

The Future Business Leaders of America class is a business club that is offered by RCHS. In this club, students are able to go more in-depth into the life of business, programming, operations, and business finances. Students in this class can compete with other schools across the state or country in complex business competitions. Students who participate in FBLA are prepared for a career in business. They are also taught how to properly run a business and keep one stable. Leadership is a main point that is constantly taught to students, so when they leave and pass the class, they know how to be a proper leader.[31][32]

FBLA prepares students for multiple career pathways other than business. They also have experiences in order to join the military or choose another career pathway that better suits them. The FBLA class at Russell County High School prepares students for the world of business and gives them experiences for other career pathways so they are best suited for life after graduation.[33]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Russell County High School (2021 Ranking) | Phenix City, AL". Public School Review. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  2. High School, Russell County. "About Us / Home". Russell County High School Home.
  3. "Russell County School District / Homepage". Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  4. "Russell County School District". Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  5. "Best Schools in Russell County - SchoolDigger.com". SchoolDigger. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  6. "Alabama High School Football History". www.ahsfhs.org. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  7. "Chavala High School Virtual Yearbook". AllHighSchools. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  8. "Russell County High School (2021-22 Ranking) | Phenix City, AL". Public School Review. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  9. "Central High / Homepage". Central High School of Phenix City Homepage. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  10. "RCSD Homepage". Russell County School District.
  11. "Russell County High School in Seale, AL". high-schools.com. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  12. "Russell County High School Test Scores and Academics". Niche. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  13. "Explore Russell County High School". Niche. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  14. "Explore Russell County Schools". Niche. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  15. Piqosity (2021-03-22). "Top Alabama High Schools by ACT Scores". Piqosity - Adaptive Learning & Student Management App. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  16. Kapelke-Dale, Rachel (2018-09-07). "Average SAT Scores by State: How Does Your State Stack Up?". Magoosh Blog | High School. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  17. "PLATO Credit Recovery File" (PDF).
  18. "Warrior Athletics". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  19. "Russell County (Seale, AL) High School Sports - Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, and more | MaxPreps". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  20. "Alabama High School Sports History". www.ahsfhs.org. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  21. "Alabama High School Basketball History". www.ahsfhs.org. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  22. "Alabama High School Basketball History". www.ahsfhs.org. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  23. "Baseball Coaches". National High School Baseball Coaches Assoc. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  24. "Alabama High School Sports History". www.ahsfhs.org. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  25. "Alabama High School Sports History". www.ahsfhs.org. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  26. "Clubs / Home". Russell County High School - Clubs. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  27. "JROTC / Command". Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  28. "Warrior Band". Russell County High School - Warrior Band.
  29. "NJHS / Home". Russell County Middle/High School. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  30. "RCHS NHS". Russell County High School Website.
  31. "RCHS FBLA Program". Russell County High School.
  32. "FBLA / Home". http. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  33. maurice. "FBLA". Future Business Leaders Of America-Phi Beta Lambda. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  34. "Sibling rivalry: Blue Jays' Colby Rasmus may face brother Cory in series against Atlanta Braves". thestar.com. 2013-05-27. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  35. "Baseball bloodlines run deep in the Rasmus family". Retrieved 2021-09-13.

32.3337°N 85.1502°W / 32.3337; -85.1502

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