Mena High School Explained

Mena High School
Streetaddress:700 South Morrow St
State:Arkansas
Country:USA
Zipcode:71953
Coordinates:34.5803°N -94.2211°W
Type:Public secondary
Grades:9–12
Accreditation:Arkansas Department of Education
AdvancED (1930–)
Principal:David Maxwell
Faculty:47.35 (on FTE basis)
Enrollment:511 (2016-17)[1]
Ratio:11.89
Ceeb:040650
Colors:Black and red
Sports:Football, Marching Band, Volleyball, Golf, Cross Country, Bowling, Basketball, Cheer, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Tennis, Wrestling, Athletics
Conference:4A Region 7
Team Name:Mena Bearcats
Campus Type:Rural
Affiliations:Arkansas Activities Association

Mena High School is an accredited public secondary school located in Mena, Arkansas, United States. The school provides comprehensive education to more than 550 students annually in grades nine through twelve. Mena High School is the largest of four public high schools in Polk County and is the sole high school administered by the Mena School District.

History

In 1975, two female students were expelled from Mena High School after spiking the punch at a party with two bottles of beer. Feeling the punishment was excessive, the students took legal action, and the case was eventually heard by the Supreme Court of the United States, which ruled that school boards have a responsibility to assure that the constitutional rights of students are upheld.[2]

Academics

The assumed course of study for students is to complete the Smart Core curriculum developed by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), which requires students complete at least 22 units for graduation. Students complete regular (core and career focus) courses and exams and may select Advanced Placement classes and exams with opportunities for college credit via AP exam. As of 2008–09, Mena High School offered 14 programs of study in career and technical education in 12 career pathways as determined by the Arkansas Department of Career Education.[3] The school is accredited by the ADE and has been accredited by AdvancED since 1930.[4]

Fine arts

Students may participate in various musical and performing arts including: band (e.g., concert band, jazz band), choir (e.g., a cappella, barbershop quartet, beautyshop quartet) and theater (e.g., competitive speech, drama, stagecraft). Students may participate in Art Club. The high school conducts on and off campus performances including at Mena's Ouachita Little Theatre.[5]

Athletics

The Mena High School mascot is the Bearcat with the school colors of red and black.

For the 2012–14 seasons, the Mena Bearcats participate in the 4A Classification within the 4A Region 4 Conference as sanctioned by the Arkansas Activities Association with student-athletes competing in football, volleyball, baseball, basketball (boys/girls), cross country (boys/girls), golf (boys/girls), soccer (boys/girls), softball, tennis (boys/girls), track and field (boys/girls).[6]

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MENA HIGH SCHOOL . February 25, 2019 . National Center for Education Statistics.
  2. Web site: March 3, 1975 . School 'Rights' . The Robesonian.
  3. Web site: Vocational Report Card 2008–09, Mena High School . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120901001836/http://mms.dmsc.k12.ar.us/mps/Mena%20Vocational%20Report%20Card.pdf . September 1, 2012 . December 27, 2012 . Arkansas Department of Career Education.
  4. Web site: Institution Summary, Mena High School . December 27, 2012 . AdvancED.
  5. Web site: Welcome to the Ouachita Little Theatre Website . December 27, 2012 . Ouachita Little Theatre.
  6. Web site: School Profile, Mena High School . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160204083212/http://www.ahsaa.org/schools?id=304&school= . February 4, 2016 . December 26, 2012 . Arkansas Activities Association.