Pike Central Mission Statement:
High expectations will Achieve World class Knowledge and Success
About The School
Pike County Central High School
"Soaring to Great Heights"
Pike County Central High School, located approximately five miles northeast of the city of Pikeville, has a current enrollment of 704 students. The extensive campus consists of a main building that contains 47 modern and technologically equipped classrooms, four computer labs, a library, and a large gymnasium capable of accommodating numerous attendees. Adjacent to the main building is our athletic complex, which includes a field house, football field, baseball/softball field, and track. This centrally located educational facility is fully accredited by the Kentucky Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Its mission, a commitment to provide students with the skills and knowledge they will need to be successful on a local and global scale, is aptly reflected in the school vision statement,
"Every Student, Every Class, Every Day."
Our school takes great pride in our academic achievements during prior years and in the consistent, significant improvements that we experience annually due to a relevant curriculum, a success-oriented faculty, and the institution of innovative programs, such as CSI and Read 180. The average school ACT score is currently a 17.8 and this years’ ACT goal is to achieve an 18. Although all students seeking excellent educational opportunities are welcome, the majority of Pike Central students are from three area elementary/middle feeder schools…Johns Creek Elementary, Kimper Elementary, and Mullins Elementary. Overall, the school population is predominately Caucasian, although we do have a range of ethnically diverse students that is increasing yearly. Because our area is socio-economically disadvantaged, the percentage of students on free/reduced lunch is well over 50%. Other significant percentages include the percentage of students with disabilities, which is 14%, our attendance rate of 94.05%, our retention rate of less than 3%, a dropout rate of less than 2%, our graduation rate of 89.77%, and the percentage of students that successfully transition to adult levels, which is 99%. Our school works in close conjunction with North Point Academy for students that are at risk for not graduating on time. Also on campus is our Family Resource Center for servicing those economically disadvantaged students that require supplemental materials or personal items.
On campus there are currently three administrators, two guidance counselors, one school librarian, and a certified staff of 41 educators who are wholly committed to mentoring and guiding all of our students towards social maturity and intellectual excellence, as well as ensuring a successful transition from high school to the world community. Sixty-eight percent of the teachers that work at Pike Central have a Masters Degree or greater and the average years of teaching experience is currently 14. There are no teachers employed with emergency or provisional certification and 100% of the classes at Pike Central are taught by a highly qualified teacher that possesses a major, a minor, or an equivalent degree in the subjects being taught. Pike Central's student-to-teacher ratio is 20:6. Pike Central is a true professional learning community with a variety of component teams and committees in place, such as our schools based decision making committee, our instructional leadership team, CSI team, PLC overview committee, writing team, special needs action committee, safe schools committee, faculty culture committee, program review team, CASL committee, writing team, and chemical hygiene team.
Pike Central offers a rigorous curriculum that includes five Advanced Placement classes, and, through a partnership with Morehead State University, the University of Pikeville and the Big Sandy Technical and Community Colleges, students may enroll in college courses and receive college credit while attending high school. Students wishing to participate can receive MNA State Certification from the school's on-site Health Science Satellite Program, which is a component of the Belfry Area Technology Center. In addition, students in good standing can also elect to attend the Belfry Area Technology Center and earn training for future certification in technical and vocational fields. On campus, technology is embedded into daily classroom instruction through various modalities, with the continued procurement and effective usage of cutting-edge technology a primary goal of our school.
Pike Central students have excelled to the state level in various competitions, winning 1st and 2nd places in History, JAG, Chorus, Journalism, and FBLA. There are 38 clubs and organizations that provide students an opportunity to participate in several service learning projects. During the 2011-2012 school year there were four Pike Central Governor's Scholars chosen, and 1 student was selected for the highly prestigious Governors School for the Arts.
Because student safety is paramount, Pike Central has instituted a number of effective strategies to ensure that our campus is a "safe" zone for students to learn and thrive. All staff members are assigned designated areas before, during, and after school to supervise student activities and potential risk factors. A broad array of security cameras are located inside and outside the school to help monitor all activities twenty-four hours a day, and new camera systems are being integrated as quickly as funding allows. All exterior doors are secured during school hours; the only entrance is a Maglock door at the school's front entrance that requires visitors to identify themselves before being granted admittance into the building, where they must sign in and receive a visitor’s pass. All personnel are required to wear identity badges, 100% of the classrooms are equipped with an outside phone lines, and the office is in contact with the district and parents via the "School Messenger" telephone system. The parking lot is gated, locked, and monitored during the morning and evening by faculty and administration. The only vehicles allowed on our campus (except for visitors) must have a current parking permit affixed to the rear view mirror for identification purposes. Eligible students are randomly drug tested in accordance with board policy and federal law, and the staff receives annual training and updates on drug use awareness provided as a public service from the Kentucky State Police.
Pike County Central High School, home of the Hawks, has traditionally been and will consistently strive to be the academic leader among high schools in Pike County. Its various stakeholders are irrevocably committed to ensuring that its students are intellectually and academically prepared to continue their education at institutions of higher learning so that they may compete nationally and globally. The school's overall guide, its Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, was created and adopted to serve as a blueprint for further improvement, addressing areas such as student achievement and culture, both necessary components of continued success. With our “can-do” attitude, Pike Central will succeed in "Soaring to Great Heights."