Fordyce High School
{{More citations needed|date=October 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox school
|name = Fordyce High School
|streetaddress = 100 Redbug Boulevard
|city = Fordyce
|state = Arkansas
|zipcode = 71742
|country = USA
|coordinates = {{coord|33|49|9|N|92|26|2|W|type:edu_region:US-AR|display=inline,title}}
|district = Fordyce School District
|ceeb = 040790
|affiliation = Arkansas Activities Association
|teaching_staff = 28.70 (on FTE basis)
| us_nces_school_id = {{NCES School ID|050621000335|school_name=Fordyce High School|access_date=March 22, 2025}}
|classes_offered = Regular (Core), Career Focus, Advanced Placement (AP)
|schooltype = Public comprehensive
|system = ADE Smart Core
|grades = 7–12
|athletics_conference = 3A Region 6 (football)
3A Region 8 (basketball)
|accreditation = ADE
|team_name = Fordyce Redbugs
|school_colors = Cardinal and black
{{color box|#C41E3A|border=silver}}{{color box|black|border=silver}}
|status = Open
|enrollment = 354
|website = {{URL|https://www.fordyceschools.org/1485_1}}
}}
Fordyce High School (FHS) is a comprehensive public high school located in Fordyce, Arkansas, United States. The school provides secondary education in grades 9 through 12 for students encompassing {{convert|220.50|mi2|km2}} of land.{{fact|date=March 2023}}
Most of the district (and therefore the high school attendance boundary) is in Dallas County, and there it includes Fordyce, Ivan, and Princeton.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05039_dallas/DC20SD_C05039.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dallas County, AR|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=March 12, 2023}} The district extends into Calhoun County.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05013_calhoun/DC20SD_C05013.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Calhoun County, AR|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=March 12, 2023}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05013_calhoun/DC20SD_C05013_SD2MS.txt Text list]
It is the only public high school in Dallas County and the only high school administered by the Fordyce School District.
Academics
The assumed course of study is the Smart Core curriculum developed by the Arkansas Department of Education. Students may engage in regular and Advanced Placement (AP) coursework and exams prior to graduation. Fordyce High School is accredited by ADE.
Athletics
The Fordyce High School mascot and athletic emblem is uniquely the Redbug with cardinal and black serving as the school colors.
For 2012–14, the Fordyce Redbugs compete in interscholastic activities within the 3A Classification administered by the Arkansas Activities Association. The Redbugs play within the 3A Region 6 (football) and 3A Region 8 (basketball) conferences. The Redbugs participate in football, golf (boys/girls), basketball (boys/girls), cheer, baseball, fastpitch softball, tennis (boys/girls), track and field (boys/girls).{{cite web |url=http://www.ahsaa.org/schools?id=136&school= |title=School Profile, Fordyce High School |publisher=Arkansas Activities Association |accessdate=December 22, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://members.ahsaa.org/public/userfiles/Media/recordbook12.pdf |title=Arkansas High School Sports Record Book |publisher=Arkansas Activities Association |accessdate=December 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531080716/http://members.ahsaa.org/public/userfiles/Media/recordbook12.pdf |archivedate=May 31, 2013 }}
- Football: The Redbugs football teams have won Eight state football championships (1930, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1990, 1991, and 2019 and 2020)
- The 1990 and 1991 Redbugs were led by head coach Jim Cox.
- The 2019 Redbugs were led by head coach Tim Rodgers. The team finished with a 13–2 overall record and defeated Junction City on December 14 by a score of 28–6 to win the State title.
- The 2020 Redbugs were led by head coach Tim Rodgers. The team won 15 games to complete a perfect season. The Championship game was played at War Memorial Stadium on December 12 with Fordyce defeating Des Arc 35–32
- The private Clary Training School in Fordyce won the 1911 championship. The football stadium was renamed Redbug Field at Paul Bear Bryant Stadium in honor of the 1931 graduate who led Fordyce to a 1930 perfect season and a state championship and went on to become the winningest college football coach at the time of his retirement.
- Golf: The Redbugs boys golf teams have won five state golf championships (1963, 1964, 1965, 2009 and 2014).
- Tennis: The Redbugs boys tennis teams have won two state tennis championships (1968, 1971).
Notable people
The following are notable people associated with Fordyce High School. If the person was a Fordyce High School student, the number in parentheses indicates the year of graduation; if the person was a faculty or staff member, that person's title and years of association are included:
- Anderson W. Atkinson (1941)—U.S. Air Force Major General
- Jim Benton (coach, 1941)—professional football player; NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
- Paul "Bear" Bryant (1931)—player and coach in College Football Hall of Fame; won six national championships
- Ja'Quez Cross (2021)–college football running back for the Purdue Boilermakers and the Arkansas State Red Wolves{{cite web|url=https://www.jconline.com/story/sports/2020/10/30/arkansas-standout-jaquez-cross-commits-purdue-football/6087150002/|title=Arkansas standout Ja'Quez Cross commits to Purdue football|website=Journal & Courier|first=Mike|last=Carmin|date=October 30, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2023}}
- Raylee Johnson (1988)—NFL professional football player (1993–2004)
- Larry Lacewell (1954)—college coach, athletic director and NFL executive
- Red Parker (coach, 1953–60)—college and high school football coach; led Fordyce to 38-game win streak
- Ray E. Porter ({{circa|1909}})—World War II major general; commanded Fifteenth United States Army
- Kevin Williams (1998)—NFL professional football player, 6-time Pro Bowl selection
References
External links
{{Portal|Arkansas|Schools}}
- {{Official website|https://www.fordyceschools.org/1485_1}}
- [http://fordyceschools.org Fordyce School District website]
{{Education in Dallas County, Arkansas}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Public high schools in Arkansas