Pike Central High School

{{about|the high school in Pike County, Indiana|the high school of a similar name in Pike County, Kentucky|Pike County Central High School}}

{{Infobox school

| name = Pike Central High School

| native_name =

| image = Pike Central Middle High School 2, Petersburg, Indiana.JPG

| image_size = 300px

| motto =

| location = 1810 East SR 56

| city = Petersburg

| state = Indiana

| county = Pike County

| zipcode = 47567

| country = United States

| coordinates = {{coord|38.434310|-87.242458|type:edu|display=inline,title}}

| established = 1974

| type = Public high school

| district = Pike County School Corporation

| grades = 9-12

| principal = Dan Gaffney

| faculty = 40.83 (FTE)

| ratio = 11.63

| enrollment = 475 (2022-23){{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&County=Pike%20County&State=18&ID=180890001482|title=Pike Central High School|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|accessdate=June 16, 2024}}

| team_name = Chargers

| conference = Pocket Athletic Conference

| athletics = IHSAA 3A, 2A Soccer

| colors = {{color box|darkred}} {{color box|gold}} {{color box|white}}

| rivals = Washington High School

| free_text =

| website = [http://www.pcsc.k12.in.us/o/pchs/ Official Site]

}}

Pike Central High School (PCHS) is located in Petersburg, Indiana and is the only public high school in Pike County.{{cite web|last= Blackford|first=Nathan|url=https://www.evansvilleliving.com/schools-out-forever/|title=School’s Out Forever|magazine=Evansville Living|place=Evansville, Indiana|date=2014-07-15|access-date=2024-06-12}} It is a part of the Pike County School Corporation.

History

It was formed in 1974 by the consolidation of Petersburg High School, Otwell High School, and Winslow High School.

There was an anti-fire water tower that was found to be damaged in a 2019 inspection and was removed in 2013.{{cite web|last=Sebella|first=Sherri|url=https://www.suncommercial.com/press_dispatch/article_ae49742a-09f6-5396-9cd7-c9df4a5017c5.html|title=Old water tower removed from Pike Central campus|newspaper=Press Dispatch|date=2023-11-06|access-date=2024-06-19}}

Athletics

Pike Central High School's athletic teams are nicknamed the Chargers, and it participates in the Pocket Athletic Conference.

Controversies

The current principal Daniel Gaffney was charged with Domestic Battery on the 21st of July, 2018. {{cite news |title=VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES| url=https://city-countyobserver.com/vanderburgh-county-felony-charges-1103/ | date=21 July 2018}} This was a source of contention when he became principal in 2022. With many students protesting this decision with the rhyme "Dan, Dan, the Wife Beater Man".

Notable achievements

In October 2010 Pike Central High School was selected as one of 14 Lemelson-MIT "InvenTeams" and one of only four teams to present on stage at the convention. The program grants selected high schools up to $10,000 to invent technological solutions to real-world problems. More than 1,200 schools applied for the grant, and a judging panel of educators, researchers, alumni and staff from MIT; industry experts; and past Lemelson-MIT Award winners selected Pike Central High School as one of the grantees. It is the first Indiana school to be picked for the program.{{cite news |title=Obama Makes 'Special Plea' To Press: Pay Attention To White House Science Fair Winners |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/07/obama-white-house-science-fair_n_1260284.html | work=Huffington Post |author=Jennifer Bendery |author-link=Jennifer Bendery |date=7 February 2012}} The Pike Central High School InvenTeam has built a lightweight disaster relief shelter that is both inexpensive and easy to assemble and disassemble. Made from corrugated polypropylene sheets, the shelter also has a water filtration system, and the team is currently working to add an alternative energy source to supply light to the structure.

File:Pike Central High School.jpg