Portland High School (Tennessee)
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| Portland High School | |
|---|---|
_logo.png){kind=logo} | |
| Location | |
 | |
United States | |
| Coordinates | 36°34′57″N 86°31′58″W / 36.58248°N 86.53278°W |
| Information | |
| Former name | Sumner County High School (1915–1962) |
| School board | Sumner County Schools |
| Staff | 69.50 (FTE)[1] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 1,179 (2023–24)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 17.25[1] |
| Colors | Purple and white [2] |
| Mascot | Panthers[2] |
| Website | phs |
Portland High School is a public secondary school located in Portland, Tennessee, United States. It is operated by Sumner County Schools and serves students in grades 9 through 12.
The school began in 1874 as Portland Seminary and sat on a 1-acre (4,000 m2) plot of land donated by the son of the town's founder.[citation needed] The building had two stories, the second being used by The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.[citation needed] The first story was also used for church services. In 1897 the principal of the school, Z.K. Griffin, was conducting a lab experiment when a fire broke out destroying the building.[3][4] A replacement structure was completed in 1898.[citation needed]
By 1910, the institution operated as Portland High School, offering three years of secondary instruction. In 1915, it was reorganized as Sumner County High School, becoming the first four-year public high school in Sumner County, Tennessee. During the early 1940s, the school received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[citation needed]
Campus
The current campus, established in the early 1960s, includes classroom buildings, athletic facilities, and a gymnasium. The campus has undergone multiple expansions and renovations to accommodate enrollment growth and modern instructional needs.[citation needed]
Extracurricular activities
Students may participate in a variety of extracurricular programs, including athletics, music, and student organizations. Athletic teams, known as the Panthers, compete in sports sanctioned by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA).[citation needed]
Notable alumni
- Corey Brewer, former National Basketball Association player[5]
- Samuel Collins, chemist and developer of the first mass-produced helium liquefier[6]
- William Lamberth, Majority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives[7]
- Ronnie McDowell, country music artist and entertainer[8]
- James F. Neal, attorney and prosecutor during the Watergate scandal[9]
