Central Crossing High School

Central Crossing High School
Address
4500 Big Run South Road Grove City , (Franklin County) , Ohio 43123 United States
Coordinates	39°53′48″N 83°6′46″W
Information
Type	Public, Coeducational high school
Motto	Excelling in Excellence
Established	2002
School district	South-Western City School District
Superintendent	Bill Wise
Principal	Jill Burke
Faculty	90
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1,652 (2011)
• Grade 9	451
• Grade 10	418
• Grade 11	401
• Grade 12	360
• Other	22
Color(s)	Royal Blue and Silver
Athletics conference	Ohio Capital Conference
Nickname	Comets
Rival	Westland Cougars
Accreditation	North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Communities served	Darbydale, Galloway, Grove City, Harrisburg
Feeder schools	Pleasant View Middle School, Brookpark Middle School
Athletic Director	Zoraba Ross
Website	CCHS website

Central Crossing High School is a high school in Grove City, Ohio. It is one of four high schools in the South-Western City Schools district.

Central Crossing is the most recent high school to be built in the district, first opening its doors for the 2002-03 academic year. The mascot for Central Crossing is the Comet, and its official colors are royal blue and silver. The school's motto is "Excelling in Excellence".

History

The history of Central Crossing High School begins with the passage of Issue 7 on November 3, 1998. A $128,000,000 bond issue, Issue 7 included the building of four new fifth/sixth grade buildings, one new high school, a replacement building for Park Street Middle School, a replacement building for Hayes Technical School, additions, renovations, and demolition to various district facilities, and for acquiring land for school facilities. The issue passed with 17,003 for the bond issue and 14,914 against the bond issue.

The groundbreaking for the new school took place in 2000 and Central Crossing officially opened its doors on August 28, 2002. Home to no seniors in its inaugural year, the school housed only 1,005 students. However, enrollment jumped to 1,415 the following school year after welcoming another freshman class.

2009 Levy Failures

Due to a lack of funding stemming from the repeated failure to pass a proposed local tax levy, all extracurricular activities offered to the student body by the South-Western City Schools district were on hiatus. As of October 12th, 2009 the SWCS Board of Education approved a measure that allows "Pay to Play" participation, where activities are open to enrollment by students that contribute directly to its funding, given the appealed tax levy will eventually be approved by voters.

Demographics

CCHS Student Enrollment
Year	Enrollment
'02-03	1,005
'03-04	1,415
'04-05	1,547
'05-06	1,635
'06-07	1,582
'07-08	1,683
'08-09	1,636
'09-10	1,593
'10-11	1,652

As of the 2010-2011 school, there were 1,652 students attending the school according to the Ohio Department of Education. There were 451 students in grade 9, 418 in grade 10, 401 in grade 11, and 360 in grade 12. Twenty-two students were not classified in any grade. The racial makeup of the school was 73.5% White, 15.3% African American, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% Multi-Racial, and 2.0% Asian. Less than 10 students declared themselves Native American. There were 826 males and 826 females. Approximately 42.9% of the students were classified as economically disadvantaged.

Academics

As of the 2009-2010 school year, Central Crossing is currently designated as Continuous Improvement according to the Ohio Department of Education with 10 of 12 state indicators met.

Report Card

				9th Grade Proficiency1 (minimum 75% required)					9th Grade Proficiency2 (minimum 75% required)
Year	PIS	Indicators Met	AYP	Citizenship	Math	Reading	Writing	Science	Citizenship	Math	Reading	Writing	Science	Attendance Rate	Graduation Rate
2002-2003	-	8 of 11	NM	85.6	74.5	89.4	91.8	80.3	90.1	84.5	94.9	93.8	87.0	92.7	N/A
2003-2004	-	6 of 6	NM	96.4	89.7	98.4	98.7	92.9	-	-	-	-	-	93.1	N/A
				10th Grade OGT (minimum 75% required)					11th Grade OGT (minimum 85% required)
Year	PIS	Indicators Met	AYP	Reading	Writing	Math	Science	Soc. Studies	Reading	Writing	Math	Science	Soc. Studies	Attendance Rate	Graduation Rate
2004-2005	97.1	5 of 7	M	91.6	84.2	84.1	71.4	79.5	-	-	-	-	-	92.4	95.9
2005-2006	97.2	9 of 12	NM	89.9	89.9	87.6	66.1	77.4	93.5	93.2	90.9	83.8	89.2	91.9	92.3
2006-2007	97.8	9 of 12	NM	87.8	89.1	93.5	72.6	79.0	92.5	91.5	92.8	81.4	86.7	92.9	90.1
2007-2008	93.6	10 of 12	NM	78.9	80.1	82.0	68.6	75.4	93.2	89.5	94.4	80.8	88.4	93.2	91.4
2008-2009	95.5	9 of 12	NM	81.2	82.5	91.2	74.4	82.7	90.7	89.2	93.3	80.9	86.9	93.3	85.2
2009-2010	93.9	10 of 12	NM	82.1	82.1	80.7	71.9	79.7	91.2	92.1	93.3	85.7	91.2	94.5	83.6
Excellent   Effective   Continuous Improvement   Academic Watch   Academic Emergency PIS=Performance Index Score, AYP= Adequate Yearly Progress, M=Met, NM=Not Met

Optional AP Classes are available to students.

Athletics

The Central Crossing athletics teams compete in the Ohio Capital Conference - Central Division. Central Crossing High School sponsors 20 varsity sports (10 boys, 10 girls) competing in Division I.

Football

Since the school's inaugural season, the football program has struggled to find long-lasting success. In 2002, the school went 0-10 and has never attained more than 3 wins in a single season. Additionally, the school has had three different head coaches in eight seasons.

Results by Year

Season	Record	Conference	Standing	Playoffs	Head Coach
2002	0-10	0-7 OCC-Ohio	8th	None	Ted Papas
2003	3-7	2-5 OCC-Ohio	T-5th	None	Ted Papas
2004	2-8	1-4 OCC-Central	5th	None	Ted Papas
2005	2-8	2-5 OCC-Central	4th	None	Ted Papas
2006	2-8	1-4 OCC-Central	T-5th	None	Ted Papas
2007	1-9	0-5 OCC-Central	6th	None	Rick Vaughn
2008	1-9	1-6 OCC-Central	7th	None	Rick Vaughn
2010	2-8	1-6 OCC-Central	7th	None	Chris Harr
Total	13-67	8-42

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team is currently coached by Michael Cavey. Cavey replaced Chris Barnes, who started the program back in 2002, after the 2008-2009 season. Cavey spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio Dominican University before becoming the coach of the Comets. The basketball program has an overall record of 60-129 and has had many ups and downs in nine seasons. The Comets have never won a Central District tournament game.

Team History

The beginning and the Chris Barnes Era (2002-2009)

The boys basketball began during the school's inaugural year under Chris Barnes. As a result of no seniors, the Comets would compete in Division II for their first season. On Friday, November 29, 2002 the Comets played their first game at the Fighting Irish of Dublin Scioto High School . The Irish would go on to win the game, 67-58. The Comets would not obtain their first victory until facing Gahanna Lincoln High School later on that year, winning 49-45. The '02-03 season would end with a 4-17 overall record (2-12 in conference play) after losing to Columbus East 58-33 in the opening round of the Central District tournament.

The 2003-2004 looked to be a promising year from the start. After jumping up to Division I, the CCHS boys basketball team started off the season 7-2 with convincing victories over Newark High School, 53-45 at Jimmy Allen Gymnasium, Hilliard Darby High School 73-47 and a major upset over eventual Central District champion Dublin Coffman High School 45-42. However, the Comets would then go on to lose their next eight games before finishing the regular season with three consecutive victories. The season would come to an end after a 58-47 loss to Marysville High School at the Columbus Fairgrounds Coliseum.

After losing eight seniors to graduation, the next two seasons would be a struggle as the Comets went 6-36 while attempting to rebuild the program. The lone bright spot was a 76-66 upset victory over then OCC-Central rival and division leader Mount Vernon High School on January 27, 2006.

The 2006-2007 season saw the addition of several players from a freshman class that went 18-0 the season prior. The addition of this talent saw the program have its most successful season to date, going 12-8 during the regular season and winning six consecutive games which is still a program record to date. A loss to rival Westland, 79-58 in the regular season final followed by a 72-52 loss in the first round of the Central District tournament to Mount Vernon ended a promising season.

The next two seasons from 2007-2009 saw the Comets hover around the .500 mark. The '07-08 season finished with a 10-11 overall mark after losing to Westland for a third consecutive season in the first round of the district tournament. The following season marked the second winning season in program history, finishing 11-9 including their first two victories over Westland. Both seasons ended in similar fashion with first round losses in the district tournament. Following the '08-09 season, Barnes left the program after sevens seasons to coach the South Point High School Pointers in South Point, Ohio. He amassed a 53-94 overall record during his tenure.

Michael Cavey Era (2009-Present)

Michael Cavey took over the program at the beginning of the 2009-2010 season. Plagued with losses to graduation and transfers, Cavey struggled in his first season, going 3-17 but obtaining victories over Westland and another intra-district school, Franklin Heights High School. The 2010-2011 season still proved to be a struggle for the basketball team to obtain victories. Despite finishing 4-17, the Comets defeated Franklin Heights and Grove City High School in the inaugural South-Western Winter Classic. The victory over Grove City could be a potential program builder for the CCHS boys basketball team

Rivalries

The boys basketball team currently has an intense geographic rivalry with Westland High School. The two schools first met on January 28, 2006 and played once a year until both teams became members of the Ohio Capital Conference Central Division in 2008. They now meet twice a year with the second game being the final game of the regular season.

Date	Central Crossing		Westland		Location	Series
January 28, 2006	Central Crossing	65	Westland	78	Westland HS	WHS	1–0
February 17, 2007	Central Crossing	58	Westland	79	Central Crossing HS	WHS	2–0
February 13, 2008	Central Crossing	59	Westland	66	Centennial HS	WHS	3–0
January 16, 2009	Central Crossing	95	Westland	64	Westland HS	WHS	3–1
February 20, 2009	Central Crossing	69	Westland	52	Central Crossing HS	WHS	3–2
January 15, 2010	Central Crossing	54	Westland	53	Central Crossing HS	Tied	3–3
February 19, 2010	Central Crossing	64	Westland	67	Westland HS	WHS	4-3
January 14, 2011	Central Crossing	50	Westland	60	Westland HS	WHS	5-3
February 18, 2011	Central Crossing	38	Westland	47	Central Crossing HS	WHS	6-3

Extracurricular Activities

NJROTC

Central Crossing's NJROTC unit provides a Color Guard for various events hosted by the school, including athletic competitions. The unit also has a Drill and Rifle Team for the students. The unit has received several awards and honors over the course of the school's history, including being recognized as a Distinguished Unit since 2003.

Theatre Department

The Theatre Department of the school puts on at least two shows a year, including a fall play and a Spring musical. These performances take place in Palmer Auditorium, named for the school's first principal, Ed Palmer, who has since retired.

Choral Arts Department

The Choral Arts Department features a Women's Chorus, Men's Ensemble, Concert Choir, Symphonic Choir, and Show Choir "Excelsior". The show choir performs competitively during the year through Ohio as well as West Virginia. They have won several awards, including Best Choral Sound overall and Runner-Up overall.

Instrumental Music Department

The Central Crossing High School Marching Band competes on a national level and has attended the Bands of America (or BOA) Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, IN and Super Regionals in St. Louis, Missouri. The band also performs on a local level throughout Ohio and participates actively in the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA, an affiliate of the National Association for Music Education) marching competition circuit.

In 2006, the band placed 22nd overall and second in its class (AA) at Grand National Championships.

In 2007, the Central Crossing Marching Band became the only school from SWCS to be named a Bands of America Regional Champion. In doing so, they also became the fourth different marching band from Ohio to have won a Regional Championship. The band competed with bands from four other states and 22 bands total.

Year	Show Name	Music/Themes
2002	Kings Across the Water	Variations of Bruce Fraser's composition, "The King Across the Water," which is based on the Scottish folk song, " Hey, Johnnie Cope, Are Ye Waking Yet?"
2003	My Many Colored Days	Based on My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
2004	Variations on Pachelbel's Canon	Variations on Pachelbel's Canon
2005	Above and Beyond	Mountains, Planets, Heavens
2006	Dance	"Scootin' on Hardrock" by David Holsinger, "Red Cape Tango" by Michael Daugherty, "Castles in the Sky" by Ian Van Dahl
2007	Into the Light	"Liturgical Dances" by David Holsinger, "Before the Throne of God Above", Joyful, Joyful (We Adore Thee)
2008	The Happiness Conspiracy	"Happy Days Are Here Again", "Happy Dance", "Don't Worry If It Makes You Happy," a medley of "Don't Worry, Be Happy", "If It Makes You Happy," and "If You're Happy and You Know It", " Happy Together"
2009	INACTIVE	Due to the failure of a local tax levy, the Central Crossing Marching Band was inactive for the 2009 marching season
2010	Resolutions	Original Music by Frank Sullivan
2011	TBA	The 2011 Marching Band will see its competition debut in September

The affiliated Central Crossing Winterguard and Winter Drumline have also competed successfully.

In its inaugural year, the Winterguard competed to become Mid-East Performance Association (MEPA) State Championships in class Regional A. In 2007 the Winterguard retained their championship- this time in class Scholastic A- with their show 'Crossing the Line'. In April 2008 the guard won MEPA State Championships, class Scholastic A a second time with their show 'Nella Fantasia'. The Winterguard for the 2009 season was composed of 19 members performing to the music of Eva Cassidy and Bill Withers in their show entitled "When He's Gone."

The Central Crossing Winter Drumline is another of the school's music programs receiving honors. In 2009 they placed second in the Scholastic Open class at a WGI Regional in Dayton, OH. They were also named the Scholastic Open MEPA Champions with their 2008 show 'Out of Balance'.

Central Crossing is also home to a growing orchestra.

External links

• Comet Wrestling Website
• NROTC unit website
• District website with links to CCHS information.