Elkhart Central High School

Elkhart Central High School (ECHS) was a public secondary school in Elkhart, Indiana. It was a part of Elkhart Community Schools.

Elkhart Central High School
Address
One Blazer Boulevard

Elkhart
,
Indiana
46516

United States
Coordinates41°41′05″N 85°57′31″W
Information
TypePublic Secondary
Established1972
School districtElkhart Community Schools
PrincipalFrank Serge
Teaching staff102.43 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades9–12[1]
Enrollment1,641[2] (2019-2020)
Student to teacher ratio16.03[1]
Color(s)  
MascotMr. B
Team nameBlue Blazers
WebsiteOfficial Website

History

In the fall of 1972 when Elkhart High School (est. 1872) was split into Elkhart Memorial High School and Elkhart Central High School, the former Elkhart High School building was renamed Elkhart Central High School and, according to the school board minutes, was to continue the traditions ("Blue Blazer" mascot, school colors, accomplishments, the original 1910 charter issued by the North Central Association and the fight song) of the old Elkhart High School. The Elkhart Central High School building was designed and built by Everett I. Brown and Company of Indianapolis and opened in 1966. It was built to accommodate a schedule and curriculum organized around modular periods. Accordingly, the building features lecture halls, seminar rooms, and departmental office areas. Until 1984, Elkhart Central enrolled only 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. In 1985, 9th graders were added, with the remodeling of the library and additional classroom space. A 16 million dollar addition and renovation project was designed by Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc. in March 1997 to add 16 classrooms, additional office space, new industrial technology laboratories, and a new media center. The entire project expanded the school to approximately 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2). The "new" building dedication ceremonies were held in the fall of 2000. As part of the remodeling, every classroom was wired and equipped for voice, video, and data. Each morning the student-run news show, "NewsCenter," is broadcast with the daily announcements and news.

Other major construction milestones: in 1969 a swimming pool; in 1982 an additional gym, called the "New Gym" or "East Gym"; in 1995 the fieldhouse at Rice Field was doubled in size along with the re-crowning/sodding of the football playing field. The Ronzone track was resurfaced in 1995 and improved again in 2010.

In the fall of 2020, the Elkhart Central name was retired, and for one year the Elkhart Central building housed Elkhart High School, East Campus. The athletics programs of the former Elkhart Central High School and Elkhart Memorial High School merged into one, with a new mascot (Lions), school colors (blue and gold), and new fight song.

In the fall of 2021, the system underwent a change where students in grades 10 through 12 will attend classes on California Road at the former Elkhart Memorial (west campus)and Elkhart Area Career Center buildings, with the addition of new music rehearsal space and a new building to house technology programs. Elkhart High School was divided into six Schools of Study to better prepare students for post-high school careers. Students in grade 9 attend classes at the former Elkhart Central High School (east campus, known as the Freshman Division) on Blazer Boulevard.[3]

Demographics[4]

The demographic breakdown of the 1,641 students enrolled in 2019-2020 was:

  • Asian - 0.7%
  • Black - 12.2%
  • Hispanic - 41.4%
  • White - 38.5%
  • Multiracial - 7.2%

59.2% of the students were eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch. For 2019–2020, Elkhart Central was a Title I school.[1]

Notable alumni

Athletics

Elkhart Central was a member of the Northern Indiana Conference and competed as a class 4A school, except in football where they competed in class 5A. The school colors were blue & white.

State championships
  • Boys Wrestling 1968^
  • Football 1963, 1968 & 1970^
  • Boys Cross Country 1973–1974
  • Boys Golf 1978–1979
  • Boys Track & Field 1969^,1992–1993
  • Boys Baseball 2013

^ As Elkhart High School, see note above, EHS continues as ECHS[15]

See also

References
  1. "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Elkhart Central High School". ed.gov. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  2. https://compass.doe.in.gov/dashboard/enrollment.aspx?type=school&id=1749
  3. Kolbe, Brenda. "Elkhart High School". Elkhart Community Schools. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  4. "IDOE: Compass". compass.doe.in.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  5. Anderson, Anthony (August 10, 2008). "Local Sports: Lindsay Mintenko enjoys new Olympic role". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved October 21, 2015. In high school for Elkhart Central, she was the first swimmer in IHSAA history to sweep two individual events all four years while piling up All-American honors.
  6. Madison, Chloe (January 29, 2017). "From Elkhart to 'Singin' in the Rain'". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  7. "David C. Heath Obituary", Democrat and Chronicle, 2011-08-28, retrieved October 25, 2015
  8. Wiener, Bob (January 29, 1996). "More on Larson". Lompoc Record. Lompoc, California. p. 9. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Larson leads Cal Poly-SLO". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. February 20, 1996. p. 22. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Rallo, Curt (March 18, 1995). "Feisty Ben Larson pushes Blue Blazers into semistate". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. p. 6. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Alec Purdie". New England Revolution.
  12. "RANDOLPH, CLARE "DUTCH"". www.indiana-football.com. Indiana Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  13. "Shafer Suggs". databasefootball.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  14. "Rich Wingo". databasefootball.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  15. "IHSAA State Championships by School". ihsaa.org. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
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