History
Cullman High School was founded under the name "Cullman County High School" in 1908. That year, a group of 45 students attended the first classes on the second floor of the Imbusch Building in downtown Cullman, which housed the W. O. Kelley General Store. The building is located in downtown Cullman on the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street and still stands to this day. The following year, in 1909, two Cullman businessmen, George H. Parker and C. H. Stiefelmeyer, donated 5 acres (20,000 m2) of land and donated $10,000 to construct a new school, which was located at 800 Second Avenue, which is the current site of Cullman Middle School.
By 1920, nearly 280 students were enrolled at Cullman County High School and an expansion was needed. A new classroom building and an auditorium were added onto the Second Avenue campus to curb the growth in enrollment. The school was nearly closed in 1935 when funding was completely lost due to the Great Depression. Students were warned that the school would close and they would not be able to graduate. Fortunately, the businessmen of the City of Cullman rallied together to raise the funds needed to keep the school open.
By 1940, the school was known statewide as a leader in sports, especially football and baseball. The academic programs were also renowned as being "ahead of their time." In 1949, the various schools within Cullman were taken over by the city and the Cullman City School System was officially formed. It was at this time that the word "county" was dropped from the name to indicate the school only served students living within the city limits of Cullman.
In 1960, a new Cullman High School campus was built at the current site at 510 Thirteenth Street. The old high school campus was demolished and Cullman Middle School was constructed there.
The present-day campus of Cullman High School has been in the works for the past 2 years at the Thirteenth Street site. The new Cullman High School expanded campus, when completed, will support nearly 2,000 students and include updated facilities. The additions began in 2008.
Phase I of the Cullman High School Expansion Project was completed in the fall of 2010, bringing with it a new $4-million auxiliary gymnasium, a 5,000 square feet (460 m2) science building addition, and a new football stadium with an artificial turf field and an 8-lane track.
Phase II will begin in late 2010 or early 2011, and includes a new two-story library and media center; conversion of the current library into a state-of-the-art business/career technical center; a second story addition to all of the academic buildings and administration; a new school entrance and lobby; an expanded cafeteria; an outdoor amphitheater outside the cafeteria; complete refurbishing of all academic buildings, the main gym, and the auditorium; expanded student and faculty parking; and potential other expansions and additions.
| Student Enrollment History | |
|---|---|
| 1910s - 1920s | 45 - 280 |
| 1930s | ~300 |
| 1940s | ~560 |
| 1950s | ~750 |
| 1960s | ~800 |
| 1970s | ~920 |
| 1980s | ~780 |
| 1990s | ~800 |
| 2000s | ~900 |
| 2010s | 1000+ |
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