Pinecrest High School - History

History

In 1969, Pinecrest High School opened its doors for the first time. Located just west of Southern Pines, Pinecrest represents the consolidation of seven high schools in southern Moore County and the merger of three school administrative units.

On September 3, 1969, the Pinecrest student body of about sixteen hundred gathered for the first time. Their day was not divided into the traditional six-period day. Instead, their computer schedules reflected the flexibility of twenty-one blocks of time called mods. They heard terms like team teaching, teacher assistants, media center, closed-circuit television instruction, and programmed instruction.

Pinecrest's physical plant was tailored for flexible scheduling, large and small group instruction, and independent study. The large, open classrooms could accommodate four small classes at a time or one large group of as many as two hundred students. Traditional study halls were replaced with learning labs. In each building a vending area that provided hot and cold foods replaced the traditional school cafeteria.

The Pinecrest curriculum offered eighty-three courses the first year as well as extra programs for both remediation and enrichment. Pinecrest offered a full range of traditional high school sports. The athletic program was headquartered on campus, but many athletic events utilized the facilities at the feeder schools. The band program was organized before the school was opened. The Marching Band began the first year with twenty-five members. The choral organized the following year.

When the school opened, its physical plant consisted of three two-story classroom buildings. In the spring of 1974, the music program moved into the newly completed music building. The cafeteria, also located in that building, began serving "a la carte" and regular type A school lunches. In the fall of 1974, Pinecrest played its first homecoming game on its own athletic field. An ultra-modern gymnasium was opened in 1975.

The school was dedicated on February 15, 1976. At that time, six and one-half years after it opened, the major facilities were completed. In addition to the classroom building, a music building, a cafeteria, a gymnasium and a football field, the plant included a baseball field, tennis courts, a student commons building, and paved parking areas.

The school day was changed to a more traditional six-period day, and other changes soon followed as the school slowly returned to the traditional structure. Classes returned to a traditional size with larger instruction being offered as the need arose. Programs of instruction were greatly expanded with additions in the vocational and business departments. In the area of remediation, the program for the educable mentally handicapped was improved while programs for the multi-handicapped, educable/trainable, learning disabled, behaviorally and emotionally handicapped, visually and physically impaired were added. Title I Reading was added in 1978 and a Competency Remediation Lab followed passage of the North Carolina Competency requirement. Opportunities for the academically talented were also improved. Students were able to begin their college-bound English as freshmen. Since 1974, seniors have been able to take Advanced Placement English. The Mathematics Department offered the traditional courses in algebra and geometry as well as two courses in advanced math, and in 1973, it added Advanced Placement Calculus. In 1980, the Science Department expanded its college preparatory courses from five to six when it included Advanced Placement Biology. In 1981, the Social Studies Department expanded its program to include Advanced Placement American History. Through the Foreign Language Departments, students were given the opportunity to take four years of French or Spanish. German was added to the curriculum in 1980.

In 1982, the school received a new administration whose emphasis centered on returning the school to a more traditional operating mode while retaining the unique aspects that had been successful. Increased attention was given to student pride, parental involvement, participation in extracurricular activities, community awareness, and continued academic excellence. Results were immediate and tangible. Soccer and swimming have been added to the athletic program while a new softball field and a practice field have been constructed. Currently, plans are to build a modern football field stadium. In the academic area, the school has been recognized twice as a North Carolina School of Excellence. An extensive curriculum review has been conducted and courses in data processing, computerized math, computer science, and computerized accounting have been added. In local competition such as Quiz Bowl, Moorehead nominations, and vocational contests, Pinecrest students have won more than 80% of the awards. Community support has continued to grow, as evidenced by the passage of the 1986 School Bond Referendum which provides a $2,500,000 for construction of a new auditorium as well as other money for facility improvement.

The Pinecrest faculty, administration, staff, and community are committed to providing a quality education for all students, preparing them to emerge as informed and competent citizens ready to meet the challenges of the complex world in which they live.

Pinecrest has been a part of quite a few curriculum and building changes and additions. Included in these are the following:

• The Tech Prep program, which began in 1988.
• The SIMS Program, which began in 1988-89.
• A computer lab in the Media Center, which began in 1990.
• A Teen Life Center and program, which began in 1990.
• The Peer Helpers group, which was organized in 1991-92.
• An awards system (Vision Program), which was initiated in 1991-92.
• The School-Within-a-School program, which was started in August 1992.
• Honors/AP courses, which are now in all the academic areas of the curriculum.
• IB Program 1998-2010