Chinle High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chinle High School |
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US Hwy 191
86503
United States
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| Information | |
| School type | Public high school |
| School district | Chinle Unified School District |
| CEEB code | 030048 |
| Principal | Clete Hargrave |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 1,042 (2016-17) |
| Color(s) | Black, Vegas gold and white |
| Nickname | Wildcats |
| Rival | Window Rock High School |
Chinle High School is a public high school for students in grades 9 to 12. It is located in Chinle, Arizona, in the United States. This school is the only high school in the Chinle Unified School District. All younger students from the district's elementary and middle schools eventually attend Chinle High.
The school serves many communities in Apache County, Arizona. These include Chinle, Cottonwood, Del Muerto, Lukachukai, Many Farms, Nazlini, Rough Rock, Sehili, Tsaile, and parts of Round Rock and Sawmill. All these areas are within the Navajo Nation. Chinle High School is the largest high school in the Navajo Nation. In 2013, it had about 1,250 students and 125 staff members. Most of the students, about 99%, are Native Americans, mainly from the Navajo tribe.
Contents
School History: Growing Over Time
Before 1966, there was a school building that could hold about 300 students. The town of Chinle grew a lot in the 1960s. By 1986, more than 1,000 students were attending the high school.
In 1986, the U.S. government gave the Chinle Unified School District $10 million. This money was for building a new high school. The district planned to spend $20 million in total for a new school that could hold 1,500 students. The rest of the money came from Apache County and local taxes.
Wildcat Athletics: Home of the Wildcats
Chinle High School's sports teams are called the Wildcats. Their Division III basketball teams play in a huge arena called the Wildcat Den. This arena can seat 6,000 people. It was built in 2006 and cost $23 million.
Many people think it is the best high school arena in Arizona. It is also the biggest building in Chinle. The Wildcat Den is tied for the 15th-largest high school basketball gym in the United States. Before this amazing arena was built, the teams played at the Chinle Community Center, which held 1,000 people.
Keeping Students Safe at School
Like many schools, Chinle High School has worked to create a safe learning environment for all students. The school and community work together to help students succeed. They focus on keeping everyone safe and supported.
Chinle High in Movies and Books
Chinle High School's basketball team has been featured in popular media.
- Basketball or Nothing on Netflix: In 2019, a TV show called Basketball or Nothing came out on Netflix. This show was about the Chinle Wildcats basketball team. It followed their journey during the 2017–2018 season as they tried to win a state championship. The show was directed by Matt Howley, Michael Lucas, and Gabriel Spitale. The team's coach was Raul Mendoza. He had coached for 40 years and had won a state title before. Reviewers said the series was "sincere, heartfelt and absolutely worth your time."
- Canyon Dreams: A Book About Basketball: Michael Powell, a sportswriter, wrote a book in 2019 called Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation. This book was also about the same basketball season. It explored how important the high school's basketball team and games were for bringing the community together.
Famous People Who Went Here
- Megalyn Echikunwoke – an actress
- Tatanka Means – an actor and comedian
- Nicco Montaño – an MMA fighter
See also
- List of high schools in Arizona
