The Pony Express Center Hill High School, 13250 Kirk Road, Olive Branch MS 38654
September 2019 Volume 3, Issue 1
Another ‘A’ Ranking
CHHS ranked fifth in state, second in district By Paige Brick and Nadia Sumlar Co-editors
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or the seventh year in a row, Center Hill High School has received an “A” ranking by the Mississippi Department of Education. It is the fifth best high school in the state and also the second-highest ranking high school in DeSoto County behind Hernando. “This is definitely a team effort,” Principal Doug Payne said. “Every teacher, staff member and student in this school has put the work in, and it is nice to know that hard work has paid off and is being recognized.” After weeks of speculation, accountability ratings were approved by the state board of
education Sept. 19. Among other things, the high school rankings are based on graduation rates and state test scores in Algebra I, Biology I, English II and U.S. History from the 20182019 school year. CHHS has been a topDoug Payne rated school since 2009-2010, which predates Mississippi’s current A-F rating system. Ahead of the official announcement, Superintendent Cory Uselton said on Twitter that DeSoto County Schools would be
an A-ranked school district. “Only 9 districts in MS have achieved this honor the last 4 years in a row,” Uselton tweeted. “Congratulations to our students, teachers, administrators, staff & parents! It is a team effort!” Despite the top ranking, Payne said there is still work to be done. “Of course, we do not want to become complacent,” he said. “We know that we have to continue to do better each day to continue to raise the bar. However, yeah, to be ranked fifth out of 142 schools in the state and to be ranked second only to Hernando in the district feels good and needs to be celebrated.” Staff Writer Matthew Collins contributed to this report.
Photo by Matthew Collins Center Hill High School has been rated an “A” school multiple times by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Evans crowned Queen during Homecoming win A
By Billie Boyd Staff Writer
first-time Homecoming maid walked away with the crown. “It’s such a privilege and it could have been any one of the five senior maids, so I was just honored that the school chose me,” senior Kennedi Evans said. Evans was crowned Homecoming Queen Sept. 13 during halftime of the game against Douglass High School. The Mustangs went on to defeat the Red Devils 34-6. “I was extremely shocked,” Evans said. “It was my first year ever being on Homecoming Court, so I didn’t think I was going to win at all. When they announced queen it didn’t fully register with me that I won until they said my middle name. I guess I had just prepared myself that I wasn’t going to win and it really
threw me off guard.” No expectations meant no pressure for Evans, but that wasn’t the case for quarterback Preston Newson. “It feels a lot of pressure knowing that people are looking up to you and have really high expectations of you,” said Newson, a junior who scored one of the game’s touchdowns. “It feels good to win though, and to know you have succeeded and helped everyone on the team.” Zoie Peppers, one of three sophomore maids, said being on the court “made me feel like a princess.” “It felt good to know that people wanted me to represent their class,” she said. “I was glad we won, because it made the night that much more special.”
Photo by Katie Whitaker Kennedi Evans, far left, reacts to being named Homecoming Queen during halftime of the Sept. 13 game against Douglass High School. “I guess I had just prepared myself that I wasn’t going to win and it really threw me off guard,” she said. Junior maid Billie Boyd is pictured at right.
Veteran educator joins Center Hill family as third assistant principal
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By Matthew Collins Staff Writer
enter Hill High School now has three assistant principals with the addition of Sharon Reed. She joins Brenda Case and Zack Sims. “I love it here,” Reed said. “I love how everybody is about making sure the priorities are straight, that we have those high
expectations, that we’re consistent. I like the family atmosphere, and I like the students.” A native of Northeast Sharon Reed Arkansas, Reed has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a
middle school emphasis from Arkansas State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Delta State University. “I’m actually a middle school person and I had been in elementary school for the past few years, and I was excited to get back with some older kids,” said Reed, who previously was an AP at Olive Branch
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Elementary and Horn Lake Intermediate. “This is my 11th year as an assistant principal.” Reed added that the school has welcomed her, and the feeling is mutual. “Every staff member and [the]students have treated me nice while being here so far,” she said. “I really appreciate the higher bodies welcoming me in as part of the Center Hill
family.” The school’s multiple consecutive “A” rankings are also appealing to her. “I think that’s great,” Reed said. “I’m so excited for our school and how we’re excelling in everything that we’re doing. It’s academics, it’s sports, it’s everything, so I think that this is one of the best schools I’ve ever been at.”