Port Charlotte High School (PCHS) is a four-year, comprehensive, U.S. public high school located in Port Charlotte, Florida. The school opened in 1981, graduated its first class in 1984, its mascot is the pirate, and the school motto is "Yes, I am a Pirate." It is operated by Charlotte County Public Schools.
At one point in time, Port Charlotte High School was the largest high school in Charlotte County, with 2,082 students enrolled in grades Grades 9 through 12. Enrollment was traditionally based on students' geographic locations, but is now by choice under the more recently created open enrollment program.
The school has grown much, and it survived Hurricane Charley in 2004 and Hurricane Ian in 2022. The school's main feeders are Murdock Middle School, Port Charlotte Middle School, and Punta Gorda Middle School. The school's top athletic rivals are Charlotte High School and Lemon Bay High School. PCHS has educated two National Football League players and one Major League Baseball player who also played in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
History
The school was originally built in 1981, and opened its doors that year for 9th and 10th graders. For each of the next two years, a class was added, and PCHS graduated its first class in 1984. The original "G" and "B" buildings were completed in 1983. The auditorium was built in 1984. The science building, also known as A building, was built in 1987. The BB building was built in 1990. A swimming pool was added in 1991. The "C building", which houses the library and some classrooms, was built in 2001. In 2003, the new "B building", the two story academic classroom building, was finished. In 2007, the new gym was finished. The new gym did not replace the older one, but rather, was an addition.
Hurricane Charley
In August 2004, Hurricane Charley brought devastation to the Port Charlotte region. Although Port Charlotte High School suffered only minor damage from the hurricane, other regional high schools suffered significant damage. In the aftermath, Port Charlotte High School shared its facility with the students of Charlotte High School, with Port Charlotte High School students attending morning class and Charlotte High School students attending in the evening. Later in September, Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne prompted Charlotte County Schools to be closed once again. In total, the three hurricanes caused students to miss 13 days of school during the 2004–2005 school year, requiring make-up days that infringed on student and staff days-off.
Recognition
In 2009, Port Charlotte High School was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America's best high schools and a "Bronze Medal School" for academic excellence. PCHS was one of 1,189 schools nationwide to receive a bronze medal.
COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charlotte County Public Schools system reopened, albeit delayed, for the 2020–2021 school year after closing in spring during the 2019–2020 school year at the order of Governor Ron DeSantis. The school reported the first case of the virus among the school system during the pandemic on September 8, a day after school reopened. The school went on to record at least 75 cases of the virus in students and staff, more than any other school in the county. Unlike the previous school year, in which graduation ceremonies were held virtually due to the pandemic, Port Charlotte High School hosted a graduation ceremony at Charlotte Sports Park.
In the subsequent school year, still amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charlotte County Public Schools system reopened once again, this time during a surge of the virus throughout the state, including in Charlotte County. Unlike the beginning of the previous school year, some teachers and students would be vaccinated against the disease, but not all. In total, 276 cases of the virus were reported among students and staff from the day the school reopened on August 10, with the first case being reported the very day the school reopened.
While COVID-19 cases were initially reported for the 2022–2023 school year, the dashboard which Charlotte County Public Schools ran was eventually phased out.