Historic, Progressive John A. Holmes High School

At the recent Chowan County Board of Commissioners’ Retreat, one of the commissioners remarked that Chowan County was referred to in the past as “Historic, Progressive Chowan County.”

At first blush, referring to something as both historic and progressive seems to be a bit like an oxymoron. Google defines an oxymoron as “a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.” Historic and progressive seem to fit the bill when thinking about “apparently contradictory terms.” Yet, despite the seeming contradiction, “historic” and “progressive” can simultaneously and accurately describe Chowan County and do certainly describe the institution that has served our community so faithfully for so many years, our high school, John A. Holmes High School.

John A. Holmes High School proudly carries forth the tradition of excellence established on the campus in decades gone by and the tradition of excellence that was simultaneously built by the former D.F. Walker High School and the former Chowan High School. The legacies of the schools, teachers, and students who were so integral to laying a foundation of excellence in education in Chowan County still reverberate on the campus today. The historic nature of the school is evident simply by looking at the building and in witnessing the community pride that built to a groundswell this past winter as the football team made a historic run amidst sidewalks full of supporters, cheering the team onward.

Historic? Certainly! Progressive? Absolutely!

As the school year drew to a close last year, John A. Holmes senior Daniel Midgette made history of his own when he became the first student in the school system’s history to earn an Associate’s Degree from the College of the Albemarle (COA) prior to graduating from high school. He was also the first student to do this in COA’s history, an accomplishment so monumental that then COA President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer devoted a full-page to Daniel’s success in her final report to the Board of Trustees of the college. Daniel is now a Junior at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, two years ahead of where he would have been had he not had the opportunities he was granted as an Ace in our local high school.

This year another John A. Holmes High School senior is on track to match Daniel’s feat and will earn an Associate’s Degree from COA before graduating from high school. These two students are not the only ones to earn college credit while still in high school. During the first semester of this current school year, students at John A. Holmes High earned 228 college credits from COA. Those credits will go with them as they continue their educational careers at two-year or four-year colleges and universities.

Seniors from John A. Holmes High School are faring well in earning admission to the most-prestigious colleges and universities across the country. In addition, they are setting and resetting the record for scholarship dollars earned thanks to the great community support the school receives from several community clubs, churches, and organizations. 

College may not be the future pathway for every student. Our high school is also helping to lead the way with preparing our students to successfully earn industry-recognized credentials while still in high school.

Students earned 167 credentials during the first semester this year including credentials in: NC Private Pesticide Applicator; EverFi (Financial Certification); Conover Job Readiness (Soft Skills); ServSafe; OSHA; WCA Sawblade; MSSC Safety; CPR; Microsoft; Adobe Photoshop; Adobe InDesign; Adobe Illustrator; and Adobe Certified Associate Visual Design Specialist. These credentials, recognized and in some cases, required by industry, will serve our students well as they prepare for bright futures.

Recently the high school band earned a Superior Rating at the NCBA Eastern District Music Performance Adjudication after an outstanding marching band competition season. The most recent band and chorus concert at the high school demonstrated that music and the arts are alive and flourishing in the hallways of John A. Holmes High.

Student-athletes have brought great credit to the school as well. The Baseball team played in the Final Four of the State Championship last year and looks to better that mark this year. Tennis players and wrestlers have also had great success at the regional and state level, while the football team returned to the State Championship Game.

As I consider the great success that our students are achieving in the classroom, in performance halls, and on the ballfields, I am extremely grateful to the teachers, administrators, and staff who give so deeply of themselves for our students and very appreciative of the volunteers and community supporters who make their success a priority and a reality.

The Aces are our community’s future. Thanks to historic, progressive John A. Holmes High School, they are well on their way to a very bright future.

This article originally appeared in "The Chowan Herald" as a column written by Dr. Jackson.