Natrona County High School was originally known as Casper High School. The current building was constructed between 1924 and 1941 in Collegiate Gothic style. It was partially built under the authority of the Works Progress Administration; the crest of the WPA is visible in the sidewalks on the front campus. In exchange for federal assistance, male student participation in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps was mandatory until a few years after Kelly Walsh High School opened in 1965. The JROTC at NCHS is the second oldest unit in the nation and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014.
The school's swimming pool was built in 1929, making it the first indoor pool for educational purposes in the state. It was demolished in 2014 during renovations to the building. A new swimming pool was opened up during the 2021 - 2022 school year. [3]
Natrona County High School was the first campus for Casper College, a community college also located in Natrona County Wyoming, which occupied the upper level of NCHS in the late 1940s, before it had a campus of its own.
In 2010–2011 the Natrona County School District began the process of a major re-design to reconfigure the site and renovate the historic building.[5][6] In early 2012 the state allocated $118 million for the design and construction of the NCHS renovations and expansion.[7] In July 2012 the state released funds for the design, with construction funds to be released in 2013.[8] In August 2012 preliminary concepts for the design of the renovated school were presented to the community by Bassetti Architects.[9]
Dean Kelly resigned as principal in September 2014 after a school district investigation into sexual harassment complaints resulting from a skit performed during hazing and initiation of new teachers before the start of the school year. Kelly did not take part in or directly approve the skit, but took responsibility as the head administrator. Kelly Hornby, executive director for curriculum instruction in Natrona County School District #1, filled the role as Acting Principal following the resignation of Dean Kelly.
Aaron Wilson was hired as the new NCHS Principal at the beginning of the 2021 - 2022 School year following Former Principal Sharon Harris hiring as a superintendent for a school district. [10]
Academics
In addition to standard core curriculum, NCHS offers courses in several areas of academic and technical specialty, including Agriculture, Automotive, DECA, FBLA, FFA, and JROTC. NCHS has offered the IB Diploma Program through the IB World School program since 2001.[11] The program is a comprehensive two-year curriculum for students in grades 11 and 12. Graduates of the program are awarded a high school diploma recognized by universities worldwide.[12]
