Opened in late 1957 as the city's second white high school, Hall High School started with student body of about 700. It was named for Col. Robert Cleveland "R.C." Hall, Superintendent of the Little Rock School District from 1909 to 1941. As a result of the school opening, Little Rock High School was renamed to Little Rock Central High School.
Facilities
Hall's classic performing arts auditorium, the home of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra from September 1972 to April 1973, still serves as a site for community events and performances. Hall High School received additions in 1962, 1963, 1971, 1975 and 1984. The two newest buildings opened in 2003: a new classroom wing and a new gymnasium/athletic center. The Dietz Physical Development Center officially was dedicated in January 2005 and was named to honor Donald Dietz, a Hall High graduate and West Point alumnus who was killed in Vietnam in 1969.
Academics
Accreditation
Hall is accredited by AdvancED since 1958 and holds membership in the College Board. It remains one of only three Arkansas public schools admitted to the National Cum Laude Society, the high school equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. The Cum Laude Society recognizes academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence, justice and honor. Since its founding in 1906, Cum Laude has grown to 344 chapters - most chapters being in private schools and approximately two dozen located in public schools.
College coursework
At Hall High, college courses are offered through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Currently, Hall offers 12 college courses, representing a total of 40 college credit hours. Also offered is Comp I, Comp II, Biology, Speech Communication, Intro to Sociology, Physics I, Physics II, US History I, US History II, Intro to Psychology, College Algebra, Evolutionary and Environmental Biology. Students receive college credit for all of these courses. Students receive "grants-in-aid" from UALR which result in a 50% reduction in tuition costs. Textbooks are currently provided at no cost to students by the Little Rock School District. Additionally, professors from UALR are onsite with Hall teachers at the school.
Vocational training
Another unique program for Hall High in the LRSD, is the Cisco Academy. Internetworking Technologies is a four semester hands-on curriculum prescribed by the Cisco Systems. At the end of the fourth semester, students take a certification test which is recognized throughout the computer industry. This curriculum is open to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. Cisco Networking Academy prepares students to take the CCNA certification exam. Cisco provides the background needed for success in the competitive field of computer networking.
Athletics
The Hall High School mascot and athletic emblem is the Warrior with orange and white serving as the school colors. The Hall Warriors compete in the 6A Classification—the state's second largest classification—within the 7A/6A Central Conference as administered by the Arkansas Activities Association. The Warriors compete in interscholastic sport activities including football, volleyball, golf, cross country, basketball, soccer, swimming and diving, baseball, softball, wrestling, and track and field. The Little Rock Hall Warriors have won 51 state championships, including 15 in swimming and diving, 12 in basketball, seven in football, seven in tennis titles, five in track and field, three in golf, and two in cross country.
Tennis: The tennis teams have won seven state tennis championships.
Track and field: The Warriors track teams have won five state track titles.
Notable alumni
The following are notable people associated with Hall High School. If the person was a Hall High School student, the number in parentheses indicates the year of graduation; if the person was a faculty or staff member, that person's title and years of association are included
