Rockmart High School also known as the Fighting Yellow Jackets is the only high school in Rockmart, Georgia, United States. It is fed by Rockmart Middle School and by the Aragon community. As of the 2017/18 school year, the school had an enrollment of 925 students and a faculty of 50.10 classroom teachers, for a student-teacher ratio of 16.71.
History
In 1912, the Georgia Legislature created the state's public school system. That year, the city of Rockmart began the Rockmart School System in the building vacated by the Piedmont Institution. It had closed after a 23-year existence in 1912 after it was purchased by the Rockmart School Board of trustees. Rockmart High School was in the building for three years, until the building burned down in 1915. The building was later rebuilt, but the building burned down again in 1940. The current lot is now the Rockmart Governmental Complex. Prior to the Polk County School System of Georgia, RHS had its own city school system and rival school Cedartown High School also had its own city school system in Cedartown.
Racial integration
Before the racial integration of the Polk County School System, two high schools existed in Rockmart - RHS and Elm Street High School, which served the African American community of Rockmart. The integration of the school system began in 1966, when some African American students began attending Rockmart High School. Total integration was achieved in 1967, with the closing of Elm Street High School.
Rockmart High School has 18 clubs and prides itself in having one of the largest Future Farmers of America teams in northwestern Georgia. RHS also has a news program, viewed by students throughout the school every morning, known as Stinger News.
Athletics
Rockmart High School competes in Region 6 of the AAA Class. It sponsors 38 athletic teams on campus, with both boys and girls participating in varsity, junior varsity, and 9th grade competitions. RHS athletics are sponsored by many local businesses. Rockmart's first football team was established in 1923. The team of 1950 beat Valdosta High School for the state title and went on to beat Holyoke High School in the Peanut Bowl, giving them bragging rights as National Champions.
Drama
The drama department at Rockmart High School is known for its involvement with the community. Every spring the advanced acting class performs at a GHSAone-act play competition. When the new Rockmart High School was constructed, performance space was not included. Instead, the Rockmart Thespians use the historic Rockmart Art Center Theatre for their productions. The department has produced many theatrical feats such as Seussical, Grease, and Hairspray. In October 2008, the Rockmart High School Thespians placed first at the Region AA One Act Competition with their performance of Godspell. The RHS Thespians then took the show to the State AA One Act Competition and placed third out of four schools. In 2013, Rockmart Thespians placed first in the State AAA One Act Competition with a riveting production of the thriller When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder? In 2014, the thespians placed first in the Region AAA One Act Competition with their production of Tennessee Williams's play Suddenly, Last Summer. The production also achieved the best actor and best actress award for two of its senior thespians.
On the city's central hilltop, Reared against the sky, Proudly stands our Alma Mater, As the years go by. Forward ever be our watchword, Conquer and prevail; Hail to thee, our Alma Mater, Rockmart High, all hail!
