Mercer County Senior High School serves approximately 900 students in grades 9 through 12 in a state-of-the-art building that includes an auditorium, an open cafeteria concept, a 2500-seat gymnasium, a beautiful Media Center with updated electronic and print materials, an engineering classroom, computer lab and mobile lab options for students, lecture/lab science classrooms, a welding lab, a spaci
ous greenhouse and a performing arts wing for our band, choral and art programs. In addition, our students are able to take advantage of the Harrodsburg Area Technical Center for industrial, medical and technology offerings and the Sports Complex for weightlifting. Construction is complete on the new 9th Grade Academy wing that opened in the August, 2014. Our staff consists of 6 administrators, 55 teachers and over 20 support staff members that work as a team to meet the needs of our students. 84% of our teachers have a master’s degree and 2 are National Board Certified teachers. Our teachers support the students through their academic course offerings, an Advisor-Advisee structure of approximately 20 students per teacher and additional support through before and after school tutoring and consistent parent contact. Our students are constantly recognized for both their academic and athletic achievements. Mercer County Senior High School continues to make gains in all academic areas, especially the PLAN and ACT. Our most recent ACT scores from Spring of 2013 resulted in a composite score of 19.2, representing a gain of more than a point from 2012! We will receive more information from the Kentucky Department of Education in September / October of 2014 concerning our school’s academic improvement. Eight of our students participated in the 2014 Governor’s Scholars Program and one student was selected for the Governor’s School for the Arts. FFA and FCCLA demonstrate consistent success at both state and national competition throughout the school year. Austin Hazelwood was elected the state FFA President and won the national FEA impromptu speaking national competition. The Marching Band won several Grand Champion awards and was a semi-state qualifier in Louisville. Four individuals (Austin Sparrow, Dean Tyler, Lex Burkhead and Justin Johnston) were state runner up in the 4 x 800 meter relay at the state track tournament. The girls’ basketball team won the 46th district title and were 12th Region Runner Up. Christy Ingram and Samantha Green of the girls’ tennis team won the regional doubles and advanced to the state tournament. Students at Mercer Senior High School have the opportunity to take a variety of college-level courses during their high school career. Advanced Placement courses that are offered include: AP Studio Art, AP 2D Art, AP 3D Art, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Language, AP Literature, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP U.S. History, AP World History, AP Psychology and AP Spanish. In addition, students may take Pre-AP English II, Pre-AP Algebra II, Pre-AP Geometry, Pre-AP Biology, Pre-Calculus / Trigonometry in preparation for higher level honors courses. Finally, students have the opportunity to receive free dual-credit college credit through Morehead State University in the areas of Principles of Teaching, AP Art and AP Spanish. For an additional fee, dual-credit college credit through Campbellsville University can be received in AP Literature, AP Language, AP U.S. History, AP Spanish, AP Calculus, Pre-Calculus. Our high school has been focused on developing Career Pathways for our students to provide them with a focus while in high school that can benefit their future choice in a career. Possible pathway options at Mercer County Senior High School include: Agricultural Power and Technical, Animal Science Systems, Agriculture Education, Horticulture and Plant Systems, Multimedia, Retailing/Wholesale, English, Engineering, Medical, Science, Sports Medicine, Social Studies, Consumer and Family Management, Early Childhood, Education, Fundamentals of Teaching, and Culinary Food Services. Additionally, students can access these career pathways at the Harrodsburg Technical Center: Welding/Manufacturing, Carpentry/Construction, Electricity/Construction, Web Design/Office Technology, Automotive Repair/Transmission, Nursing/Health Services, Networking/Information Technology. Research has shown an important link between a student’s academic achievement and being connected to at least one activity or staff member at school. Our students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of clubs, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Key Club, Beta Club, Teens Against To***co Use (TATU), Simply In Her Beauty, Book Club, Poetry Club, Future Farmers of America (FFA), Spanish Honors Society, National Honors Society, Ultimate Frisbee Club, Music Club, Newspaper and Student Council. Our students can also participate in Marching Band, concert band, choir, drama productions (Fall play and Spring musical), the Mercer R***e (Spring variety show performance) and art activities outside of school. Titan Athletic opportunities include football, volleyball, soccer (girls and boys), cross-country (girls and boys), cheerleading, Dance Team, basketball (girls and boys), archery, baseball, softball, track (girls and boys), golf (girls and boys) and tennis (girls and boys).
