# Concord-Carlisle High School

Concord-Carlisle High School (CCHS) is a public high school located in Concord, Massachusetts, United States. It is 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Boston. The school serves grades 9–12, and as part of the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District has students from both Concord and Carlisle, Massachusetts. The school also has a notable portion of minority students from Boston (particularly Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury) enrolled as part of the METCO program.

## Academics

Class subjects include core subjects of English, mathematics, science and social studies, but a number of elective studies are offered as well, including programming, engineering, art, music, and photography.
For students' freshman and sophomore years, they are required to take world cultures and US history respectively, neither of which are levelled classes. The English department offers classes on topics such as rhetoric and debate, American literature, British literature, contemporary literature, world literature and black literature. The social studies department curriculum includes classes on ancient Greece, ancient Rome and 20th century United States history, as well as psychology, economics, sociology, world religions and Russian history.
Foreign languages offered are French, Spanish, Latin and Chinese.
Educational experiences and trips to other countries include one to Edinburgh, Scotland in 2008, two to Prague in the Czech Republic, Salzburg and Vienna in Austria in 2001 and 2005, a trip which explored the entire length of Italy from north to south in 2003, and a trip to Spain in 2004, staying in Madrid and Málaga. In 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014 there were trips to Quito, Ecuador. In 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012 there were trips to Hokkaido, Japan, for the Concert Band and the Sci Fi club. There have been trips to China, East Timor and Estonia.
A trip to Italy for Latin students is regularly offered, as is an exchange program with a private school in Ecuador and an exchange program with Concord's Japanese sister city of Nanae.

## Extracurriculars

The school supports a moot court, Spectrum: Gay/Straight Alliance, Dance Crew, The Voice (newspaper), Reflections (a literature and art review), yearbook club, several foreign language clubs (Spanish, French, as well as an Asian culture club), and high school radio station (WIQH 88.3 FM), among others. Concord-Carlisle also hosts local chapters of Key Club International, Model United Nations, Amnesty International, Interact Club, JSA, The Innocence Project, The Sunrise Movement, Academic Bowl, Robotics Team, Science Olympiad, and a Math Team.

## Athletics

CCHS supports all of the 33 available sports teams organized by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).
In most sports, Concord Carlisle competes in the Dual County League.
CCHS also offers a squash club in the winter and an ultimate frisbee club in the spring.

### Cross country

The school has both a girls and boys cross-country team. In 2017, the boys’ team came in fourth in the Massachusetts Division 1 state meet, while the girls’ team won. In 2018, the boys' team won the state meet and the girls' team came in second. In 2019, the girls' team won the state meet. The boys' team placed third.

### Fencing

Concord-Carlisle's fencing team was the first in the state of Massachusetts 2018 and 2019. This winter sport has men's and women's teams, with JV and Varsity levels. CCHS's fencing team has produced two individual Olympic Champions, and numerous individual state champions.

### Swim and dive team

One of the largest sports team at this school, there are members every year who make it to the Sectionals and State meets.
The diving team has produced several individual state champions.

### Ski team

Nationally recognized in 1998 as a top ski school. The team competes at a local ski area in both slalom and giant slalom races. Dr. Bob Furey, head ski coach since 1972, was awarded the National Coaches Association Ski Coach of the Year Award in the early 1990s. Johnstone retired in 2007. In 2007, he was awarded a Boston Globe All-Scholastic Coach of the Year. The team practices at Nashoba Ski Valley.
The Nordic ski team won the Mass Bay West Divisional title for both the girls' varsity and boys' varsity team. The team also did well in state competitions: the girls' team secured second place and the boys' team had a close third-place finish.
In 2018, after an undefeated regular season for both the boys' and girls' teams, the boys' team won the state championship.

### Soccer

The CCHS girls soccer team has many accomplishments including undefeated seasons and many division titles. In addition, they have progressed to the state finals multiple times and years in a row.

### Lacrosse

CCHS has both boys and girls varsity and junior varsity lacrosse teams.

## New school building project

Concord Carlisle High School moved to a new, eco-friendly building in mid-April 2015, after almost 18 years of planning. The old school, which featured a one-level "California Layout," was constructed in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the design was deemed unsuitable for the weather and conditions prevalent in Massachusetts. In 2011, the towns of Concord and Carlisle granted initial approval for the construction of a new school. The project took approximately four years to complete and is located behind the previous CCHS building, with a reversed orientation. The total cost of the project was $93 million.
The new school has a 600-seat auditorium, 2 attached gyms, and a 'media wall' consisting of 9 flat-screen televisions in the cafeteria. The new building also includes many updated safety features that the old building lacked, including fewer exits and entrances, and automated doors with security cameras and alarms.
On September 6, 2022, voters elected to raise taxes by an estimated $660,822 in order to redesign and rebuild the school's access road.

## Notable alumni

* Chester G. Atkins, former Congressman from Massachusetts's 5th congressional district
* Liz Cho, television journalist, WABC-TV New York
* Bob Diamond, former chief executive officer of Barclays
* Will Eno, American playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist
* Kristin Hedstrom, USA rowing national team member and London 2012 Olympian
* Sam Presti, general manager of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder
* John Tortorella, former head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL
* Clairo, indie-pop musician