# Calhoun High School (Georgia)

Calhoun High School is a public high school in Calhoun, Georgia, United States, serving grades 9–12 for the Calhoun City School District. It is accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of Georgia High School Association. It is located near downtown Calhoun in Gordon County.

## Awards

Calhoun was named a Silver Medal school in the "Best High Schools" category by U.S. News & World Report in 2009.
The Calhoun debate team won the 2008-2009 state debate championship (AA). The Calhoun teams combined for a 9–3 record against other finalists from single-A through triple-A schools, which gave them the AA division title.

## Athletics

Calhoun offers basketball, baseball, competition cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swim team, tennis, track, wrestling, and volleyball. Several teams, including softball, baseball, golf, football, track, and cheerleading, have won state championships. As of the 2024-2026 regional alignments by GHSA, Calhoun High School is in Georgia Region 7-AAA. The team mascot (the Yellow Jacket) was chosen due to the school's proximity to the Georgia Institute of Technology. Each year Calhoun pays royalties of 1 US dollar to Georgia Tech for the use of the mascot and its likeness. Calhoun calls its mascot "Stinger" rather than "Buzz".
Overall, Calhoun has won 24 state championships in school history, in six different sports.
Football
Calhoun football home games are played at Phil Reeve Stadium on the school campus near downtown. The stadium is named for C.P. "Phil" Reeve, the guitar player and founding member of the Georgia Yellow Hammers, an early 20th-century "old-time" band from Gordon County. The Jackets won their first football state title since the 1952 season in 2011 with a 27–24 overtime victory against Buford. The Yellow Jackets won 19 straight region titles (2001–2018) and made the Georgia State Football Playoffs every year from the 2000 season until the 2023 season. In 2024, Calhoun won their fifth state title, defeating Jefferson 20–7, just one year after missing the playoffs.
* State championships - 1952 (class C), 2011 (AA), 2014 (AAA), 2017 (AAA), 2024 (AAA).
* Region titles - 1950, 1951, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024.
Baseball
The baseball team has won four state titles (1974, 2000, 2005, 2010).
* State championships - 1974 (A), 2000 (A), 2005 (AA). 2010 (AA)
* Region titles -1968, 1973, 1974, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014
Boys' basketball
The Jackets boys' basketball team have won 13 region titles in 1969, 1978, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2024. The team were state runners-up in 2001 and 2014.
Girls' basketball
The Lady Jackets basketball team have won five region titles in 2000, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2023.
Girls' softball
The Lady Jackets softball team has won four state championships, 2013 (AA), 2014 (AAA), 2015 (AAA), and 2017 (AAA). The Lady Jackets were State Runner-Ups in 1998, 2008, and 2016. The Lady Jackets have won region titles in 1987, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Cheerleading
Calhoun High School Competition Cheerleaders won state championships in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2014, while receiving state runner-up honors in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2018.
Boys' golf
The boys golf team won a state championship in 1997.
* Region titles - 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2023
Girls' golf
The Lady Jackets golf team won have won three state championships in golf in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

## Notable alumni

* Davis Allen, NFL tight end for the Los Angeles Rams
* Charlie Culberson, Major League Baseball player for the Atlanta Braves & 2015 inductee into the Calhoun-Gordon County Sports Hall of Fame
* Kris Durham, former NFL player
* Adam Griffith, former Alabama Crimson Tide placekicker
* Riley Gunnels, former NFL player
* McCartney Kessler, tennis player
* Tre Lamb, head football coach for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane
* James Beverly Langford, Georgia state legislator
* Darwin Lom, professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga Nacional club Xelajú and the Guatemala national team
* Monty Powell, country songwriter, producer for Alabama, Diamond Rio, Tim McGraw, and Keith Urban
* Da'Rick Rogers, former NFL player and current wide receiver for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League
* Josh Smoker, MLB player who played for the New York Mets
* Baylon Spector, NFL linebacker for the Buffalo Bills

## Gallery

* Phil Reeve Stadium on the CHS Campus
* The Courtyard at Calhoun High School
* The campus of Calhoun High School as seen from the media center