Forsyth Central High School
Forsyth Central High School is a public high school located in Cumming, Georgia, United States, northeast of Atlanta. Built in 1955, it was originally known as Forsyth County High School until 1989 when South Forsyth High School opened. It is one of seven high schools in the Forsyth County School District. Student data. Forsyth Central High School has an approximate enrollment of 2,585 (as of the 2019-2020 school year). Most of its students are White (62.4%), or have Hispanic/Latino (26.0%) origin, with Asian (4.5%) students the third most prominent, and African-American (3.7%) students  the fourth. With mixed-race (2.9%) and Native American (0.5%) being fifth and sixth, respectively. Students are mainly drawn from Lakeside, Little Mill and Otwell Middle Schools. Forsyth Central High has developed a magnet school status because of its STEM program, high marks on school atmosphere surveys, and its clubs and extra-curricular activities. Higher-level academics. Forsyth Central High School offers an assortment of Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment options, an honors mentorship program, and a state-certified STEM program. In 2018, Forsyth Central High School became the only school in Forsyth County to earn national certification for its  STEM program. Students within the program must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 overall unweighted GPA and earn either an A or a B in all STEM classes. STEM classes are separate and specialized relative to other AP or honor level courses. All STEM students must also complete a ”capstone” project by their senior year in order to graduate. An acceptable capstone includes a research proposal, a research paper documenting all results and procedures, and a presentation (with a defense) before a panel of STEM teachers. Another requirement of earning a STEM diploma is competing in an authorized co-curricular  activity or competition for one semester each year. Extra-curricular activities. Forsyth Central High School has many extra-curricular activities, including Academic Bowl, Bass Fishing Club, Beta Club (10-12 Grades), Chamber Singers, Colorguard, Winterguard, Dance Team, DECA, Drama Club, Dungeons and Disports, Euro Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Family Career Community Leaders of America, FCHS Literary Magazine, FLOOD, Forsyth Central Indoor Drumline, Garden Club, Health Occupation Students of America, Humane Society, Interact Club, International Club, Junior Civitan, Key Club, Flash of Crimson Marching Band, Math Team, Mock Trial Team, Model UN, Mu Alpha Theta , NABT Bio Club, National Art Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Native Speakers Club, Newspaper - Central Scene, Robotics Club, Science Olympiad, Student Gay Alliance, Simple Charity, Skills USA Club, SmART Club, Spanish Honor Society, Student Council (Student Ambassadors), SWITCH, Rocketry, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Technology Student Association, Ultimate Frisbee, VEX, Boys Volleyball, Y-Club, and Yearbook Club. Flash of Crimson. The Flash of Crimson Marching Band is based in Forsyth Central High School, and led by Tom Tucker and Dan Grass. The Flash of Crimson won Class Champion in 2008, 2009, and  2010, and were 8th place finalists at Bands of America Super Regional in Atlanta, Georgia in 2009. They also traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to compete in BOA Grand Nationals under the direction of former director John Mashburn. They placed 29th out of 94 bands. In 2016 The Flash of Crimson won the St. Pius X "Lions Den" invitational performance. In 2018, The Flash of Crimson won The Wolverine Classic Band Competition, The Golden River Marching Competition, and The St. Pius Invitational with their show "Cosmic Adventures." Forsyth Central High School is also known for its indoor drumline. They attended the  WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio in 2012, where they placed as the 8th high school in the world. Previously they placed 11th in 2010 and 9th in 2009. In 2017 they returned to the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio and placed 2nd among A-Class winds groups. Athletics. Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, Micah Owings, played baseball at Forsyth Central. Cleveland Indian's right-handed pitcher, Ethan Hankins also played baseball at Forsyth Central. The school currently competes in Region 6-AAAA (Area 3 A-AAAAA for lacrosse). The school has played in  the region since 2002, with the exception of the period between fall 2006 and spring 2008, when Central was part of Region 7-AAAAA. The Bulldog football team recently finished with a 2-8-0 record. The Bulldog basketball team recently finished with a best in the county 15-11-0 record. The Bulldog baseball team recently finished with a best in the county 22-9-1 record. The baseball team also ended the season ranked 8th in the state. The Bulldog Varsity volleyball team recently advanced to region for the first time since 2008. The Bulldog competition cheer ended  at top 1000 in state. Central Film Academy. The Central Film Academy (CFA) led by Dan Grass, is a 4-year; cohort program that focuses on preparing aspiring filmmakers for the growing film industry in Georgia. The CFA combines a rigorous learning environment framed by producing highly skilled students ready for the film industry or film studies. Their learning community develops a student’s potential and ensures students are well equipped to meet the challenges of post-secondary education and film careers in the fastest-growing industry in the state of Georgia. Graduates of CFA will be competitive applicants for  both the film industry workforce and post-secondary educational institutions. The Central Film Academy Mission: Humanities Academy. The Humanities Academy at Forsyth Central led by Antonia Alberga-Parisi, combines a rigorous learning environment focused on the human condition and culture. Their learning community develops a student’s potential and ensures students are well equipped to meet the challenges of post-secondary education Humanities careers in a global economy. Graduates of the Humanities Academy at Forsyth Central will be able to be creative thinkers who can reason and interpret the human experience, deal with complex information critically and logically, and communicate  what they know. There, they will: STEM Academy. The STEM Academy at Forsyth Central High School led by Marla Hatfield, combines a rigorous learning environment focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Their learning community develops a student's potential and ensures students are well equipped to meet the challenges of post secondary education and STEM careers in a global economy. Graduates of the Forsyth Central High School STEM Academy will be able to formulate complex academic communications, engage in system thinking, be self managers, and demonstrate non-routine problem solving. Theatre Arts Department. Forsyth Central's Theatre Department  is led by Kevin Whitley. The Theatre Department has won 18 Regional One Act Competitions (91, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 12, 14) and 8 State Competitions (94, 95, 96, 97, 00, 02, 04, 05). The elite performance group from the FCHS Theatre Department is known as the Masquers (formerly Maskers, or Portable Players). Their most notable alumni is Kelli Giddish, who plays a main character on "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit". Bulldog Engine Team. Forsyth Central's Bulldog Engine Team competes in a timed competition put on  by the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine challenge where they compete to completely disassemble and reassemble a Chevy 350 small block engine. They recently won the Skills USA championship, they are the four time state champion (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019), and is currently ranked #1 in the nation. They recently posted a record time of 15:05 and a national placement time of 16:13. National Automotive Technology Competition. Forsyth Central's automotive program has sent two seniors each year to compete in the National Automotive Technology Competition in New York City. In 2019 Mason Allen and Mason Barnett placed 3rd in  the nation, both winning over $65,000 in scholarships to various technical schools as well as a large selection of Snapon tools.