Watson Chapel High School
Watson Chapel High School is a comprehensive public high school in the Watson Chapel School District in Pine Bluff, Arkansas that serves grades 10 through 12. It is one of three public high schools in Pine Bluff and the only high school managed by the Watson Chapel School District. It serves as the main feeder school for Watson Chapel Junior High School. It serves portions of Pine Bluff and Sulphur Springs. History. Initially the Dollarway School District (DSD) sent older white students to Watson Chapel High and other area high schools, as it did not have  its own high school for white students nor one for black students. In 1957 DSD opened its own high school for white children, Dollarway High School. In the 1969-1970 school year the high school had 972 white students and 41 black students. It was previously reserved for white students. District Court for Eastern District of Arkansas judge Oren Harris, in 1971, ordered the Watson Chapel School Board to desegregate schools. All high school students were moved to Watson Chapel High while the former Coleman High School/Coleman Elementary School, previously for black students, was to become a combined middle  school. It 2018 the State of Arkansas put the school's accreditation on a probationary status. Academics. Watson Chapel is accredited by Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) and has been accredited by AdvancED (formerly North Central Association) since 1963. Curriculum. The assumed course of study is the Smart Core curriculum developed by the Arkansas Department of Education. Students may engage in regular (core and career focus) and may select Advanced Placement (AP) coursework and exams that provide an opportunity for college credit prior to graduation. Awards and recognition. The Watson Chapel Quiz Bowl academic competition teams have won the 2011  and 2012 National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) Arkansas State Championship tournaments that allowed the teams to compete at the national level. Extracurricular activities. The Watson Chapel High School mascot is the wildcat with school colors of black and gold. Athletics. For 2012–14, the Watson Chapel Wildcats participate in the 5A South Conference for interscholastic activities administered by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) including baseball, basketball (boys/girls), cheer, dance, cross country, football, golf (boys/girls), softball, and track and field. The Wildcats baseball team has made 28 appearances to the state tournament, with 39 tournament wins, 13 semifinals, and seven  finals; winning four titles between 1988 and 2000. The boys' basketball team has won three state championships as well. In 2013, Watson Chapel won the state's Student Angler Federation (SAF) High School Fishing State Championship.