1. Campuses and History

2. Student profile

3. Athletics

4. Notable alumni

5. References

6. External links

BCHS was constructed in 2010 as a replacement for the aging Jess Lanier High School, which was founded in 1970 and named for the former Bessemer mayor of the same name.^[3] The name of the present school was chosen by a poll of Bessemer students and residents. BCHS received 1,981 votes, compared to 671 for "Marvel City High School" and 665 for "Bessemer Millennium High School".^[4]

Campuses and History

• The present Bessemer City High School (BCHS) is the fourth descendant school to serve as the city's flagship high-school. It was completed in January 2010, the $50 million high school was funded largely by a bond fund supported by a 1¢ sales tax increase in Jefferson County championed by then Jefferson County Commission President Larry Langford.^[4] and supported by others on the Commission. It is located just off of the Academy Drive Exit of I-59.
• As noted earlier, the 2010 school was preceded by Jess Lanier High School. That building is still is in use by the Bessemer School System and became Bessemer City Middle School (grades 6–8) in 2013.^[5] That structure is a single story building made of brick and steel. Its campus is located in the area of the city behind the Medical Center.
• Its predecessor, built in 1923, still exists and is located in what would be considered near the downtown area. That two-story building primarily has a dark red brick facing with a gray colored rough stone facing from the ground to the bottom of the first story windows. Most of its entrance ways have arched masonry pediments. Its main entrance faces 2nd Avenue and occupies the entire block between 14th and 15th streets. For many years after it ceased to be a school, it served as a Jehovah's Witnesses Christian Church facility until it was again sold in February, 2019.
• The first Bessemer High School was located on the southeast corner of Arlington Avenue and 19th Street. It was a 3-story yellow brick building with wood cased windows and was likely built shortly after the establishment of the Bessemer School System in 1887. After that building ceased to be the city high school in 1923, it was re-named Arlington Elementary and served in that capacity for many years until the building was finally abandoned and allow to fall into disrepair. The site is now a vacant lot with only a stone wall that runs parallel to the sidewalk.

At the same time that the second Bessemer High opened the city system also operated Dunbar High School which was a separate high school for black students. Dunbar's first graduating class was in 1927. It was located at 2715 6th Avenue and named after Paul Laurence Dunbar, an African-American poet, novelist and playwright of the late 19th and early 20th century. Dunbar High School was replaced by Abrams High School (1959-1987). The Dunbar High School building continued to function as an elementary school from 1959 until 1980. Today it serves as a community center. The Abrams High School building today serves as Abrams Elementary School.

The present BCHS is a 215,000 square foot facility perched on the high point of a 72-acre site. The main school building incorporates a curved steel roof and is clad with three shades of brick. Large expanses of glass wrap the L-shaped massive concourse connecting the three academic wings, arts, and athletics. The school accommodates 1,500 students with a 760-seat auditorium and a combination PE / competition gym which seats 1,500 for basketball games. The facility also has large choral, band, and jazz rehearsal spaces and a two-story career tech wing.

On site with the main school are a new synthetic turf football stadium seating 4,500, a nine-lane track, a new restroom / concessions building, and a spacious new field house at the end zone of the new field. Also on site are a new baseball field and press box as well as a new softball field and press box / concessions building.^[6]

Student profile

Enrollment in grades 9–12 for the 2013-14 school year is 996 students. Approximately 94% of students are African-American, 4% are Hispanic, and 2% are white. Roughly 83% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch.^[7]

BCHS has a graduation rate of 73%.^[8] Approximately 57% of its students meet or exceed state proficiency standards in mathematics, and 62% meet or exceed standards in reading. The average ACT score for BCHS students is 20.^[9]

Athletics

BCHS competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics and fields teams in the following sports:^[10]

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Football
• Indoor Track & Field
• Outdoor Track & Field
• Soccer
• Softball
• Volleyball

BCHS won the 1990 Alabama Football Playoff championship when the school was known as Jess Lanier High School by defeating Murphy High School of Mobile 22-0 in the title game.^[11] The old downtown campus school on 2nd Avenue was declared state football champions four times in an era in which no playoff existed with "mythical titles" in 1940, 1951, 1952, and 1954. During this era the school played its games at Bessemer Stadium located at 915 4th Avenue North. The stadium was renamed Snitz Snider Stadium in 1972 to honor the long-time Bessemer coach.^[12] The Bessemer School Board put the old stadium up for sale in 2017.

Bessemer's longest traditional football rival are the Hueytown High School Golden Gophers, whom they have played 74 times. The Tigers and the Gophers first played in 1922, the last year the original campus on Arlington Avenue served as the school.^[13]

Bessemer played its first recorded football game in 1910, although some records indicate it may have been 1907. Through the 2018 season, the football records is 648-375-34.^[14]

Notable alumni

• DeMeco Ryans, former NFL Football player and current Linebacker Coach for the San Francisco 49'ers

References

External links

• BCHS website
• BCHS football history

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