Carmel High School (CHS) is a public high school in Carmel, Indiana, United States, and part of the Carmel Clay Schools District.
Demographics
The demographic breakdown of the 5,414 students enrolled for the 2020–2021 school year was: Male - 49.9% Female - 50.1% Native American/Alaskan - 0.1% Asian - 14.3% Black - 3.8% Hispanic - 3.6% Native Hawaiian/Pacific islanders - 0.3% White - 71.5% Multiracial - 6.4% 17.9% of the students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. For the 2020–2021 school year, Carmel was a Title I school.
Athletics
Carmel's Greyhounds started competing as an Independent starting in the spring of 2022, formerly competing in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference. School colors are blue and gold.
As of the 2019–2020 school year, the following Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) sanctioned sports were offered:
Baseball (boys) Basketball (girls and boys) Cross country (girls and boys) Football (boys) Lacrosse (girls and boys - Varsity Sport - IHSLA sanctioned) Golf (girls and boys) Soccer (girls and boys) Softball (girls) Rugby (girls) Swimming and diving (girls and boys) Tennis (girls and boys) Track and field (girls and boys) Unified flag football (coed) Unified track and field (coed) Volleyball (girls) Wrestling (boys)
Athletic State Championships
Carmel is known for their Athletic Success. They have 170 IHSAA state championships, the most of any school. They have the IHSAA record for most state titles in the same academic year with 7 in 2011–2012, 2016–2017, 2018–2019, and 2020–2021. They also have both the IHSAA and national record for most consecutive state championships in any sport by winning the Indiana Girls Swimming & Diving State Championships 37 times from 1987 to 2023. At the 2023 IHSAA Boys Swimming & Diving State Championships the Greyhounds broke the NFHS record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:26.88.
Arts
The Carmel High School marching band were Indiana State Fair Band Day champions in 1984 and ISSMA State Champions in 1990, 2001, 2002, 2012, 2018, and 2022. The band was named BOA National Class AAA Champion in 2001. The band was named BOA Grand National Champion in 2005, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022.
The Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds were invited to perform in the 2004 London New Year's Parade in London, England.
In 2007, the band was invited to play on the USS Missouri, along with the Hawaii's Royal Band. In 2007, the marching band was named Bands of America Regional Champion in Indianapolis and Atlanta, GA.
At the 2008 BOA Grand National Finals, the marching band won the caption for best music. Later, the marching band was selected to play in the 2011 and 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The band has also received an invitation to play in the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade, in Pasadena, California.
In 2016, the Carmel High School Marching Band set a record as the first group to ever tie for first place at the Bands of America Grand National Championships with a score of 97.45. Carmel won the tiebreaker to Avon High School (IN) and was crowned Grand National Champion. In 1999, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2018, Carmel won the Indiana State School Music Association State Championship.
Journalism
The Pinnacle yearbook has received recognition from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and the Indiana High School Press Association. Additionally, the publication has received the Gold Crown award, Indiana Hoosier Star Awards, and has been placed in the Walsworth Publishing Company's Gallery of Excellence. It operates an independent website.
The school newspaper, the HiLite, has received national recognition, including a "Superior" rating from Quill & Scroll, the Hoosier Star award, and other general awards from the Indiana High School Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), as well as several individual awards for HiLite staff members. The HiLite was a gold medalist in the CSPA's annual critique, won a George H. Gallup Award from Quill and Scroll, and has been nominated to be a CSPA Crown finalist for the 2011–2012 publications. The newspaper maintains a staff of about 80 students.
The school operates the WHJE radio station on 91.3 MHz on the FM band. In 1999, WIRE, a local station which broadcasts on 91.5 MHz, proposed moving its broadcasting antenna closer to the school. When the school filed an FCC petition in opposition to the proposed antenna move, WIRE filed a response alleging that WHJE broadcasts music with indecent lyrics.