Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School is located in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. It is located in Mason County and is the largest high school in the county. It is operated by Mason County Schools.

History

Early Foundations (1794–1889) The origins of education in Point Pleasant date back to the town's establishment in 1794, when landowner Thomas Lewis designated a lot for a school building at the junction of the Ohio and Great Kanawha Rivers. A log structure was initially erected to serve as both a school and a church. This was eventually replaced by a frame building, and in 1848, citizens raised funds via subscription to construct a two-room brick schoolhouse on the same site.

With the establishment of the West Virginia public school system in 1865, this "subscription school" was incorporated into the Mason County district. On February 24, 1887, the West Virginia Legislature created the Independent School District of Point Pleasant, separating it from the Lewis District to manage the educational needs of the growing population.

Development of the High School (1890–1915) While provisions for secondary education existed early on, Point Pleasant High School was not formally organized until 1890. The school graduated its first class of four students in 1892. In 1897, the curriculum was reorganized into a formal four-year course of study, and the high school was established as a separate department, though it continued to share facilities with the elementary grades.

To accommodate rising enrollment, a dedicated cement block building was constructed in the Central Grade schoolyard in 1907. During this period, the curriculum expanded beyond core academics to include music, art, and professionalized record-keeping.

Expansion and the Modern Era (1916–1935) In 1916, the school moved into a new, dedicated high school building (occupied through the mid-20th century). During the 1920s, the school underwent significant modernization:

1924: The school opened the first "Domestic Science" cottage in West Virginia, designed to teach home economics in a residential setting under the Smith-Hughes Act. 1926: A gymnasium was completed through a partnership between private citizens and the City Council. That same year, the school earned accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. 1933: Following statewide legislative changes, the Independent District of Point Pleasant was abolished, and the school was integrated into the Mason County unit system.

Co-curricular and Academic Recognition The school historically maintained a robust literary and debating culture. The Irving Literary Society, founded in 1898, later split into the Athenian and Olympian societies to foster competition. Between 1920 and 1926, Point Pleasant students frequently placed first in state contests for extemporaneous speech, debate, and oratory.

Other long-standing student organizations included the Tu-Endie-Wei (the school newspaper, which received "All-American" ratings in the 1930s), the Thespian Society, and various athletic programs. By 1935, the school had grown from an initial enrollment of 75 to nearly 400 students, necessitating further facility expansions to accommodate the rural student population brought in by the county's new bus system.

Mid-Century Growth (1935–1965) Following its integration into the Mason County unit system in 1933, the school entered a period of steady expansion. By the late 1930s, the curriculum had modernized significantly, with students gaining admission to top-tier universities and West Point without further examination.

The post-war era saw a surge in athletic and academic prominence. Under the leadership of coaches like Bob Schertzer (1952–1965), the football program became a regional powerhouse, notably leading the state in scoring in 1956. This era was characterized by the consolidation of smaller rural schools into the Point Pleasant system, which increased the student body and necessitated a focus on vocational training alongside traditional academics.

Modernization and Transition (1966–1999) By the mid-1960s, the aging 1916 building faced overcrowding. This period was marked by the introduction of more diverse specialized programs and the expansion of the "Career Center" concept, which allowed students to gain technical skills alongside their high school diploma.

As the school population fluctuated with the local economy, the administration began shifting toward a comprehensive "Junior/Senior High" model to maximize resources. This era also saw the professionalization of the school's arts and media programs; the school newspaper, Tu-Endie-Wei, and the band programs remained central to the school’s identity, maintaining a presence in state-wide competitions throughout the late 20th century.

In 1999, Opal Morse, who taught science and speech at Point Pleasant High School, was named West Virginia Teacher of the Year. A mentor and coach, she guided numerous speech and debate students to state championships and national-level competition.

Facility Overhaul and New Construction (2000–2007) The turn of the millennium brought the most significant physical change to the school since 1916. In response to safety concerns regarding unsecured student travel between various detached campus buildings, Mason County Schools initiated a major renovation and construction project.

In 2006, construction began on a $24 million, 167,000-square-foot facility. The project, designed by Architectural Vision Group, was completed in April 2008. This "Junior/Senior High" complex unified the career center and the high school into a single, secure structure. The design introduced organized traffic flow for buses and cars, communal gathering spots, and modern technology labs, effectively replacing the aging early-20th-century infrastructure.

The Junior/Senior High Era (2007–Present) The current era of Point Pleasant High School is defined by its role as a centralized hub for Mason County students in grades 7 through 12. The unified campus model has allowed for greater continuity in both athletics and academics, as junior high students are integrated into the "Big Blacks" school culture earlier.

In recent years, the school has focused on "College and Career Readiness," maintaining strong ties to local industry while expanding Advanced Placement (AP) offerings. The school remains a member of the North Central Association, a streak of accreditation held since 1926. Today, Point Pleasant High School continues to serve as the largest secondary education center in the county, balancing its deep historical roots—including the 18th-century legacy of the Thomas Lewis grant—with 21st-century educational standards.

Administration and Faculty

The principal of Point Pleasant High School is William Cottrill. The assistant principals are Kent Price, James Higginbotham, Chris O'Dell and Cherry Weikle. The guidance counselors are Melissa Barnette, Tiffany Hersman and Diane Foreman.

Athletics

Point Pleasant High School offers many different types of athletics such as baseball, boys and girls basketball, football, golf, boys and girls soccer, softball, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls track and field, and wrestling. Point Pleasant is the smallest Class AAA school in the state of West Virginia. The school's athletes are formally known as the Black Knights (members of the girls' teams are called the Lady Knights), but they are better known by their nickname, the Big Blacks.

Baseball

In 1972, the Point Pleasant High School baseball team made it to the state tournament, losing in the first round to Parkersburg High by a score of 4-0. The Big Blacks waited 35 seasons before making it back to the state tourney, finally doing so in 2007 under the guidance of head coach James Higginbotham. They also lost in the first round that year to Grafton High School by a score of 4-3. In the 2008 season, despite a mediocre overall record of 19-16, the Big Blacks fought their way all the way to the state championship game against Logan High School. However, they would lose the game, 13-3.

Basketball

The boys basketball team at PPHS has a rich tradition of winning sectional titles. They have won 17 sectional titles: 1933, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1975, and most recently in 1996. In 1926, the team made it to the West Virginia AA State Tournament, losing in the championship game to Elkins High. They made it again to the state tournament in the 1958/59 season.

Football

The Point Pleasant Big Blacks have a rich tradition of football that dates back to 1921. From 1921 to 2019, the Big Blacks have 16 State Playoff appearances, 9 quarterfinals, 3 semifinals, 1 runner up, and 8 undefeated regular seasons. From 1975-2006, there was one man patrolling the sidelines at Sanders Memorial Stadium, Steve Safford.

Boys' Soccer

The Point Pleasant boys' soccer team achieved a historic milestone in 2023 by capturing the school’s first-ever State Championship in a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Charleston Catholic. The game went to penalty kicks after being tied 1-1 in regulation, where the Point Pleasant boys won 4-3 after being down 3-1 at the midway point. This was the first soccer championship in school history. This championship followed a dominant postseason run where the team secured both the Sectional and Regional titles. The program has consistently appeared in the state tournament throughout the 2020s, building on a foundation of multiple sectional championships in the previous decade. Known for a disciplined defensive style, the "Big Blacks" have produced several First-Team All-State selections and are currently ranked among the premier small-school programs in West Virginia.

Girls' Soccer

The "Lady Knights" soccer program has emerged as a regional powerhouse, maintaining a streak of dominance in Region IV, Section 1 with numerous consecutive sectional titles. The team reached its competitive peak in 2021, advancing to the state championship game to finish as the State Runner-up. The program followed this achievement with back-to-back State Semifinal appearances in 2022 and 2023, cementing their status as a top-four program in the state. The Lady Knights are particularly noted for their high-powered offense, having produced multiple players who have surpassed the 100-career-goal milestone and earned All-State honors.

Softball

The softball team at PPHS has won two state titles. The first, in 1998, while being coached by Larry Wright. After that first title they continued to have success. At the end of the 90's the team took on new leadership under Danny Dewhurst. Dewhurst would end his first stint with the Lady Knights in 2004. That year the team posted an amazing 25-5 record, falling a game short of the state tournament.

Wrestling

Over the last 5 years, the wrestling team at PPHS has been the most successful team at the school. In 2006, they placed third at the state tournament and in 2007, placed second behind Oak Glen High School, who has won the AA/A title for ten years in a row. They went on to finish Runner Up in 2008 & 2009. The past success can be attributed to West Virginia Hall of Fame Coach Jack Cullen.

In 2010 Coach John Bonecutter took over the Wrestling Program and took them to the next level by winning the state championship, ending Oak Glen run of 13 straight AA/A State Wrestling Titles. Point Pleasant went on to win two more state titles in 2011 & 2012 under Coach Bonecutter making it three in a row. In 2013 Point Pleasant was moved back to AAA to compete in the large schools division and finished 6th at the State Tournament, the highest AAA finish in school history. Coach Bonecutter has been named National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year in both 2010 & 2012.

State Tournament Team Finish: 1974 - 43rd * Class AAA 1975 - 21st 1976 - 7th 1977 - 17th