Buckhorn High School

Buckhorn High School
Location
4123 Winchester Road

New Market, Alabama
35761

United States
Information
School typePublic
Established1958 (1958)
School districtMadison County Schools
CEEB code011980
PrincipalLavell Everett
Faculty66.15 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,295 (2023–2024)[1]
Student to teacher ratio19.58[1]
Colors   Navy blue and gold
Fight songVictory March
AthleticsAHSAA Class 6A
NicknameBucks
RivalHazel Green High School
Websitewww.mcssk12.org/buckhornhighschool

Buckhorn High School is a four-year public high school in New Market, Alabama, United States, north of Huntsville. It is one of five high schools in the Madison County School System. Buckhorn received the Alabama Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon in 2001. The school colors are Navy, Gold, and White, and the athletic teams are called the Bucks. Buckhorn competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics.


Buckhorn is located at the site of the American Civil War Skirmish of Buckhorn Tavern,[2] fought on October 12, 1863, between General Phillip D. Roddey's Alabama Cavalry Brigade and a Union cavalry brigade commanded by General Robert Mitchell.

History

By tradition, the tavern took its name "Buckhorn" in 1858 when William L. Fanning killed a buck near the site and presented its antlers to the innkeeper. The antlers are now displayed at Buckhorn High School.[3] The Madison County Board of Education bought land on November 19, 1956, from Annie Bruce Walker Short to construct a school.

On August 29, 1958, as a result of the consolidation of New Market and Riverton High School, Buckhorn High School opened with approximately 200 students. William Loyd Fanning presented the original horns to Buckhorn High School on December 12, 1958.

To accommodate the rapid growth of New Market and the school, additions have been made over a span of 20 years, including a new library/media center, 2 gymnasiums, the Tommy R. Ledbetter stadium, a technology wing, new science classrooms and labs, a cafertorium, a music wing, a refurbished JROTC building, and the front atrium.[4]

The school was damaged on March 2, 2012, during the tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012. The tornado struck the school building, damaging the science wing and a portion of the roof, then destroyed the press box at the soccer field and damaged the JROTC building. There were no reported injuries to staff or students.[5][6]

Buckhorn hosts a notable athletics rivalry with fellow Madison County school Hazel Green High School. This fierce rivalry has been dubbed the “Cotton Classic” due to the significance of agriculture in the community. A trophy was made to be handed out to the winner of each football game between the two schools. As of the 2025 season, Buckhorn leads the overall series 40-23-1, with the most recent game ending with Buckhorn winning 17-14.[7]

Performing Arts

Buckhorn High School offers a variety of Performing Arts programs with their Bands, Drama, and Choirs.

Bands

The Buckhorn High School Marching Band has instilled a tradition of success, winning various awards and competitions, including Grand Champion Band at the inaugural Rocket City Marching Invitational in 2023. The Buckhorn Band has been a frequent finalist at the MTSU Contest of Champions competition. The Buckhorn Band Organization is the school's largest organization and comprises the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Indoor Percussion Ensemble, and Winter Guards. The current Directors of Bands are Dr. Jake House and Kristen Daugherty.[8] [9]

Drama Club

The Buckhorn High School Drama Club offers opportunities for student involvement in theatrical productions, with meetings often held in the Blue Gym Stage. It is part of the school's various extracurricular offerings.[10]

Choir

The Buckhorn High School Choir has earned historical accolades, becoming the first vocal ensemble from the Madison County School System to be selected to perform at the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) In-service Conference in 2022. Their Chamber Choir is highly active in auditioned roles and they consistently achieve high standards in vocal performances.[11]

Athletics

Athletic Teams

Buckhorn competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics and fields teams in the following sports:

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Cheerleading
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Indoor Track & Field
  • Outdoor Track & Field
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swim
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling

Stadium

Tommy R. Ledbetter Stadium is home to the Buckhorn Bucks football team. The field is named after the 29-year former principal of Buckhorn (1982-2011). T.R. Ledbetter also coached the Buckhorn boy's basketball team for 3 years, from 1972 to 1975. He played college basketball for the North Alabama Lions men's basketball from 1969-1971, ranking as an all-time leading scorer. He was inducted into the University of North Alabama athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. The stadium was dedicated in the fall of 2010.[12]

Cheerleading

The Buckhorn cheer-leading team continues to display greatness on a state and national level, having recently won the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 6A State Championships, the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 JV State Championships, and 2021 and 2024 Game Day National Championships.[13]

Boys' and Girls' Basketball

The Buckhorn Boys' Basketball team has been frequent Area and District Champs and State qualifiers, having recently won consecutive 6A state championships in 2023 and 2024, both against Mountain Brook High School; their first state titles since 1995.

Bucks Basketball State Championships: (1960, 1991, 1995, 2023, 2024)

Bucks Basketball Final Four: (1985, 1990, 2006)

Bucks Basketball Area Championships: (1959, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2022)[14]


Lady Bucks Basketball State Championships: (1988, 1994, 2000)

Lady Bucks Basketball Elite 8: (1985, 1991, 1992, 2001, 2002)

Lady Bucks Basketball Area Championships: (1987, 1990, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2021)[15]

Baseball

Bucks Baseball Elite 8: (2004, 2012, 2022)

Bucks Baseball Area Champs: (1986, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2024, 2025)[16]

Softball

Lady Bucks Softball State Championships: (2004, 2017, 2019)

Lady Bucks Softball Final Four: (2002, 2015)

Lady Bucks Softball Elite 8: (1994, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2018)

Lady Bucks Softball Area Champs: (2000, 2016, 2023, 2024)

Volleyball

Lady Bucks Volleyball Final Four: (2003)

Lady Bucks Volleyball Elite 8: (2004, 2019, 2021, 2025)

Lady Bucks Volleyball Area Championships: (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006)

Bowling

Buckhorn Bowling State Championships: (2018)

Football

Buckhorn Football State Runner-Up: (2005)

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b c "Buckhorn High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  2. ^ http://www.historicmarkers.com/al/65773-Buckhorn-Tavern-Skirmish/
  3. ^ http://www.historicmarkers.com/al/65772
  4. ^ https://www.leebuilders.com/uploadimage/128942001343987.pdf
  5. ^ Roop, Lee (March 2, 2012). "Meteorologists say up to 6 tornadoes hit Huntsville, Alabama area in echo of April 2011". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  6. ^ Stephens, Challen (March 2, 2012). "Buckhorn High School battered by morning tornado, but anticipated to be ready for some classes Monday". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  7. ^ https://www.ahsfhs.org/teams2/opponentseach2015.asp?Opponent1=Buckhorn&Team=Hazel%20Green#google_vignette
  8. ^ https://www.mtsu.edu/coc/wp-content/uploads/sites/101/2025/10/Finals-2025.pdf
  9. ^ https://www.buckhornband.com/about/leadership/#:~:text=Jake%20House%20%2D%20Director%20of%20Bands,School%20and%20Austin%20Junior%20High.
  10. ^ https://buckhornhighschool.mcssk12.org/clubs-organizations/drama-club
  11. ^ https://www.waff.com/2022/08/04/buckhorn-high-school-choir-makes-school-district-history/
  12. ^ Tommy Ledbetter (2000) https://roarlions.com/honors/hall-of-fame/tommy-ledbetter/65. Retrieved February 27, 2026. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ https://www.instagram.com/buckhorncheerleading/
  14. ^ https://www.ahsfhs.org/Basketball/yearly.asp?Team=buckhorn
  15. ^ https://www.ahsfhs.org/sports/yearlygirlsbasketball.asp?Team=buckhorn
  16. ^ https://www.ahsfhs.org/sports/yearlybaseball.asp?Team=buckhorn
  17. ^ Anton Keller at Madison County Sports Hall of Fame Retrieved November 24, 2017.

34°52′16″N 86°27′14″W / 34.871°N 86.454°W / 34.871; -86.454

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.