David W. Butler High School
Address
1810 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd

Matthews, North Carolina
28105

United States
Information
TypePublic
Established1997 (1997)
School districtCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
CEEB code342531
PrincipalDr. Yolanda Blakeney
Staff116.40 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment2,121 (2017–18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio18.22[1]
Color(s)Black, red, and silver
   
MascotBulldog
Websiteschools.cms.k12.nc.us/butlerhs/Pages/Default.aspx

David W. Butler High School (commonly referred to as "Butler") was established in 1997 and is located in Matthews, North Carolina, United States. Butler's campus is 74 acres (300,000 m2). The mascot is the bulldog and school colors are black, red and silver.

Its boundary includes[2] most of Matthews,[3][4] and a portion of Mint Hill.[5]

History

2018 shooting

At around 7:10 AM on October 29, 2018, an altercation between two students occurred in front of a main hallway known as 500. This led to one student being shot two to three times and triggering a lockdown that was lifted by 9:15 AM EDT. The victim, identified as Bobby McKeithen, was rushed to Carolinas Medical Center by helicopter, later dying of his injuries. The suspect, identified as Jatwan Cuffie, is currently out on bail and charged with second degree murder. After he shot McKeithen he came into a 500 hall classroom when the lockdown was called and turned himself in to a campus security officer minutes later, handing the gun over to him.[6][7] In the weeks following, trained crisis counselors were available on campus as well as several police officers and police dogs to help keep everything safe. Although the police presence has decreased, the school has now implemented a strict security system consisting of random bag checks and metal wanding.

The school, as of May 29, 2019, set up a memorial plaque in honor of McKeithen in the main entrance on the left side. On July 25, 2019, Cuffie pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 80 to 108 months in prison.[8]

Cheerleading banner controversy

On October 19, 2021, at the beginning of a football game against Charlotte Catholic High School, the Butler cheerleading squad displayed a banner that read "Sniff, Sniff. You smell that? $Privilege$".[9] The Butler football team then broke through the banner as they entered the field to begin the game. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools stated that they were investigating the incident and stated that "Squad members and adults responsible for oversight will face consequences as a result of that banner display. [...] Principal Golden and Learning Community Superintendent Tangela Williams have spoken with leaders from Charlotte Catholic to offer verbal apologies. Butler High School cheerleaders have sent an apology letter to counterparts at Charlotte Catholic. Soon there will be a meeting between the schools’ cheerleading squads to facilitate goodwill and understanding."[10]

Athletics

Football

Butler's football team won three North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 4AA State Championships in a four year span, during the 2009, 2010, and 2012 seasons. In 2009, Butler won its first 4AA State Championship title at Carter-Finley Stadium defeating Jack Britt High School 48–17. In 2010, Butler repeated as North Carolina State 4AA Champions by defeating Rolesville High School 44–0, finishing the season on a 31-game winning streak. In 2012, Butler again defeated Jack Britt High School 56–28 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, winning the NC 4AA state title for the 3rd time in 4 seasons. Butler finished the 2012 season undefeated and ranked number 1 in North Carolina and number 3 in the final USA Today 2012 National Super 25 Football Poll. In June 2019, MaxPreps reported that Butler was North Carolina's "Most Dominant High School Football Program of the last 10 years."[11]

Softball

During the 2000s, the softball team won four 4A state championships, winning in 2001, 2006, 2007, and 2008.[12]

Wrestling

Butler's wrestling team finished 4th in the NCHSAA 4A dual team tournament during the 2007–2008 season. During the 2008–2009 season, Butler wrestling finished as the 4A dual team state runner-ups.

Girls' basketball

Butler's girls' basketball team won the NCHSAA 4A state championship in 2009–10, and went 30–0 the following season before a premature loss to Mallard Creek in the Class 4A Western Regional semifinals, cutting their chance at a repeat short.

JROTC program

Butler's US Army JROTC program, established in 2003, is notable for attending the US Army JROTC Drill Nationals and US Army JROTC Raider Nationals. The program also attends other regional and state championships in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. The program is currently led by Major James K. Hillabrandt (US Army retired).

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Butler High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Butler High School" (PDF). Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  3. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Mecklenburg County, NC" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  4. ↑ "Town of Matthews Zoning Map" (PDF). Town of Matthews. Retrieved 2023-02-14. - Compare to school district maps.
  5. ↑ "Zoning Map" (PDF). Mint Hill. Retrieved 2023-02-14. - Compare to school district map.
  6. ↑ EndPlay (2018-10-29). "BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING: Police: Student dies after being shot by classmate at Butler High School". WSOC. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  7. ↑ EndPlay (2018-10-29). "BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING:Police identify victim, suspect in deadly Butler High School shooting". WSOC. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  8. ↑ "Charlotte teen pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Butler High shooting".
  9. ↑ "NC parents outraged over team's 'privileged' banner at high school football game: 'Racist'". Fox News. 20 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "CMS investigating 'insensitive banner' flown by Butler HS cheerleaders at football game". WCNC. 19 October 2021.
  11. ↑ (June 21, 2019). Most dominant high school football programs of the last 10 years North Carolina. maxpreps.com. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  12. ↑ Softball State Champions List. NCHSAA. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  13. ↑ Wertz Jr., Langston. (Jul 1, 2016). Former Butler High star Cierra Burdick pens touching letter to the late Pat Summitt of Tennessee. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  14. 1 2 Fogarty, Morgan (June 10, 2010). "Butler High School is a Hot Bed for Star Power". FoxCharlotte. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  15. ↑ Jahwan Edwards - Football - Ball State. ballstatesports.com. Retrieved Dec 18, 2019.
  16. ↑ Riley Ferguson - 2017 - University of Memphis Athletics. gotigersgo.com. Retrieved Dec 18, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Home". ofgoodnature.com.
  18. ↑ Janes, Théoden. (January 18, 2018). His life was in a mess. Then his talent for beating people up changed everything. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2019.

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