Chillicothe High School is now located at 2801 Hornet Road in Chillicothe, Missouri. Our school is home to Freshman through Senior classes in the Chillicothe RII School District with 2006-2007 enrollment of 651 students (196 freshmen, 183 sophomores, 133 juniors, and 139 seniors). You may reach us by calling our office at 660-646-0700.

Photo courtesy of Butch Shaffer. Click on image above for a closer view.

Brief History

Our new high school became a reality with the passage of $.79 lease-purchase levy issue on April 7, 1998. Land for the new school was donated by C.P. and Dot Hutchinson.

The original high school was built in 1925 with Middle School additions in the 1950's and the Fieldhouse, Library, and Science rooms added in 1976.

The Calhoun Street location (click photo at left to see a closer view) was home to legions of Chillicothe High School students until the opening of the new high school on Hornet Drive in August, 2000. In the fall of 2001, the Calhoun Street facility became the Chillicothe Middle School and now serves grades six, seven, and eight.

The new 120,000 square foot high school building, complete with spacious classrooms, computer and technology labs, Media center, and gymnasium, houses approximately 700 high school students.

The facility also offers plentiful parking areas for students, faculty, and visitors, with a separate parking area available to those attending Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center events. Each fall, senior students are allowed to "paint" their own parking spaces, which are theirs for the entire school year. After graduation, the parking spots are repainted white until the new seniors arrive the next fall.

During the 2003-2004 school year, we were nominated for, or received, two prestigious awards. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education informed us we had been nominated for the No Child Left Behind/Blue Ribbon Schools Award, a federal program that recognizes high performing schools and schools that have achieved dramatic academic improvement while serving a large proportion of disadvantaged children. Those schools nominated also made adequate yearly progress in 2003 and met other federal guidelines. Of particular significance, Chillicothe was one of eight schools nominated in the state of Missouri; and of these eight schools only three were high schools. On September 13, 2004, we were visited by representatives of the U.S. Department of Education and presented with the Blue Ribbon Award!!

In April, 2004, the Chillicothe High School received yet another accolade from state education officials after the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced that the school was chosen as one of Missouri's 13 Gold Star Schools for 2003-04. This is the first time in CHS history that the school has received the prestigious honor.

Beginning March 1, 2006, the High School began serving breakfast from 7:30 til 7:50 a.m. Students must use ID/Lunch card for breakfast and lunch. No cash including Ala Carte. Cost: Regular $.85 and Reduced $.30. If you have questions, contact the High School kitchen at 646-0700.

Bailey Studio Photo 2008-2009

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CHS Band Schedule

Fall Sports Calendar | Winter Sports Calendar | Spring Sports Schedule

The school district will announce school closing due to inclement weather on area radio stations (KCHI, KMZU, KTTN). This information should be broadcast between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m.

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Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center

The 850-seat Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art auditorium that serves both the community and the school district alike.

The DPAC was constructed through $2.5 million gifts from the Dickinson Foundation through the Gary Dickinson Family, Hedrick Foundation, Roger A. Browning Foundation, Citizens Bank & Trust, John & Virgie Irvin, Joe & Gladys McCall Foundation, the Milbank Family, Helen Lee Meador, Chillicothe State Bank, Jim & Mary Staton, Rolfe & Julie McCoy, J. Lane Essig Estate, Geneva Wightman, Kenneth & Gloria Harden, Don & Nan Chapman, Gary & Katherine Dickinson Memorials, Chillicothe Rotary Foundation, Walter & Margaret L. Miller Family, and Geroge K. & Dorothy B. Meinershagen, as well as through generous gifts from the community.

Community theater productions are held here, as well as school plays and presentations, concerts, Chillicothe Arts Council events, Missouri Community Betterment competitions, Ballet Arts dance recitals, annual meetings of area businesses, and much more. This facility is truly a remarkable addition to our school and community.

The Performing Arts Center is located next to the new high school on Hornet Road. Turn west at the stoplight where Highway 65 intersects with Highway 190. Hornet Road is the second road on Highway 190 going north. Turn north, and the Performing Arts Center is the first building on your right (east).

You may click the two images in this section to see a closer view.

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Litton Football Field/Track

The Jerry Litton Memorial Stadium is home to the Chillicothe Hornets football games. The stadium was named for the late Jerry Litton, (1937-1976), a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senate Nominee, who was killed in a plane crash after winning the U.S. Senate Nomination in 1976.

Fans crowd the bleachers and salute football players, cheerleaders, coaches, and staff. The Hornets are part of the Midland Empire Conference, which consists of the towns of Cameron, Chillicothe, Maryville, Platte County, Savannah, Smithville, St. Joseph Benton, and St. Joseph Lafayette.

The Hornets were State Football Champions in 1970, 1972, 1978, 1985, and 1991. We finished second at State in 1988 and 1993. We made it to the Final Four in 1976, 1986, 1987, and 1997. The Hornets have been Conference Champions many times.

Football announcers received a new recording booth, and the dressing room was also remodeled in recent years.

For photos of our current football team, visit our Sports pages on this site.

The stadium is also home to the quarter-mile track. The track base consists of an all-weather surface, which allows for year-round activities. The track hosts the annual Chillicothe Relays each spring, as well as many spring high school and middle school meets.

You may click the three images in this section to see a closer view.

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Field House

Our field house was completed in 1976 and is adjacent to the Middle School on the west end of the former high school. It seats 2,400 and is host to basketball, wrestling, YMCA sporting events, and many other school and community events.

The Chillicothe Hornets Boys Varsity basketball team won the Missouri State AAA Championship in 1981 and was State AAA Runner-Up in 1982.

For photos of our current teams, visit our Sports pages on this site.

In the summer, school janitors restore the floor to its original luster to keep the arena in shape for the coming year.

You may click the two sports action photos to see a closer view.

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CHS Bell Schedule

The Chillicothe High School operates on a seven-period schedule beginning at 7:55 a.m. and dismissing at 2:45 p.m.  Students are given four minutes between classes to go to their lockers, exchange books and materials, and arrive at their next class. You may get further details on "The Hornet Code" by reviewing our CHS Handbook.

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CR-II Accelerated Reading Lists

Chillicothe High School and Middle School students and their parents may view the Accelerated Reader Lists available for reading points by clicking here.

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Pendleton Loan

The Pendleton Student Loan was established to provide interest-free loans to financially needy graduates of Chillicothe High School who require the money in seeking post high school, college, or technical training. The  application is now available here and can be typed on your computer if you have Microsoft Word. Please remember that your typed work can be saved and printed.

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Public Notice
Nondiscrimination Statement
Chillicothe R-II School District

The Chillicothe R-II School District complies with all federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 and the American Disabilities Act (ADA). It is the policy of the school district that no person, on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap, shall be discriminated against in employment, educational programs and activities or admissions. Inquiries or complaints concerning the Chillicothe R-II School District’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title II, Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 or the American Disabilities Act (ADA) may be directed to: Superintendent Office, Chillicothe R-II School District, P.O. Box 530, Chillicothe, Missouri, 64601. (660-646-4566).

Web site designed by BK Web Works © 2002, All Rights Reserved
This website was maintained through July 31, 2009 by BK Web Works.
Maintenance of this site was turned over to the CR2 District effective August 1, 2009.
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