{{Short description|Public high school in Arizona, U.S.}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox school | name = Chinle High School | image = Chinlehighschool.jpg | image_size = 250px | motto = | established = | schooltype = Public high school | grades = 9-12 | ceeb = 030048 | principal = Dr. Raymond Andrade | address = US Hwy 191 | city = Chinle, Arizona | zipcode = 86503 | country = United States | district = Chinle Unified School District | enrollment = 926 (2023-2024)<ref name=nces>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=0401940&ID=040194000137|title=Chinle High School|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|accessdate=January 26, 2025}}</ref> | ratio = 15.43<ref name=nces/> | staff = 60.00 (FTE)<ref name=nces/> | nickname = Wildcats<ref name=colors/> | mascot image = | rival = Window Rock High School<ref name=Stephens>{{cite news|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/news/CPsgRCZZnEi1NNjLFcFZZQ/beyond-the-x--rez-ball-fuels-basketball-fever-in-arizonas-navajo-nation.htm |title=Beyond the X: Rez Ball fuels basketball fever in Arizona's Navajo Nation |first=Mitch |last=Stephens |work=MaxPreps.com |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=February 20, 2013 |accessdate=March 8, 2013}}</ref> | colors = Black, Vegas gold and white<br>{{color box|black}} {{color box|#C4B454}} {{color box|white}} <ref name=colors>{{Cite web|title=Chinle High School|url=https://aiaonline.org/schools/208|access-date=March 24, 2024|website=Arizona Interscholastic Association|language=en-US}}</ref> | website = {{URL|https://chs.chinleusd.k12.az.us/}} }}
'''Chinle High School''' is a public high school (grades 9 to 12) in Chinle, an unincorporated area of Apache County, Arizona, United States. The school is the only high school in the Chinle Unified School District, and all of the district's elementary and middle schools feed into it. Chinle High School serves several unincorporated areas in Apache County, including Chinle, Cottonwood, Del Muerto, Lukachukai, Many Farms, Nazlini, Rough Rock, Sehili, Tsaile, and small portions of Round Rock and Sawmill. The areas the school serves are within the Navajo Nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04001_apache/DC20SD_C04001.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Apache County, AZ|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=March 27, 2023|page=1 (PDF p. 2/4)}} - Also see the 2010 U.S. census maps. [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st04_az/c04001_apache/DC10SD_C04001_000.pdf Index map], and Chinle USD is depicted on pages [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st04_az/c04001_apache/DC10SD_C04001_001.pdf 1] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st04_az/c04001_apache/DC10SD_C04001_002.pdf 2].</ref>
The school is the largest high school within the Navajo nation. As of 2013 it has 1,250 students and 125 staff and faculty.<ref>"[http://www.chinleusd.k12.az.us/chs/about/ About]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120619225105/http://www.chinleusd.k12.az.us/chs/about/ Archive]). Chinle High School. Retrieved on April 28, 2012.</ref> 99% of the students are Native Americans, mainly Navajo.
==History== A previous facility, with capacity for about 300 students, was constructed prior to 1966.<!--20 years from 1986--> The population of Chinle increased in the 1960s and enrollment was over 1,000 in 1986. In 1986 the federal government gave a grant to Chinle Unified School District to build a new high school building, with the grant totaling $10,000,000. The district anticipated spending $20,000,000 on a 1,500-student facility, with funds from the Apache County government and taxes being used to fund the remainder of the facility.<ref>{{cite news|last=Donovan|first=Bill|title=Chinle school gets $10 million|newspaper=Arizona Republic|place=Phoenix, Arizona|date=June 26, 1986|page=B2}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82131151/for-chinle-hs/ Clipping] from Newspapers.com.</ref>
==Athletics== The school's Division III basketball teams, known as the Wildcats, play in the Wildcat Den, a large arena seating 6,000 people.<ref name="powell">{{Cite web|url=https://andscape.com/features/you-better-not-lose-navajo-basketball-is-fast-and-unforgiving/|title=You better not lose: Navajo basketball is fast and unforgiving|first=Michael|last=Powell|date=November 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/1411129/nothing-but-net-account-of-a-basketball-season-among-the-navajos-captures-more-than-the-game.html|title=Nothing but net: Account of a basketball season among the Navajos captures more than the game|first=David Steinberg | For The|last=Journal|website=www.abqjournal.com}}</ref> It was built in 2006 at a cost of $23 million and is described by ''The Arizona Republic'' sports columnist Richard Obert as "the best high school arena in Arizona".<ref>Obert, Richard. "[http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/Richardobert/114601 Chinle's Wildcat Den shut down for repairs]." ''The Arizona Republic''. Monday January 17, 2011. Retrieved on May 10, 2016.</ref> It is also the largest building in Chinle.<ref>{{cite web|last=Durcharme|first=Gabrielle|url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/12/09/rez-ball-in-chinle-navajo-nation-community-rebounds-after-pandemic/|title=Rez ball rebirth in Chinle: Navajo Nation rebounds as pandemic takes its toll|publisher=Cronkite News|date=December 9, 2021|accessdate=March 18, 2023}}</ref>
It is also tied for the rank of 15th-largest high school basketball gymnasium in the United States. Before playing in the Wildcat Den, the teams played at the 1,000-seat Chinle Community Center.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
==Student discipline== In the 21st century, this school and others in the district, have struggled with gang activity; some brought by students who had lived in large cities before coming or returning to this largely rural area of the reservation. The community has also struggled with poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, and family issues. In 2003, a display of weapons confiscated from students included baseball bats, knives, nunchucks and brass knuckles.<ref>Di Giovanni, Larry. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070310223813/http://www.gallupindependent.com/2003/04-10-03gang.html Gang violence up in rez town; school heads in 'denial?']" (). ''Gallup Independent''. April 10, 2003. Retrieved on May 31, 2016.</ref>
==Representation in other media== * In 2019, the docuseries ''Basketball or Nothing'', based on the Chinle Wildcats' pursuit of a state basketball championship in the 2017–2018 season, premiered on Netflix. It was directed by Matt Howley, Michael Lucas and Gabriel Spitale. The team's second-year coach was Raul Mendoza, who had a 40-year career, led a team to a state title, and worked also as a counselor before starting here. He was profiled by ''The New York Times'' for his work. A reviewer for ''Decider.com'' concluded about this series: "STREAM IT. 'Basketball or Nothing' is sincere, heartfelt and absolutely worth your time."<ref name="serba">{{cite web|url=https://decider.com/2019/08/02/basketball-or-nothing-netflix-stream-it-or-skip-it/|title=Stream It or Skip It: 'Basketball or Nothing' on Netflix, an Engrossing Docuseries About High School Hopefuls on a Navajo Reservation =|last=Serba|first=John |date=August 2, 2019|publisher=Decider.com| access-date=July 20, 2021}}</ref> * Michael Powell, a sportswriter and journalist, wrote ''Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation'' (2019), about the same period. He explored the importance of the high school's basketball team and games as a way that the community came together.
==Notable alumni== * Megalyn Echikunwoke – actress * Tatanka Means – actor/comedian * Nicco Montaño<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.niccomontano.net/ |title=Official Website of Nicco Montaño |access-date=July 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722055305/http://www.niccomontano.net/ |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> – MMA fighter<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ufcespanol.com/athlete/nicco-montano|title = Nicco Montano | UFC| date=September 14, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhonews.com/news/2018/jan/30/navajo-nation-honors-ufc-champion-nicco-montano/|title = Navajo Nation honors UFC champion Nicco Montano}}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Arizona|Schools}} * List of high schools in Arizona
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.chinleusd.k12.az.us/chs/ Chinle High School] * [http://arizona.schooltree.org/public/Chinle-High-002788.html schooltree]
{{Education in Apache County, Arizona}} {{Navajo Nation}} {{Coord|36.157074|-109.582272|display=title|format=dms|type:edu}} {{authority control}}
Category:Public high schools in Arizona Category:Schools in Apache County, Arizona Category:Education on the Navajo Nation