About Cascade High

Follow us on Social Media.

Vision Statement  

We believe every student deserves the opportunity to thrive—academically, socially, and personally. Our purpose is to empower learners with the knowledge, character, and skills needed to succeed in school and lead fulfilling lives beyond the classroom.

Title 1 Compact

School’s Responsibilities

1. High-Quality Curriculum and Instruction - Cascade High School is committed to providing high-quality curriculum and instruction that meets state academic achievement standards. Our instructional practices include differentiated instruction, co-teaching models, and strategic grouping to ensure that all students receive the support they need to excel.
2. Supportive Learning Environment - We will create and maintain a supportive and effective learning environment by offering a variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities, including Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, dual credit and AP courses, and enrichment activities. The school will also provide targeted interventions and support services, such as tutoring and special education programs, to address the diverse needs of our students.
3. Communication and Reporting - Cascade High School will ensure regular, two-way communication with parents through timely updates on student progress, including grades, assessments, and individualized feedback. Parents will receive reports on their child's academic performance at regular intervals and will have opportunities to discuss their child’s progress during scheduled parent-teacher conferences and meetings.
4. Access to Staff - We will provide reasonable access to staff, allowing parents to volunteer, participate in classroom activities, and observe instructional practices. The school will facilitate this access through scheduled volunteer opportunities and parent participation events.

Parents’ Responsibilities

1. Support Learning at Home - Parents are encouraged to support their child’s learning by engaging in their education at home, assisting with homework, and reinforcing the importance of regular school attendance. Parents should also encourage their child to participate in school activities and maintain open lines of communication with teachers.
2. Participate in School Activities - Parents are invited to volunteer in the classroom, attend school events, and participate in decision-making processes related to their child’s education. Active involvement helps build a strong partnership between home and school.
3. Communicate with the School - Parents are encouraged to maintain regular communication with school staff, including attending parent-teacher conferences, responding to school communications, and participating in surveys or feedback opportunities.

Students’ Responsibilities

1. Engage in Learning - Students are expected to actively engage in their learning by attending school regularly, completing assignments on time, and participating in class activities. Students should seek help when needed and take responsibility for their own academic progress.
2. Participate in School Activities - Students are encouraged to find place to plug-in: to join a club, to join a team, to attend afterschool events, and to participate in Pep Rallies and other day activities. Active involvement helps build a strong sense of belonging and leads to self discovery.
3. Follow School Policies - Students should adhere to school policies and procedures, including behavioral expectations, to contribute to a positive learning environment.

Mascot & Colors

Mascot: Champions

Colors: Orange & Black

History of Cascade School

Cascade School evolved from three schools: Wartrace K-12, Bell Buckle K-12, and Normandy Elementary. The idea to put the schools together came when the Bell Buckle School burned on April 17, 1972. The clock still hanging in the current front office was the one actually rescued from the Bell Buckle fire of 1972.The Bell Buckle students finished their 1972 year at Wartrace School. In the 1972-1973 school year, the two schools, Bell Buckle and Wartrace, would officially become one.

Suggestions were taken from the students and community for the name of the school, the mascot, and the colors. The name Cascade was chosen because the Cascade Springs was the water supply shared by Bell Buckle, Wartrace, and Normandy. The school colors derived from an interesting combination of both schools' colors. Bell Buckle’s colors were red, white, and blue; Wartrace’s colors were black and yellow. White was taken from Bell Buckle and black was taken from Wartrace. So where did Cascade's famous orange come from? The color orange came from the combination of Bell Buckle’s red and Wartrace’s yellow. The mascot was unanimously agreed upon to be a walking horse, but naming it took a little thought. The students didn’t want to be called the "horses," so they asked themselves: "What do you want your horse to be?" The answer--a champion! Thus, we became the Cascade Champions.

The students from the new school "Cascade" were in the Wartrace building until 1976 when the present building was finished. The new building would bring all elementary students from the Bell Buckle, Wartrace, and Normandy schools together along with the middle and high school students from Bell Buckle and Wartrace. The total student body population in 1976 was 710 students.

Due to overcrowding, a new elementary, K-5, school was constructed and opened for students in the 1997-1998 school year. The middle school grades 6-8 took the south section where the elementary had been. The high school was housed in the north section that they previously shared with the middle school.

Since 1976, there have been seven principals in the present building. The first was Mr. Marvin Whitaker, former principal of Bell Buckle High School. Mr. Whitaker served as principal from 1972-1984. Mr. Hal Skelton became the second principal and held the position from 1985 until 1994. Mr. Terry Looper became the principal in 1995 and held the position until 2007. Mr. Looper was the first African-American principal in Bedford County since the schools were integrated in 1965. Mrs. Sharon Edwards, previously the principal at Cascade Elementary, became principal in the fall of 2007 and resigned in 2012. Mrs. Edwards was the first female high school principal in Bedford County. Mr. Tim Harwell became principal in 2012 and held the position until 2017.  Mr. Josh Young became principal at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year and served until 2022. Mrs. Sandy Sorrells is the 7th principal in school history. In the 2011-12 school year, the middle school was assigned its own principal, and Mr. David Parker, previously the assistant principal for the 6-12 school, was named the first Cascade Middle School principal.

From 1972 until present day, Cascade has striven to provide a learning environment that enriches, challenges, and nourishes students. Because of the students, teachers / staff, and community, Cascade is a special place to be.

GO CHAMPIONS!