Tree Hill High School was the local high school in Tree Hill, North Carolina. Serving as a major focal point in the first four seasons of the series, the school was attended by half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott, as well as their close friends and romantic partners Haley James, Peyton Sawyer, and Brooke Davis, among others.
Notable faculty members included Whitey Durham, who served as coach for the Tree Hill Ravens men's varsity basketball team for more than thirty-five years, Aaron Turner, who served as principal between seasons one and five, and Charlene Rimkus, who succeeded him as principal in season six. Additionally, Haley James Scott worked at the tutoring center during her time as a student and was subsequently employed here as an English teacher at the beginning of season five, while Lucas Scott and Skills Taylor succeeded Whitey as coaches of the Ravens basketball team.
History[]
1950s[]
Fifty years prior to the beginning of the series, Brian Durham and his future wife Camilla were known to be students at Tree Hill High School. During their time at the school, Tree Hill High was an all-white educational institution, as schools in the United States were still racially segregated. After a basketball game between the all-white Tree Hill Ravens and an opposing school for black students, the two teams decided to have a mixed match wherein one of the black captains said, "I'll take Whitey," in reference to Brian. The nickname remained with him for the rest of his life. Around this time, the students of Tree Hill High School created a time capsule that was to be opened fifty years in the future. Each student made a video message informing students fifty years in the future what Tree Hill High School was like during their time in education. ("Unopened Letter to the World")
1980s[]
Dan Scott and Karen Roe at their Senior Prom. ("Crash Into You")
During his time at the school, Keith Scott joined the Tree Hill Ravens men's varsity basketball team under Coach Brian "Whitey" Durham. He enjoyed the game until his younger brother Dan Scott joined the team, as Dan was highly competitive and was more concerned about winning than actually playing the sport for fun. While they were both still on the team, they met fellow student Karen Roe, who served as captain of the Ravens cheerleaders.
Both brothers developed feelings for Karen, though Keith kept his feelings a secret as she entered into a relationship with Dan. Even so, Keith became a good friend to Karen, who was known to be quite protective over her. Meanwhile, Dan and Karen were quite popular among their fellow students at Tree Hill High School due to their positions as basketball captain and head cheerleader, respectively, and they were voted Prom King and Queen during their senior year. After graduation, however, Karen discovered she was pregnant with Dan's child. Despite this knowledge, Dan continued with his plans to attend university, where he met fellow student Deb Lee, with whom he began a relationship.
Sometime during that first semester at college, Dan had planned to break up with Deb in order to rekindle his relationship with Karen in order to help raise their child. Before he could do this, however, Deb informed him she was also pregnant. With Dan remaining absent from Karen's life, Keith stood by her side as her best friend and was there to welcome the birth of her son, Lucas. Over the next sixteen years, Keith remained a constant in Karen and Lucas's lives, serving as a surrogate father to his nephew.
Dan and Deb, meanwhile, dropped out of university and were married before moving back to Tree Hill to raise their son, Nathan.
2000s[]
During the main characters' time at Tree Hill High School, several major events took place. Among them were the early release of the Class of 2007's time capsule and the subsequent school shooting committed by student Jimmy Edwards.
Other major events included the election of Brooke Davis as student body president, the Tree Hill Ravens' victory at the 2007 State Championship, and the graduation of the Class of 2007, wherein Haley James Scott was named class valedictorian.
Season 1[]
- To be expanded.
Season 2[]
- To be expanded.
Season 3[]
- To be expanded.
Season 4[]
- To be expanded.
2010s[]
Season 5[]
Former student, Haley James Scott starts her teaching career. ("Racing Like a Pro")
Four years after graduation, many of the former alumni joined the faculty of the school. The most prominent of these was the addition of Haley James Scott, who finished her teacher training and started her own classes at the same time that her former school friends Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer returned to Tree Hill. While optimistic about her future career, Haley faced troubles as she struggled to control her literature class, who were led by basketball player Quentin Fields. She eventually took a stand and told her students they were free to leave the class, but she would fail them if they did. While this earned her the respect of most of her class, she still faced trouble with Quentin. At the same time, Lucas Scott and Skills Taylor started coaching the team. Haley, alongside Nathan Scott, helped get Quentin back on the right track and he started to respect Haley more and more. Nathan then temporarily joined Lucas and Skills coaching the Ravens, with his assistance of the team helping with his own comeback. ("Racing Like a Pro") ("It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)")
Many of the students attending Tree Hill High faced the same issues that the students before them did. For example, Nathan saw something of himself in Quentin and encouraged him not to go down the same road he and his father did. Peyton also befriended a THHS student, Molly, who was living in her old house. Peyton found Molly was more interested in the stories about Peyton's life and her high school experiences, such as Lucas' novel, than her own life. Peyton encouraged her to live her own life but Molly revealed that Peyton's time at THHS was extraordinary while Molly saw herself as plain and 'normal'. ("Don't Dream It's Over") ("Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want")
Lucas receives a ten-game suspension. ("Hate Is Safer Than Love")
The start of the basketball season saw the Raven's win their first game with Lucas and Skills as coaches, despite Quentin's hand injury threatening to hinder the team's chances. ("For Tonight You're Only Here to Know")
After his aborted wedding to Lindsey, Lucas left Tree Hill and Skills coached the Ravens alone, with them struggling to maintain their winning streak. Haley also started balancing her music career and her teaching career, planning to record an album while still helping her students on a full-time basis. When Lucas returned to the Ravens, he was informed that Lindsey was seeing someone else, which caused him to become overly aggressive during a match when he learned the opposing team planned to intentionally hurt Quentin's injured hand as a strategy. As a result of his breakdown, Lucas received a ten-game suspension and temporarily left the Ravens leaving Haley, Skills and Nathan at Tree Hill High. ("What Do You Go Home To?") ("Hate Is Safer Than Love")
Sometime during the school year, Principal Turner departed the school and was replaced by Principal Rimkus.
Season 6[]
The students sign Quentin's desk. ("Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly")
Life at Tree Hill High School continued as normal until the tragic death of Quentin Fields, who was shot by Xavier Daniels. While the school mourned, Samantha "Sam" Walker, a troubled and rebellious teen, joined the class and found herself in the midst of grief for a man she never knew and, as a result, didn't receive the warmest welcome (initially clashing with Haley when she tried to take Quentin's desk.) The class continued to mourn however, with each of them, excluding Sam, writing a message to Quentin on his desk. Haley also asked her students to write anything about Quentin and was moved by Sam's piece. At the same time, struggling with Quentin's death, Lucas, Skills and Nathan all left the coaching team, playing one last game in memory of Quentin. ("One Million Billionth of a Millisecond on a Sunday Morning") ("Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly")
Later, Haley discovered that Sam was sleeping in the auto shop in school and encouraged Brooke Davis to welcome Sam into her home as her foster daughter. Now with a stable family, Sam settled into life at Tree Hill High with her friend Jack Daniels who, while still remaining outsiders within the school, formed a close friendship. ("Choosing My Own Way of Life") ("You Have to Be Joking (Autopsy of the Devil's Brain)")
Haley quits, telling her class to "stand up for what's right." ("Searching for a Former Clarity")
Haley continued to work at Tree Hill High School for some time after Lucas and Skills' departure. However, her tenure at the school was placed in question when she made the choice to publish an article written by Sam in the school newspaper. The article, which made several references to sex and drugs, was deemed too controversial by Principal Rimkus, despite Haley believing that the writing was very true and personal and it wouldn't be fair to Sam not to publish it. When Rimkus told Haley to either print an apology for publishing the article and to apologize to her class as well or face being fired, Sam urged her to do it because she was a teacher they liked and responded to. Haley almost gave in to Rimkus' demands but changes her mind and, after telling her class to tell the truth and stand up for what's right, she quit her job. ("Screenwriter's Blues") ("Searching for a Former Clarity")
After Haley's departure, Sam and Jack launched a revolt against their new literature teacher - Principal Rimkus. Instead, the entire class skipped her lesson and headed to the Scott house, asking Haley to teach them again. Haley put on a one-time lesson to say goodbye but was interrupted by Rimkus. After initially yelling at her old employee, the principal was forced to accept that Haley was a good teacher and offered Haley her job back. However, Haley told her that she didn't want her job back, and complemented Rimkus sarcastically about firing a teacher who loved her class and obtained a class who no longer wanted to learn. ("Letting Go")
Later years[]
Season 7[]
Dan during the live broadcast from the school's hallway. ("Some Roads Lead Nowhere")
After Lucas and Skills leaves town, and Haley returns to singing, the building wasn't shown much anymore. However, as part of a bid to enhance ratings for their chat show Scott Free Redemption, Dan and Rachel Scott returned to the school to shoot a live broadcast from the hallway where Dan killed his brother. Rachel's controversial idea was opposed by many, such as Mary Edwards, but the school allowed the production to go ahead in spite of this. However, during the show, Dan decided it was wrong to profit of the deaths that occurred during the school shooting and ceased production of the chat show, making it clear that the memory of what happened in the hallway that day would never be forgotten. ("You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son") ("Some Roads Lead Nowhere") Later in the season, Haley and Quinn get involved in a fundraiser '80s dance to help the endangered arts program at Tree Hill High.("Don't You Forget About Me")
Season 9[]
Following rescuing Nathan from his kidnappers, Dan gets fatally shot and his life is hanging in the balance in the hospital where he gets partially forgiven from Nathan and Haley. As he transitions to the other side he finds himself in the same hallway of the school where he killed Keith 8 years earlier. He's approached by ghost Keith who forgives him for what he did and the two walk to the bright light at the end of the hallway together. ("Danny Boy")
Julian decides to use the school's backdrop as a setting for his next big blockbuster film that is focused on his family. Brooke goes through her past as she walks down the empty dim lit hallway, and watches a freshman walk through the doors of the school the same way she did 12 years earlier. Later in the episode, it's shown to be 9 years in the future, Nathan, Haley, Brooke, Skills, Mouth, Quinn and Clay are shown to be in the gym with their younger kids from the other side of the gym cheering a 17 year old Jamie who runs out to the court wearing Nathan's jersey. ("One Tree Hill")
Notable alumni[]
Students[]
- Main article: Students at Tree Hill High School
Many of the main characters, as well as a vast amount of the supporting cast, have all attended Tree Hill High School. For a detailed list, see this page. Currently, none of the main cast attend Tree Hill High School.
First generation[]
- Brian "Whitey" Durham
- Camilla, later Camilla Durham
Second generation[]
- Karen Roe, former captain of the Tree Hill Ravens cheer squad; later owner of Karen's Café and TRIC, former mayoral candidate
- Daniel "Dan" Scott, former captain of the Tree Hill Ravens basketball team; later owner of Dan Scott Motors and former Mayor of Tree Hill
- Keith Scott, former member of the Tree Hill Ravens basketball team, later owner of Keith Scott Body Shop
- Shari Smith, former member of the Tree Hill Ravens cheer squad
Third generation[]
- Vivian James- Haley's eldest sister
- Quinn James- Haley's third older sister
- Taylor James- Haley's second oldest sister, It's also reported that when Nathan was a freshmen and Taylor was a senior, she and him hook up.
Fourth generation[]
- Brooke Davis, former captain of the Tree Hill Ravens cheer squad and student body president; later founder and head designer of Clothes Over Bros, as well as owner of the reopened Karen's Café
- Rachel Gatina, former member of the Tree Hill Ravens cheer squad; later model and television producer
- Jake Jagielski, former member of the Tree Hill Ravens basketball team
- Haley James, later Haley James Scott, former tutor and member of the Tree Hill Ravens cheer squad, as well as valedictorian of the Class of 2007; later singer-songwriter and owner of the reopened Karen's Café
- Erica Marsh, former student council member and candidate for student body president
- Marvin "Mouth" McFadden, former announcer for ravenshoops.com; later sports presenter and morning talk show host
- Bevin Mirskey, former member of the Tree Hill Ravens cheer squad
- Peyton Sawyer, former member of the Tree Hill Ravens cheer squad; later music producer and founder of Red Bedroom Records
- Lucas Scott, former member of the Tree Hill Ravens basketball team; later author of An Unkindness of Ravens, based on his experiences at Tree Hill High School, and The Comet, as well as Ravens basketball coach
- Nathan Scott, former captain of the Tree Hill Ravens basketball team; later NBA professional basketball plater
- Timothy "Tim" Smith, former member of the Tree Hill Ravens basketball team
- Anna Taggaro, former student
- Felix Taggaro, former student
- Antoine "Skills" Taylor, former member of the Tree Hill Ravens basketball team; later Ravens basketball coach
Faculty[]
- Main article: Faculty at Tree Hill High School
Throughout Tree Hill High School's history, many people have worked there in various positions. In addition to the current faculty, many teachers and coaches have worked at the school and since departed. Currently, all of the main characters have departed the school both as students and teachers.
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| Charlene Rimkus
Position: Principal | ||||
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| Nick Chavez
Position: English teacher | ||||
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| Brian 'Whitey' Durham
Position: Basketball coach | ||||
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| Principal Turner
Position: Principal | ||||
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| Lucas Scott
Position: Basketball coach | ||||
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| Antwon Taylor
Position: Basketball coach | ||||
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| Haley James Scott
Position: Literature teacher | ||||
Athletics[]
- Main articles: Tree Hill Ravens and Tree Hill Cheerleaders
Basketball is the main sport followed by the students of Tree Hill High School and they all follow the Ravens basketball team. It is assumed that THHS offers other sports to it's students but basketball is the highest esteemed sport among the student body.
Trivia[]
- The eigth season of One Tree Hill is notable for being the only season where Tree Hill High School does not appear.
References[]
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| Students · Faculty · Ravens · Cheerleaders | |||||||
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- ↑ One Tree Hill, Season 2, Episode 13: "The Hero Dies in This One"