The school was founded in 1974 by a consolidation of three smaller county schools: Hindman High School, Carr Creek High School (both state basketball champions), and Knott County High School. This made the first graduating class, the class of 1975. At this time the school was not equipped with the space for a baseball team nor a football team. These extra-curricular activities came at a later time. The lower spot cleared off to the left of the school was only used to practice the marching band routines. The Marching Patriots earned several awards in marching and in stage band the first few years that the school was opened.
