to be closed once again. In total, the three hurricanes caused students to miss 13 days of school during the 2004–2005 school year, requiring make-up days that infringed on student and staff days-off. Recognition In 2009, Port Charlotte High School was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America's best high schools and a "Bronze Medal School" for academic excellence. PCHS was one of 1,189 schools nationwide to receive a bronze medal. COVID-19 During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charlotte County Public Schools system reopened, albeit delayed, for the 2020–2021 school year after closing in spring during the 2019–2020 school year at the order of Governor Ron DeSantis. The school reported the first case of the virus among the school system during the pandemic on September 8, a day after school reopened. The school went on to record at least 75 cases of the virus in students and staff, more than any other school in the county. Unlike the previous school year, in which graduation ceremonies were thrown into turmoil due to the pandemic, Port Charlotte High School hosted a graduation ceremony at Charlotte Sports Park, and it served as a test for other Charlotte County schools to do the same. In the subsequent school year, still amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charlotte County Public Schools system reopened once again, this time during a surge of the virus throughout the state, including in Charlotte County. Unlike the beginning of the previous school year, some teachers and students would be vaccinated against the disease, but not all. In total, 276 cases of the virus were reported among students and staff from the day the school reopened on August 10, with the first case being reported the very day the school reopened. While COVID-19 cases were initially reported for the 2022–2023 school year, the dashboard which Charlotte County Public Schools ran was eventually phased out. Hurricanes Ian & Nicole In late September 2022, Hurricane Ian brought considerable wind as well as flooding and storm surge damage to the Port Charlotte region. All schools and ancillary facilities in the Charlotte County Public Schools system received considerable injury from Ian. However, Port Charlotte High School was one of the 19 schools able to re-open 3 weeks after the schools had been forced to close due to the storm. The school was closed for another day due to Hurricane Nicole in early November,