[2] The Indianettes dance team was founded in 1951, with the marching band, "Indian Spirit" mascot, and adoption of the fight song "Cherokee" being implemented over the following decade.

[2] The high school's "Indian" mascot has garnered controversy for being racist and culturally insensitive, in line with a greater trend in the United States.

[3] These depictions include the use of the chant "Scalp 'Em", referring to the school's football field as "the reservation", and cheerleaders crafting and wearing ersatz war bonnets, among others.

This was a change from a 1979 certificate from then-Principal Chief Ross Swimmer recognizing the high school as "ambassadors of goodwill," with the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chuck Hoskin Jr. stating that the mascot and imagery "perpetuate inaccurate misconceptions of Native American culture and invokes ideations of savagery which only perpetuates harmful stereotypes and inaccurately depicts our culture.

"[5][8][9] In March 2022, the school's "Indianettes" drill team chanted the phrase "Scalp 'Em" during a performance at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom after being told they would not be allowed to wear their war bonnets.