Okay, let's get the terminology right first: a high school mascot is the choosen identity, be it animal, vegetable, imaginary or human. For example, the mascot could be a bear, a phoenix, or knight. On the other hand, a high school logo is the artistic graphic rendering or depiction of the mascot. So there you have it: high school mascot versus high school logo.
Mascot Types
Now let's look at the different types or categories of mascots.
The first category is the ever popular animal mascot. Think bear, kangaroo, blue-jay, panther, bee, diamond-back rattlesnake, ram, hornet, wasp. You get the idea.
In selecting just the right animal to be your high school mascot, you must consider three things:
1) Does it possess a major quality that your school is known for? (i.e., bravery, smarts, speed);
2) Does it lend itself to a graphic depiction displaying that quality? (i.e., bee showing its stinger, "small but mighty");
(3) Would you be forever proud to call yourself by that mascot's name? (i.e, "The Charging Rams")
Next high school mascot category--- Mythological Mascots. That's right, dragons, griffins, phoenix and other creatures of myths are frequently choosen as mascots.
The same three considerations as above must be taken into account when making this choice. Here's an additional thing to consider: these mythological creatures are usually players in a much larger dramatic story or tale, so think about their role:
Is it a positive influence or negative influence in the story?
Does the overall message of the story convey a positive, constructive lesson or moral?
For example, a winged Phoenix raising from the ashes of its own destruction conveys a message of hope and endurance. If that's the kind of message you want your mascot to convey about your high school, then Phoenix is your mythic bird.
Manly Mascots (i.e., human) comprise the third category. For example, Spartans, lumberjacks, pirates, knights and raiders all adorn high school logos somewhere.
Again, in selecting this type of mascot consider the points made above. Also, consider the long lasting affects on your psyche---into adulthood, parenthood, and beyond, do you want to be forever known as a pirate or lumberjack, rather than, say, a knight in shinning armour?
