Episcopal High School of Jacksonville

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The Episcopal High School of Jacksonville (or "EHS") is a parochial high school located in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It serves approximately 900 students in grades 6-12. It was founded in 1966 by the Episcopal Diocese of Florida and began admitting students "regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background".

The school is noted for its academic and character building programs. A thriving community service office sends hundreds of students on mission trips, to social service agencies, and many non-profits throughout the Jacksonville area. Before graduation, each student must fulfill a minimun requirement(75 by graduation, 3 by high school) in community service though most graduates exceed this. The school also places 100% of its graduating seniors in colleges and universities throughout the nation. More than 10% of graduates are designated as a National Merit High Scorers through the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Corporation.

In 2002, the school received a $9 million gift from the estate of Jane and Wilson Munnerlyn, the largest endowment in the history of the school. The new Center for Worship and Fine Arts, completed that year, was dedicated to the Munnerlyns. The facility is a centerpiece for the campus and surpasses the quality of any other high school facility in the area. It is one of 4 theatres in Jacksonville with fly space. This was used several years ago to produce "Peter Pan."

On March 31, 2006, the school came under fire due to a controversy surrounding what was perceived by some as a racially motivated placement of a noose hanging from a tree on the cover of the school's newspaper. The incident led to a thorough investigation by school authorities, which determined that there, in fact, no racial meaning whatsoever. The noose was an allusion to a Halloween story from the previous fall. Most of the school's students felt that the media's coverage was unnecessary because it was an April Fool's edition and featured many random things such as dinosaurs, helicopters, and SWAT units, and that the cover editor was black. Regardless, the school asked that the issue be destroyed. The newspaper advisor and staff decided that the best thing was to do was cease publication of the paper, except for the year-ending Honors Issue. Due to other incidents of perceived respect problems on campus, a student and faculty-led task force was created to look into any diversity issues on the campus.

   The school is noted for its development of long-distance runners. Both the boys' and girls' cross-country teams won the Class 2A state championships in 1987. The boys' cross-country team won the Class A state championship in 2003 and the girls' team placed 14th at Nike Team Nationals in 2005. In 2005, the boys' 4x800m relay team captured the state title. In May 2006 the boys varsity baseball team won the Florida class 3A title.  In 2006, the girls' cross country team won at the Class 2A state championships and had seven out of the top ten girls' runners at a cross country meet at Florida State University in Tallahassee.  

    Tragedy struck the Episcopal community in October, 2004, when star running back Jerry (J.T.) Townsend, Jr. suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a football game, paralyzing him from the neck down. Professional golfer Fred Funk has pledged 10% of all his winnings to the family and the school rallied together through many fundraisers to assist the family. In 2006, Jacksonville's WIOJ AM 1010 began offering live broadcasts of the school's football games.

    The Episcopal crew team has won numerous championships over the years and is almost always the ciy champion.  Each year, the team travels to the Scholastic National Regatta which is held in New England.  Episcopal has a new multi-million dollar boathouse with its own weight rooms and other luxurious facilities.  It is often said t be the nicest school boathouse in Florida.

    The Episcopal swimming team has won numerous state championships. In 1977, the boys' team won the national championship. Coached by Randy Reese.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] External links


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