Jackson High School (Massillon)
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Jackson High School is located in Massillon, Ohio, and serves grades 9 through 12, and is a part of the Jackson Local Schools district.
The school's colors are purple and gold, the mascot is a polar bear. The school's principal, Rick Campbell has held that position since the 2002-2003 school year. As of January, 2006 the school had 1878 students, 956 males and 922 females.
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[edit] Athletics
Jackson High School is a founding member school of the Federal League, including the schools of Perry High, Boardman High, Lake High, Mckinley High, North Canton Hoover High, Glenoak High, and Austintown Fitch High. Jackson Sports have never won a team OHSAA title, but in recent history the Polar Bear's basketball team has been to the final four. The Girls Cross Country Team finished second in the state only to Bowling Green High School in an intense race during the 2005 school year at Scioto Downs. The Men's cross country team also performs well at local, regional, and state levels. Women's sports at Jackson are strong programs, particularly, women's soccer (as well as the men's soccer), the women's track team and cross country team, and the swim team. All of which have had unprecedented streaks as Federal League champions, some streaks spanning a decade or more.
[edit] Music department
The band with director Thomas "Doc" Holiday is known as the Purple Army, and "The Showband of Stark county." Under Holiday's strict direction the band produces an ambitious show yearly. The band has marched in the Rose Bowl parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Disney parades. The band has also traveled to Hawaii and last year marched at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The Choral Department completes Jackson's music department, headed by Frederick Jeremiah Locker "Papa L." and D. Scott Eversdyke. Their six choirs regularly obtain superior ratings from the Ohio Music Educators Association. Jackson High School's Showchoir, the Jacks-N-Jills, performs throughout the region. The Choral Department also mounts the school's annual musical production. The choir also runs a semi anual New York Tour. This Tour consists of their elite choirs performing in New York City and Pensilvania. Jackson High School student receive one of the best musical educations in the nation.
[edit] Other distinctions
Jackson also has a Mock Trial Team. In 2006 Jackson was awarded 10th at the state mock trial competition. In March of 2007 the Jackson Mock Trial team sent two teams to states, and was awarded fourth in the state.
In 2006 JHS was rated as academically excellent by the Ohio Department of Education. With JHS scoring 110 and meeting 12 of 12 academic achievement indicators. The Jackson Local district scored 106.9, making it the highest scoring district in Stark and several surrounding counties. In 2005 Jackson High School was also named to Newsweek's list of the top 1,000 schools in America This was the first time that JHS made the list since being founded.
In the spring of 2005 the high school began a multi-year $50,000,000 addition and total renovation not slated to be complete until the 2007-2008 school year. The school construction is said to be on-time yet rumor has it that the school has postponed the Gym construction, and focused resources on the main addition.
In August of 2006 the residents of Jackson Township passed a renewal of an existing levy, but did not pass an additional emergency operation levy. According to school board statements, the additional levy monies are needed to make up for the loss of business tax revenues and to support a larger student population. However many residents feel that the school does not practice efficient fiscal managment, and expects the community to make up for poor allocation and accounting. As of recently the school district has become embroiled in a heated quarrel with the locally-circulated The Repository newspaper. The Superintendent of the District places partial blame on the newspaper for the failing of its proposed additional levy. Since 2004, the newspaper has intensified its criticisms of the school system; the degree of legitimacy in these condemnations is an ongoing debate. An additional request for funds was denied by voters in November 2006.
Jackson also boasts a very strong Speech and Debate Program, which is rated 46th in the nation.[citation needed],
