Andrew Jackson High School (Jacksonville, Florida)

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Andrew Jackson Sr. High

Established:	1927
Type:	Public/magnet school
Principal:	Lance Barnett
Students:	1,639
Location:	Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Campus:	Urban
Colors:	Red and White
Nickname:	Jackson
Mascot:	Tigers

Andrew Jackson High School is the oldest fully accredited high school in Duval County, Florida. It is located just north of downtown Jacksonville. It opened in 1927 , and was followed by Robert E. Lee High School, which was opened in 1928. It was originally an all-white school, but became integrated in the early 1970s. It is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson, an important figure in the history of Florida, after whom the city of Jacksonville is also named. It has been reported that the school was originally to be named for Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, but it was called Andrew Jackson during the dedication ceremony and the name was kept.^{[citation needed]}

Jackson has been known for the city's oldest athletic rivalry, against Robert E. Lee High School. For many years the Jackson-Lee football game was played in the Gator Bowl Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, and it was a major event for students and alumni of both schools. The Jackson Tiger football team has a good program and is known throughout the state. The girls varsity basketball team has just recently been crowned 2007 Gateway Conference Champions, after beating out Samuel W. Wolfson High School. They have won this award for three consecutive years.

Due to lack of space, Jackson is the only high school in Duval County where the school building and football field, stadium and track are separate. The field is located about three-fourths of a mile north of the campus on Main Street, adjacent to North Shore Elementary School. Jackson is also recognized for its rapid change and constant improvement. When Duval County Schools were first being established, Jackson was on the verge of being disaccredited due to leaking roofs, cracks and window damage. Jackson improved in these conditions over the years and now hosts magnet programs where they receive additional founding for these classes. Also Jackson's stepteam, People of Prosperity which is an organization that is composed of the Brothers of Honor and Sisters of Integrity, who celebrated in the Martin luther King parade, along with AJROTC.

In 2008, Andrew Jackson High School celebrates it's 80th birthday.

1 Academics
2 Improvement
3 Notable alumni
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Academics

Magnet students at Jackson High School can go into the criminal justice program, the Air Force ROTC military magnet program, or the medical program. The school currently has a F as of 2007 on the Florida School Accountability Grading Scale. ^[1]

[edit] Improvement

Jackson was one of 16 schools nation-wide selected by the College Board for inclusion in the EXCELerator School Improvement Model program beginning the 2007-2008 school year. The project was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

[edit] Notable alumni

W. Haydon Burns, mayor of Jacksonville 1949 – 1965 and Governor of Florida 1965 – 1967
Lou Ritter, mayor of Jacksonville 1965 – 1967
Jake Godbold, mayor of Jacksonville 1978 – 1987
Tommy Hazouri, mayor of Jacksonville 1987 – 1991
Rocco Morabito, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer
Robert Edward Femoyer, Medal of Honor recipient and WWII Army Air Corps navigator
Judy Roberts Pulitzer Prize winner, investigative journalism, Chicago Tribune, 1970's
Wanda Hendrix, 1940s Hollywood actress
A. C. Lyles, long-time Hollywood producer
Micah Ross, former member of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL franchise
James Collins, professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA
Dennis Yost, lead singer of 1960s pop group Classics IV
Rita Coolidge, Grammy-winning singer
Judy Canova, comedian
Connie Haines, big-band singer
Leon Washington NFL running back New York Jets
Jeff Lee, Talk Show Host on America's 1st black station WDIA/Memphis, TN
T. Terrell Sessums, speaker of Florida House of Representatives and Chairman of the Florida Board of Regents.