Robert E. Lee High School (Jacksonville, Florida)

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Robert E. Lee High School
Image:RobertELeeJacksonvilleFlorida.svg

Established: 1928
Type: Public magnet
Principal: Denise Hall
Staff: 100
Students: 2,100
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Campus: Urban
Colors: Blue and Grey
Nickname: Lee
Mascot: General
Website: www.educationcentral.org/lee

Robert E. Lee High School is a high school in Jacksonville, Florida. It was named after Civil War general Robert E. Lee and is one of the two oldest high schools in Jacksonville, the other being the school's traditional rival, Andrew Jackson High School.

Contents

[edit] Enrollment

Enrollment rose from 954 the first year to about 2,000 in the 1950s. The school became predominately black after full racial integration was finally implemented in the early 1970s.[1]

[edit] History

Robert E. Lee High School
Robert E. Lee High School

The school was dedicated to Robert E. Lee on his birthday, January 19, 1928.

In 1965, a group of Lee High School students formed the band My Backyard. The band, led by singer Ronnie Van Zant, was renamed Lynyrd Skynyrd after their gym teacher at the school, Leonard Skinner.

On November 24, 1986, Lee was ravaged by a fire that destroyed the library and many classrooms. The fire damage was estimated at US$ 4.5 million. After the fire, the Robert E. Lee High School Restoration Committee was formed by Lee alumni to help raise money for restoration. The high school's marching band is called The Marching Generals and has been called one of the best marching bands in Jacksonville. Recently the Marching Generals went to the Florida Classics. They were the only band from Jacksonville to go to the Classics.

[edit] Improvement

Lee High School was one of 11 schools nation-wide selected by the College Board for inclusion in the EXCELerator School Improvement Model program beginning the 2006-2007 school year. The project was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

[edit] Notable alumni


[edit] References

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 30°18′26″N 81°42′14″W / 30.307124, -81.703827