| Jackson High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 7600 Fulton Drive NW Massillon, Ohio, 44646 United States |
|
| Information | |
| School type | Public |
| School district | Jackson Local School District |
| Principal | Monica Myers[1] |
| Grades | 9 through 12 |
| Color(s) | Purple and Gold |
| Slogan | "Striving for Excellence" |
| Athletics conference | Federal League |
| Team name | Polar Bears |
| Rival | North Canton Hoover |
| Website | http://jackson.stark.k12.oh.us/JacksonHigh.cfm |
Jackson High School is a public high school located in Jackson Township, near Massillon, Ohio, United States. Part of the Jackson Local Schools district, it serves grades 9 through 12. The school's colors are purple and gold. Jackson's mascot is a polar bear. As of January 2006 the school had 1878 students.[2]
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Jackson High School is a founding member school of the Federal League, a high school athletic conference in Ohio. Jackson won the 2010 Basketball State Championship, and won their first Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) title. To follow the success in 2010, the Boy's Tennis Team advanced to the state final four for the first time in school history. 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.[3] The boys' golf team qualified for the state tournament in 2007 and 2008, finishing ninth both seasons. In 2007, the Jackson boys' soccer team advanced to the state semi-finals when Mentor was disqualified in their quarter-final match for using ineligible players.[4] In the semi-final match, Jackson defeated Sylvania Northview 1-0 in overtime, but lost the state championship game 2-1 to Hilliard Davidson.[5] The Men's cross country team also performs well at local, regional, and state levels. Girls sports teams at Jackson perform well, particularly the tennis, soccer, track, cross country and swim teams. All have had long streaks as Federal League champions, some spanning a decade or more.
Jackson's football teams predate the state playoff system. Following the successful 1962 season, the 1963 and 1964 teams struggled against stronger competition. Towards the end of the 1964 season the Bears won three of their remaining four games, setting up a showdown against arch rival North Canton Hoover. Jackson defeated Hoover 14-13, setting the stage for a 1965-1966 championship run.
The Jackson Marching Band produces a show yearly (along with one black light half time show). The band has marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade (1982 and 1998), Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1999), Cotton Bowl Parade, Orange Bowl Parade (1992), Fiesta Bowl Parade and pre-game (1994),and Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade (1987, 1991, 1995 and 1998). The band has also traveled to Hawaii, Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, and Phoenix, Arizona. In 2009 the Marching Band traveled to New Orleans to play in the Sugar Bowl half time show.
The choral department has six choirs, which regularly receive superior ratings competitions sponsored by the Ohio Music Educators Association. Jackson's show choir, the Jacks-N-Jills, performs throughout the region. The Choral Department puts on the school's annual musical production and the choir takes a semi-annual trip to Pennsylvania and New York City.
Many graduates from Jackson High School Art Department have taken the AP Portfolio class have gone on to attend the top Art Schools in the nation. Jackson High School has the largest high school arts program in Stark County, called JSA (Jackson School for the Arts). Students are accepted into the arts school as freshman and sometimes sophomore and follow the program until senior year. In the school of the arts students must meet GPA requirements, audition for dance classes and participate in technical and performing areas. Students of the arts programs begin their day an hour before other students to fit in more classes and thus have more time to be in more arts courses as well as the required core classes. The theater, dance, and choral programs have produced many graduates who end up in universities across the United States and earn Bachelors Degrees in fine arts.
In 2006, Jackson High School was rated "academically excellent" by the Ohio State Board of Education, scoring 110 and meeting 12 of 12 academic achievement indicators. The Jackson Local School district scored 106.9, making it the highest scoring district in Stark and several surrounding counties. In 2005 and 2006, Jackson High School was named to Newsweek's list of the top 1,000 schools in America. In 2010, Jackson High School received recognition as a "National Blue Ribbon School," which celebrates the school's prestige in academics.
Jackson also boasts a very strong Speech and Debate Program, where students can be a part of the National Forensics League, a speaking and debating honor society. The team was number one in the state in 2010, after winning the 2010 OHSSL State Tournament. Jackson finished 4th in the state in the 2011 OHSSL State Tournament. The team consistently sends students to the NFL National Tournament as well.