FJ Reitz High School

Francis Joseph Reitz High School
Evansville Reitz High School
Location
Evansville, Indiana
USA
Coordinates 37°58′24″N 87°36′21″W / 37.9732°N 87.605904°WCoordinates: 37°58′24″N 87°36′21″W / 37.9732°N 87.605904°W
Information
Type Public high school
Motto High Performance Counts!
Established 1918
School district Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
Principal Elizabeth Carnahan
Faculty 87
Number of students 1,395
Color(s)               
Athletics SIAC
Mascot Mighty Panthers
Gym Capacity 3,200
Website www.evscschools.com/reitz

Francis Joseph Reitz High School is a historic public high school on the west side of Evansville, Indiana. It was founded in 1918 in honor of Francis Joseph Reitz, and is the second oldest high school still in use today in the city. It is a member of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. It is also known by the IHSAA as Evansville Reitz High School and locally known as simply Reitz High School.

History

The school has been successful in academic areas. The Reitz choir won the first state championship in choir competition in 1986. Under the leadership of Daniel Durbin, 1995 Indiana Teacher of the Year, Reitz Speech & Debate Team won __ consecutive sectional championships from 1977 until 200_. The school won 4 consecutive Indiana State Forensic Association Team Championships in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. The school won the National Forensics League National Team Championship in 1999. Reitz High School had the largest high school speech and debate program in the United States during the mid-1990s.

History of Reitz Home Museum

Francis Joseph Reitz was the eldest son of John Augustus Reitz, who had already made his fortune in lumber by the mid-1850s. After the death of FJ Reitz, the Catholic Diocese of Evansville was the owner of the home. It was the home of the first Bishop of Evansville. After discovering that the home was for sale the Reitz Home Preservation Society was formed and struck an agreement with the Catholic Diocese to take possession of the home in order to preserve its historical value. It was restored to its original state when owned by the Reitz family and turned into the Reitz Home Museum.

Academics

State Titles

Sports

Reitz High school has a wide assortment of sports for its students. Football, which Reitz is best known for, basketball, softball, wrestling, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, baseball, track, and cross-country are the sports included in the IHSAA. Reitz also has three sports that are on the rise- bowling, hockey and lacrosse, which are not yet sanctioned by the IHSAA.

State Titles

* indicates title won before IHSAA State Tournament was initiated
+ indicates title sanctioned by the Indiana High School Bowling Association

Reitz won their first football championship in the IHSAA Tournament era on November 24, 2007 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis (Class 4A). Reitz defeated the Lowell Red Devils 33-14. They, again, beat Lowell in the 2009 IHSAA 4A Football Championship, in Lucas Oil Stadium, 23-9. This was Reitz 11th football title, and 12th overall school athletic team title.

Notable alumni and faculty

Feeder Schools

References

    External links