James F. Byrnes High School

James F. Byrnes High School

Discere est Vincere
Address
150 East Main Street
Duncan, South Carolina, 29334
United States
Coordinates 34°56′2″N 82°7′39″W / 34.93389°N 82.12750°WCoordinates: 34°56′2″N 82°7′39″W / 34.93389°N 82.12750°W
Information
Funding type Public
School district Spartanburg County School District 5
Superintendent Scott Turner
CEEB Code 410670
Principal Dr. Jeff Rogers
Faculty 97
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 1,654
Student to teacher ratio 17:1
Color(s)          Blue and Gray
Mascot Rebel
Newspaper The Spotlight
Website Official website

James F. Byrnes High School is located in Duncan, South Carolina. The school has 2289 students enrolled as of the 2008–2009 school year. It is the only high school in Spartanburg District 5. The James F. Byrnes Freshman Academy is located at the former D. R. Hill Middle School. Currently, there are 1,560 students served by 139 faculty and staff members. There are approximately 600 students in the Byrnes Freshman Academy. Throughout its history, Byrnes has experienced a large amount of success in athletics most notably their Football team. The Rebels have won 11 State Championships in Football.[1]

History

James F. Byrnes High School was built in 1955 at a cost of $1,000,000. At that time, there were 21 teachers and 500 students in grades 9-12. In 1969, the school integrated, moving all the African-American students from Florence Chapel School to Byrnes. In 2007, the ninth grade moved to a separate facility.[2]

Extracurricular activities

Fine Arts

James F. Byrnes high school has recently become one of the most prestigious school in the state for the Fine Arts. Most prominent is the marching band nicknamed "The Rebel Regiment" which has won 10 State Championships. They are also starting to become highly recognized in their theater department nicknamed "The Rebel Theater Company". They have won state four times in five years, most recently in 2014. They have competed at SETC (South Eastern Theater Convention) against 20 of the best schools from ten states. In 2013, Their show Women of Troy won second at SETC, including All Star Cast Awards and the Best Actress award.

Athletics

Throughout the school's history, the Rebels have won a total of thirty-six state championships in all sports.[1]

Football

The Byrnes High School football team has experienced a large amount of success throughout its history. The Rebels have won eleven state championships in football, including four straight from 2002-2005 under head coach Bobby Bentley.[1] The Rebel football team competes on Nixon Field, located behind J. F. Byrnes High School. The field is named in honor of D. M. Nixon. Mr. Nixon was a former superintendent of District Five Schools and served from 1956 until his retirement in 1965.[3]

In 2008 the Rebels began the season as the number one team in the country according to The USA Today newspaper and held that spot until a regular season loss dropped them in the polls. They regrouped and won their ninth state championship to finish that season. In 2009, Byrnes began the season as the No. 2 ranked team in the nation according to MaxPreps.com. Also in 2009, the Rebels played the defending national champions, St. Thomas Aquinas High School of Fort Lauderdale, FL on October 2, 2009. St. Thomas Aquinas defeated Byrnes by a score of 42-34. Byrnes defeated Gaffney 31-24 on December 3, 2011 to win their 11th state title.[4]

State championships

State Championships[1]
Season Sport Number of Championships Year
Fall Marching Band 10 1983, 1988, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006
Football 11 1976, 1982, 1986, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
Cross Country, Boys 2 2000, 2001
Volleyball 4 1979, 1982, 1986, 2008
Winter Wrestling 1 1981
Basketball, Boys 2 1976, 1990
Basketball, Girls 4 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965
Spring Softball 2 1991, 2005, 2006, 2014
Total 36

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Byrnes Athletic Website" (ENGLISH). Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  2. "Our School" (ENGLISH). Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  3. "Honored at Byrnes" (ENGLISH). Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  4. "Byrnes Holds Off Gaffney to Win Second Straight 4A Division I Football Championship". One Million Titles. December 6, 2011.

External links