John Curtis Christian High School

John Curtis Christian High School
Address
10125 Jefferson Highway
River Ridge, LA, Jefferson Parish
USA
Information
School type Private high school
Established 1962
Principal Headmaster: J.T. Curtis, Jr.; High School Principal: Larry Manguno; Junior High Principal: Leon Curtis; Lower School Principal: Deborah Eutsler
Grades PreK-12
Enrollment 850
Campus Urban
Color(s)

Red, White, and Blue

              
Mascot Patriot
Information 504-737-4621
Website School Website

John Curtis Christian High School is a co-ed, non-sectarian, private school in River Ridge, Louisiana. The school colors are red, white, and blue. The mascot is a Patriot.

The school was founded in 1962 by John T. Curtis Sr., on the second floor of the Carrolton Avenue Baptist Church. On its opening day, it had only sixteen students; but by the end of the year, it had over forty. In 1963, Curtis moved the school to its current location on Jefferson Highway in River Ridge, Louisiana.

Curtis died in 2005; his widow Merle Curtis and his five children continue to work at the school: J. T. Curtis, who has a Master's degree in Educational Administration from Loyola University, is the current headmaster; Leon Curtis, who also has a Master's degree from Loyola, is the junior high school principal. Eight of John Curtis Sr.'s grandchildren also work at the school.

The high school principal is Larry Manguno, who has both his undergraduate degree and Master's degree from Tulane University. Deborah Eutsler is the lower school principal and has a Master's degree from Louisiana College. Kathy Rickner and Alicia Naccari, junior high and high school guidance counselors, respectively, both also graduated from Louisiana College.

Extracurricular activities

Band, Dance Team, Cheerleading, Student Council, Key Club, Builders Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Boys and Girls), Academic Games, Builder's Club, Ecology Club, Interact Club, National Honor Society, Spirit Club, Pep Squad

Athletics

Football - 1 National Championship (2012), 26 State Championship | Girls Volleyball - 2 State Titles | Boys Cross Country - 1 State Championship Girls Cross Country - 1 Runners-Up Boys Basketball - 1 State Championship Girls Basketball - 3 State Championships | Wrestling - 2 State Runners-Up | Boys Indoor Track and Field - 4 State Titles | Baseball - 6 State Titles | Softball - 8 State Titles | Boys Outdoor Track and Field - 10 State Titles |

Football

The undefeated 2012 John Curtis football team was the consensus national champion, finishing #1 in five of the seven most widely regarded high school football polls. That team won the 25th state championship in just 44 years under Coach J. T. Curtis; no other high school coach has ever won more than 20. Coach J.T. Curtis was named 2012 Coach of the Year by USA Today. The 2013 team followed by winning the school's 26th state title, reaching the championship game for the 18th straight year, winning 14 times during that stretch including back-to-back-to back titles in 2011-12-13.

On October 27, 2011, Curtis, Jr. became the second football coach—college, prep or pro—to win 500 games. The Patriots have won 10 or more games for the past 39 years and have reached the playoffs each season during that stretch. Winning streaks at the conclusion of the 2013 season include 35 district games and 15 playoff games. Since 1975, every football player at Curtis who participated as a Freshman and completed his four years has played on a State Championship team.

In 2005, John Curtis Christian suffered extensive damage due to Hurricane Katrina. As a result, the first half of the 2005 football season was cut short. For the rest of the shortened 2005 season, former Patriots running-back and former USC Trojans running-back Joe McKnight scored 22 touchdowns (nine rushing, five receiving, four punt returns, three interceptions, one kickoff return) and averaged 18 yards a play in leading the Patriots to the state championship.[1] In 2006, McKnight rushed for 719 yards on 45 carries, scoring 14 touchdowns, received 24 catches for 735 yards and 13 touchdowns, and with special teams play scored a total of 30 touchdowns as a senior; he was instrumental in John Curtis Christian's 14-0 season, often used as a decoy player due to his scoring threat.[1] McKnight is the latest and arguably the most talented of a line of running back prospects out of John Curtis Christian High School, among them Reggie Dupard, Chris Howard and Jonathan Wells.

State Championships
During the 2011-12 academic year, John Curtis teams won the State Championship in six sports: football, boys and girls basketball, girls softball, and indoor and outdoor track.

State Championships Season Sport Number of Championships Year
Fall Football 26 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013
Fall Girls Volleyball 2 1988, 1991 Winter Boys Basketball 1 2012
Winter Girls Basketball 3 2009, 2010, 2012
Winter Boys Indoor Track and Field 4 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Spring Baseball 6 1982, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2002
Spring Softball 8 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014
Spring Boys Outdoor Track and Field 10 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Total 60

Notable athletic alumni

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dufresne, Chris (2007-05-20). "Star recruit has folks upset back home". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ↑ Clarence LeBlanc at Pro-Football-Reference.com (accessed 2015-03-19).
  3. ↑ Tona Bua at NFL.com (accessed 2015-03-19).
  4. ↑ Mike Detellier, "Trying to make it at the next level", The Houma Courier, July 18, 2004.
  5. ↑ http://www.coachedbypros.com/Melvin-Hayes/
  6. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Wimprine

External links