Jean Ribault High School
Jean Ribault High School | |
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Address | |
3701 Winton Drive Jacksonville, Florida USA | |
Information | |
Type | Public school |
Motto | Fight On |
Established | 1957 |
Principal | Christopher Jackson |
Campus | Urban |
Color(s) |
Columbia Blue & White |
Mascot | Mighty Trojans |
Nickname | Ribault or Bault |
Website |
Jean Ribault High School is a public high school on the Northside of Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of Duval County Public Schools.
The Mission of Jean Ribault Senior High School is to promote academic excellence by providing our students with a total quality learning experience while enhancing knowledge and character.
History
Ribault Senior High School was opened in September 1957 as Lake Forest Junior-Senior High School with grades seven through twelve. In November 1957 the school was officially named Ribault Senior High School.
The school opened with a student body of approximately 1400 although it was to accommodate 1200. The facilities to accommodated these students consisted of the "A" and "B" wing, a small library, an administrative wing and a cafeteria.
The second year Ribault had a student body totaling over 2000, thus making it imperative to have multiple sessions. Some classes began at seven in the morning and the last session of classes at five.
The play area for physical education classes, athletic activities, and band practice consisted of nothing but sand dunes. Nevertheless, classes were held, the band practiced, and preparations for interscholastic activities began on schedule.
A committee composed of several faculty members and a number of students was formed. Possible color combinations and slogans were selected. These selections were given to the student body for a vote and as a result, we became the blue and white Ribault Trojans.
Improvement
Ribault was one of 16 schools nationwide selected by the College Board for inclusion in the EXCELerator School Improvement Model program beginning the 2007-2008 school year. The project was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
A Jacksonville Sports Dynasty
The boys' basketball team has appeared in 80 tournament games (59 wins, 21 losses), with 14 consecutive tournament appearances (1991–2005), and 4 back-to-back state championship wins in 1989 and 1990 and then again in 1994 and 1995, and four state runner-up crowns in 1985, 1997, 1998 and 2005. The coach of the Ribault Trojans boys' basketball team was Bernard Wilkes. In March 2006, Wilkes died in his sleep after the boys basketball team's 50-44 final four loss to Jones HS (Orlando).
The Lady Trojans have enjoyed even more success holding the Florida state record for most consecutive wins at 101. In 2002 the Lady Trojans took the crown as the U.S.A. Today National Championship runner-up behind Lynwood High School in California. The Lady Trojans have appeared in 24 State tournaments (the most by any female basketball team in the state), resulting in 8 state championships (1988, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003) also a state record and one state runner-up crowns (1992), playing in 79 State tournament games (63 wins and 16 losses). Their 63 tournament wins is also a state record. From 1999-2003 the Lady Trojans Basketball Team were five time State Champions (also a state record for most consecutive championships).
The Trojan Football team plays the Northwest Classic Football Game against arch rival William M. Raines High School each year. Many have nicknamed this annual event "The Superbowl of the South", the game currently goes back and forth between each school, giving each team a chance to host this huge game. The Northwest Classic attracts upwards of 30,000 spectators and tailgaters every year.
Notable alumni
- Chandra Cheesborough, Olympic champion sprinter
- Laveranues Coles, wide receiver, Washington Redskins, New York Jets
- Rod Jackson, quarterback, FAMU, school's all-time leading passer who led school to its first playoff appearance in 1985
- Kelvin Martin, wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys
- Travis L. Taylor, wide receiver, member of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens
- Chris Terry, offensive tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
- Howard Smothers (American Football) selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 248th pick in the 1995 NFL Draft
- Erica White, professional women's basketball player
- James F. Rinehart, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Troy University
- Michael Israel, dba Minister Mikhail Shareef Muhammad, Black Activist, New Black Panther Leader famous for putting Bounty on George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin Murder case.
- Mike Campbell, musician, guitarist, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Larry Simpson, attorney, former Florida Assistant State Attorney, served as the lead prosecutor for the Ted Bundy/Chi Omega homicide case.
External links
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Coordinates: 30°23′24″N 81°42′29″W / 30.390038°N 81.707931°W