Andrew Jackson High School (Jacksonville)
Andrew Jackson High School of Advanced Technology, A Dedicated Magnet School is the oldest fully accredited high school in Duval County, Florida. It is located just north of downtown Jacksonville on Main Street (U.S. Highway 17). It opened in 1927, the same time as Robert E. Lee High School. It was originally an all-white school, but the school became integrated in 1970. It is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson, an important figure in the history of Florida, after whom the city of Jacksonville is also named.
Andrew Jackson High School of Advanced Technology | |
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Address | |
3816 N. Main St. , | |
Information | |
Type | Public/Magnet School |
Motto | Embrace the Past, Excel in the Present, Build for the Future |
Established | 1927 |
Principal | Truitt Moreland |
Staff | 65 |
Number of students | 991 (2020-2021) |
Student to teacher ratio | 20.1 |
Campus | Urban |
Color(s) | Red and White |
Mascot | Tiger |
Nickname | School of Advanced Technology |
Jackson has the city's oldest athletic rivalry with Robert E. Lee High School. For many years the Jackson-Lee football game was played in the Gator Bowl Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, and it was a major event for students and alumni of both schools. The girls varsity basketball team were 2007 Gateway Conference Champions, beating out Samuel W. Wolfson High School. They won this award three consecutive years.
Jackson is the only high school in Duval County with an off-campus football stadium. The stadium is located about three-fourths of a mile north of the campus on Main Street, adjacent to North Shore Elementary School. Prior to the construction of this facility the Tigers played their home football games at the Gator Bowl.
When Duval County Schools were first being established, Jackson was on the verge of losing accreditation due to roof leaks, cracks and window damage. These problems were fixed and the school now hosts magnet programs.
In 2017 Andrew Jackson High School celebrated its 90th anniversary.
Academics
Dedicated Magnet students may go into the Cybersecurity program, the Video Game Design program, the Sports Medicine and Biomechanics program, or the Air Force JROTC military magnet program. Students can also earn an Associate of Science degree in Networking Systems, IT Cybersecurity, through a partnership with Florida State College of Jacksonville while attending high school. The school also offers the BCE program which is partnered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. Junior students are hired to work part-time on campus and have the opportunity to continue that career after graduation. The school currently has a B as of 2017 on the Florida School Accountability Grading Scale.[1]
Notable alumni
- W. Haydon Burns - mayor of Jacksonville 1949–1965 and Governor of Florida 1965–1967
- Lou Ritter - mayor of Jacksonville 1965–1967
- Jake Godbold - mayor of Jacksonville 1978–1987
- Maxey Dell Moody, Jr. - business magnate
- Tommy Hazouri - mayor of Jacksonville 1987–1991
- Rocco Morabito - Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer.
- Robert Edward Femoyer - Medal of Honor recipient and World War II Army Air Corps navigator
- Wanda Hendrix - 1940s Hollywood actress
- A. C. Lyles - long-time Hollywood producer
- Micah Ross - former wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- James Collins - former professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers
- Dennis Yost - lead singer of 1960s pop group Classics IV
- Rita Coolidge - Grammy Award-winning singer
- Judy Canova - comedian
- Connie Haines - big-band singer
- Leon Washington - former NFL running back, assistant coach for the Detroit Lions
- T. Terrell Sessums - Speaker of Florida House of Representatives and Chairman of the Florida Board of Regents.
- Jeron Harvey - Former Wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars and current wide receiver for the Jacksonville Sharks.
- Professor Backwards - comedian with 23 performances on The Ed Sullivan Show.
- Jamon Gordon - Professional European basketball player
- Vernon Edwards - Former Professional AFL football player.
Notes
- "School Demographic, Assessment, and Accountability Data". Duval County Public Schools. November 19, 2017. Archived from the original on 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
References
- Patton, Charlie (March 12, 2003). "Jackson High anniversary a celebration". Jacksonville.com. The Florida Times-Union. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved May 4, 2007.