Jefferson County Middle / High School Explained

Jefferson County Middle/High School
Address:50 David Road
Zipcode:32344
Country:United States
Principal:Jackie Pons
Enrollment:366
Enrollment As Of:2022-23
Colors:Blue and orange [1]
Nickname:Tigers
Website:https://www.jeffersonschools.net/jeffersonk12school
Monticello High School
(former building)
Coordinates:30.5446°N -83.8731°W
Built:1852/1915[2]
Added:March 25, 1999
Refnum:99000373[3]

Jefferson County Middle / High School (JCMHS) is a public school in unincorporated Jefferson County, Florida, with a Monticello postal address.[4] A part of Jefferson County Schools, it serves grades 6 - 12. The school's mascot is a tiger and the school colors are orange and blue.[5] It is at 50 David Road, 4miles south of the center of Monticello.[6] The school was formerly housed in the historic Jefferson Academy building, opened in 1852 in the first brick school building in Florida. Minority enrollment at Jefferson County Middle / High School is about 340 and 84 percent minority.[7] It was operated by Somerset Academy Inc. for five years.[8] The student body is majority-minority, about 60 percent African American.

History

Jefferson Academy

Jefferson Academy was established in Monticello in 1852.[9] The school building, described as being the first school built with bricks in Florida, was constructed in 1852 using slave labor. It was designed by Samuel Carroll. Jefferson Academy alumni included William Bailey Lamar.

The school building was used for Jefferson County High School after the academy closed.[10] The school became known as such when the white schools merged into Jefferson County High School.[11]

Monticello High School

Also referred to as Monticello High School, the historic former school building is located at 425 West Washington Street. On March 25, 1999, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The vernacular school building was expanded on the east and west sides in 1915 and the columns added to the front, giving is a Neoclassical architecture appearance.[3]

By 1980,[12] the original section of the facility was no longer used as a school, and only the addition was. In 2004 the current facility opened. It had a cost of $17,200,000. The school district and the county government moved offices into the former facility.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FHSAA Member Schools. 2024-03-13. Florida High School Activities Association. en-US.
  2. Web site: Jefferson County listings. 2007-02-20. Florida's History Through Its Places. Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070216142118/http://www.flheritage.com/facts/reports/places/index.cfm?fuseaction=ListAreas&county=Jefferson. 2007-02-16.
  3. Web site: National Register of Historical Places - Florida (FL), Jefferson County. 2007-02-20. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  4. Web site: Home. Jefferson County Middle / High School. 2022-05-15. Jefferson County Middle/High School 50 David Road Monticello, FL 32344 . - Compare to the 2020 U.S. Census Map of Monticello city. The school is outside the city limits.
  5. Web site: Jefferson County High School (Monticello, FL) Varsity Football.
  6. News: Vann. Kim McCoy. Jefferson High history begins anew. Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, Florida. 2004-08-03. 1A, 2A. - Clipping of first and of second page from Newspapers.com.
  7. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida/districts/jefferson/jefferson-county-middle-high-school-5141 US News
  8. Web site: Tallahassee lawmaker seeks investigation into Jefferson County Schools intrigue .
  9. Book: Davis, Betty. Haunted Monticello, Florida. 20 May 2011. Arcadia Publishing. 9781625841551. Google Books.
  10. Book: Brown, Alan. Haunted Big Bend, Florida. 25 June 2013. Arcadia Publishing. 9781614239710. Google Books.
  11. Web site: History. Jefferson County High School. 2005-04-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20050415172820/http://www.firn.edu/schools/jefferson/jefferson/jchs/history.htm . 2022-05-15. 2005-04-15 .
  12. Lansing. George Taylor Jr. Jefferson County High School Marker, Monticello, FL. George Lansing Taylor Collection Main Gallery . 12 March 2011 . University of North Florida Digital Commons. 2022-05-16.