Hampton High School (Hampton, Virginia)

Hampton High School
Address
1491 West Queen Street Hampton, Virginia, 23669 United States
Coordinates	37°01′26″N 76°22′56″W
Information
School type	Public high school
Founded	1875
School district	Hampton City Schools
Superintendent	Dr. Linda Shifflette
Principal	Myra Chambers
Assistant principals	Bryce Johnson Oriel Robinson-Taylor Barbara Kimzey Anthony Grimes
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1,675  (2007-08)
Language	English
Color(s)	Red and White
Mascot	Crabbers
Rival	Bethel High School Phoebus High School
Website	http://hhs.sbo.hampton.k12.va.us/

Hampton High School is a public secondary school located in Hampton, Virginia. It is the oldest of the four current high schools in Hampton Public Schools, built in 1956. It is an International Baccalaureate World School with the Diploma Programme. Hampton High is the first high school in the Hampton city high school division and the second largest district in Hampton. Hampton High School is the oldest public school in the U.S.A. as it evolved directly from the Syms-Eaton Academy, which combined two of the earliest schools in America. Syms is the oldest free school and the first endowed educational institution in the United States. In 1634 Benjamin Syms left 200 acres (0.81 km²) and 8 cows to provide a free school for children of the parish. In 1659 Thomas Eaton, a 'cururgeon' (surgeon), left 500 acres (2.0 km²), buildings, livestock, and two slaves for a school to serve Elizabeth City County. The schools were so popular that in 1759 an act was necessary to provide for the attendance of only poor children at Eaton School. In 1805 the schools were merged by act of the General Assembly and called Hampton Academy, which in 1852 became part of the public school system. Its building was burned in 1861 and rebuilt after the war, finally taking the official name of Hampton High. The first graduating class was in 1896, consisting of two students: Miss Bessie Birdsall and Miss Blance Bullifant. From the early 20th century, Hampton High was ranked in the top ten of schools in Virginia, and the West Point Military Academy acknowledged that it accepted Hampton graduates without requiring them to take the West Point entrance exam. The current building for Hampton High dates to 1956; due to the layout of the building, it earned the nickname "Little Pentagon" because of its "seemingly endless hallways."

History

Hampton High School can trace its roots to the first free school founded in the American Colonies, the Syms-Eaton Academy, which opened its doors on February 12, 1634 as the Syms Free School.

Feeder pattern

• Hunter B. Andrews School
• Armstrong Elementary School
• Cooper Elementary School
• Lee Elementary School
• Tyler Elementary School
• Wythe Elementary School
• Davis Middle School
• Eaton Fundamental Middle School
• Lindsay Middle School
• Jones Magnet Middle School

Accreditation and Rankings

Hampton High School is fully accredited by the Virginia Department of Education based on its performance on the Virginia SOL Tests. It was included in Newsweek Magazine's "Top 1200" high schools in 2008 and 2009 and the "Top 1600" (top 6%) in 2010.

Demographics

In the 2005-2006 school year, Hampton was 81% Black; 14% White; 3% Hispanic; and 2% Asian.

Hampton High is also the oldest public school still in use. They were on the national news in the summer of 1995 for the celebration of the 100th graduating class (1996). There is a section of seating at football games for the alumni that are in their 70s and 80s.

Athletics/Extracurricular

The school's mascot is a crab, but their nickname is the "Crabbers." Occasionally, Freddie the Crab can be found on the sidelines at football games. The Crabbers compete in Group AAA, the largest group in the state, Peninsula District and Eastern Region of the Virginia High School League.

Hampton High School is best known for their football team, which won 17 Group AAA, Division 5 and Division 6, titles dating back to the 1950s, more than any other school in Virginia. In the 1980s the Crabbers went to 10 straight state championship games, winning 7. The Crabbers have the Peninsula District/Eastern Region/State Record for most consecutive wins. Their most recent AAA Division 5 title was in the 2005 season against Stone Bridge High School of Loudoun County. Before the 2005 season, their most recent title was in 1998, which was the last of a string of four straight AAA championships, led by quarterbacks Ronald Curry ('95-97) and Marques Hagans ('98). Current head coach Mike Smith is the winningest head coach in Virginia High School Football History. Under head coach Mike Smith, the Crabbers have won 11 state titles, and Smith's teams have amassed a 372-53-2 record in 35 seasons. The Crabbers have 2 National High School titles along with 17 state titles and over 700 wins amassed over the history of the school. Smith also ranks in the top 5 in wins and winning percentage in the nation. Hampton High School is also ranked the number #9 dynasty in the country in the history of football ¹

Hampton is also known for its basketball teams. The girl's team is a perennial contender within the district, winning the district title more often than not in the last decade, including all of the last seven. The Lady Crabbers are the 2006-07 Eastern Region Champions and the VHSL Group AAA State Champions. Also, the Hampton High boys' team finished second in the district this season.

Also, the 2006-07 season marked Hampton's first trip to the VHSL Eastern Region Scholastic Bowl. After finishing second in both the PD Regular Season and Tournament, the Crabbers advanced to the regional meet and surprisingly placed third, losing to frequent regional-champion Princess Anne High School of Va. Beach by a mere 15 points - one question away from qualifying for the VHSL State meet.

In 2011, the Hampton High School Drama Club competed in the District One Act Play competition, where they were second only to Menchville. They then went on the Regional level and took sixth place there.

State Championships and Runner Up Finishes

Hampton has won 33 state championships, which are:

• High School Football National Champions (1996)
• 17 in football {10 in AAA (1936, 1942, 1948, 1950, 1969, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1985); two in AAA Division 6 (1986, 1988); five in AAA Division 5 (1995–1998, 2005)}
• 7 in boys outdoor track (six in the now defunct Division B in 1926-30 and 1932; one in IA in 1961)
• 4 in boys basketball (one in the now defunct Division I in 1939; one in the now defunct IA division in 1969; two in AAA in 1989 and 1997)
• 3 in AAA boys cross country (1957, 1962, 1967)
• 2 in AAA girls basketball (2001, 2007)

Hampton has eight runner up finishes, which are:

• three in boys basketball (one in 1964, 1967 in IA; one in 1990)
• three in football (one in AAA in 1984, two in AAA Division 6 in 1987 and 1990)
• one in AAA girls outdoor track in 1990
• one in AAA boys outdoor track in 1978

Notable alumni

• Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. - Retired NASA engineer and manager
• Marques Hagans - National Football League quarterback/receiver with the Washington Redskins
• Ronald Curry - National Football League receiver, USA national high school Player of the Year 1998
• Elton Brown - National Football League offensive lineman of the Arizona Cardinals
• Robert Banks - National Football League Linebacker/Defensive End, national high school player of the year by the Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club in 1982 - Played five seasons in the NFL as a defensive end with the Houston Oilers and Cleveland Browns.
• Dwight Stephenson - National Football League; played center for the Miami Dolphins, and is a member of the in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Tyrod Taylor - Currently a quarterback with the Baltimore Ravens.
• Michael Husted - National Football League kicker who played nine seasons in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and other teams.
• John P. Jumper, retired 4-star General, former Chief of Staff of the US Air Force. (1962)
• Petra Kelly - German Green Party - Founder of the German Green Party. Shot dead in 1992 in murder-suicide by her former partner.
• Tabitha Soren (Tabitha Sornberger) - reporter for MTV News
• Chris Hanburger - 9 time pro bowl linebacker for the Washington Redskins, elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011
• A. Benjamin Spencer - Visiting Professor, University of Virginia School of Law; Professor of Law, Washington & Lee University School of Law

References

External links

• Hampton High School - Official website.
• VHSL-Reference