Jonesboro High School (Jonesboro, Arkansas)

Jonesboro High School
Address
301 Hurricane Drive Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401-4977
Information
School type	Public, secondary school
Motto	Excellence is our standard...not our goal...for all students
Founded	1899
School district	Jonesboro Public Schools
Principal	Mike Skelton
Assistant principals	Shannon Lewis Brett Brown
Staff	118
Grades	10–12
Enrollment	1036  (2008)
Language	English
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Black      Gold      White
Mascot	Golden Hurricane
Accreditation(s)	North Central Association (NCA) Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (CASI)
Communities served	Jonesboro, AR
Feeder schools	Annie Camp Junior High School Douglas MacArthur Junior High School
Rival schools	West Memphis High School Nettleton High School Greene County Tech High School
Athletic conferences	AAAAAA (6A), East Region, District 3
Website	http://www.jps.k12.ar.us/

Jonesboro High School is a high school located in Jonesboro, Arkansas and is part of the Jonesboro Public Schools.

As of 2009, the principal is Mike Skelton.

Academics

Jonesboro High School was founded in 1899. Since 1924, Jonesboro High School has been a charter member accredited by the North Central Association (NCA) Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (CASI).

In 1982-1983, Jonesboro High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education, one of only six high schools in the state ever to be awarded this honor.

As of 2011-2012, JHS offers the following Advanced Placement (AP) courses: Art History, Biology, Calculus AB, Chemistry, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Government & Politics, Spanish, Statistics, Studio Art, U.S. History, and World History. The school has been recognized by the Siemens Foundation for their AP program.

JHS regularly has a high percentage of its students attend post secondary institutions, with over 65 percent of students receiving scholarships totaling over $7.8 million for the 2010 Senior class.

Extracurricular activities

JHS offers a variety of clubs, such as foreign language clubs, honorary organizations (National Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, and National Honor Society), leadership oriented (National Student Council, FCCLA FBLA, etc.), sports clubs ("J" Club and FCA), drug prevention (PRIDE Youth Program), plus others that are sponsored by civic organizations whose general intent is philanthropic.

Performing Arts

JHS has a highly awarded performing arts program, with options such as choir, symphonic and marching band, acting, and visual and performing arts being available to students. Several levels of each program are available to students, and each program has continuously received various awards at competitions. The marching band, led by Steve Warner and Stan Hall, is a regular participant at various competitions, and regularly receives team and individual awards. The acting program, led by Dawn Tucker, regularly performs plays each semester, and has its regularly students participate in Forensics and Thespian tournaments. A high percentage of its students receive individual awards and scholarships, and in 2011 the JHS Thespian Troupe has gone to perform at the International Thespian Competition in Scotland.

Facilities

The current school building was designed by the Jonesboro firm Little and Associates. This replaced the original building destroyed by a tornado on May 27, 1973. They were not allowed to build a structure larger than two stories. They were also limited on the number of windows in the structure due to the laws on public school buildings in place at the time. This kept them from restoring the beautiful original colonial-style building.

After a special election, the district was awarded additional funding through a millage increase. Part of this increase will be used towards the construction of new facilities and upgrading of previous ones. JHS benefited from a complete overhaul of its current Don Riggs Hurricane Gym and a newly constructed Performing Arts Center intended to seat over 1000 people. Both are opening in the Fall of 2011.

Athletics

The Jonesboro athletic teams are known as the Golden Hurricane or Hurricane. They play in the Arkansas High School Athletic Association, Class AAAAAA East Conference. Athletic Director, David Daniel.

Football

Jonesboro has won 3 Arkansas State Football Championships, most recently in 1979. The Hurricane last won a conference championship in 2011. Head Football Coach Jim DeVazier resigned at the end of the 2007 season after a 25+ year stint. The Jonesboro Public School District chose Randy Coleman, former coach at cross-town school Valley View High School, to replace DeVazier. In 2008 the Hurricane saw a resurgence of sorts in football going (8-2) in the regular season, thus receiving a second round home game in the AAAAAA Playoffs. The Hurricane's traditional rivals are West Memphis High School and Greene County Tech High School, both near Jonesboro in Northeast Arkansas. In 1998 Jonesboro began a series with smaller cross-town rival Nettleton High School (4A) and leads the series 4-1. The "Crosstown Showdown" has since ceased. In 2010 a new rivalry was started with the Greene County Tech Eagles known as the "Border Bowl" as the counties in which the schools are located (Craighead and Greene) border each other. Jonesboro currently leads the series 2-0.

Basketball

The Hurricane have been successful in basketball, winning a total of 10 Arkansas State Basketball Championships. Most recently, JHS defeated AAAAAA East Conference rival Forrest City for the 2007 title at the Hot Springs Convention Center. In 2006, the Hurricane lost to Little Rock Parkview High School in a rematch of the 1994 state finals game in which the Hurricane won. The main basketball rivals for the Hurricanes are West Memphis High School and Nettleton High School. The Hurricane have won several conference championships, most recently in 2008 when the Hurricane won the AAAAAA East Conference Championship.

Baseball

Compared to basketball and football, Jonesboro's baseball team is relatively new. The Hurricane first fielded a team in 1989 and made it to their first (and as of 2008 only) state championship game in 2005, played in Baum Stadium at the University of Arkansas. The Hurricane lost to former fellow AAAAAA East Conference member, Sylvan Hills High School. The Hurricane have won several AAAAAA East Conference Baseball Championships, most recently in 2006. The Hurricanes baseball rivals are West Memphis High School and Nettleton High School.

Track & field

Jonesboro high school has outstanding Track & Field teams and have won multiple state and conference championships. They are currently state runner-up for 6A East Conference, as well as being conference champion; also, hold state runner-up title for 2009. Coaches, Steve Thompson & Perry Darby & Blake Mackey, have shown their commitment to the team since 1996. Included among their past record breaking athletes and state champions have been Earl Bell (1973) in pole vault, Arkansas State University, Darrell Burris (1973) in 1600m, Arkansas State University, Steve Griffith (1973) in 800m, Arkansas State University, Patrick McDaniel (2010) in 800m, University of Mississippi, John Butler (1969) in long jump, Henderson State University; Gary Guthrie (1965) in decathlon, Alabama; Jed Jackson (1962) in SP, Rhodes College; Sam Urton (1974) in hurdles, Arkansas State University; Terry Primm (1975) in pole vault, Arkansas State University; Gary Haag (1963) in hurdles, Arkansas State University; and Charles Reding (1969) in the mile, Arkansas-Monticello.

Tennis

Jonesboro high school's tennis team has won back to back state championship for quite a few years now. Their most recent state championship was 2011, where the girls defeated Searcy and the boys defeated Mountain Home. The head coach for the tennis team is Mark Dobson.

Volleyball, golf, soccer, wrestling, cross country, bowling, swimming, and softball have also been good to the Hurricane as those teams have had several playoff appearances as well as conference and state championships.

Notable alumni

• 1945: Charley Thornton
• 1983: Debbye Turner, Miss America 1990
• 2009: John McDaniel, Presidential Scholar

Football alumni

• Danny Cook (1974), offensive lineman, Arkansas State/New Orleans Saints
• Joel Mullens (1972), offensive lineman, Arkansas State/Green Bay Packers
• Scott Bull (1970), quarterback, Arkansas/San Francisco 49ers
• Clovis Swinney (1964), defensive lineman, Arkansas State/New Orleans Saints
• Chuck Latourette (1962), defensive back, Rice University/Cardinals

Alma Mater

Dear Ole Jonesboro High, We Will Always Be True. And Your Praises we always will sing! When On Lifes stormy Seas, We at Last have embarked, Honor to your name we'll Try to Bring! And If We should Wonder From You Afar, We Will Never Forget As Years Go By, That our Alma Mater Is Still Just as Dear, As When We Were here at JONESBORO HIGH!!!

External links

• Jonesboro High School website
• Arkansas State Herald article on the 1973 tornado