Gardendale High School
Encyclopedia
Gardendale High School is a public high school located in Gardendale, Alabama
, United States
, operated by the Jefferson County Board of Education
. The school's first graduating class was in 1968. Gardendale High School was developed in the mid-1960s as a result of population growth in the area. Until this time, local students mostly attended Mortimer Jordan High School
in nearby Morris
.
The school mascot/nickname is "Rockets." The name was chosen by vote of the first student body in school history and was chosen to honor the U.S. Space and Rocket program
, which at the time was actively pursuing the goal of placing a man on the moon. The school colors are maroon, gray, and white.
A merger was proposed in 2007 between Gardendale High School and nearby Fultondale High School
. But the merger was cancelled for the time being by Superintendent Phil Hammonds on March 29, 2007.
In the aftermath of the scuttled merger, the district announced plans for construction of a new $46 million school building that will include separate competition and practice gyms, a 600-seat auditorium and 100-seat lecture hall, with potential future expansion to add as many as 32 additional classrooms down the road. The expansion will allow the school's 960 student enrollment to be expanded to accommodate 1,200 students. Demolition of the old school was completed in 2009. The new high school officially opened in February 2010. Once all students had transferred to the new high school campus the Rogers campus was demolished. A new baseball stadium as well as a soccer field were built on the site of the former Rogers campus. The high school basketball teams began playing their home games in the new gymnasium in the fall of 2010. "Superintendent previews Gardendale school features", The Birmingham News
, April 18, 2007
as recipient of the "Outstanding Program of the Year Award" in 2003 for its Family and Consumer Sciences Education Program and the integrated efforts of the school's chapter of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America
(FCCLA).
Girls Softball- a new facility was built on the site of the former baseball field.
Basketball/Volleyball-are located in the new gymnasium
Baseball-a new stadium is being built on the site of the former Rogers Campus.
Soccer-a new lighted soccer field has been built on the site of the former Rogers campus.
maintained a four classification system for high school athletics in Alabama. Since then, the AHSAA has maintained a six classification system. Gardendale High was mostly a 3A school (but did participate at class 4A for two years) in the four-class system. Since the advent of the six-class system, most years Gardendale High was a 5A participant, but has spent time in the 6A classification. The classification system is based on enrollment grades 9-12 and is re-evaluated every two years. As of the 2010-2011 school year, Gardendale is classified as a 6A school.
Gardendale High School has achieved success in track and field
. The boys' indoor track team has won the Alabama state indoor track championship, winning titles in 1978 (Class 1A/2A/3A), 1979 (Class 3A), 1980 (Class 3A), 1984 (Class 3A), 1988 (Class 4A/5A) and 1989 (Class 6A). The boys' cross-country running team has won the state Class 3A championship five times, including four consecutive years from 1976 through 1979, and again in 1982.
Gardendale's first state championship in any sport was in wrestling in 1974. The school has produced multiple wrestling state champions. Steve Mordecai was a four-time state champion from 1974 - 1977. Tripp Otis was named Most Outstanding Wrestler in Class 5A for 2007, and completed his senior season by winning the Class 5A state championship in the 189-pound weight class, losing only one match all season long. Fellow wrestler Chad Bearden won the 2007 Class 5A heavyweight championship, winning the Class 5A state championship for the third time in his career.
1976 Class 3A
1977 Class 3A
1978 Class 3A
1979 Class 3A
1982 Class 3A
Track & Field
1989 Class 6A
Wrestling
1974 Class 3A
1975 Class 3A
Gardendale, Alabama
Gardendale is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States, and a northern suburb of Birmingham. The population was 11,626 at the 2000 census. 2009 Census estimates propose a population of 13,720.-History:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, operated by the Jefferson County Board of Education
Jefferson County Board of Education (Alabama)
The Jefferson County School System is the second-largest public school system in the U.S. State of Alabama and serves most of Jefferson County, Alabama...
. The school's first graduating class was in 1968. Gardendale High School was developed in the mid-1960s as a result of population growth in the area. Until this time, local students mostly attended Mortimer Jordan High School
Mortimer Jordan High School
Mortimer Jordan High School is a public high school located in Kimberly, Alabama. It is a part of the Jefferson County Board of Education.The school was named after Captain Mortimer Harvie Jordan, a war hero who lost his life in World War I. He was a soldier, officer and physician...
in nearby Morris
Morris, Alabama
Morris is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area.-Geography:Morris is located at .According to the U.S...
.
The school mascot/nickname is "Rockets." The name was chosen by vote of the first student body in school history and was chosen to honor the U.S. Space and Rocket program
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, which at the time was actively pursuing the goal of placing a man on the moon. The school colors are maroon, gray, and white.
A merger was proposed in 2007 between Gardendale High School and nearby Fultondale High School
Fultondale High School
Fultondale High School is a public high school located in Birmingham, Alabama. 474 students attended the school in 2005. It is part of the Jefferson County School System.-Early years:...
. But the merger was cancelled for the time being by Superintendent Phil Hammonds on March 29, 2007.
In the aftermath of the scuttled merger, the district announced plans for construction of a new $46 million school building that will include separate competition and practice gyms, a 600-seat auditorium and 100-seat lecture hall, with potential future expansion to add as many as 32 additional classrooms down the road. The expansion will allow the school's 960 student enrollment to be expanded to accommodate 1,200 students. Demolition of the old school was completed in 2009. The new high school officially opened in February 2010. Once all students had transferred to the new high school campus the Rogers campus was demolished. A new baseball stadium as well as a soccer field were built on the site of the former Rogers campus. The high school basketball teams began playing their home games in the new gymnasium in the fall of 2010. "Superintendent previews Gardendale school features", The Birmingham News
The Birmingham News
The Birmingham News is the principal daily newspaper for Birmingham, Alabama, United States, and the largest newspaper in Alabama. The paper is owned by Advance Publications...
, April 18, 2007
Awards and recognition
Gardendale High School's program was recognized by the Alabama Department of EducationAlabama Department of Education
The Alabama State Department of Education is the state education agency of Alabama. It is headquartered at 50 N. Ripley Street in Montgomery....
as recipient of the "Outstanding Program of the Year Award" in 2003 for its Family and Consumer Sciences Education Program and the integrated efforts of the school's chapter of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America
Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America , formerly known as Future Homemakers of America , is a nonprofit U.S. career and technical student organization for young men and women in family and consumer science education in public and private schools through grade 12 across the United States...
(FCCLA).
Facilities
The school's football stadium was originally called Rocket Stadium but the name was changed to Driver Stadium later to honor the man who was responsible for the stadium lighting (a former Alabama Power employee). During the 1970s, it was the largest capacity on-campus high school stadium in Jefferson County and second largest overall, only to Legion Field in Birmingham. The stadium hosted several Dental Clinic Charity football games as well as one Crippled Children's Classic charity football game during the 1970s.Girls Softball- a new facility was built on the site of the former baseball field.
Basketball/Volleyball-are located in the new gymnasium
Baseball-a new stadium is being built on the site of the former Rogers Campus.
Soccer-a new lighted soccer field has been built on the site of the former Rogers campus.
Classification
Until the mid-1980s, the Alabama High School Athletic AssociationAlabama High School Athletic Association
The Alabama High School Athletic Association , based in Montgomery, is the agency which oversees interscholastic athletic programs for public schools in Alabama....
maintained a four classification system for high school athletics in Alabama. Since then, the AHSAA has maintained a six classification system. Gardendale High was mostly a 3A school (but did participate at class 4A for two years) in the four-class system. Since the advent of the six-class system, most years Gardendale High was a 5A participant, but has spent time in the 6A classification. The classification system is based on enrollment grades 9-12 and is re-evaluated every two years. As of the 2010-2011 school year, Gardendale is classified as a 6A school.
Gardendale High School has achieved success in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. The boys' indoor track team has won the Alabama state indoor track championship, winning titles in 1978 (Class 1A/2A/3A), 1979 (Class 3A), 1980 (Class 3A), 1984 (Class 3A), 1988 (Class 4A/5A) and 1989 (Class 6A). The boys' cross-country running team has won the state Class 3A championship five times, including four consecutive years from 1976 through 1979, and again in 1982.
Gardendale's first state championship in any sport was in wrestling in 1974. The school has produced multiple wrestling state champions. Steve Mordecai was a four-time state champion from 1974 - 1977. Tripp Otis was named Most Outstanding Wrestler in Class 5A for 2007, and completed his senior season by winning the Class 5A state championship in the 189-pound weight class, losing only one match all season long. Fellow wrestler Chad Bearden won the 2007 Class 5A heavyweight championship, winning the Class 5A state championship for the third time in his career.
State Championship Teams
Cross Country1976 Class 3A
1977 Class 3A
1978 Class 3A
1979 Class 3A
1982 Class 3A
Track & Field
1989 Class 6A
Wrestling
1974 Class 3A
1975 Class 3A
Notable alumni
- Curt JarvisCurt JarvisCurtis Versil Jarvis Jr. is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 1987 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama.-External links:*...
- 1983 graduate, University of AlabamaUniversity of AlabamaThe University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
football (1983–1986), Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
-NFL 1987 - Alan OggAlan OggRaymond Alan Ogg was an American professional basketball player who spent three seasons in the NBA. He is the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers' career shot-blocking leader with 266 blocks over four college seasons...
, former NBA basketball player. - Willie WyattWillie WyattWillie Wyatt was an Arena Football League player who played offensive lineman/defensive lineman for the Detroit Drive in 1993 and the Tampa Bay Storm from 1995–1999, and again in 2001. He wore #55...
- 1986 graduate, University of Alabama football (1986–1989), Tampa Bay Buccaneers-NFL 1990. - Jerry Hairston, Sr. - 1971 graduate, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, most notably with the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.