John Dickinson High School
Encyclopedia
John Dickinson High School is a comprehensive four-year high school located on a 67 acres (271,139.6 m²) campus near Wilmington, Delaware
in New Castle County
. Built in the Pike Creek Valley
in 1959, the school takes its name from John Dickinson
, one of colonial America's patriots. One of seven high schools in the Red Clay Consolidated School District
, JDHS currently has an enrollment of about 660 students and a staff of about 50.
2008's seniors received some of the following awards and scholarships: United States Marine Corps, Scholarship Excellence Award; Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award; University of Delaware Merit-Based Aid; City of Wilmington Academic Scholarship; Delaware State University Academic Incentive Award; The William J. Laws Education Award Merit Scholarship from The Achievers, Inc.; AXA Achievement Scholarship (In Association with the U.S. News and World Report); The William Branch American Association of University Women and the Wilmington West Rotary Scholarship
; Diamond State Scholarship; The Diamond State Classic Female Basketball Award; Legislative Essay Scholarship; The Air Force Math and Science Award; The American Association of University Women at the Trabant Center at the University of Delaware; and the Ciba Specialty Chemical Education Foundation Science Award.
John Dickinson High School offers a Microsoft
Computer Systems Engineering Program of study. The three year program will provide students with the following Microsoft A+ certification skills:
field hockey(girls), football(boys), cheerleading(girls), wrestling(boys), baseball(boys), golf(boys), and softball(girls). Dickinson competes as a member of Flight "B" of the Blue Hen Conference. Dickinson is respected throughout the state of Delaware as consistently championship caliber in baseball and boys and girls volleyball. The athletic program is run by the Athletic Director, Mr. Andrew Dick. Mr. Dick also serves as the president of the Blue Hen Conference.
, with McKean students attending classes from roughly six a.m. until noon and Dickinson students in class from roughly noon until six p.m. Fears that the graduating class of 1995 would not be able to hold their commencement at JDHS didn't come true, and the ceremony was held that year on the JDHS football field per tradition. Then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden
was the speaker.
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
in New Castle County
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
. Built in the Pike Creek Valley
Pike Creek, Delaware
Pike Creek is a census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 19,751 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pike Creek is located at ....
in 1959, the school takes its name from John Dickinson
John Dickinson (delegate)
John Dickinson was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. He was a militia officer during the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania and Delaware, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of...
, one of colonial America's patriots. One of seven high schools in the Red Clay Consolidated School District
Red Clay Consolidated School District
Red Clay Consolidated School District is a public school district in northern New Castle County, Delaware. Founded in 1981, Red Clay serves a portion of the city of Wilmington, its northern suburbs, and the Brandywine Creek and Pike Creek Valley areas.-High schools:*Alexis I...
, JDHS currently has an enrollment of about 660 students and a staff of about 50.
Recent awards and accomplishments
Students from the Class of 2008 received awards for art, automotive technology, business education, digital media, English, family and consumer science, graphic arts, instrumental music, Jobs for Delaware Graduates, mathematics, athletics, Physical Education, science, social studies, technology education, theater, world languages, citizenship, leadership, and community service. 28 students were inducted into the National Honor Society.2008's seniors received some of the following awards and scholarships: United States Marine Corps, Scholarship Excellence Award; Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award; University of Delaware Merit-Based Aid; City of Wilmington Academic Scholarship; Delaware State University Academic Incentive Award; The William J. Laws Education Award Merit Scholarship from The Achievers, Inc.; AXA Achievement Scholarship (In Association with the U.S. News and World Report); The William Branch American Association of University Women and the Wilmington West Rotary Scholarship
Rotary Scholarships
Rotary International offers a number of scholarships worldwide for periods of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.- Ambassadorial Mission :The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarship is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries...
; Diamond State Scholarship; The Diamond State Classic Female Basketball Award; Legislative Essay Scholarship; The Air Force Math and Science Award; The American Association of University Women at the Trabant Center at the University of Delaware; and the Ciba Specialty Chemical Education Foundation Science Award.
Higher-level courses
Students at John Dickinson High School are able to receive college credit for English, Calculus, Statistics, US Government, U.S. History, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. Honors courses are offered at every level in the core-curriculum. Those courses include English, algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, U.S. history, economics & government, world history, physical science, biology, chemistry and physics.John Dickinson High School offers a Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Computer Systems Engineering Program of study. The three year program will provide students with the following Microsoft A+ certification skills:
- Brand neutral networking A+ certification
- Microsoft Windows networking
- Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol and Internet information server installation, management and troubleshooting
Sports
JDHS currently fields teams in lacrosse (boys), cross country (boys and girls), soccer(boys and girls), basketball(boys and girls), indoor track(boys and girls), swimming(boys and girls), tennis (girls), outdoor track & field(boys and girls), volleyball(boys and girls),field hockey(girls), football(boys), cheerleading(girls), wrestling(boys), baseball(boys), golf(boys), and softball(girls). Dickinson competes as a member of Flight "B" of the Blue Hen Conference. Dickinson is respected throughout the state of Delaware as consistently championship caliber in baseball and boys and girls volleyball. The athletic program is run by the Athletic Director, Mr. Andrew Dick. Mr. Dick also serves as the president of the Blue Hen Conference.
Performing arts
Dickinson High School has an extensive music program. The Instrumental Department includes marching, concert, and jazz bands. The Choral Department comprises a concert choir, a women’s choir,a gospel choir "AGAPE" and the Dickinson Singers, a renaissance a capella group. Productions by the Drama department include a spring musical as well as fall and spring dramatic presentations. The drama department is under the supervision of Elizabeth Allen. Support for JDHS Performing Arts Department activities comes from the Performing Arts Boosters. The JDHS marching band has long been accompanied by a colorguard, and the school has a dance team. The bands are under the direction of Matt Pagel and the choirs are under the direction of Sheila Cassidy.School history
On January 15, 1995, a substantial portion of the school was damaged by fire, closing the school for several months. Students and teachers shared the space of nearby rival McKean High SchoolThomas McKean High School
Thomas McKean High School is a comprehensive public high school located on 301 McKennan's Church Road in Wilmington, Delaware. The school opened in December, 1966, and graduated its first class in June 1967.- Traditions :...
, with McKean students attending classes from roughly six a.m. until noon and Dickinson students in class from roughly noon until six p.m. Fears that the graduating class of 1995 would not be able to hold their commencement at JDHS didn't come true, and the ceremony was held that year on the JDHS football field per tradition. Then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
was the speaker.
Notable alumni
- Mark Eaton - National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player - Dana Herbert- Winner of the 2011 Next Great Baker competition.
- Akua Parker - Ballet dancer Dance Theater of Harlem,Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet San Jose, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
- Gary SmithGary Smith (sportswriter)Gary Smith is an American sportswriter. He is best known for his lengthy human interest stories in Sports Illustrated, where he has worked since 1983.-Career: :)...
- sportswriter for Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the... - John WockenfussJohn WockenfussJohnny Bilton Wockenfuss is a former utility player in Major League Baseball who had a twelve year career from 1974 to 1985.-Playing career:...
- 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.