Murrah High School
Encyclopedia
Murrah High School is a public high school
in Jackson
, Mississippi
(USA
). It is part of the Jackson Public School District
.
, elected in 1910. Born in Pickensville
, Alabama
, he was educated at Southern University (now Birmingham-Southern College
) in Greensboro
, Alabama, and at Centenary College
in Jackson
, Louisiana
. In 1897 Murrah received the LL.D. degree from Wofford College
in South Carolina
. Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, he served from 1890 till 1910 as the first President of Millsaps College
in Jackson, Mississippi. Murrah High School in Jackson and Murrah Hall on the Millsaps campus were both named after William B. Murrah.
(UMC) in the Base Pair research mentorship program funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The primary focus for Base Pair is to utilize the physical resources and intellectual capital of UMC to enable the pursuit of excellence in science education within a local public school environment. The program matches high school students with UMC faculty members for in-depth experiences in the sciences.
Base Pair has consistently emphasized three objectives:
That program, funded since 1992 and continuing through 2007, has brought approximately $1.3 million for science education enhancement into the district. Base Pair-trained high school students are authors on more than five dozen published scientific papers or abstracts. Twenty-five Base Pair graduates are currently in post-baccalaureate academic programs, including 12 in M.D., M.D./Ph.D., Ph.D. (science) or Masters degree in science training. Six of these are currently enrolled in a program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Visit the UMC Base Pair Web site at http://basepair.library.umc.edu
-12
who are academic achievers and/or who show aptitude for one or more of the visual or performing arts. There is an application process held each year for entrance into the programs for the following school year.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). It is part of the Jackson Public School District
Jackson Public School District
The Jackson Public School District is a public school district based in Jackson, Mississippi . In addition to Jackson, the district serves a portion of the Byram community.-Superintendent:...
.
Demographics
There were a total of about 1,600 students enrolled in Murrah High during the 2008-2009 school year. The gender makeup of the district was 56% female and 44% male. The racial makeup of the school is 93.52% African American, 5.30% White, 0.44% Hispanic, 0.59% Asian, and 0.15% Native American.History
William Belton Murrah (1852-1925) was an American Bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church, SouthMethodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
, elected in 1910. Born in Pickensville
Pickensville, Alabama
Pickensville is a town in Pickens County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 662.-Geography:Pickensville is located at ....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, he was educated at Southern University (now Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
) in Greensboro
Greensboro, Alabama
Greensboro is a city in Hale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,731. The city is the county seat of Hale County. It is part of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Alabama, and at Centenary College
Centenary College of Louisiana
Centenary College of Louisiana is a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college in Shreveport, Louisiana. The college is one of the founding members of the Associated Colleges of the South, a pedagogical organization consisting of sixteen Southern liberal arts colleges...
in Jackson
Jackson, Louisiana
Jackson is a town in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,130 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. In 1897 Murrah received the LL.D. degree from Wofford College
Wofford College
Established in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The...
in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, he served from 1890 till 1910 as the first President of Millsaps College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 1890, the college is recognized as one of the country's best private colleges dedicated to undergraduate teaching and educating the whole individual. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Millsaps...
in Jackson, Mississippi. Murrah High School in Jackson and Murrah Hall on the Millsaps campus were both named after William B. Murrah.
Base Pair program
JPS is a partner with the University of Mississippi Medical CenterUniversity of Mississippi Medical Center
University of Mississippi Medical Center is the health sciences campus of the University of Mississippi and is located in Jackson, Mississippi...
(UMC) in the Base Pair research mentorship program funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The primary focus for Base Pair is to utilize the physical resources and intellectual capital of UMC to enable the pursuit of excellence in science education within a local public school environment. The program matches high school students with UMC faculty members for in-depth experiences in the sciences.
Base Pair has consistently emphasized three objectives:
- To cultivate career awareness among high school students in areas related to biomedical research
- To train such students as effective "communicators of science" to the general public
- To advance teacher professional and science curriculum development within the JPSD
That program, funded since 1992 and continuing through 2007, has brought approximately $1.3 million for science education enhancement into the district. Base Pair-trained high school students are authors on more than five dozen published scientific papers or abstracts. Twenty-five Base Pair graduates are currently in post-baccalaureate academic programs, including 12 in M.D., M.D./Ph.D., Ph.D. (science) or Masters degree in science training. Six of these are currently enrolled in a program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Visit the UMC Base Pair Web site at http://basepair.library.umc.edu
SOAR
The Student Oriented Academic Research (SOAR) program is a companion to the Base Pair program at Murrah High School. SOAR was developed to implement advanced science research activities for JPS students outside of the UMC zone. In this program, students are enrolled in Biology II during their junior year and other advanced life science courses during their senior year. The SOAR program supports advanced biomedical and forensic science laboratory research by students at each high school site.Forensics
Murrah's Speech and Debate Team, coached by Sonya Harvey since 2008, has produced many successful competitors. Most recently, junior Public Forum debaters Porter and Rucker qualified to compete at the 2011 National Forensic League Tournament, along with only two other Public Forum teams from the entire state of Mississippi.Academic and Performing Arts Complex (APAC)
The Academic and Performing Arts Complex (APAC) is open to students in grades 4Fourth grade
Fourth grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The fourth grade is the fourth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 9 or 10 years old, depending on their birthday. It is a part of elementary school. In some parts of the United States, fourth grade...
-12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
who are academic achievers and/or who show aptitude for one or more of the visual or performing arts. There is an application process held each year for entrance into the programs for the following school year.
- Academics: Eligibility for the academics division is based on past grades, standardized tests, entrance tests, and teacher recommendations. Cooperative learning and higher order thinking skills are emphasized. Courses in math, science, language arts, and social studies prepare students to take further APAC and Advanced Placement/APAC classes in high school. APAC academic courses are offered for grades 4Fourth gradeFourth grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The fourth grade is the fourth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 9 or 10 years old, depending on their birthday. It is a part of elementary school. In some parts of the United States, fourth grade...
-5Fifth gradeFifth grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The fifth grade is the fifth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 10 – 11 years old, and are preteens...
at Power APAC Elementary; for grades 6Sixth gradeSixth grade is a year of education in the United States and some other nations. The sixth grade is the sixth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 11 – 12 years old...
-8Eighth gradeEighth grade is a year of education in the United States, Canada, Australia and other nations. Students are usually 13 - 14 years old. The eighth grade is typically the final grade before high school, and the ninth grade of public and private education, following kindergarten and subsequent grades...
at Chastain, Powell, and Peeples middle schools; and for grades 9Ninth gradeNinth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
-12Twelfth gradeTwelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
at Murrah High School. In October 2002, Jackson Public Schools received a federal grant totaling almost $1 million to increase the number of middle and high school students who complete college-level courses in high school. This Advanced Placement (AP) Incentive Grant money has been used to increase the number of middle and high school students enrolling in and successfully completing Advanced Placement or college level courses in high school and in pre-AP courses through the district's accelerated academic program (APAC).
- Performing Arts: The performing arts division offers classes in dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts. Students must make application and audition for entry into the program. These courses are offered for grades 4 through 12 at the Power APAC site.
Alumni
- James Barksdale - Time WarnerTime WarnerTime Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
/NetscapeNetscapeNetscape Communications is a US computer services company, best known for Netscape Navigator, its web browser. When it was an independent company, its headquarters were in Mountain View, California...
executive - Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale - Federal judge, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Richard FordRichard FordRichard Ford is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist and short story writer. His best-known works are the novel The Sportswriter and its sequels, Independence Day and The Lay of the Land, and the short story collection Rock Springs, which contains several widely anthologized stories.-Early...
- novelist, Pulitzer Prize - Othella HarringtonOthella HarringtonOthella Harrington is a retired American professional basketball player and current coach. After he finished his high school career at Murrah High School, he played in college at Georgetown University where he teamed with NBA superstar Allen Iverson...
- basketball - Ronnie HendersonRonnie HendersonRonnie Henderson , a 6'4" shooting guard, was an American basketball player.A cousin of fellow Gulfport native and two time "Mr. Basketball" for the state of Mississippi Chris Jackson a.k.a...
- basketball - Beth HenleyBeth HenleyElizabeth Becker "Beth" Henley is an American dramatist and actress. She writes primarily about women's issues and family in the Southern United States. She is also a screenwriter who has written many film adaptations of her plays...
- Pulitzer Prize winning playwright - Lindsey HunterLindsey HunterLindsey Benson Hunter, Jr. is a former American professional basketball player. He was a point guard in the National Basketball Association from 1993 to 2010, spending most of his career with Detroit Pistons...
- basketball - James RobinsonJames Robinson (basketball)James "Hollywood" Robinson is a former American professional basketball player, most notably in the NBA....
- basketball - Greg "Fingers" Taylor - harmonica player with Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band
- Carson WhitsettCarson WhitsettCarson Whitsett was an American keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer.-Biography:...
- legendary keyboardist, songwriter - Tim WhitsettTim WhitsettTim Whitsett is an American music publisher, musician, songwriter, producer, author, and consultant. He was born in Jackson, Mississippi.-Biography:...
- music publisher, producer, author - Mo WilliamsMo WilliamsMaurice "Mo" Williams is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association...
- basketball - Cassandra WilsonCassandra WilsonCassandra Wilson is an American jazz musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Jackson, Mississippi. Described by critic Gary Giddins as "a singer blessed with an unmistakable timbre and attack [who has] expanded the playing field" by incorporating country, blues and folk music into her...
- singer - George WinstonGeorge WinstonGeorge Winston is an American pianist who was born in Michigan, and grew up mainly in Miles City, Montana as well as Mississippi and Florida. He attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida and lives in Santa Cruz, California.-Background:...
- pianist, recording artist - Rea Hederman - publisher, New York Review of Books, Granta
- Anton Vincent - President, Baking Division, General Mills, Executive http://generalmills.com/Company/Leadership/Anton_Vincent.aspx
- Robert L. Gibbs - Award-Winning Lawyer, Sleep Inn Executive,Former Justice Court Judge
Feeder Patterns
The following schools feed into Murrah High School.- Middle Schools
- Chastain Middle School
- Powell Middle School
- Peeples Middle School
- Elementary Schools
- Boyd Elementary School
- Casey Elementary School
- McLeod Elementary School
- McWillie Elementary School
- Power APAC School
- Spann Elementary School
External links
- Murrah High School - Official website.
- Base Pair official website