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Robert E. Lee High School (Jacksonville)
Encyclopedia
Robert E. Lee Senior High School is a four-year secondary institution in Jacksonville, Florida
. It was named after Confederate States of America
general Robert E. Lee
. It is one of the two oldest Jacksonville high schools operating in situ, --that is, at their original sites. The other school is Lee's traditional rival, Andrew Jackson High School.
Lee is part of the Duval County magnet school program. Eligible students at Lee can earn concurrent credit through the Jacksonville Early College High School program. They receive high school credits from Lee and college credit from Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) for the same courses.
Lee students can also specialize in courses through the Engineering Academy or the Math and Science Magnet Program. In addition, there is a Liberal Arts curriculum. The Early College, Engineering, Math and Science, plus Liberal Arts courses of study are known as Lee's four learning communities.
Lee High is one of 20 high schools in the Duval County School District. Lee, like all other district schools, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
and I-95 permanently separated it from its northern section in the 1950s.
Today, the twin neighborhoods are bound by the Interstates to the north, Roosevelt Boulevard to the west, Big Fishweir Creek to the south, and the St. John's River to the east. The river shore generally runs in a diagonal direction from southwest to northeast.
There is no distinct official boundary between the two neighborhoods, but the mythical dividing line is Willowbranch Creek, since it is the geographic center. This places Lee High in Avondale, although very close to the creek and squarely in the general area where Avondale fades into Riverside.
Many journalists over the years have called Lee a "Riverside school." Adding to the confusion is the architectural similarity of the two neighborhoods. The private, non-profit organization Riverside Avondale Preservation has protected the structures of both neighborhoods since 1974, but few residents use both names, when identifying landmarks.
The use of the hyphenated name Riverside-Avondale is rare in conversation. Residents use either Avondale or Riverside. In spite of the journalistic tradition, Lee High School is technically located in Avondale. The endless debate is reminiscent of the Frank R. Stockton
short story "The Lady, or the Tiger?" (1882).
The architecture of Lee High School has long been a source of pride for students and alumni. Architect Victor Earl Mark (1876–1948) designed Lee High School with William B. Ittner
of St. Louis in 1926-27. Both architects also designed Andrew Jackson Senior High School at the same time, which explains the striking similarity between the two school buildings. Mark studied under famed Jacksonville architect Henry John Klutho
from 1907 to 1911.
The school was dedicated to Robert E. Lee on his birthday, January 19, 1928. Jacksonville's three newly constructed high schools—Lee High, Andrew Jackson High, and (Julia E.) Landon High—replaced Duval High School (c. 1873–1927), the city's original secondary institution for white students. The three new schools were built to meet the needs of a growing city. Black students at the time attended (Old) Stanton High School (c. 1905-53).
The main structure of Lee High School is notable for its beige bricks and top floor off-white stucco. It is handsomely framed by four gabled transepts, which in turn are framed by ground-to-roof stacks of alternating small and large cornerstones. The top floor stucco of the four transepts feature a coat of arms, in which a central figure reaches for a star on the left, while a tree occupies the right side. Also unique are the two front arch doorways, which sport an impressive amount of "radiating" stonework.
The main building has an auditorium and a large courtyard. The football stadium is in the school's "backyard." A field house was added between the stadium and the back of the school in the 1940s. Later, a first floor addition on the original structure's right side accommodated a meeting room, a cafeteria expansion, and the boys' locker room. The basketball gym was built to the right of the school, and the shop and music buildings were located behind the original building to the left at end of Donald Street.
Around 1964, the school board converted (Julia E.) Landon High School to a junior high school. This made Lee and Jackson the two oldest Jacksonville high schools operating at their original sites.
In 1965, a group of Lee High School students formed the band My Backyard. The band, led by singer Ronnie Van Zant
, was renamed Lynyrd Skynyrd
after coach Leonard Skinner
sent guitarist Gary Rossington
to the principal's office for wearing his hair long.
Lee High, like other Duval County schools, was desegregated in two stages. The faculty was integrated during the years of 1968-71. Full student integration took place during the 1971-72 school year.
In May 1980, the Lee High School Jazz and Symphonic Bands earned Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) State Contest. Samuel McCreary was the spring semester band director. Lee Band's previous director was Homer St. Clair. Lee, along with other North Florida bands, competed at the FBA state competition held that year at Florida State University
(FSU).
In the early 1980s, the school constructed an outdoor pool between the gym and the original building. Before that time, the swim teams trained at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Pool, located about a mile north. Lee Pool is used by the athletic teams and physical education classes during the school year. In the summer, it becomes a free public pool operated by the City of Jacksonville Parks & Recreation Department.
On November 24, 1986, Lee was ravaged by a fire that destroyed the library and many classrooms. The fire damage was estimated at US$
4.5 million. After the fire, the Robert E. Lee High School Restoration Committee was formed by Lee alumni to help raise money for restoration.
The cafeteria and the library were expanded during the restoration. In 1991, a new two-floor classroom building was built behind the original structure to accommodate the addition of Ninth Grade. Lee had been a three-year high school since its opening in 1927. Part of the old shop building was torn down to make way for the new two-floor building. The field house was also expanded in 1991.
Lee was one of 11 schools nationwide selected by the College Board
for inclusion in the 2006-10 EXCELerator
School Improvement Model program. The educational partnership, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
, was designed to raise Lee's graduation rate and improve college readiness, especially among minority and low income students.
Neil Allen Williams, Class of 1974, published his memoir Surfing the Color Line in 2006. The book is a personal reflection on desegregation in Duval County and his battles with depression.
In 2010, Lee's engineering magnet program was recognized as a Model Academy by the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC). Only 16 schools in the United States have earned this title.
The engineering program also earned two honors from the Florida Engineering Society (FES). Jeffrey G. Cumber was recognized as the 2010 Teacher of the Year, and Lee won the School of the Year title. Cumber and Lee High School respectively received $500 checks from the affiliated Florida Engineering Foundation (FEF).
The Lee High football team is featured in Jason Tetlak's 2010 comedy/documentary 3rd Down & Forever. The film chronicles Tetlak's futile attempt to become a professional football player. The 31-year-old Whitehouse Elementary art teacher practiced with the Lee Generals as part of his training.
The racial composition of Lee High has varied since full integration
of Duval County students began in the 1971-72 school year. Robert E. Lee became a majority black school in the late 1980s. Then, it was majority white during the years 1991-96. It has been majority black since the 1996-97 school year.
Recent enrollment statistics suggest that Lee is slowly becoming a multicultural school. Since desegregation, black and whites have been the largest student ethnic groups, but Hispanic students topped 100 in 2007-08, after 16 years of general growth. If this trend continues, the presence of Spanish in Lee's hallways will become more commonplace.
A total of 1829 students attended during the 2008-09 school year. Of that total, 63.6% were black, 23.3% were white, 6.5% were Hispanic, and 4.5% were Asian. One student was Native American and 36 were of unspecified ethnicity. The number of Asian students surpassed 50 in the 1992-93 year, but the group has fluctuated between a high of 82 and a low of 44.
(FHSAA) lists football statistics from 1963 to the present on its website http://www.fhsaa.org/records/. Since 1964, the Lee Generals have won seven postseason titles:
Year Class Title Coach Results
1964 2A State Sub-Champion Virgil Dingham Lee 17, Clearwater 0
1977 4A District Champion Charles "Corky" Rogers Lee 14, Neptune Beach Fletcher 10
1979 4A District Champion Charles "Corky" Rogers Lee 28, St. Augustine 6
1980 3A Regional Champion Charles "Corky" Rogers Lee 30, Palatka 7
Lee 26, Milton 0
1984 3A District Champion Charles "Corky" Rogers Lee 7, Middleburg 3
1995 4A Regional Semifinalist Ed Barrett Lee 32, Jacksonville Andrew Jackson 0
Lee 28, Tallahassee Rickards 17
Lee 21, Eustis 13
1996 4A Regional Semifinalist Ed Barrett Lee 21, Jacksonville Englewood 0
Lee 49, Crawfordville Wakulla 14
Lee 24, Alachua Santa Fe 14
Since 1997, the Generals have advanced to postseason play six times, but have not captured a district championship.
The houses of both neighborhoods reflect a large variety of architectural styles: Tudor, Georgian, Bungalow, Art Deco, Shingle Style, Prairie Style, Gothic Revival, Colonial Revival, Jacobethan Revival, Eclectic/Exotic, and Queen Anne/Victorian. Avondale, the younger neighborhood, also has several houses built in the Mediterranean Revival style, which was in vogue during the 1920s.
The twin neighborhoods have six public parks: Boone, Fishweir, Memorial, Riverside, Willowbranch, and Willowbranch Rose Garden (formerly Variety Rose Garden). There are also four historic commercial areas: Five Points, Park & King, Park & Dancy, and Avondale Shopping Center.
Lee High itself reflects the Open Air architectural values of the Progressive Education Movement (1875–1955). The Progressives felt that schools should resemble the outdoors as much as possible. Lee High School's numerous windows bring in a lot of natural light. So, the original building is less dependent on artificial lighting. This is one of the "green" advantages of historic buildings.
The original building's courtyard, roomy stairwells, and ample hallways give students a healthy amount of physical space. Before air conditioning was installed in the late 1980s, the natural ventilation helped the school "breathe." Students found the air temperature very comfortable from October to April. Lee was also blessed with radiators for the winter. September and May were the only months when the heat and humidity were a consideration. The Open Air Style was a reaction to the dark, crowded, and poorly ventilated buildings that plagued poor school districts.
Lee plans to tear down the circa 1940's field house to build a new, large cafeteria to accommodate its 1700-plus students. In the original building, the right side addition, which houses the old cafeteria kitchen and the boys' locker room, will be torn down to restore the structure to its original architectural footprint. The front office will move into the old cafeteria space, and a new exterior doorway will be constructed.
The basketball court behind the gym will be torn up to make way for a new boys' locker room. The girls' locker room will expand to incorporate the old boys basketball locker room at the front of the gym.
The original building will undergo a major interior renovation during the 2011-12 school year. Students will attend classes in temporary portables placed on the football field. For the 2011 football season, the Lee Generals will practice at Lackawanna Alternative Education Center. They will play their "home" games at Ed White High School. The renovation will upgrade the electrical system for wireless computers, eliminate shell walls that interfere with cell phones, and replace wooden floors and walls that date from the 1920s.
Year Class Title Coach Results
1995 4A Regional Finalist Leon Barrett Lee 7, Ponte Vedra Beach Nease 3
Lee 10, Tallahassee Rickards 0
Lee 1, Jacksonville Bishop Kenny 0
1996 4A Regional Finalist Leon Barrett Lee 18, Jacksonville Englewood 1
Lee 3, Crawfordville Wakulla 1
Lee 3, Alachua Santa Fe 2
1997 4A Regional Quarterfinalist Leon Barrett Lee 3, Jacksonville Bishop Kenny 2
1998 4A Regional Semifinalist Leon Barrett Lee 2, Green Cove Springs Clay 0
Lee 9, Pace 3
1999 4A Regional Quarterfinalist Leon Barrett Lee 3, Jacksonville Bishop Kenny 1
In 1938, the downtown campus became Stanton Senior High School. Other elementary and junior high schools had opened by this time to serve black students. During the 1953-54 school year, New Stanton Senior High School opened on West 13 Street. The downtown campus served as a junior high school the same year, and then became Stanton Vocational High School. So, there were actually two Stanton High Schools from 1954 to 1971, the year Stanton Vocational closed.
After integration during the 1971-72 school year, New Stanton continued as a predominantly black school until the 1980-81 year, when the school board converted the West 13 Street campus into an academic magnet under the name Stanton College Preparatory School
. Since 1980, Stanton has ironically been a majority white school.
The Stanton High School name dates from the early Twentieth Century, but is no longer connected to the original downtown campus. Lee and Jackson have never been separated from their original buildings. So, Stanton can claim the title of oldest operating high school in name, but Lee and Jackson have the oldest living connections to their respective geographic locations. They are the oldest operating high school campuses.
Of course, the very first secondary institution was Duval High School. It opened circa 1873 at Church and Liberty Streets, but was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1901. After operating in temporary locations for a few years, the present brown brick structure opened in 1908 and served Jacksonville until 1927, when it closed in favor of Lee, Landon, and Jackson. The 1908 school building now houses apartments.
Duval High's status as the first among firsts is an ironic one. It survived the 1901 Fire as an institution and was housed in a new building in 1908 at 605 Ocean Street, but Jacksonville built its first suburbs in reaction to the devastation, and eventually built three new high schools—Lee, Jackson, and Landon—to replace Duval. The then-named Board of Public Instruction decided to close Duval, because the Springfield neighborhood had begun to deteriorate in the 1920s, and most white high school students lived in the suburbs by that time. Landon became a junior high school around 1964. So, only the Lee and Jackson campuses have graduated over 80 high school classes—and counting.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. It was named after Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
general Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
. It is one of the two oldest Jacksonville high schools operating in situ, --that is, at their original sites. The other school is Lee's traditional rival, Andrew Jackson High School.
Lee is part of the Duval County magnet school program. Eligible students at Lee can earn concurrent credit through the Jacksonville Early College High School program. They receive high school credits from Lee and college credit from Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) for the same courses.
Lee students can also specialize in courses through the Engineering Academy or the Math and Science Magnet Program. In addition, there is a Liberal Arts curriculum. The Early College, Engineering, Math and Science, plus Liberal Arts courses of study are known as Lee's four learning communities.
Lee High is one of 20 high schools in the Duval County School District. Lee, like all other district schools, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Avondale or Riverside?
Neighborhood identities are important in a big city like Jacksonville, but the location of Lee High School is ambiguous. Is it in Avondale or Riverside? The general definitions of the two neighborhoods have changed over the years. Avondale began as a small developed area in the early 1920s, but grew through the 30s. Riverside was once a much larger neighborhood, until construction of Interstate 10Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
and I-95 permanently separated it from its northern section in the 1950s.
Today, the twin neighborhoods are bound by the Interstates to the north, Roosevelt Boulevard to the west, Big Fishweir Creek to the south, and the St. John's River to the east. The river shore generally runs in a diagonal direction from southwest to northeast.
There is no distinct official boundary between the two neighborhoods, but the mythical dividing line is Willowbranch Creek, since it is the geographic center. This places Lee High in Avondale, although very close to the creek and squarely in the general area where Avondale fades into Riverside.
Many journalists over the years have called Lee a "Riverside school." Adding to the confusion is the architectural similarity of the two neighborhoods. The private, non-profit organization Riverside Avondale Preservation has protected the structures of both neighborhoods since 1974, but few residents use both names, when identifying landmarks.
The use of the hyphenated name Riverside-Avondale is rare in conversation. Residents use either Avondale or Riverside. In spite of the journalistic tradition, Lee High School is technically located in Avondale. The endless debate is reminiscent of the Frank R. Stockton
Frank R. Stockton
Frank Richard Stockton was an American writer and humorist, best known today for a series of innovative children's fairy tales that were widely popular during the last decades of the 19th century...
short story "The Lady, or the Tiger?" (1882).
Cultural history
William B. Ittner
William Butts Ittner was an architect in St. Louis, Missouri. He designed many school buildings in Missouri and other areas, was president of the St...
of St. Louis in 1926-27. Both architects also designed Andrew Jackson Senior High School at the same time, which explains the striking similarity between the two school buildings. Mark studied under famed Jacksonville architect Henry John Klutho
Henry John Klutho
Henry John Klutho was an American architect of the "Prairie School" style. He helped in the reconstruction of Jacksonville, Florida after the Great Fire of 1901—the largest-ever urban fire in the Southeast—by designing many of the new buildings built after the disaster. This period lasted until...
from 1907 to 1911.
The school was dedicated to Robert E. Lee on his birthday, January 19, 1928. Jacksonville's three newly constructed high schools—Lee High, Andrew Jackson High, and (Julia E.) Landon High—replaced Duval High School (c. 1873–1927), the city's original secondary institution for white students. The three new schools were built to meet the needs of a growing city. Black students at the time attended (Old) Stanton High School (c. 1905-53).
The main structure of Lee High School is notable for its beige bricks and top floor off-white stucco. It is handsomely framed by four gabled transepts, which in turn are framed by ground-to-roof stacks of alternating small and large cornerstones. The top floor stucco of the four transepts feature a coat of arms, in which a central figure reaches for a star on the left, while a tree occupies the right side. Also unique are the two front arch doorways, which sport an impressive amount of "radiating" stonework.
The main building has an auditorium and a large courtyard. The football stadium is in the school's "backyard." A field house was added between the stadium and the back of the school in the 1940s. Later, a first floor addition on the original structure's right side accommodated a meeting room, a cafeteria expansion, and the boys' locker room. The basketball gym was built to the right of the school, and the shop and music buildings were located behind the original building to the left at end of Donald Street.
Around 1964, the school board converted (Julia E.) Landon High School to a junior high school. This made Lee and Jackson the two oldest Jacksonville high schools operating at their original sites.
In 1965, a group of Lee High School students formed the band My Backyard. The band, led by singer Ronnie Van Zant
Ronnie Van Zant
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
, was renamed Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
after coach Leonard Skinner
Leonard Skinner
Forby Leonard Skinner was an American high school gym teacher, basketball coach, realtor and bar owner from Jacksonville, Florida. He gained fame in the 1970s as the namesake of the influential Southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd...
sent guitarist Gary Rossington
Gary Rossington
Gary Robert Rossington is a founding member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He plays lead and rhythm guitar. He is also a founding member of The Rossington-Collins Band along with former Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmate, the late Allen Collins...
to the principal's office for wearing his hair long.
Lee High, like other Duval County schools, was desegregated in two stages. The faculty was integrated during the years of 1968-71. Full student integration took place during the 1971-72 school year.
In May 1980, the Lee High School Jazz and Symphonic Bands earned Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) State Contest. Samuel McCreary was the spring semester band director. Lee Band's previous director was Homer St. Clair. Lee, along with other North Florida bands, competed at the FBA state competition held that year at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
(FSU).
In the early 1980s, the school constructed an outdoor pool between the gym and the original building. Before that time, the swim teams trained at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Pool, located about a mile north. Lee Pool is used by the athletic teams and physical education classes during the school year. In the summer, it becomes a free public pool operated by the City of Jacksonville Parks & Recreation Department.
On November 24, 1986, Lee was ravaged by a fire that destroyed the library and many classrooms. The fire damage was estimated at US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
4.5 million. After the fire, the Robert E. Lee High School Restoration Committee was formed by Lee alumni to help raise money for restoration.
The cafeteria and the library were expanded during the restoration. In 1991, a new two-floor classroom building was built behind the original structure to accommodate the addition of Ninth Grade. Lee had been a three-year high school since its opening in 1927. Part of the old shop building was torn down to make way for the new two-floor building. The field house was also expanded in 1991.
Lee was one of 11 schools nationwide selected by the College Board
College Board
The College Board is a membership association in the United States that was formed in 1900 as the College Entrance Examination Board . It is composed of more than 5,900 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. It sells standardized tests used by academically oriented...
for inclusion in the 2006-10 EXCELerator
EXCELerator
' is a school improvement model developed with the College Board. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation agreed to fund a five-year pilot project with a $16 million grant...
School Improvement Model program. The educational partnership, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. It is "driven by the interests and passions of the Gates family"...
, was designed to raise Lee's graduation rate and improve college readiness, especially among minority and low income students.
Neil Allen Williams, Class of 1974, published his memoir Surfing the Color Line in 2006. The book is a personal reflection on desegregation in Duval County and his battles with depression.
In 2010, Lee's engineering magnet program was recognized as a Model Academy by the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC). Only 16 schools in the United States have earned this title.
The engineering program also earned two honors from the Florida Engineering Society (FES). Jeffrey G. Cumber was recognized as the 2010 Teacher of the Year, and Lee won the School of the Year title. Cumber and Lee High School respectively received $500 checks from the affiliated Florida Engineering Foundation (FEF).
The Lee High football team is featured in Jason Tetlak's 2010 comedy/documentary 3rd Down & Forever. The film chronicles Tetlak's futile attempt to become a professional football player. The 31-year-old Whitehouse Elementary art teacher practiced with the Lee Generals as part of his training.
Enrollment
Total enrollment rose from 954 the first year to about 2000 in the 1950s. It generally declined to about 1200 in the late 70s. It reached a low of 777 during the 1990-91 school year. After the incorporation of Ninth Grade in 1991-92, the total number of students slowly rose to a high of 1900 in the 2005-06 year. As of February 2011, a total of 1732 students attended Lee.The racial composition of Lee High has varied since full integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
of Duval County students began in the 1971-72 school year. Robert E. Lee became a majority black school in the late 1980s. Then, it was majority white during the years 1991-96. It has been majority black since the 1996-97 school year.
Recent enrollment statistics suggest that Lee is slowly becoming a multicultural school. Since desegregation, black and whites have been the largest student ethnic groups, but Hispanic students topped 100 in 2007-08, after 16 years of general growth. If this trend continues, the presence of Spanish in Lee's hallways will become more commonplace.
A total of 1829 students attended during the 2008-09 school year. Of that total, 63.6% were black, 23.3% were white, 6.5% were Hispanic, and 4.5% were Asian. One student was Native American and 36 were of unspecified ethnicity. The number of Asian students surpassed 50 in the 1992-93 year, but the group has fluctuated between a high of 82 and a low of 44.
Feeder schools
- J.E.B. Stuart Middle School
- Ortega
- John Stockton
- Venetia
- Eugene Butler Middle School
- Central Riverside
- S.P. Livingston
- Ruth Upson
- West Jacksonville
- John Gorrie Junior High School (Former feeder school)
- Lake Shore Middle School
- Bayview
- Fishweir
- Hyde Park
- Ortega
- Pinedale
- John Stockton
- Ramona
- Ruth Upson
- Venetia
- West Riverside
- Paxon Middle School
- Pinedale
- Ramona
- Kirby Smith Middle School
- (Magnet school is fed by all other magnet elementary schools.)
Football history
The Florida High School Athletic AssociationFlorida High School Athletic Association
The Florida High School Athletic Association is an organization whose purpose is to organize sports competition for high school It is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations ....
(FHSAA) lists football statistics from 1963 to the present on its website http://www.fhsaa.org/records/. Since 1964, the Lee Generals have won seven postseason titles:
Year Class Title Coach Results
1964 2A State Sub-Champion Virgil Dingham Lee 17, Clearwater 0
1977 4A District Champion Charles "Corky" Rogers Lee 14, Neptune Beach Fletcher 10
1979 4A District Champion Charles "Corky" Rogers Lee 28, St. Augustine 6
1980 3A Regional Champion Charles "Corky" Rogers Lee 30, Palatka 7
Lee 26, Milton 0
1984 3A District Champion Charles "Corky" Rogers Lee 7, Middleburg 3
1995 4A Regional Semifinalist Ed Barrett Lee 32, Jacksonville Andrew Jackson 0
Lee 28, Tallahassee Rickards 17
Lee 21, Eustis 13
1996 4A Regional Semifinalist Ed Barrett Lee 21, Jacksonville Englewood 0
Lee 49, Crawfordville Wakulla 14
Lee 24, Alachua Santa Fe 14
Since 1997, the Generals have advanced to postseason play six times, but have not captured a district championship.
Historic neighborhoods
Lee High School is part of one of the most architecturally unique areas in the country. The Avondale and Riverside neighborhoods feature a diverse collection of early Twentieth Century architectural styles. After the Civil War, Jacksonville residents began buying property southwest of downtown, in what was once a collection of plantations. They constructed houses and mansions and they dubbed the new suburb Riverside. The neighborhood's development peaked from 1895 to 1929. Avondale, an additional neighborhood farther to the southwest, was developed during the 1920s and 30s.The houses of both neighborhoods reflect a large variety of architectural styles: Tudor, Georgian, Bungalow, Art Deco, Shingle Style, Prairie Style, Gothic Revival, Colonial Revival, Jacobethan Revival, Eclectic/Exotic, and Queen Anne/Victorian. Avondale, the younger neighborhood, also has several houses built in the Mediterranean Revival style, which was in vogue during the 1920s.
The twin neighborhoods have six public parks: Boone, Fishweir, Memorial, Riverside, Willowbranch, and Willowbranch Rose Garden (formerly Variety Rose Garden). There are also four historic commercial areas: Five Points, Park & King, Park & Dancy, and Avondale Shopping Center.
Lee High itself reflects the Open Air architectural values of the Progressive Education Movement (1875–1955). The Progressives felt that schools should resemble the outdoors as much as possible. Lee High School's numerous windows bring in a lot of natural light. So, the original building is less dependent on artificial lighting. This is one of the "green" advantages of historic buildings.
The original building's courtyard, roomy stairwells, and ample hallways give students a healthy amount of physical space. Before air conditioning was installed in the late 1980s, the natural ventilation helped the school "breathe." Students found the air temperature very comfortable from October to April. Lee was also blessed with radiators for the winter. September and May were the only months when the heat and humidity were a consideration. The Open Air Style was a reaction to the dark, crowded, and poorly ventilated buildings that plagued poor school districts.
New construction and renovation
The Lee High School buildings will undergo some major changes during the next two years. A new three-story classroom building is being constructed on the left side of the original structure at the end of Donald Street. The surviving section of the old shop building was torn down to make way for the new addition. The new building will eliminate the need for the portable classrooms presently occupying the old driver's ed range near the southeast end zone of the football field.Lee plans to tear down the circa 1940's field house to build a new, large cafeteria to accommodate its 1700-plus students. In the original building, the right side addition, which houses the old cafeteria kitchen and the boys' locker room, will be torn down to restore the structure to its original architectural footprint. The front office will move into the old cafeteria space, and a new exterior doorway will be constructed.
The basketball court behind the gym will be torn up to make way for a new boys' locker room. The girls' locker room will expand to incorporate the old boys basketball locker room at the front of the gym.
The original building will undergo a major interior renovation during the 2011-12 school year. Students will attend classes in temporary portables placed on the football field. For the 2011 football season, the Lee Generals will practice at Lackawanna Alternative Education Center. They will play their "home" games at Ed White High School. The renovation will upgrade the electrical system for wireless computers, eliminate shell walls that interfere with cell phones, and replace wooden floors and walls that date from the 1920s.
Notable alumni
- Hoyt AxtonHoyt AxtonHoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
, actor, singer, songwriter, All State football player - Catie BallCatie BallCatherine Northcutt "Catie" Ball Condon is a former American international swimmer and Olympic gold medalist. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, she won a gold medal as the anchor swimmer for the U.S. 4x100-meter medley relay team...
, Olympic swimmer - Edgar BennettEdgar BennettEdgar Bennett III is a former National Football League running back who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears , and is currently a coach for the Green Bay Packers.-High school years:...
, Florida State UniversityFlorida State UniversityThe Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
and Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... - Don BessentDon BessentFred Donald Bessent was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1955-1958 with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers....
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pitcher - LeRoy ButlerLeRoy ButlerLeRoy Butler, III is a former American football strong safety who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers . He spent his childhood in Jacksonville, Florida, challenged by physical problems that forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times while undergoing therapy...
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for the 4th district of Florida - Clarence DenmarkClarence DenmarkClarence Traneil Denmark is an Canadian football wide receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Prior to his time in the CFL, Denmark played for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL...
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recipient, later renounced - Stetson KennedyStetson KennedyWilliam Stetson Kennedy was an American author and human rights activist. One of the pioneer folklore collectors during the first half of the twentieth century, he is remembered for having infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 1940s, exposing its secrets to authorities and the outside world...
, author, folklorist, human rights activist - Members of the band Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
- Mark McCumberMark McCumberMark Randall McCumber is an American golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.McCumber was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He turned professional in 1974 and joined the PGA Tour in 1978. McCumber won ten times on the PGA Tour between 1979 and 1994 including the prestigious Players...
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actor - Members of the band 38 Special
Softball history
The FHSAA Fast-Pitch Softball records date from 1988. Lee was a powerhouse during the 1990s:Year Class Title Coach Results
1995 4A Regional Finalist Leon Barrett Lee 7, Ponte Vedra Beach Nease 3
Lee 10, Tallahassee Rickards 0
Lee 1, Jacksonville Bishop Kenny 0
1996 4A Regional Finalist Leon Barrett Lee 18, Jacksonville Englewood 1
Lee 3, Crawfordville Wakulla 1
Lee 3, Alachua Santa Fe 2
1997 4A Regional Quarterfinalist Leon Barrett Lee 3, Jacksonville Bishop Kenny 2
1998 4A Regional Semifinalist Leon Barrett Lee 2, Green Cove Springs Clay 0
Lee 9, Pace 3
1999 4A Regional Quarterfinalist Leon Barrett Lee 3, Jacksonville Bishop Kenny 1
Who was first?
While Lee and Jackson are the two oldest Jacksonville high schools still operating on their original campuses, one could argue that Stanton is the oldest operating secondary institution in the city. Stanton opened in 1868 in downtown Jacksonville as the first school in Florida for African American children. It first served as a primary school, and later became a grade school (1-8) by the early 1890s. From 1894 to around 1905, Stanton slowly incorporated grades 9-12.In 1938, the downtown campus became Stanton Senior High School. Other elementary and junior high schools had opened by this time to serve black students. During the 1953-54 school year, New Stanton Senior High School opened on West 13 Street. The downtown campus served as a junior high school the same year, and then became Stanton Vocational High School. So, there were actually two Stanton High Schools from 1954 to 1971, the year Stanton Vocational closed.
After integration during the 1971-72 school year, New Stanton continued as a predominantly black school until the 1980-81 year, when the school board converted the West 13 Street campus into an academic magnet under the name Stanton College Preparatory School
Stanton College Preparatory School
Stanton College Preparatory School is an academically renowned American high school located in Jacksonville, Florida, whose history dates to the 1860s, when it was begun as an elementary school serving the African-American population under the then-segregated education system. It now serves...
. Since 1980, Stanton has ironically been a majority white school.
The Stanton High School name dates from the early Twentieth Century, but is no longer connected to the original downtown campus. Lee and Jackson have never been separated from their original buildings. So, Stanton can claim the title of oldest operating high school in name, but Lee and Jackson have the oldest living connections to their respective geographic locations. They are the oldest operating high school campuses.
Of course, the very first secondary institution was Duval High School. It opened circa 1873 at Church and Liberty Streets, but was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1901. After operating in temporary locations for a few years, the present brown brick structure opened in 1908 and served Jacksonville until 1927, when it closed in favor of Lee, Landon, and Jackson. The 1908 school building now houses apartments.
Duval High's status as the first among firsts is an ironic one. It survived the 1901 Fire as an institution and was housed in a new building in 1908 at 605 Ocean Street, but Jacksonville built its first suburbs in reaction to the devastation, and eventually built three new high schools—Lee, Jackson, and Landon—to replace Duval. The then-named Board of Public Instruction decided to close Duval, because the Springfield neighborhood had begun to deteriorate in the 1920s, and most white high school students lived in the suburbs by that time. Landon became a junior high school around 1964. So, only the Lee and Jackson campuses have graduated over 80 high school classes—and counting.