Misplaced Pages

27°57′14″N 82°31′13″W / 27.954019°N 82.52018°W / 27.954019; -82.52018

Thomas Jefferson High School
Address
4401 Cypress Street Tampa, Florida 33607 United States
Information
Type	Public high school
Established	1939
School district	Hillsborough County Public Schools
Principal	Brittney D. Wilhelm
Staff	60.50 (FTE)
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	1,355 (2023–2024)
Student to teacher ratio	22.40
Color(s)	Blue and gold
Athletics	Football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, cross country, track, swimming, volleyball, golf, cheerleading, soccer, tennis, softball, flag-football, lacrosse.
Athletics conference	6A
Mascot	Dragons
Website	https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/jefferson

Thomas Jefferson High School is a public high school located in the heart of the Westshore Business District of Tampa, Florida, United States. It is an Area 1 school under the Hillsborough County Public Schools system.

History

In 1939, due to the increasing high school population in the Tampa area, Thomas Jefferson High School was founded in the Old Hillsborough County High School building at 2704 N. Highland Avenue in the city's Tampa Heights neighborhood. Named after the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, its first principal was D.W. Waters and its first class graduated in 1942. By 1967, the school board decided that its location no longer met modern educational requirements and the first Jefferson High School was closed. Upon closure of the school, students were sent to neighboring schools to complete their education. The original Thomas Jefferson High School building still exists today as the D.W. Waters Career Center.

On August 27, 1973, the new Jefferson High School building was opened at its current location on West Cypress Street.

Demographics

Jefferson HS is 53% Hispanic, 34% Black, 9% White, and 4% Other

Magnet Program

In 2001, Thomas Jefferson High instituted a magnet program with courses focusing on international studies.

• International Business & Global Finance Honors
• International Culinary Arts Honors
• International Law & Criminal Justice Honors
• Maritime academy

The courses have since changed names and have slowly moved on from focusing on international studies to being college preparatory leadership academies for students.

Thomas Jefferson High School offers the following College Preparatory Leadership Academies to magnet students who apply:

• Business Ownership and Finance Academy
• Maritime and Marine Exploration Academy
• Law and Criminal Justice Leadership Academy
• Culinary Arts & Baking and Pastry Academy

Athletics

Football

In 2010, the Dragons won the Class 3A State Championship. They finished the year 15-0 and ranked #8 nationally

Music

The Music programs offered at Jefferson High School are:

• Marching Band
• Winter Guard
• Jazz Band
• Symphonic Band
• Percussion Ensemble
• Orchestra

Extracurricular activities

Jefferson High students participate in clubs, groups, and organizations.

• Honors clubs

Beta, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, French Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, German Honor Society, Thespians Tri-M National Music Honor Society.

• Magnet clubs

DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, FPSA (Florida Public Service Association), Tri-M Music Honor Society, Mock Trial Team

• Service clubs

Junior Civitan, Key Club, SAC (student advisory council), SADD, Shanti.

• Interest clubs

Arriba, Ballroom Dancing, FCA, True Love Does Wait, Nubian Queens, Science Brain Bowl, YO, Model United Nations, Human Rights, Step, Male/Female Weightlifting, Hip-Hop, Crew, Best Buddies, Drama, Health Club.

• Additional

School newspaper, literary magazine, yearbook.

Notable alumni

• Coleman Bell, NFL football player
• Ventell Bryant, NFL wide receiver
• Andre Caldwell, NFL football player
• Reche Caldwell, NFL football player
• Rick Casares, NFL football player
• Kirby Dar Dar, NFL football player
• André Davis, NFL wide receiver
• Lenny Faedo, Major League Baseball player
• Luis Gonzalez, Major League Baseball player
• Jimmy Herget, Major League Baseball player
• Tarence Kinsey, NBA Basketball player, continued playing 2016 to 2020 in Israel and Europe.
• Joe Lala, musician and actor
• Tony La Russa, Major League Baseball player/manager. Member Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Fred McGriff Major League Baseball player. Member Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Chris Moore ,NFL wide receiver
• Bob Martinez, former Tampa mayor and Florida governor
• Tino Martinez, Major League Baseball player
• Sam Militello, Major League Baseball player
• Keith Newman, NFL football player
• Ferdie Pacheco, Physician for Muhammad Ali
• Al Pardo, Major League Baseball player
• Prechae Rodriguez, NFL football player
• Fred Rath, Jr., Major League Baseball player
• Torrance Small, NFL football player
• Oscar Smith, NFL football player
• K. D. Williams, NFL football player
• Ramik Wilson, NFL Linebacker
• Tony Zappone, author, photojournalist, broadcaster

References

1. "Administration". Hillsborough County School District. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
2. ^ "JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
3. "Area 1 - List of Schools". Hillsborough County Public Schools. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
4. Northoftampa: 65 years later, their spirit remains
5. "Jefferson High / Homepage".
6. "Jefferson High School". SchoolDigger. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
7. "About our Programs". Jefferson High School. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
8. "Records". FHSAA. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
9. "High School Football Rankings - MaxPreps". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
10. "Coleman Bell Statistics". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
11. "Ventell Bryant Statistics". Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
12. "Andre Caldwell Statistics". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
13. "Reche Caldwell Statistics". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
14. Johston, Joey (September 14, 2013). "Former Jefferson High, NFL star Rick Casares dies". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
15. "Kirby Dar Dar Statistics". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
16. "Tracking the Bills' reported undrafted free-agent signings - BN Blitz - the Buffalo News". Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
17. "Lenny Faedo Statistics and History". Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
18. ^ Bissinger, Buzz (2006). Three Nights in August. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 118. ISBN 9780618710539.
19. "UN GROS CV EN RENFORT : TARENCE KINSEY EST DIJONNAIS". jdadijon.com. December 3, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
20. Topkin, Marc (December 9, 2013). "Tampa's Tony La Russa elected to baseball's Hall of Fame". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
21. "Fred McGriff Statistics and History". Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
22. "Chris Moore - Baltimore Ravens - NFL". www.rotoworld.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
23. "Sam Militello Statistics and History". Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
24. "Keith Newman Statistics". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
25. "Al Pardo Statistics and History". Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
26. "Beyond the Gridiron with Prechae Rodriguez". Arena Football League. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
27. "Fred Rath Statistics and History". Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
28. "Torrance Small Statistics". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
29. "Oscar Smith Statistics". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
30. "K.D. Williams Statistics". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
31. "Ramik Wilson Statistics". Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
32. Zappone, Tony (December 6, 2013). "John F. Kennedy: A President, A Kid and His Camera". Cigar City Magazine. Retrieved March 13, 2014.

External links

• Official website
• Hillsborough County Public School information
• Jefferson High School Band
• Jefferson High School baseball
• Jefferson High Sports
• Jefferson sports
• School Accountability report

• High schools in Tampa, Florida
• Public high schools in Florida
• 1939 establishments in Florida
• Educational institutions established in 1939