Thomas Jefferson High School (Tampa, Florida) Explained

27.954°N -82.5202°W

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.^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Demographics

Jefferson HS is 53% Hispanic, 34% Black, 9% White, and 4% Other ^[6]

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:^[7]

• 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.^[8] They finished the year 15-0 and ranked #8 nationally^[9]

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^[10]
• Ventell Bryant, NFL wide receiver^[11]
• Andre Caldwell, NFL football player^[12]
• Reche Caldwell, NFL football player^[13]
• Rick Casares, NFL football player^[14]
• Kirby Dar Dar, NFL football player^[15]
• André Davis, NFL wide receiver^[16]
• Lenny Faedo, Major League Baseball player^[17]
• 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. ^[18]
• Joe Lala, musician and actor
• Tony La Russa, Major League Baseball player/manager. Member Baseball Hall of Fame.^{[19] [20]}
• Fred McGriff Major League Baseball player. Member Baseball Hall of Fame.^[21]
• Chris Moore,NFL wide receiver^[22]
• Bob Martinez, former Tampa mayor and Florida governor
• Tino Martinez, Major League Baseball player
• Sam Militello, Major League Baseball player^[23]
• Keith Newman, NFL football player^[24]
• Ferdie Pacheco, Physician for Muhammad Ali
• Al Pardo, Major League Baseball player^[25]
• Prechae Rodriguez, NFL football player^[26]
• Fred Rath, Jr., Major League Baseball player^[27]
• Torrance Small, NFL football player^[28]
• Oscar Smith, NFL football player^[29]
• K. D. Williams, NFL football player^[30]
• Ramik Wilson, NFL Linebacker^[31]
• Tony Zappone, author, photojournalist, broadcaster^[32]

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Administration . Hillsborough County School District . 10 April 2024.
2. Web site: JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. National Center for Education Statistics. April 7, 2024.
3. Web site: Area 1 - List of Schools. Hillsborough County Public Schools. 2018-02-07.
4. https://web.archive.org/web/20080203050528/http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/19/Northoftampa/65_years_later__their.shtml Northoftampa: 65 years later, their spirit remains
5. Web site: Jefferson High / Homepage.
6. Web site: Jefferson High School. 2020-06-11. SchoolDigger. en.
7. Web site: About our Programs . 10 April 2024 . Jefferson High School.
8. Web site: Records. FHSAA. 27 March 2014.
9. Web site: High School Football Rankings - MaxPreps. 2020-06-11. www.maxpreps.com.
10. Web site: Coleman Bell Statistics. Pro Football Archives. March 13, 2014.
11. Web site: Ventell Bryant Statistics. Pro-Football Reference. March 13, 2014.
12. Web site: Andre Caldwell Statistics. Pro Football Archives. March 13, 2014.
13. Web site: Reche Caldwell Statistics. Pro Football Archives. March 13, 2014.
14. Web site: Johston. Joey. Former Jefferson High, NFL star Rick Casares dies. Tampa Tribune. March 13, 2014. September 14, 2013.
15. Web site: Kirby Dar Dar Statistics. Pro Football Archives. March 13, 2014.
16. Web site: Tracking the Bills' reported undrafted free-agent signings - BN Blitz - the Buffalo News . 2015-05-04 . 2015-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150505170547/http://bills.buffalonews.com/2015/05/03/tracking-the-bills-reported-undrafted-free-agent-signings/ . dead .
17. Web site: Lenny Faedo Statistics and History. Baseball Reference. March 13, 2014.
18. Web site: December 3, 2018 . UN GROS CV EN RENFORT : TARENCE KINSEY EST DIJONNAIS . November 4, 2024 . jdadijon.com .
19. Web site: Topkin. Marc. Tampa's Tony La Russa elected to baseball's Hall of Fame. Tampa Bay Times. March 13, 2014. December 9, 2013.
20. Book: Bissinger, Buzz. Three Nights in August. 2006. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 9780618710539. 118. Buzz Bissinger.
21. Web site: Fred McGriff Statistics and History. Baseball Reference. March 13, 2014.
22. Web site: Chris Moore - Baltimore Ravens - NFL. 2020-06-11. www.rotoworld.com. en.
23. Web site: Sam Militello Statistics and History. Baseball Reference. March 13, 2014.
24. Web site: Keith Newman Statistics. Pro Football Archives. March 13, 2014.
25. Web site: Al Pardo Statistics and History. Baseball Reference. March 13, 2014.
26. Web site: Beyond the Gridiron with Prechae Rodriguez. Arena Football League. March 13, 2014.
27. Web site: Fred Rath Statistics and History. Baseball Reference. March 13, 2014.
28. Web site: Torrance Small Statistics. Pro Football Archives. March 13, 2014.
29. Web site: Oscar Smith Statistics. Pro Football Archives. March 13, 2014.
30. Web site: K.D. Williams Statistics. Pro Football Archives. March 13, 2014.
31. Web site: Ramik Wilson Statistics. Pro-Football Reference. March 13, 2014.
32. Web site: Zappone. Tony. John F. Kennedy: A President, A Kid and His Camera. Cigar City Magazine. March 13, 2014. December 6, 2013.