Stanton College Preparatory School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stanton College Preparatory School |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | |
|
1149 W 13Th St
, 32209-5699
United States
|
|
| Information | |
| Type | Preparatory School |
| Motto | "Ubuntu" |
| Established | 1867 |
| Principal | Nongongoma Majova-Seane |
| Staff | 79.00 (FTE) |
| Number of students | 1,363 (2022-23) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 17.25 |
| Campus | Urban, 17 acres |
| Color(s) | Royal blue █, and white █ |
| Mascot | Blue Devil |
| Website | https://dcps.duvalschools.org/stanton |
Stanton College Preparatory School is a public high school in Jacksonville, Florida. It is known for being a very selective school. Stanton offers special programs like Advanced Placement (AP) and the International Baccalaureate (IB). These programs allow students to take college-level courses.
The school's history began in the 1860s. It was one of the first schools for Black students in Florida. It started as an elementary school during a time when schools were separated by race. Today, Stanton serves students in grades 9-12. It is part of the Duval County Public Schools system. In 2005, Stanton was recognized as the best large high school in the world for its Advanced Placement program. Many Stanton students go on to attend college after they graduate.
Contents
History of Stanton College Preparatory School
After the American Civil War, a group of African Americans in Jacksonville started the Education Society. In 1868, they bought land to build a school. They wanted to call it the Florida Institute. Because of money problems, the building was delayed.
In December 1868, the school was built with help from the Freedmen's Bureau. This was a government agency that helped formerly enslaved people. The school was named after Edwin M. Stanton, who was a Secretary of War for President Abraham Lincoln. He believed in free education for Black children. This was the second school for Black children in Florida.
Early Challenges and Rebuilding
The Freedmen's Bureau ran the school at first. White teachers from the North taught there. Later, the county took over the property to open a public school. The first building burned down in 1882. Another building was built the same year. However, it also burned down on May 3, 1901. This fire destroyed much of Jacksonville.
A new school was built in 1902. It was used until 1917. The original mascot for the school was the Blue Devil. After the school burned down twice and was rebuilt, the "Phoenix rising from ashes" became a second mascot. Today, the Blue Devil is used for sports. The Phoenix is a symbol for the school itself.
Growth and Becoming a High School
In 1914, a court appointed nine trustees to manage the school. These trustees helped guide the school's future. The old wooden building was not safe. So, in 1917, a new, fire-proof building was completed. This building still stands today. Stanton became a very important school for Black children in Duval County.
Stanton started as an elementary school with six grades. It became known for its high educational standards. The eighth grade was added later. James Weldon Johnson, a former student, helped the school become a high school. Eventually, the twelfth grade was added, making Stanton a full high school.
In 1938, Stanton became a senior high school only. This meant it only served older students.
New Stanton and Magnet School Status
In 1953, the name Stanton Senior School moved to a new building on 13th Street. It was called New Stanton Senior High School. The old building on Broad and Ashley Street became "Old" Stanton. It was used as a junior high school for a short time. Then, in 1954, it became the Stanton Vocational High School. This school taught African-American students technical skills.
From 1969 to 1971, New Stanton Senior High School started to focus more on vocational training. In 1971, the old building was given back to the Stanton trustees. Students from the vocational school moved to New Stanton. The school then offered both academic and vocational classes.
In 1981, Stanton College Preparatory School became Duval County's first magnet school. Magnet schools offer special programs to attract students from across the district. It started with grades 7-10. Each year, another grade was added. The first senior class from the magnet program graduated in 1984. Stanton College Preparatory School is now a leader in academic achievement in Duval County.
In 2017, the school received attention for flyers about prom attire. Some students felt the wording was unfair. The principal quickly apologized for the misunderstanding.
School Programs and Activities
Athletics at Stanton
Stanton competes in the Gateway Conference. This is a group of public high schools in Duval County. The school has some athletic facilities on campus. These include a football field, a rubber track, a softball field, and tennis courts. Since Stanton does not have a baseball field, the baseball team practices at J. P. Small Memorial Stadium.
Stanton offers many sports. These include cross country, basketball, football, wrestling, weightlifting, flag football, soccer, track and field, swimming and diving, lacrosse, bowling, volleyball, tennis, baseball, softball, golf, and competitive cheerleading.
Clubs and Extracurricular Activities
Stanton has over 80 clubs and organizations for students. Some popular ones are the Multicultural Club and the school newspaper, Devil's Advocate. The Quiz Bowl team at Stanton is one of the best in the country. In 2021, one of Stanton's teams placed 8th at a national championship tournament. They also win the Duval County Quiz Bowl tournament often.
Stanton also has many Honor Societies. These include Mu Alpha Theta for math and the Psychology National Honor Society.
School Rankings and Achievements
Stanton College Prep has a strong record of high rankings. From 2000 to 2003, Newsweek magazine ranked Stanton first among the top 1,000 public schools in the United States. It was the only school to be in the top 5 every year from 2000 to 2011.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Stanton ninth in its 2008 list of America's Best High Schools. Stanton often ranks first in the U.S. for the number of International Baccalaureate diplomas awarded. The school also consistently has many National Merit Scholarship recipients. It is usually in the top three in Florida for these awards. Stanton has also been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. As of August 2014, US News ranked Stanton as the 12th best high school in the nation. Newsweek ranked it 10th.
Notable Alumni
- Selwyn Carrol, a former member of the Alaska House of Representatives
- J. Dash, a rapper and music producer
- Diana Eng, a fashion designer
- Ned Fulmer, a former YouTuber
- Edward Gourdin, an athlete and the first African-American Superior Court judge in New England
- J. Rosamond Johnson, a composer and singer
- James Weldon Johnson, a former principal of Stanton, civil rights activist, and diplomat
- Sallye Mathis, a teacher and Jacksonville city council member
- Angie Nixon, a community activist and politician
- Tyler Ross, an American actor
- Emily Swallow, an actress
- Mike Waltz, a former national security advisor and U.S. Representative
- Kendal Williams, a sprinter
Notable Faculty
- Joel Davis, a former Major League Baseball pitcher; he played for the Chicago White Sox and is now a baseball coach at Stanton College Preparatory School
