Andrew Jackson High School of Advanced Technology, A Dedicated Magnet School is the oldest fully accredited high school in Duval County, Florida. It is located just north of downtown Jacksonville on Main Street (U.S. Highway 17). It opened in 1927, the same year the city opened Robert E. Lee High School (now Riverside High School). It was originally an all-white school, but the school became integrated in 1970. It is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson, an important figure in the history of Florida, after whom the city of Jacksonville is also named.
Jackson has the city's oldest athletic rivalry with Riverside High School (formerly Robert E. Lee High School). For many years the football game was played in the Gator Bowl Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, and it was a major event for students and alumni of both schools. The girls varsity basketball team were 2007 Gateway Conference Champions, beating out Samuel W. Wolfson High School. They won this award three consecutive years.
Jackson is the only high school in Duval County with an off-campus football stadium. The stadium is located about three-fourths of a mile north of the campus on Main Street, adjacent to North Shore Elementary School. Prior to the construction of this facility the Tigers played their home football games at the Gator Bowl.
In 2017 Andrew Jackson High School celebrated its 90th anniversary.
Contents
Academics
Andrew Jackson currently offers the following magnet academies for students:
Air Force Junior ROTC
Cyber Security
Early College Program
Sports Medicine
Video Game Design
Each magnet academy features a 4-year course progression to provide students with the fundamental skills to succeed in their chosen field. Students are given opportunities to earn industry relevant certifications, participate in internships and job shadowing, take field trips, and enroll in rigorous courses focused on their academy of choice.
Notable alumni
Professor Backwards - comedian with 23 performances on The Ed Sullivan Show.
W. Haydon Burns - mayor of Jacksonville 1949–1965 and Governor of Florida 1965–1967
Judy Canova - comedian
James Collins - former professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers
Rita Coolidge - Grammy Award-winning singer
Vernon Edwards - Former Professional AFL football player.
Robert Edward Femoyer - Medal of Honor recipient and World War II Army Air Corps navigator
Jake Godbold - mayor of Jacksonville 1978–1987
Jamon Gordon - Professional European basketball player
Connie Haines - big-band singer
Jeron Harvey - Former Wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars and current wide receiver for the Jacksonville Sharks.
Tommy Hazouri - mayor of Jacksonville 1987–1991
Alvin Heggs - former NBA player
Wanda Hendrix - 1940s Hollywood actress
Torrin Lawrence - former track and field athlete (sprinter)
A. C. Lyles - long-time Hollywood producer