Editing Pensacola High School

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|+ style="font-size: large; margin: inherit;"|'''Pensacola High School'''
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|[[Image:Pensacolahigh.jpg|300px|Pensacola High School]]
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|'''Name'''<br>'''''Motto'''''||
'''Pensacola High School'''<br>
'''''A Step Above the Rest!'''''
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|'''Address'''||
500 West Maxwell Street
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|'''Town'''||
[[Pensacola, Florida]] 32501-1664
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|'''Established'''||
[[1905]]<ref name="PHS History Timeline">http://www.pensacolahighschool.org/about/about_main.htm</ref>
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|'''Type'''||
Public secondary
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|'''Religion'''||
Secular
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|'''Students'''||
Coeducational
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|'''Grades'''||
9 to 12
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|'''Accreditation'''||
Florida State Department of Education
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|'''District'''||
[[Escambia County School District]]
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|'''Principal'''||
[[David Williams]]
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|'''Assistant Principal of Curriculum'''||
[[Dr. Joy McMichael]]
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|'''Assistant Principal of Facilities and Maintenance'''||
[[Thomas Rollins]]
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|'''Mascot'''||
[[Wikipedia:Tiger|Tiger]]
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|'''Colors'''||
Maroon and White
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|'''Yearbook'''||
''Annona'' (as of 1906)<ref name="PHS History Timeline"/>
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|'''Newspaper'''||
''The Prowler''
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|'''Website'''||
[http://www.escambia.k12.fl.us/schscnts/penh/phs.htm Link]
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'''Pensacola High School''' is a [[Wikipedia:secondary school|secondary school]] located near downtown [[Pensacola, Florida]], [[Wikipedia:USA|USA]].

The school celebrated its 100th anniversary in [[2001]] and graduated its 100th class of seniors in [[2005]]; however, the school has not always been at its current location. It was moved to Maxwell Street in [[1952]]. In [[1969]], a fire gutted the previous school building on Lee Square, prompting its demolition. Currently, it is the oldest secondary school in Pensacola.

The school is part of the [[Escambia County School District]]. A former principal, Norm Ross, is the Deputy Superintendent of Schools for the county. Currently, the principal is David Williams, who previously served as an Assistant Principal of Facilities and Maintenance.

After [[Hurricane Ivan]], which struck the Pensacola area on [[September 16]], [[2004]], Pensacola High School was damaged, especially in the gym (one of the four towering walls was completely destroyed). While large renovations were needed, the school remained open and in operation. The gymnasium, which had only recently been remodeled, was demolished in [[Wikipedia:June 2005|June 2005]].

==Origins==
The first public school for boys in Pensacola was organized in [[1870]]. A two-story building on Wright Street was erected by the School Board in [[1875]]. It was known as the [[Pensacola Academy]] and its principal was [[John Wilmer]]. In [[1886]], a new building was erected on Lee Square, known as [[High School No. 1|Public School No. 1]]. Its first graduating class consisted of [[Albert Reed]] and [[J. Whiting Hyer]]. 

In [[1905]], Pensacola Senior High School was organized in the Public School No. 1 building. The school was a four-year high school, and its first principal was [[J. B. Lockey]]. PSHS's first graduating class consisted of [[Dudley Barrow]] and [[Nell Richards]].

==International Baccalaureate==
Pensacola High School is the only school in the county to have an [[Wikipedia:International Baccalaureate|International Baccalaureate]] program as well as a [[Wikipedia:Health Occupation Students of America|Health Occupation Students of America]] honors program. The International Baccalaureate program was introduced in [[1986]] as a last-ditch effort to keep the school open; many students had performed poorly, and there were high dropout rates. The school district had given the administration an ultimatum: improve the numbers or be shut down. With the introduction of the IB program, the higher test scores helped bring up the average and kept Pensacola High open.

The IB program at Pensacola High was developed by Donna Dunson. Richard Kuhn served as the coordinator from [[1994]] until [[2002]]. Under his guidance the program achieved great success, all the more impressive when considering the poor funding provided to the county. Upon his resignation, former teacher and District Social Studies Specialist Colleen Boyett served as coordinator. Under her leadership AP and IB course offerings were expanded, resulting in Pensacola High being named as one of the top ten high school programs in America by Newsweek magazine in May of 2005. Upon her departure to return to graduate school, she was replaced by Dr. Joy McMichael. In July 2007, however, Dr. McMichael became Assistant Principal of Curriculum, and Deanna Gordon (previously the IB World Literature teacher) became the new IB coordinator.

==National Recognition and Prominence==
In the news magazine ''[[Wikipedia:Newsweek|Newsweek]]'''s published list of America's Top Public High Schools, Pensacola High School ranked as follows:

[[2003]] - #188<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2003/rank/1/&s=Pensacola</ref><br>
[[2005]] - #8<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2005/rank/1/&s=Pensacola</ref><br>
[[2006]] - #38<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2006/rank/1/&s=Pensacola</ref><br>
[[2007]] - #38<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2007/rank/1/&s=Pensacola</ref><br>
[[2008]] - #42<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?s=Pensacola</ref><br>

In [[2007]], Pensacola High School was ranked #36 by the ''[[Wikipedia:Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' based on data collected in 2006. However, it is to be noted that this formula does not take high performing schools with SAT averages over 1300 math and critical reading and ACT averages over 27 into account.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jay|last=Matthews|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/challengeindex/|title=Challenge Index 2007|work=Washington Post|accessdate=2008-07-30}}</ref>

==2008-2009 Changes==
At the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, Pensacola High underwent a long list of changes. A short listing is as follows:

* School start time changed from 7:15 AM to 2:45 PM to 8:35 AM to 3:35 PM.
* The bus routes changed, as that was the reason for changing the start and end times.
* Food prices changed to $1.50 for breakfast and $2.50 for lunch.
* [[David Williams]] became the new principal. 
* [[Thomas Rollins]] became the new Assistant Principal of Facilities and Maintenance.
* Teachers began teaching six periods a day with one planning period instead of five periods a day with two planning periods.
* Lunch was changed to 4th period instead of 5th period due to the change in school times.
* Alita Brooks, the Drama and IB Theatre teacher, began teaching an IB Theory of Knowledge class to cover for Mr. Butcher, who was diagnosed with cancer.
* Mrs. Benson, the IB English teacher, began teaching the remainder of Mr. Butcher's IB Theory of Knowledge classes.
* Guy Beard, the Peer Counseling teacher, began teaching AP Psychology in addition to Dr. Jerry Robbins, the established Latin and AP Psychology teacher.
* Mrs. Paedae began teaching AP Calculus AB. 
* Xiuqing Wang Sue Li began teaching Algebra II Honors again, in addition to her IB Pre-Calculus and IB Math Studies classes. 
* Blevins Rose replaced Kent Rettig as teacher of AP U.S. History. He also remained teaching one AP World History class.
* Lucia Harvilchuck and John C. Murray changed places, Harvilchuck teaching AP English Language and Composition and Murray teaching AP English Literature and Composition and at least one class of English I - Pre IB.
* Michael Jones, the AP European History and Student Government Association teacher began teaching AP World History in addition to his other classes.
* Roy Bullington began teaching three periods of AP European History instead of his usual one, his other three periods filled with his normal class, IB History of the Americas II.
* Students began going to their Alpha[betical] homerooms occasionally, on days specified in advance.
* Second period was extended by five minutes to make up for the lack of a normal homeroom.
* All language classes were moved to the gym Building 5, the gym.

==Extracurricular programs==
PHS features a variety of athletic programs; many of which often do well at the district and occasionally state level.  Those are boys' football, weightlifting, and golf and girls' volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, cross country, track and field, swimming and diving, and tennis.

PHS also currently features two strong academic extracurricular activities which have enjoyed great success on the county/northwest [[Wikipedia:Florida|Florida]]/state level:
*Scholars/[[Wikipedia:Quiz Bowl|Quiz Bowl]] (Academic Team) which recently had a senior make it onto Team Florida which placed 2nd by one point in the [[Wikipedia:Panasonic Academic Challenge|Panasonic Academic Challenge]]. In 2007, it swept all six spots in the Escambia County All Star Academic Team making it the first time any one school took all the spots. It was also the first time a freshman made the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pensacolahighschool.org/activities/academic_team/academic_team.htm|title=The Academic Team|work=Pensacola High School|accessdate=2008-07-30}}</ref>
*[[Wikipedia:Mu Alpha Theta|Mu Alpha Theta]] (Math Team) which attends three regional competitions and the Milton math competition. The Pensacola High School math team consistently has individuals placing in the top ten and teams placing in the top five. It usually also places in the sweepstakes division. In the Milton math competition, Pensacola High School has exerted its dominance over the more local area schools for many years.

There are also band and cheerleading programs as well as an active [[Wikipedia:Student Government Association|Student Government Association]].  Although the school's newspaper, ''The Prowler'', has not been active for several years, it will be up and running as of the 2008-2009 school year.

==Notable Alumni==

*[[Wikipedia:Reubin O'Donovan Askew|Reubin O'Donovan Askew]] (Class of 1946) - Former Governor of Florida
*[[Fred Levin]] (Class of 1954) - Famed civil trial lawyer for whom the Law School at the [[Wikipedia:University of Florida|University of Florida]] is named, as well as sometime lawyer and adviser to boxer [[Wikipedia:Roy Jones Jr.|Roy Jones Jr.]]
*[[Wikipedia:Neal Boortz|Neal Boortz]] (Class of 1963) - Libertarian talk-show host
*Alex Gordon - Current Vanderbilt basketball player
*Adam McCloskey - Current Sports Talk Radio host at [[Wikipedia:WTKE-FM|WTKE-FM]] and [[Wikipedia:Deadspin|Deadspin]]recognized blogger
*[[Wikipedia:Michelle Snow|Michelle Snow]] (Class of 1998) - [[Wikipedia:WNBA|WNBA]] basketball player and former [[Wikipedia:University of Tennessee|University of Tennessee]] standout
*[[Wikipedia:Ensign|Ensign]] [[Hunter Scott]] (Class of 2003) - History activist 
*Will Hedgecock (Class of 2004) - Singer
*[[Wikipedia:Eric Wu|Eric Wu]] (Class of 1995) - D-List Internet celebrity, creator of [[Wikipedia:Eric Conveys an Emotion|Eric Conveys an Emotion]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.pensacolahighschool.org/ Pensacola High School website]
*[http://www.escambia.k12.fl.us/ Escambia School District]
{{Geolinks-US-streetscale|30.434288|-87.224784}}
{{Escambia County School District}}

[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1901]]

[[Category:International Baccalaureate schools]]
[[Category:Escambia County School District]]
[[Category:High schools in Escambia County, Florida]]