Jackson-Olin High School
P. D. Jackson-Olin High School, founded in 1952 as Western Olin High School, moved to a new building in 2006 after merging with [[Ensley Magnet High School]. It is currently the largest high school in the Birmingham Public School System, serving over 1,700 students from the Ensley area. The school is located at 510 12th Street Ensley, between Avenue E and Avenue F, adjacent to McAlpine Park. The principal is Linda Parsons.
Jackson-Olin's teams are called the Mustangs and the school colors are kelly green and gold.
Class of 2006
Valedictorian: Raevin Billingsley
New Jackson-Olin
In Fall 2006, Jackson-Olin moved to a new $30.8 million, 300,000 square foot building and merged its student body with the former Ensley High School. The new school has a capacity of 1,800 students in 90 classrooms on 2 floors. There ise a 450 seat cafeteria, 1,800 seat gymnasium, 750 seat auditorium, a practice gym and a football stadium at the new campus. A career wing houses classrooms for auto repair, welding, and culinary arts as well as science labs. Goodwin Mills and Cawood were the architects for the new building, and Doster Construction was the general contractor.
Since the merger, the school has been the scene of frequent fights between the former rivals. After only a few months there had been 70 arrests and four expulsions originating at the school. In October the board contracted with Jarvis Patton to provide mediation services aimed at reducing tension. In December Superintendent Stan Mims appointed Jones Valley K-8 School principal Anthony Gardner to serve as Jackson-Olin's Co-Principal, with responsibility over operations.
Notable alumni
References
- Walton, Val (May 27, 2006) "School is out for aging Ensley High School." Birmingham News.
- Hickerson, Patrick (December 7, 2006) "Co-principal assigned to Jackson-Olin High". Birmingham News.