Leon High School

Leon High School is a public high school in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a part of Leon County Schools. For the 2007-2008 school year, the Florida Department of Education gave the school an "A" rating after its students scored well above the state average on standardized tests in reading and in math. Leon also offers twenty-two Advanced Placement courses; a standard that further distinguishes Leon High in the county, state, and country. Leon High School as the 110th best public high school in Newsweek's list of 1,000 Best High Schools in America in the 2004-2005 school year. Leon High School is also a school in Leon County, Texas just south of Jewett, Texas on Highway 79.

Palmetto North Apartments, the designated family housing area of Florida A&M University, is zoned to this school.

History

Leon High School has always been a part of Tallahassee history, and is one of the oldest high schools in the country. It was founded 14 years before Florida entered into statehood. It was originally founded as Leon Academies in 1831 in Tallahassee, Florida, Leon County and helped shape education in the Capital City. Later in 1903 it would become the Leon County Graded and High School, which was originally set as the first public high school for whites on the corner of Duval, Tennessee and Bronough Streets.

In 1911, a need for more room for the growing student population led to the construction of a second Leon High School where the LeRoy Collins Public Library now stands.

The current building at 550 East Tennessee Street was built in controversy. Built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) for $500,000, citizens thought the high school was too expensive, too far out of town and much too big with the three stories. The architect was M. Leo Elliott, designer of many public buildings of merit, including the Old Jail on East Gaines Street in Tallahassee. The builder was Thomas Monk, who built dozens of high schools and commercial buildings around Florida, including the Monk Building in downtown Bradenton, renovated in 2000. In Tallahassee, Monk also built the Mayo Building in the Capital area, and a house in Los Robles for his daughter and son-in-law.

Athletics

Leon High School's mascot is the Lion, and their colors are red and white. Leon has teams in the following FHSAA sports:

Notable alumni

References

External links

• Leon High School Website
• Leon County School Board