A. H. Parker High School

Last updated

A.H. Parker High School
Address
A. H. Parker High School
900 4th Street North

Birmingham, Alabama
35204

United States
Coordinates 33°30′53″N86°49′45″W / 33.51472°N 86.82917°W / 33.51472; -86.82917
Information
School type Public
Established1900(124 years ago) (1900)
School district Birmingham City Schools
CEEB code 010395
PrincipalDarrell Hudson
Staff36.00 (FTE) [1]
Grades 9-12
Enrollment826 (2022-23) [1]
Student to teacher ratio22.94 [1]
Color(s)Purple and white
  
Nickname Thundering Herd
Website www.bhamcityschools.org/Page/15
DesignatedMay 19, 2011 [2]

A.H. Parker High School is a four-year public high school in Birmingham, Alabama. It is one of seven high schools in the Birmingham City School System and is named for longtime Birmingham educator Arthur Harold Parker. [3] School colors are purple and white, and the mascot is the Bison (the 'Thundering Herd'). Parker competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics. [4]

Contents

History

Originally known as Negro High School, Parker opened as a high school for African-American children in the fall of 1900 with a freshman class of 19 students and one teacher. The school's first graduation was June 3, 1904, at the 16th Street Baptist Church, where 15 students received diplomas. Its founding was spearheaded by pastor and banker William R. Pettiford, and Arthur H. Parker was its first principal. [5]

In September 1910 the school moved to a temporary location - the Lane Auditorium - and began offering skills for women such as sewing, knitting, and child care. By that time the enrollment was about 100 students. Construction of a permanent facility began in 1923, and by 1929 the school had an industrial building, a library and a gymnasium.

In 1937 the school had an enrollment of over 2,700, and in 1939, A.H. Parker retired as principal and the school was subsequently renamed in his honor.

The school continued to grow steadily to 3,761 students in 1946. Because of that large number, the school soon became known as the largest high school for Negroes in the world. In 1953, the school was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, an accreditation it has kept ever since.

In February 2007 the Birmingham City Board of Education announced that Parker would be one of the schools rebuilt using the city's $331 million share of the $1.1 billion Jefferson County School Construction Fund. Plans to demolish the sole remaining historic building on campus, a two-story classroom wing built in 1927 and ultimately torn down in 2011, drew opposition. [6]

Campus

Parker's current campus opened in 2011. It is a 194,250 square foot facility that was constructed at a final cost of $41 million. The new building was built on a site adjacent to the existing facility, which was then demolished in order to make room for parking and athletic facilities. [7] The school has a media center, a distance-learning lab, a career tech wing and an auditorium that can hold 750 students. The cafeteria seats more than 350. [8]

Student profile

Enrollment in grades 9-12 for the 2013–14 school year is 884 students. Approximately 98% of students are African-American, 1% are Hispanic, and 1% are multiracial. Roughly 90% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch. [9]

Parker has a graduation rate of 49%. Approximately 62% of its students meet or exceed proficiency standards in mathematics, and 52% meet or exceed standards in reading. The average ACT score for Parker students is 19. [10]

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huffman High School</span> Public school in Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Huffman High School (HHS) is a four-year public high school in Birmingham, Alabama. It is the largest of seven high schools in the Birmingham City School System and is a magnet school open to students from across the district. School colors are green and orange, and the mascot is the Viking. HHS competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics.

Shades Valley High School (SVHS) is a four-year public secondary school in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Irondale. The school was established in 1948 near Homewood and moved to its present location in 1996. SVHS is the largest of 14 high schools in the Jefferson County School District. School colors are red and black, and the athletic teams are called the Mounties. SVHS competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoover High School (Alabama)</span> American public high school

Hoover High School is a four-year public high school in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Hoover. Hoover replaced the former W.A. Berry High School. It is one of two high schools in the Hoover City School System and one of three International Baccalaureate schools in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area. The school colors are orange, black, and white, and the athletic teams are called the Buccaneers. Hoover competes in AHSAA Class 7A athletics.

Clay-Chalkville High School (CCHS) is a public high school in Clay, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It is the second largest of the Jefferson County Board of Education's fourteen high schools. School colors are navy blue and silver, and the athletic teams are called the Cougars. CCHS competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics. The school was recognized by "Niche.com" as the 42nd "Best High School for Athletes in Alabama" among the top 50 in 2020. CCHS was one of only two Jefferson County System schools designed among the state's more than 300 high schools.

Hewitt-Trussville High School (HTHS) is a four-year public high school in the city of Trussville, Alabama. It is the only high school in Trussville City Schools and is named for the early local educator Robert Hewitt. School colors are red and gray, and the athletic teams are called the Huskies. HTHS competes in Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 7A athletics.

Oak Grove High School is a combined middle school and high school. Its location is fifteen miles northwest of downtown Bessemer, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. It is physically located in the unincorporated community of Oak Grove for which the school is named. Oak Grove is one of fourteen high schools in the Jefferson County School System. School colors are red, white, and black but the athletic teams are called the Tigers. Oak Grove competes in AHSAA Class 4A athletics.

Wenonah High School is a four-year public high school in Birmingham, Alabama. It is one of seven high schools in the Birmingham City School System. School colors are Old gold and white. The mascot is the Dragon. Wenonah competes in Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 5A athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gardendale High School</span> Public school in Gardendale, Alabama, United States

Gardendale High School (GHS) is a public high school located in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Gardendale. It is currently operated by the Jefferson County Board of Education. GHS was established in 1956 as a result of population growth in the area. Until this time, local students mostly attended Mortimer Jordan High School in nearby Morris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramsay High School</span> Magnet school in Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Ramsay High School is a four-year magnet high school in Birmingham, Alabama. It is one of seven high schools in the Birmingham City School System and one of three International Baccalaureate schools in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Originally called Southside High School, it was later renamed in honor of industrialist Erskine Ramsay. School colors are royal blue and white, and the athletic teams are called the Rams. Ramsay competes in AHSAA Class 5A athletics.

McAdory High School (MHS) is a four-year public high school in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of McCalla. It is one of fourteen high schools in the Jefferson County School System and was named for early local educator Isaac McAdory. School colors are black and gold, and the athletic teams are called the Yellowjackets. MHS competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics.

P.D. Jackson-Olin High School (J-O) is a four-year public high school in Birmingham, Alabama. It is one of seven high schools in the Birmingham City School System. Founded in 1952 as Western High School, it was renamed Western-Olin High the following year in honor of the F.W. Olin Foundation, a grantor of $600,000 grant for the school's vocational building. It was renamed again in 1973, Western-Olin to P.D. Jackson-Olin High in honor of its founding principal, Dr. Pierre D. Jackson, who retired the same year after 21 years as principal. It was segregated. The school in its current form took shape in 2006 when J-O merged with Ensley High School as part of systemwide school consolidation. School colors are kelly green and gold, and the athletic teams are called the mustangs. J-O competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics. In 2022 it had 822 students, about 91.5 percent African American, 6.5 percent Hispanic, and .7 percent White. Most students are economically disadvantaged and test scores are a fraction of the state average.

Fairfield High Preparatory School is a public high school located in Fairfield, Alabama, United States, a suburb of Birmingham, and serves grades 9–12. It is the only high school in the Fairfield City School System. School colors are purple, gold, maroon, and white. The athletic teams are called the Tigers. Fairfield competes in AHSAA Class 5A athletics.

Pinson Valley High School (PVHS) is a four-year public high school in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Pinson. It is the fifth largest of the Jefferson County Board of Education's fourteen high schools. School colors are garnet and gold, and the athletic teams are called the Indians. PVHS competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center Point High School</span> Public school in Center Point, Alabama, United States

Center Point High School (CPHS) is a four-year public high school in the Birmingham, Alabama, United States, suburb of Center Point. It is one of fourteen high schools in the Jefferson County School System and was previously known as E.B. Erwin High School. School colors are royal blue and crimson, and the athletic teams are called the Eagles. CPHS competes in AHSAA Class 5A athletics.

Minor High School is a four-year public high school in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Adamsville. It is one of fourteen high schools in the Jefferson County School System. School colors are purple and white, and the athletic teams are called the Tenacious Tigers. Minor competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics.

Leeds High School is a four-year public high school in the Birmingham, Alabama, USA, community of Leeds. It is the only high school in the Leeds City School System. School colors are green and white, and the athletic teams are called the Green Wave. Leeds competes in Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 5A athletics.

Pleasant Grove High School (PGHS) is a combined middle school and high school in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Pleasant Grove. It is one of fourteen high schools in the Jefferson County School System. School colors are purple and gold, and the athletic teams are called the Spartans. PGHS competes in AHSAA Class 5A athletics.

Tarrant High School (THS) is a fourteenth-year public high school in the city of Tarrant. It is the only high school in the Tarrant City School System. School colors are navy blue and gold, and the athletic teams are called the Wildcats. THS competes in AHSAA Class 3A athletics.

Bessemer City High School (BCHS) is a four-year public high school in Bessemer, Alabama. It is the only high school in the Bessemer City School System. School colors are purple and white, and the athletic teams are called the Tigers. BCHS competes in AHSAA Class 6A athletics.

Moody High School is a four-year public high school in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Moody. It is one of five high schools in the St. Clair County School System. School colors are navy blue and Vegas gold, and the athletic teams are called the Blue Devils. Moody competes in AHSAA Class 5A athletics.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Parker High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage Listings as of April 7, 2023" (PDF). ahc.alabama.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  3. ↑ "About Us / Main Page". www.bhamcityschools.org. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  4. ↑ "AHSAA School Classification 2014-16" (PDF).
  5. ↑ Fallin, Jr 1997, pp. 52–75.
  6. ↑ "A. H. Parker High School - Bhamwiki". www.bhamwiki.com. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Evan Terry Associates - Under%20Construction :: A. H. PARKER HIGH SCHOOL, Birmingham City Schools". www.evanterry.com. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Birmingham to open 6 new schools this term; Jefferson County has 3 new buildings". July 31, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Parker High School". SchoolDigger. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Parker High School in Birmingham, AL - Niche". K-12 School Rankings and Reviews at Niche.com. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  11. ↑ "RUFUS L. BILLUPS". Air Force. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  12. ↑ Adams & Mathews 2012, p. 58.

Works cited

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.