Thomas Jefferson High School (Tampa, Florida) Last updated October 22, 2025  Public high school in Tampa, Florida
Thomas Jefferson High School     4401 Cypress Street
33607
United States
Type  Public  high school   Established 1939 School district  Hillsborough County Public Schools   Principal Brittney D. Wilhelm  [ 1]   Staff 60.50 (FTE) [ 2]   Grades 9–12 Enrollment 1,355 (2023–2024) [ 2]   Student to teacher ratio 22.40 [ 2]   Colors  Blue  and gold       Athletics Football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, cross country, track, swimming, volleyball, golf, cheerleading, soccer, tennis, softball, flag-football, lacrosse. Athletics conference 6A Mascot Dragons Website  www   
Thomas Jefferson High School  is a public high school located in the heart of the Westshore Business District  of Tampa, Florida , United States . It is an Area 1 school under the Hillsborough County Public Schools  system. [ 3]  
History In 1939, due to the increasing high school population in the Tampa area, Thomas Jefferson High School was founded in the Old Hillsborough County High School  building at 2704 N. Highland Avenue in the city's Tampa Heights neighborhood . [ 4]   Named after the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson , its first principal was D.W. Waters and its first class graduated in 1942. By 1967, the school board decided that its location no longer met modern educational requirements and the first Jefferson High School was closed. Upon closure of the school, students were sent to neighboring schools to complete their education. The original Thomas Jefferson High School building still exists today as the D.W. Waters Career Center .
On August 27, 1973, the new Jefferson High School building was opened at its current location on West Cypress Street. [ 5]  
Demographics Jefferson HS is 53% Hispanic, 34% Black, 9% White, and 4% Other  [ 6]  
Magnet Program In 2001, Thomas Jefferson High instituted a magnet program with courses focusing on international studies.
International Business & Global Finance Honors International Culinary Arts Honors International Law & Criminal Justice Honors Maritime academy The courses have since changed names and have slowly moved on from focusing on international studies to being college preparatory leadership academies for students.
Thomas Jefferson High School offers the following College Preparatory Leadership Academies to magnet students who apply: [ 7]  
Business Ownership and Finance Academy Maritime and Marine Exploration Academy Law and Criminal Justice Leadership Academy Culinary Arts & Baking and Pastry Academy Athletics In 2010, the Dragons won the Class 3A State Championship. [ 8]   They finished the year 15-0 and ranked #8 nationally [ 9]  
Music The Music programs offered at Jefferson High School are:
Marching Band Winter Guard Jazz Band Symphonic Band Percussion Ensemble Orchestra Jefferson High students participate in clubs, groups, and organizations.
 Beta , Mu Alpha Theta , National Honor Society , National Technical Honor Society , French Honor Society , Spanish Honor Society , German Honor Society , Thespians  Tri-M National Music Honor Society .
 DECA , FBLA , FCCLA , FPSA (Florida Public Service Association), Tri-M Music Honor Society, Mock Trial Team  
 Junior Civitan , Key Club , SAC (student advisory council), SADD, Shanti.
Arriba, Ballroom Dancing , FCA , True Love Does Wait, Nubian Queens, Science Brain Bowl, YO, Model United Nations , Human Rights, Step, Male/Female Weightlifting , Hip-Hop, Crew, Best Buddies, Drama, Health Club.
School newspaper, literary magazine, yearbook.
Notable alumni  Coleman Bell , NFL football player [ 10]    Ventell Bryant , NFL wide receiver [ 11]    Andre Caldwell , NFL football player [ 12]    Reche Caldwell , NFL football player [ 13]    Rick Casares , NFL football player [ 14]    Kirby Dar Dar , NFL football player [ 15]    André Davis , NFL wide receiver [ 16]    Lenny Faedo , Major League Baseball player [ 17]    Stephen Garcia , former quarterback for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Canadian Football League, and arena football  Luis Gonzalez , Major League Baseball player [ 18]    Jimmy Herget , Major League Baseball player  Tarence Kinsey , NBA Basketball player, continued playing 2016 to 2020 in Israel and Europe. [ 19]    Joe Lala , musician and actor  Tony La Russa , Major League Baseball player/manager. Member Baseball Hall of Fame . [ 20]   [ 18]    Fred McGriff  Major League Baseball player. Member Baseball Hall of Fame . [ 21]    Chris Moore , NFL wide receiver [ 22]    Bob Martinez , former Tampa mayor and Florida governor  Tino Martinez , Major League Baseball player [ 18]    Sam Militello , Major League Baseball player [ 23]    Keith Newman , NFL football player [ 24]    Ferdie Pacheco , Physician for Muhammad Ali    Al Pardo , Major League Baseball player [ 25]    Prechae Rodriguez , NFL football player [ 26]    Fred Rath, Jr. , Major League Baseball player [ 27]    Torrance Small , NFL football player [ 28]    Oscar Smith , NFL football player [ 29]    K. D. Williams , NFL football player [ 30]    Ramik Wilson , NFL Linebacker [ 31]    Tony Zappone , author, photojournalist, broadcaster [ 32]   References  ↑    "Administration" . Hillsborough County School District. Retrieved April 10,  2024 .  1  2  3    "JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL" . National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 28,  2024 .  ↑    "Area 1 - List of Schools" . Hillsborough County Public Schools. Retrieved February 7,  2018 .  ↑    Northoftampa: 65 years later, their spirit remains    ↑    "Jefferson High / Homepage" .  ↑    "Jefferson High School" . SchoolDigger . Retrieved June 11,  2020 .  ↑    "About our Programs" . Jefferson High School . Retrieved April 10,  2024 .  ↑    "Records" . FHSAA. Retrieved March 27,  2014 .  ↑    "High School Football Rankings - MaxPreps" . www.maxpreps.com . Retrieved June 11,  2020 .  ↑    "Coleman Bell Statistics" . Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Ventell Bryant Statistics" . Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Andre Caldwell Statistics" . Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Reche Caldwell Statistics" . Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑   Johston, Joey (September 14, 2013). "Former Jefferson High, NFL star Rick Casares dies" . Tampa Tribune  . Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Kirby Dar Dar Statistics" . Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Tracking the Bills' reported undrafted free-agent signings - BN Blitz - the Buffalo News" . Archived from the original  on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4,  2015 .  ↑    "Lenny Faedo Statistics and History" . Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  1  2  3    Bissinger, Buzz  (2006). Three Nights in August   118. ISBN     9780618710539   ↑    "UN GROS CV EN RENFORT  : TARENCE KINSEY EST DIJONNAIS" . jdadijon.com . December 3, 2018. Retrieved November 4,  2024 .  ↑   Topkin, Marc (December 9, 2013). "Tampa's Tony La Russa elected to baseball's Hall of Fame" . Tampa Bay Times  . Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Fred McGriff Statistics and History" . Baseball Reference  . Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Chris Moore - Baltimore Ravens - NFL" . www.rotoworld.com . Retrieved June 11,  2020 .  ↑    "Sam Militello Statistics and History" . Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Keith Newman Statistics" . Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Al Pardo Statistics and History" . Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Beyond the Gridiron with Prechae Rodriguez" . Arena Football League. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Fred Rath Statistics and History" . Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Torrance Small Statistics" . Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Oscar Smith Statistics" . Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "K.D. Williams Statistics" . Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑    "Ramik Wilson Statistics" . Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved March 13,  2014 .  ↑   Zappone, Tony (December 6, 2013). "John F. Kennedy: A President, A Kid and His Camera" . Cigar City Magazine. Retrieved March 13,  2014 . External links 
High schools Middle schools Louis Benito Middle School Pete Davidsen Middle School Angelo L. Greco Middle School Ben Hill Middle School John Quincy Adams Middle School James Buchanan Middle School William G. Pierce Middle School (6th–9th grade) Memorial Middle School Sligh Middle Magnet School D.W. Webb Middle School Dowdell Middle Magnet School Roland Park Middle School Dr. John A. Coleman Middle School Martin Van Buren Middle School James Madison Middle School Progress Village Middle Magnet School Dr. R. Reche Williams Middle Magnet School Nathan B. Young Middle Magnet School Benjamin Franklin Middle Magnet School Andrew J. Ferrell Middle Magnet School James Monroe Middle School Woodrow Wilson Middle School Garland V. Stewart Middle Magnet School Orange Grove Middle Magnet School Hillsborough Academy (5th–8th grade) Liberty Middle School Elementary schools Booker T. Washington Elementary School Macfarlane Park International Baccalaureate School Westchase Elementary School Alafia Elementary School Symmes Elementary School Summerfield Elementary School Crestwood Elementary School Claywell Elementary School Cypress Creek Elementary School Essrig Elementary School Limona Elementary School Boyette Springs Elementary School Egypt Lake Elementary School Dale Mabry Elementary School Pride Elementary School Forest Hills Elementary School Dunbar Magnet School Gorrie Elementary School Mitchell Elementary School Oak Grove Elementary School Lee Magnet School Roosevelt Elementary School West Shore Elementary School Walden Lake Elementary School Charter schools in Tampa Anderson Elementary Academy  Bell Creek Academy    Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School   Carl Sagan Academy  Cristo Rey Tampa High School   Hope Preparatory Academy Kid’s Community College Learning Gate Community School Literacy/Leadership/Technology Academy Metropolitan Ministries Mount Pleasant Standard-Based Middle School Pepin Academy of Tampa Prince Academy Quest Middle School Re-birth Academy RCMA Wimauma Academy Richardson Montessori Academy Tampa Bay Academy Tampa Charter School Tampa Transitional School of Excellence Terrace Community Middle School  Trinity School for Children   USF/Patel USF/Patel Intermediate Village of Excellence Walton Academy of the Performing Arts Private schools in Tampa 
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 District 8 District 9 District 10 District 11 District 12 District 13 District 14 District 15 District 16 
 27°57′14″N 82°31′13″W   /  27.954019°N 82.52018°W   / 27.954019; -82.52018  
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.