Paxon School for Advanced Studies

Paxon School for Advanced Studies
Motto “Caritas, Constantia, Excellentia, Integritas”
Type Magnet school—College Preparatory
Established 1954
Principal Royce Turner, Ed.D
Administrative staff
 107
Students 1,492
Address 3239 Norman E Thagard Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Colors Navy Blue █ and Gold █
Nickname PSAS
Mascot Golden Eagle
Website www.duvalschools.org/psas

Paxon School for Advanced Studies (PSAS) is one of three International Baccalaureate senior high schools (the others being Stanton College Preparatory School, and Jean Ribault High School) in Duval County, Florida. According to the College Board's Advanced Placement Report, Paxon has one of the strongest math and science Advanced Placement programs in the state of Florida, right behind their rival school Stanton College Preparatory School. Because of this accomplishment, Paxon is one of a select group of Florida schools invited to apply for the Siemens Advanced Placement High School Award. Only ten to fifteen schools per state are invited to apply. Some valedictorians have been accepted to the United States Naval Academy and different Ivy League schools.

History

Paxon High School was originally named Paxon Field Junior-Senior High School when it was built in 1954. It included 7th through 12 grades until 1957, when Paxon Junior High was built nearby. In 1996, Paxon became a college preparatory school and an International Baccalaureate school, and took on its present-day name. Today, Paxon considers its chief rival to be Stanton College Preparatory School, another Jacksonville IB school. In 2008, Paxon School for Advanced Studies was ranked number 8 of the 100 best high schools in the nation by Newsweek magazine; 17th in 2007, 28th in 2006, 7th in 2005 and 3rd in 2003.[1]

The site where the school was built was Paxon Air Field, where Bessie Coleman was killed in a plane accident in 1926. Coleman was the first African American (male or female) to become an airplane pilot, and the first American of any race or gender to hold an international pilot license. Paxon Field was Jacksonville's first airfield, with the exception of the beaches. The Navy used the (grass) airfield for training during World War II, but eventually declared the site excess in January 1947.

Magnet program

The Paxon School faculty consists of over 100 teachers whose awards range from district Teacher of the Year to National Board Certification. The 88-acre (360,000 m2) campus includes athletic facilities, a swimming pool, a professional grade television production studio, science labs, and a theater.[2] Sports teams include football, golf, soccer, lacrosse, stickball, wrestling, and bowling, many of which have competed at district and regional levels. Social clubs include the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and Youth Leadership for Change. Since becoming an academic magnet, Paxon SAS has seen 3 principals, Dr. James A. Williams (Founder) 1996-2006, Mrs. Carol H. Daniels 2006-2009, and Dr. Royce Turner 2009–present.

2009-2010 leadership

• Principal - Royce Turner, • Dean - Lashanda Allen • English Dept Chair - Denise Rambach, • History Dept Chair - Leonora St Laurent, • Science Dept Chair - William Keels, • Math Dept Chair - Elizabeth Allen, • Athletic Director - Nan Harrington, • Security Chief - Sgt. John Creamer, JSO Ret. • Fine Arts Dept.-Deborah Mcduffie

International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program was initially formed in 1968. Paxon established an IB program in 1995, was approved in 1997, and had its first graduating IB class in 2000. The four-year program consists of two parts: Pre-IB and IB. Pre-IB prepares students for the rigorous two year, pre-university liberal arts course of study.

Swimming pool

The school has an outdoor pool which is used by the athletic teams. It becomes a free public pool operated by the City of Jacksonville Parks & Recreation Department during the summer months.

Sports

Basketball, Baseball, Football,Flag football, Volleyball, Bowling, Cross Country, Track and Field, Soccer, Cheerleading, Softball, Tennis, Golf, Swim and Dive, Lacrosse, Wrestling [3]

Honors

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 Newsweek Magazine: The Top of the Class by Jay Mathews
  2. ↑ "Duval Schools". Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  7. ↑ Newsweek Magazine: The Top of the Class Newsweek Web Exclusive
  8. ↑ US News & World Report
  9. ↑ Newsweek Magazine: The Top of the Class by Jay Mathews
  10. ↑ Newsweek Magazine: The Top of the Class by Jay Mathews
  11. ↑ Newsweek Magazine: The Top of the Class by Jay Mathews
  12. ↑ Newsweek Magazine: The Top of the Class by Jay Mathews
  13. ↑ Janet Jernigan, J.R. Cobb shares history; Monticello News, August 19, 2010. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  14. ↑ Luc Brunot, Interview with Robert Nix, Bands of Dixie Magazine, November–December 2008. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  15. 1 2 Florida Department of Education: April 29, 2002-Gary and Steve Pajcic donate $1 million to help bring veteran teachers to challenged schools in Duval County

Coordinates: 30°20′40″N 81°43′27″W / 30.344317°N 81.724028°W / 30.344317; -81.724028

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