J.O. Johnson High School

Coordinates: 34°47′57.4″N 86°36′33.56″W / 34.799278°N 86.6093222°W / 34.799278; -86.6093222

James Oliver Johnson High School, more commonly referred to as J.O. Johnson High School or J.O.J., was a public high school located in the northwest area of Huntsville, Alabama. The school serves grades 9 through 12. It is home to an International Education Magnet Program, and the school also features a Marine JROTC program.^[1]

History

The school was named for former Huntsville educator James Oliver Johnson, and served as a Brigadier General in the United States Army. Johnson commanded one of the first all black combat battalion in WW II, leading to the integration and racial diversity of the US Army. Johnson lead men who constructed airplane infrastructure on the ground in North Africa and Mediterranean region, for Army Air Forces including the Tuskegee Airmen.

True to the legacy of its namesake, JO Johnson is the first new High School in Huntsville, Alabama built as a racially integrated high school. Black and White Students had no strife, and became the model High School throughout the state shortly after the Civil Rights era.

The road actually leading to the campus, Cecil Fain Drive, is named after another long term educator. J.O.J. opened in 1972 at 6201 Pueblo Drive, Huntsville, Alabama, to ease the overcrowding of Lee High School and to meet the needs of an area of Huntsville that had just begun to grow in population. Its primary feeder schools are the Academy for Science and Foreign Language, Edward H. White Middle School, and Davis Hills Middle School.

In August 2012, the Huntsville City Schools announced plans to build a new school, and retain the name JO Johnson.

In 2013, it was announced the school would receive a new building, but retain its name in 2016. The latest statement is that the Johnson name will not transfer to the new school (unlike the 4 other high schools rebuilt over the years) The school name will close and be changed to Mae Jemison High School and for the middle school that will share the campus, Ronald McNair Junior High School. These school names are named after the NASA Astronaut Mae Jemison

On Thursday May 26, 2016, Johnson held its 44th and final Commencement Exercises at the Von Braun Center Arena.

Notable Alumni

Journalism and Media Personalities

Film, Theater, and Television

Law

United States Armed Forces

Athletics

Inventor

Notable Faculty

Former Faculty

• Laura Hall (D – District 19), former Biology teacher, member of the Alabama House of Representatives

References

External links

• School website