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John F. Kennedy Memorial High School (Mississippi)

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Coordinates: 33°52′53″N 90°43′36″W / 33.88139°N 90.72667°W / 33.88139; -90.72667
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John F. Kennedy Memorial High School
Address
Map
204 North Edwards Avenue

Mound Bayou
,
Mississippi
38762

United States
Coordinates33°52′53″N 90°43′36″W / 33.88139°N 90.72667°W / 33.88139; -90.72667
Information
TypePublic high school
School districtNorth Bolivar Consolidated School District (2014-2018)
Mound Bayou Public School District (-2014)
Grades7–12
Enrollment232 (2016–17)[1]
Color(s)   
Team nameHornets
WebsiteJohn F. Kennedy Memorial High School

John F. Kennedy Memorial High School was a public secondary school in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, United States, serving grades 7–12.[2] At the end of its life it was in the North Bolivar Consolidated School District, and was formerly in the Mound Bayou Public School District.

Located at 204 Edwards Street, the school served students in grades seven through twelve from Mound Bayou, Winstonville, and surrounding areas.[3]

The school's mascot was the Hornet.

History

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On July 1, 2014, the North Bolivar School District consolidated with the Mound Bayou Public School District to form the North Bolivar Consolidated School District.[4]

Closure

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In January 2018 the school district's board voted 3–2 to close Kennedy High.[5] Even though Kennedy High had lower maintenance costs than Broad Street High School, meaning a renovation of Kennedy, compared to the other school, would cost $1 million fewer, the board kept the Broad Street campus opened as it had more space. As three of the five board members of the consolidated district were from the former Shelby-based North Bolivar school district, the representatives of that district had full control of the entire district.[2] Kelsey Davis Betz of Mississippi Today wrote "If the high school closes, some fear the town’s sense of identity and remaining vitality will be weakened."[6]

In March of that year residents began to consider legal action to force the state to keep Kennedy HS open.[7] That month residents filed an injunction to a judge asking for the closure to be stopped.[8] A judge in July temporarily ruled that the school should be kept in operation.[9] However JFK HS closed August 2018 after the Mississippi Supreme Court confirmed the closure. The court ruling was two days before the start of classes.[5] It was consolidated into Northside High School, on the campus of the former Broad Street High.[10]

Demographics

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There were a total of 321 students enrolled in John F. Kennedy Memorial High during the 2006–2007 school year. The gender makeup of the school was 52% female and 48% male. The racial makeup of the school was 100.00% African American.[11]

At the time of closure the enrollment was about 250.[12]

Curriculum

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The teachers taught about the history of Mound Bayou, which was co-founded by free African Americans.[13]

Performance

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For the 2017–2018 school year its graduation rate was 82.5%.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "JOHN F KENNEDY MEMORIAL HI SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Davis Betz, Kelsey (2018-01-24). "Mound Bayou school one of two in Delta to close as enrollment, funds dwindle". Mississippi Today. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  3. ^ "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Bolivar County, MS." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 25, 2018. The high school had the same boundary as the former Mound Bayou district.
  4. ^ "School District Consolidation in Mississippi Archived 2017-07-02 at the Wayback Machine." Mississippi Professional Educators. December 2016. Retrieved on July 2, 2017. Page 2 (PDF p. 3/6).
  5. ^ a b Davis Betz, Kelsey (2018-08-15). "Mound Bayou high school can close, state Supreme Court says". Mississippi Today. Mississippi Today.
  6. ^ Davis Betz, Kelsey (2018-05-19). "Mound Bayou's history a 'magical kingdom' residents fight to preserve". Mississippi Today. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  7. ^ Davis Betz, Kelsey (2018-03-01). "Mound Bayou residents pursue legal action to keep high school open". Mississippi Today. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  8. ^ Davis Betz, Kelsey (2018-07-06). "With back to school approaching, imperiled Mound Bayou school remains in limbo". Mississippi Today. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  9. ^ Davis Betz, Kelsey (2018-07-25). "Mound Bayou high school to remain open; judge wants state to weigh in on closing plan". Mississippi Today. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  10. ^ "Students staying home to protest high school consolidation". The Clarion Ledger. Associated Press. 2018-08-23. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  11. ^ Mississippi Department of Education - Office of Research and Statistics Archived 2007-03-23 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ a b Skinner, Kayleigh (2019-10-28). "State education board to decide on the 'ridiculous,' 'ludicrous' rule hurting a Delta school district". Mississippi Today. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  13. ^ Davis Betz, Kelsey (2018-05-19). "Mound Bayou's history a 'magical kingdom' residents fight to preserve". Mississippi Today. Retrieved 2021-05-12. Current students at John F. Kennedy [...] both in class and in the community.
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