Type Public Principal Dr. Taneisha Rachal Enrollment Approx. 1200 Phone +1 540-372-1100 Color Orange and Black | Established 1920 Grades 9-12 Mascot Yellow Jacket Founded 1920 Lowest grade Ninth grade | |
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School district Fredericksburg City Schools Address 2300 Washington Ave, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, USA District Fredericksburg City Public Schools Similar Chancellor High School, Stafford High School, Brooke Point High School, Mountain View High School, Colonial Forge High School | ||
James Monroe High School is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is a four-year public high school in the Fredericksburg City Schools system. The school is named after James Monroe. The current school building opened to students in September 2006. James Monroe High School is part of the VHSL AA Battlefield District.
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James Monroe High School is fully accredited by the Virginia State Department of Education.
History
Opened in 1920, the building now known as Maury School was Fredericksburg's first real high school. It was originally called Fredericksburg High School, but in 1939, this name was changed to honor the nation's fifth president, James Monroe, who had his law office in the city from 1786-89.
The second James Monroe High School building was constructed in 1952, and a wing was added in 1959. From 1981-83, a large renovation project modernized the entire building, and another wing was added. The Arthur H. Schwartz Memorial Athletic Complex was constructed during 1985-86, providing a new track, tennis courts, and a baseball field.
Up until 2005, Fredericksburg City Public Schools used an unusual system of grade levels and schools. James Monroe High School carried 8th through 12th grades. However, the construction of a new upper elementary school in the school district in 2005 allowed for the system to become standardized. The class of 2009 was the last eighth grade class of James Monroe High School.
The second high school was demolished in June through August 2006. The new replacement high school began construction in June 2004. It opened August 2006, and is built in the back of the second high school. The Class of 2010 was the first graduating class to go through all four years at the third JMHS.
In 2014 James Monroe was listed as one of the top succeeding schools in the Nation, but has been criticized for moving the under performing students to other schools so they will not effect their numbers.