Abraham Lincoln High School (San Diego)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Established | 1955 (as high school) |
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| Type | Senior High School |
| Students | ~2400 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Location | 4777 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, California 92113, USA |
| District | San Diego City Schools |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Green and White |
| Mascot | Hornets |
| Built | 1949 |
| Razed | 2003 |
| Reopened | September 2007 |
| Website | Lincoln High School web site |
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Abraham Lincoln High School, also known as Lincoln High Educational Complex, Lincoln High School, or simply Lincoln, is an urban public high school that serves grades 9-12 in the American K-12 education system in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Southeast San Diego as part of the Encanto neighborhoods. It was named after President Abraham Lincoln. The school has produced several nationally recognized popular sports figures. Originally serving middle school students, Lincoln was converted into a high school in 1955.
Expansion of the school was done on existing facilities until 2003. On September 24, 2003, Lincoln's cafeteria was the first building to be demolished.[1] The entire campus (with the exception of the gym) and a few homes nearby would eventually be razed to make way for construction of the new campus. This was a result of an elected ballot proposition approved by its citizens, leaving many students displaced and relocated to other high schools in the District. The campus expanded with additional acquisition of property through eminent domain.[2]
Before demolition, the campus had been infamous for its gang activity for which college student hopeful Willie James Jones Jr. was gunned down just days before he was to matriculate to the prestigious Cornell University, hitting major headlines all over San Diego media.[3] The school also had been criticized for being behind academically, and there remained some skepticism in the community about Lincoln's reopening over those criticisms. Pastor Roy Dixon was told by the principal that "kids entered Lincoln with extremely low reading levels and could not perform academically."[4]
Amidst much hope and anticipation, and after four years of demolition, construction and delay, Lincoln High School was reopened on September 4, 2007. The new 24-acre campus was designed by architect and Lincoln alum, Joseph Martinez (class of 1966), and rebuilt by many Lincoln alumni who took part in construction of the school.[5] At a cost of $129 million, Lincoln is currently the most expensive campus in the San Diego Unified School District.[5]
In its newly rebuilt form, Lincoln now features major improvements such as an increased student enrollment capacity of 2,700 (from an average of 800 students during Lincoln's last few years before demolition), a 790-seat performing arts center, a football and track stadium that can seat 3,700, and other extra facilities for press and concessions. The improvements addressed concerns over Lincoln's previously dilapidated and outdated facilities, proper allocation of rooms per grade enrollment, and the increasing high school enrollment pressures of the neighborhood, in addition to public input and suggestions given by members of the Lincoln community. The site also features modern, state-of-the-art building design and facilities specialized to the curriculum.[5][6][7]
Two of its former alumni, Marcus Allen and Terrell Davis, are well associated with the very same soil. Terrell looked to Lincoln after failing academics and misfortune at Morse High School. Ever since Terrell joined Lincoln, he turned his life around, flourishing in Lincoln, then becoming nationally recognized later in his life.[8]
Lincoln High has also produced the second most NFL players in the entire nation,Of those, Hornets have represented San Diego in all of the NFL's greatest venues – the Pro Bowl, the Super Bowl, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Lincoln High School is currently divided into four small academies:[9]
- Lincoln 9th Grade Center for Social Justice
- Lincoln Center for the Arts
- Lincoln Center for Science and Engineering
- Lincoln Center for Public Safety
The centers' themes were the result of a 2005 parent survey.[5]
[edit] Notable alumni
- Marcus Allen, football c/o 1978[10]
- Terrell Davis, football c/o 1990[10]
- Akili Smith, football
- Dominic McGuire, basketball
- Army Pvt. Devon D. Jones, died in Iraq War[11]
[edit] References
- ^ Media Advisory for Lincoln High's Demolition. San Diego Unified School District (September 23, 2003). Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
- ^ BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT BOARD OF EDUCATION AGENDA. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
- ^ Willie James Jones, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. Cornell. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
- ^ Pastor Roy Dixon. "What is your church’s purpose in your community and how are you carrying it out?". Good News, etc.. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
- ^ a b c d Gao, Helen (September 2, 2007). "Rebirth of Lincoln High". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
- ^ Lincoln High School. San Diego Unified School District. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
- ^ Gao, Helen. Rebuilding of venerable Lincoln High under way. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
- ^ Savage, Jeff. Terrell Davis: TD!. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
- ^ Lincoln High School. Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
- ^ a b Special Feature on Lincoln High School's History. San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
- ^ Gembrowski, Susan. Soldier sought a family, touched many lives. Union-Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
