John F. Kennedy High School (Richmond, California)

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John F. Kennedy High School is a secondary school located in Richmond, California, as part of the West Contra Costa Unified School District. The school's mascot is the Bald Eagle, the school's athletic teams are known as the "Eagles," and the school colors are red and white. The current principal as of 2008 is Julio Franco. There are approximately 1,000 students attending the school.

John F. Kennedy High School opened in September 1967, after a successful bond election funded the building of a new school on the site of an old junior high school, known as Granada Junior High School. Kennedy High School adopted the red and white athletic colors, and "Eagles" nickname, from Harry Ells High School, which had served roughly the same geographical area up until June of 1967. Harry Ells High School then became Richmond High South Campus, housing a portion of that school's student body while the main Richmond High campus was undergoing reconstruction. Harry Ells would eventually reopen as a separate school 1970, using a purple and white color scheme for its athletic teams, and adopting the nickname "Falcons." Kennedy High School continued to use the name "Eagles."

In its early years of operation, Kennedy High School was renowned for its Forensics and Debate program, its athletic teams, athletes, and its extremely-diverse student body.

In 2006, an unpopular move by the West Contra Costa School Board, which would integrate Leadership High with Kappa and move the current Kappa students over to Kennedy High, was proposed. Students and faculty members fiercely opposed this, staging numerous protests against the school board's decision.

[edit] External links

• Kennedy High School Official Website
• Join Us! JFK at 40+ (Celebrating Kennedy's 40th Anniversary this year and beyond!
• John F. Kennedy's Profile at greatschools
• JFK High School at Google Maps

[edit] References

(Relevant article longer available.)