James S. Rickards High School is a public high school in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a part of Leon County Schools. The first graduating class was in 1966 and the first class president was Hugh Paul Corley, Jr. The first Miss Rickards to be crowned was Betty Screws in 1966. The Class of 1966 was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame as they were the pioneers who set the standards of the school. The school's mascot, originally the Rickards Redskins, was changed to the Rickards Raiders in 2000 because of controversy over the racial connotations of the term "redskin". The school colors are blue and gold.
Programs
[2] Rickards has hosted an International Baccalaureate program since 1994. This program is coordinated by Dr. Joe Williams.
In 2018, Leon County Schools began a $35 million renovation of Rickards' campus, including new athletic fields and academic buildings.[6]
School performance
In 2009, Rickards earned a "D" as its school performance grade, making it the second-lowest ranking high school in the district.[7] This was lower than in 2008 and 2007, when the school had earned "C"s. In 2010, Rickards earned an "A" as its school performance grade for the first time. The celebration was accompanied by a pep rally.[8][9]
Extracurricular Activities
Pangaea
[10]
Every year, James S. Rickards High School puts on a multicultural show called Pangaea. In recent years, the show has become more and more successful. Pangaea is a completely student-run event that showcases the various talents and cultures of the school through song, dance, and fashion from around the world. The show is preceded by an international dinner, put on by the Model United Nations team.
James S. Rickards High has a marching band known for their high-stepping style, or "90 degree marching", with over 100 members including auxiliary. They performed at the Orange Bowl in Miami in 2007 and received thirteen trophies and three plaques, winning all first place awards in the AA division. Due to those awards, they performed during the pre-game events at the Orange Bowl. The band appeared as a cameo in the 2008 HBO movie Recount.[13]
Burgess Owens (Class of 1969) - former championship winning professional football and current Republican representative of Utah's 4th congressional district who is the leader of a non-profit dedicated to helping troubled and incarcerated youth