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'''Wenonah High School''' is a high school in the [[Birmingham City Schools]] system. Formal education in the Wenonah area was provided by the [[Tennessee Coal and Iron Company]] (TCI), now [[U.S. Steel]], as early as [[1917]].
{{Infobox Bham School
|name          = Wenonah High School
|image          =
|established    = 1948
|closed        = present
|address        = 2916 [[Wilson Road Southwest|Wilson Rd SW]]
|map            = ({{Locate_address_inline | address = 2916+Wilson+Rd+SW | zoom=17 | type=h }})
|neighborhood  = Tarpley City
|district      = 7
|cluster        = III
|grades        = 9-12
|principal      = Willie Goldsmith Jr
|enrollment    = 782
|enroll-year    = 2014
|colors        = old gold & white
|mascot        = Dragons
|website        = [https://www.bhamcityschools.org/Domain/13 bhamcityschools.org]
}}


==First Wenonah School==
'''Wenonah High School''' (opened in [[1948]]) is a high school in the [[Birmingham City Schools]] system. It is located at 2916 [[Wilson Road Southwest]] in the [[Tarpley City]] neighborhood of [[Birmingham]]'s [[Grasselli community|Grasselli]] community. The principal is [[Willie Goldsmith]].
'''Wenonah School #1''' began operating as early as [[1917]] at TCI's [[Wenonah]] #9 mining camp (the current site of the [[East Brownsville Park]]). Free schooling was provided to the children of TCI employees in grades 1-9. Another school, ('''Wenonah School #2''') served grades 1-5 at [[Browns Station]]. After completing the 9th grade students could continue their education at [[Powderly School]], [[Miles Memorial School]] or [[Parker High School]]. The school was later absorbed into the [[Jefferson County Schools]] system.


In [[1946]], Wenonah School, then helmed by principal [[Mabel Buffin]], was destroyed by fire. People of the Wenonah area requested and received permission to hold classes in the old [[Galilee Baptist Church]]. Beginning in the fall of 1946, students of the destroyed Wenonah School attended classes at the Galilee, [[Bryant Chapel Baptist Church|Bryant Chapel]] and [[Mt Olive Baptist Church]]es and at [[Riley School|Riley]] and Powderly Schools.
The school was constructed after a [[1946]] fire destroyed the former [[Wenonah School]], which had been established by [[Tennessee Coal Iron & Railroad Company]] at the Wenonah mining camp in [[1917]] and was later turned over to [[Jefferson County Schools]]. TCI donated a 16-acre parcel for construction of a new high school and elementary school and construction began in late 1946.  


==Wenonah High School==
The new school plant was built at a cost a cost of $500,000 and included 15 classrooms, administrative office, lunchroom, athletic room, shoe repair, upholstery and radio repair shop, cosmetology, foods and clothing labs.
After Wenonah School was destroyed by fire in 1946, the TCI Company donated a large parcel of land consisting of approximately 16 acres to be used to construct a new elementary and high school. Construction began in late 1946.


In the fall of 1947, students in grades 8-12 from Galilee Baptist, Mt Olive and Bryant Chapel Baptist Churches and Riley Elementary School began classes in the downstairs classrooms of Wenonah Elementary School while construction was being completed upstairs and on the high school.
In January [[1948]], the 9-12 grade students at the elementary school, [[Powderly School]] and students from surrounding areas of Jefferson County as far away as [[Shades Valley]] and [[McCalla]] attended classes in the building led by Principal [[Leon Kennedy]]. In May 1948, the first senior class graduated from Wenonah High School.


The school plant was built at a cost a cost of $500,000.00 and included 15 classrooms, administrative office, lunchroom, athletic room, shoe repair, upholstery and radio repair shop, cosmetology, foods and clothing labs.
In [[1956]], seven classrooms, a library and gym were added to the school plant. In September [[1968]], the '''Wenonah Area Vocational School''' opened to students. In the spring of [[1970]], a new facility was erected by the [[Jefferson County Board of Education]] at a cost of $300,000 to house the Wenonah Area Vocational School. The building was located on the southwest side of the old Wenonah High School campus.


In January 1948, the 9-12 grade students at the elementary school, Powderly School and students from surrounding areas of Jefferson County as far away as Shades Valley area in McCalla area, attended classes in the current building led by Principal Leon Kennedy. In May 1948, the first senior class graduated from Wenonah High School.
In [[1973]], Wenonah High School was annexed into the city of Birmingham. Administration of Wenonah was taken over by the [[Birmingham Board of Education]] officially in December [[1974]]. In [[1981]], a new gymnasium was constructed and equipped at a cost of more than $1 million.


In 1956, seven classrooms, a library and gym were added to the school plant.
Under head coach [[Emanuel Bell]], Wenonah's girls basketball team amassed a 530-194 record over 22 seasons and won four straight state 5A championships from [[2014]] to [[2017]], finishing as runner-up in [[2018]].


In August 1968, the dream of having a Wenonah Area Vocational School became a reality and its doors were opened to students in September 1968.
==2007 campus==
In 2005, construction began on a new Wenonah High School, just northeast of the [[1948]] school campus. On [[August 13]], [[2007]], classes began in portions the new $40 million school.  Construction was led by [[Doster Construction]] and architectural services were provided by [[McCauley Associates]].


In the spring of 1970, a new facility was erected by the Jefferson County Board of Education at a cost of $300,000.00 to house the Wenonah Area Vocational School. The building is located on the southwest side of the Wenonah High School campus, which provides an ideal situation for faculty and students.
The new Wenonah High School replaced the 1948 building with a 183,000 square foot facility that is built for 1,200 students. It includes a 750 seat auditorium with theatrical lighting and sound systems. The main academic building features a state-of-the art media center, computer laboratories and classrooms for science, math, social studies, English and other subjects.


In 1973, Wenonah High School was annexed into the city of Birmingham. Administration of Wenonah was taken over by the Birmingham Board of Education.
The career-technical wing contains an electronics classroom with lab areas, a classroom and fully equipped commercial kitchen for the schools well-known culinary arts program and a family and consumer science classroom. There are also classrooms and labs for welding and cosmetology. Band and chorus classrooms also are part of the career-tech wing, which includes the cafeteria.


In 1981, a new gym was constructed and equipped at a cost of more than $1,000,000.00.
The new campus includes a gymnasium for practice and physical education classes. The "new gym" that was part of the old school, a free-standing building, was renovated and expanded into a 1,400 seat competition gym.


Wenonah physical plant is now valued at approximately $3,500,000.00. It is considered a vital part of the Wenonah Educational Complex which also includes the elementary school, a state technical school and a junior college.
A new 4,500 seat football stadium with a six lane track, concession stands, restrooms and irrigation system was also built on the campus.  All construction was completed in January 2008.


The school has won many honors, both academically and athletic during its 59 years of existence.
In the summer of 2008 environmental science teacher [[Ruayyah Aqeel]] invited representatives of the Fruit Tree Planting Organization in San Diego, California to help students plant a small orchard on campus.


==New high school==
In [[2011]], Wenonah became the home of the city's "Academy of Hospitality and Tourism" under Superintendent [[Craig Witherspoon]]'s plan to establish career academies in the city's high schools. In [[2017]] the school was placed for the first time on the state's list of "failing schools" due to the low performance of Wenonah 10th graders on the reading and math portions of the ACT Aspire test. The school reappeared on the state's [[2018]] and [[2019]] lists.
In 2005, construction began on a new Wenonah High School, just northeast of the [[1948]] school campus. On [[August 13]], [[2007]], classes began in portions the new $40 million school.  Construction was done by [[Doster Construction]] and architectural services were provided by [[McCauley Associates]].


The new Wenonah High School replaced the 1948 building with a 183,000 square foot facility that is built for 1,200 students.  It includes a 750 seat auditorium with theatrical lighting and sound systems. The main academic building features a state-of-the art media center, computer laboratories and classrooms for science, math, social studies, English and other subjects.
==Principals==
* [[Leon Kennedy]], 1948-1966
* [[William Jackson]], 1966-1967
* [[William Hawes]], 1967-1990
* [[Sidney Moore]], 1990-2002
** [[Regina Hunter]] (interim), 2002
* [[Regina Carr-Hope]], 2003–2017
* [[Vanessa Guest-Byrd]], 2017
* [[Willie Goldsmith Jr]], 2018-


The career-technical wing contains an electronics classroom with lab areas, a classroom and fully equipped commercial kitchen for the schools well-known culinary arts program and a family and consumer science classroom. There are also classrooms and labs for welding and cosmetology.  Band and chorus classrooms also are part of the career-tech wing, which includes the cafeteria.
==Notable alumni==
* [[Wardine Alexander]], (1973) Birmingham Board of Education
* [[DeMario Beard]] (1998), music educator
* [[Donald Debrow]] (1954) educator, principal of [[Carver High School]]
* [[Ralph Cook]] (1961), Alabama Supreme Court Justice
* [[Alonzo Ephraim]] (1999), professional football player
* [[Lawrence Jackson]] (1968), former professional baseball player
* [[Ron Jackson]] (1971), professional baseball player and coach
* [[Ligarius Jennings]] (1996), professional football player
* [[Lamar Johnson]], (1968), professional Baseball player with Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers.
* [[Johnny McDaniel]] (1969), professional football player
* [[Sandra Mixon Little-Brown]] (1973) Jefferson County Commissioner
* [[Moody Duff]] (1976), Deputy Chief of the [[Birmingham Police Department]].
* [[Sam Shade]] (1991), professional football player
* [[Jeremy Towns]], professional football player
* [[Chad Kelton Williams]] (1998), professional football player
* [[Joe Webb]] (2005), [[UAB Blazers]] and NFL [[Carolina Panthers]]


The new campus includes a gymnasium for practice and physical education classes. The "new gym" that was part of the old school, a free-standing building, was renovated and expanded into a 1,400 seat competition gym.
==References==
 
* "[http://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/12621 Jeffco board turns over deed to Wenonah schools to city]" (December 20, 1974) {{BN}} - via {{BPLDC}}
A new 4,500 seat football stadium with a six lane track, concession stands, restrooms and irrigation system was also built on the campus.  All construction was completed in January, 2008.
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wenonah_High_School Wenonah High School]" (September 24, 2007) Wikipedia - accessed December 20, 2007
* Kent, Dawn (January 25, 2008) "Doster Construction wraps up work on new Wenonah High." {{BN}}
* Wilstach, Nancy (July 6, 2008) "A tree grows at Wenonah High, well, actually a whole orchard." {{BN}}
* Edgemon, Erin (January 12, 2017) "13 Birmingham City Schools on Alabama's list of 'failing' schools." {{BN}}


==References==
==External Links==
* "Wenonah High School." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 24 Sep 2007, 00:35 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 20 Dec 2007 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wenonah_High_School&oldid=159911596] .
* [http://www.whsgaa.org Wenonah High School Grand Alumni Association (WHSGAA)] website
*Kent, Dawn (January 25, 2008) "Doster Construction wraps up work on new Wenonah High." ''Birmingham News''.
* [http://www.ahsfhs.org/sports/teampage.asp?Team=Wenonah Wenonah High School Sports History] from ahsfhs.org website


{{Birmingham high schools}}


[[Category:Birmingham schools]]
[[Category:Wenonah High School|*]]
[[Category:Wenonah]]
[[Category:Wilson Road Southwest]]
[[Category:1948 establishments]]
[[Category:2007 buildings]]
[[Category:2007 buildings]]
[[Category:1948 buildings]]
[[Category:1948 buildings]]
{{GFDL}}

Latest revision as of 11:59, 22 March 2024

Wenonah High School
BCS small logo.png Birmingham City Schools
Years 1948–present
Location 2916 Wilson Rd SW, (map)
Tarpley City
Grades 9-12
Principal Willie Goldsmith Jr
Enrollment 782 (2014)
Colors old gold & white
Mascot Dragons
Website bhamcityschools.org

Wenonah High School (opened in 1948) is a high school in the Birmingham City Schools system. It is located at 2916 Wilson Road Southwest in the Tarpley City neighborhood of Birmingham's Grasselli community. The principal is Willie Goldsmith.

The school was constructed after a 1946 fire destroyed the former Wenonah School, which had been established by Tennessee Coal Iron & Railroad Company at the Wenonah mining camp in 1917 and was later turned over to Jefferson County Schools. TCI donated a 16-acre parcel for construction of a new high school and elementary school and construction began in late 1946.

The new school plant was built at a cost a cost of $500,000 and included 15 classrooms, administrative office, lunchroom, athletic room, shoe repair, upholstery and radio repair shop, cosmetology, foods and clothing labs.

In January 1948, the 9-12 grade students at the elementary school, Powderly School and students from surrounding areas of Jefferson County as far away as Shades Valley and McCalla attended classes in the building led by Principal Leon Kennedy. In May 1948, the first senior class graduated from Wenonah High School.

In 1956, seven classrooms, a library and gym were added to the school plant. In September 1968, the Wenonah Area Vocational School opened to students. In the spring of 1970, a new facility was erected by the Jefferson County Board of Education at a cost of $300,000 to house the Wenonah Area Vocational School. The building was located on the southwest side of the old Wenonah High School campus.

In 1973, Wenonah High School was annexed into the city of Birmingham. Administration of Wenonah was taken over by the Birmingham Board of Education officially in December 1974. In 1981, a new gymnasium was constructed and equipped at a cost of more than $1 million.

Under head coach Emanuel Bell, Wenonah's girls basketball team amassed a 530-194 record over 22 seasons and won four straight state 5A championships from 2014 to 2017, finishing as runner-up in 2018.

2007 campus

In 2005, construction began on a new Wenonah High School, just northeast of the 1948 school campus. On August 13, 2007, classes began in portions the new $40 million school. Construction was led by Doster Construction and architectural services were provided by McCauley Associates.

The new Wenonah High School replaced the 1948 building with a 183,000 square foot facility that is built for 1,200 students. It includes a 750 seat auditorium with theatrical lighting and sound systems. The main academic building features a state-of-the art media center, computer laboratories and classrooms for science, math, social studies, English and other subjects.

The career-technical wing contains an electronics classroom with lab areas, a classroom and fully equipped commercial kitchen for the schools well-known culinary arts program and a family and consumer science classroom. There are also classrooms and labs for welding and cosmetology. Band and chorus classrooms also are part of the career-tech wing, which includes the cafeteria.

The new campus includes a gymnasium for practice and physical education classes. The "new gym" that was part of the old school, a free-standing building, was renovated and expanded into a 1,400 seat competition gym.

A new 4,500 seat football stadium with a six lane track, concession stands, restrooms and irrigation system was also built on the campus. All construction was completed in January 2008.

In the summer of 2008 environmental science teacher Ruayyah Aqeel invited representatives of the Fruit Tree Planting Organization in San Diego, California to help students plant a small orchard on campus.

In 2011, Wenonah became the home of the city's "Academy of Hospitality and Tourism" under Superintendent Craig Witherspoon's plan to establish career academies in the city's high schools. In 2017 the school was placed for the first time on the state's list of "failing schools" due to the low performance of Wenonah 10th graders on the reading and math portions of the ACT Aspire test. The school reappeared on the state's 2018 and 2019 lists.

Principals

Notable alumni

References

External Links

BCS small logo.png Birmingham High Schools
Schools

Carver High School | Jackson-Olin High School | Huffman High School | Parker High School | Ramsay High School | Wenonah High School | Woodlawn High School

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