• BRIEF HISTORY OF JEFFERSON CITY HIGH SCHOOL  

    The  history  of  a  high  school  may  be  recorded  with  a  combination  of  factors  such  as  enrollments,  staff,  grade  divisions  served,  educational  programs,  and  facilities.  Students  in  grades  nine  through  twelve  have  attended  classes  in  several  different  facilities  and  with  a  variety  of  grade  level  combinations  throughout  the  history  of  the  school  district.  

    Although  the  school  district  was  established  in  1838,  it  was  on  September  11,  1905,  when  the  first  "separate  high  school  building"  designated  as  Jefferson  City  High  School  was  opened.  The  school  was  located  in  the  500  block  of  East  Miller  Street  and  enrolled  in  grades  seven  through  twelve.  In  1914,  the  name  of  the  building  was  changed  to  Ernst  Simonsen  High  School.  Upon  completion  of  construction  of  a  new  building  in  1926  in  the  200  block  of  East  Miller  Street  (Miller  Performing  Arts),  grades  ten  through  twelve  and  a  junior  college  program  occupied  that  facility.  The  beginning  of  the  1926-27  school  year  marked  the  first  time  that  the  district  operated  a  junior  high  school  enrolling  grade  seven  through  nine.  That  grade  grouping  remained  in  effect  for  the  next  nineteen  years.  The  High  School-Junior  College  building  housed  the  junior  and  senior  classes  and  the  two-year  junior  college  program  until  the  close  of  the  1957-58  school  term  when  the  junior  college  division  was  discontinued.  Grade  ten  was  then  returned to that facility.

    Grades  ten  through  twelve  were  located  at  the  Jefferson  City  Senior  High  School  in  the  200  block  of  East  Miller  Street  from  1958  until  the  present  Jefferson  City  High  School  opened  on  January  22,  1964.  At  that  same  time,  students  in  grade  nine  were  transferred  from  Simonsen  Junior  High  to  the  building  vacated  by  grades  ten  through  twelve,  and  the  facility  for  ninth  graders  was  named  Freshman  High  School.  That  division  of  grades  was  in  effect  until  grade  nine  was  transferred  to  the  present  high  school  complex  in  January  of  1976  upon  occupancy  of  the  Nichols  Career  Center.  The  Center  was  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  Joe  Nichols,  Jr.,  who  served  the  district  in  various  administrative  capacities  from  1945  to  1978,  with  the  last  twenty-two  years  as  Superintendent  of  Schools.  Even  though  several  vocational  education  offerings  were  already  available  in  the  curriculum,  a  significant  expansion  of  that  program  occurred  when  the  Nichols  Career  Center  was  first  occupied  in  January  of  1976.  In  1994  Lewis  and  Clark  Middle  School  and  Thomas  Jefferson  Middle  School  were  built  and  the  ninth  grade  class  moved  back  to  what  is now known as Simonsen 9th Grade Center until 2019. In 2020, Jefferson City High School became a 9-12 facility.  

    No  history  of  Jefferson  City  High  School  could  be  recorded  without  reference  to  some  of  the  long-standing  traditions  and  organizations  that  enrich  the  experiences  and  lives  of  students.  Although  there  are  several  co-curricular  and  extracurricular  activities  in  which  large  numbers  of  students  participate  each  year,  and  which  have  been  vital  parts  of  Jefferson  City  High  School  for  many  years,  it  is  not  practical  to  attempt  to  mention  all  of  them.  Because  of  the  number  of  students  and  staff  members  who  are  involved  each  year,  and  of  the  many  years  during  which  each  event  has  been  such  a  memorable  part  of  life  at  "JC",  three  of  the  "traditions"  are  mentioned.  Capitol  Caroling  has  been  a  major  annual  event  in  the  lives  of  students  as  well  as  of  the  entire  community,  for  more  than  80  years.  Another  significant  event  each  year  that  has  involved  many  students,  staff  members,  alumni,  and  community  is  homecoming.  Finally,  the  spirit  of  "JC"  is  developed,  in  great  measure,  and  promoted  by  an  enthusiastic  and  large  number of students. 

     

    Alma Mater

    Sing praise to our alma mater,
    true to her we’ll ever  be:
    The Red and Black will always wave
    over JC,  JC.

    All hail! All hail!
    Keep her colors high above:  
    Our honor and devotion pledge
    to thee whose name we  love. 

     

    Fight Song

    On Jeff City! On Jeff City!  
    Plunge right thru that line!  
    Run the ball clear ‘round Columbia;  
    A touchdown sure this time!  

    On Jeff City! On Jeff City!  
    Fight on for her fame.  
    Fight, fellow!  Fight! Fight! Fight!  
    We’ll win this game.