Leeds High School

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Public high school in Leeds, Alabama, United States

Leeds High School

Address

1500 Greenwave Drive

Leeds, Alabama

35094

United States

Coordinates| 33°32′51″N 86°34′27″W﻿ / ﻿33.5476°N 86.5743°W﻿ / 33.5476; -86.5743
Information
Type| Public high school
secondary school
Motto| Promoting achievement, respect, and success
Established| 1911 (113 years ago) (1911)
School district| Leeds City Schools
CEEB code| 011600
Principal| Rayford Williams
Teaching staff| 35.50 (FTE)[1]
Grades| 9–12
Gender| Co-educational
Enrollment| 479 (2022-2023)[1]
Student to teacher ratio| 17.44[1]
Campus| Suburban
Color(s)| Green and white

Athletics| AHSAA Class 5A
Nickname| Green Wave
Rival| Moody High School
Feeder schools| Leeds Middle School
Website| www.leedsk12.org/Domain/11

Leeds High School is a four-year public high school in the Birmingham, Alabama, USA, community of Leeds. It is the only high school in the Leeds City School System. School colors are green and white, and the athletic teams are called the Green Wave. Leeds competes in Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 5A athletics.[2]

## History

[edit]

The school was established in 1911 by the Jefferson County School System. A two-story brick building was constructed for $10,000 at Parkway Drive (then called First Avenue South) and Montevallo Road. After the completion of additional classrooms for elementary grades in 1914, the school absorbed the pupils of the Leeds Academy, which closed that year.

The first athletic teams included a basketball club which debuted on Thanksgiving Day in 1914, and a football team, then called The Leeders, which took the field in 1923 under head coach N. B. Breland. A girls' basketball team began playing the next year.

Ground was broken for a new school building in 1925. It opened the next year, but was damaged in a fire in 1928 and had to be almost entirely rebuilt. The Works Progress Administration constructed a second wood frame multi-function building with a small auditorium and library in 1933. In 1938, a permanent auditorium and gymnasium were added onto the school. The basement of that building began serving as a cafeteria in 1939.

In 1954, Leeds High School relocated to the former Stadium School on Whitmire Street, which had been constructed in 1948 to serve the children of workers on the Southern Railroad. The 1926 building was demolished in 1966 to make way for a new Leeds Elementary School. Leeds High School and the previously all-Black Moton School were integrated in 1973. The high school was air-conditioned in 1977, along with the construction of a new gymnasium and classroom wing.[3]

In 2009, Leeds High School moved from Whitmire Street to 1500 Greenwave Drive where it stands today. Whitmire St now houses the Leeds Middle School that moved from the Moton location.

## Student profile

[edit]

Enrollment in grades 9-12 for the 2013–14[needs update] school year was 477 students. Approximately 55% were white, 30% were African-American, 10% were Hispanic and 5% were multiracial. Roughly 51% of students qualified for free or reduced price lunch.[4]

Leeds has a graduation rate of 96%. Approximately 82% of its students meet or exceed state proficiency standards in both mathematics and reading. The average ACT score for Leeds students is 22.[5]

## Athletics

[edit]

Leeds competes in AHSAA Class 5A athletics and fields teams in the following sports:[6]

* American football
* Archery
* Baseball
* Basketball
* Cheerleading
* Cross country
* Golf
* Indoor track and field
* Outdoor track and field
* Soccer
* Softball
* Tennis
* Volleyball
* Wrestling

Leeds has won state championships in the following sports:

* Boys' basketball (2009)
* American football (2008, 2010, 2014, 2015)
* Boys' indoor track and field (2001, 2002)
* Softball (2007)
* Boys' outdoor track and field (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005)
* Girls' outdoor track and field (2003, 2004, 2005)
* Wrestling (2015)

## Notable alumni

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* Charles Barkley, former basketball forward for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets[7][8]
* Caitlín R. Kiernan, author and paleontologist
* William R. Lawley Jr., World War II bomber pilot and Medal of Honor recipient
* Jonathan D. Rose, professional American football player and CFL/NFL CFL GreyCup Champion (2016), twice East Division All Star currently[when?] signed to The Edmonton Football Team.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Leeds High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
2. ^ "AHSAA School Classification 2014-16" (PDF). Alabama High School Athletic Association.
3. ^ "Leeds High School". Bhamwiki. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
4. ^ "Leeds High School". School Digger. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
5. ^ "Leeds High School in Leeds, AL". Niche. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
6. ^ "Leeds High School". Leeds High School. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
7. ^ Smith Surven, Ruth (May 18, 2021). "Charles Barkley donates $1,000 to each Leeds schools employee". AL.com. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
8. ^ "Charles Barkley". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 28, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Leeds High School website

* v
* t
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AHSAA Class 4A

Region 1|

* Andalusia Bulldogs
* Clarke County Bulldogs
* Escambia County Blue Devils
* Hillcrest Evergreen Jaguars
* Monroe County Tigers
* Thomasville Tigers
* UMS-Wright Bulldogs
* Wilcox Central Jaguars

Region 2|

* Alabama Christian Eagles
* Ashford Yellow Jackets
* Beauregard Hornets
* Bullock County Hornets
* Charles Henderson Trojans
* Headland Rams
* New Brockton Gamecocks
* St. James Trojans
* Tallassee Tigers

Region 3|

* Beulah Bobcats
* Childersburg Tigers
* Dadeville Tigers
* Dallas County Hornets
* Elmore County Panthers
* Handley Tigers
* Holtville Bulldogs

Region 4|

* Bibb County Chocktaws
* Calrea Eagles
* Carbon Hill Bulldogs
* Corner Yellow Jackets
* Dora Bulldogs
* Jemison Panthers
* Oak Grove Tigers
* West Blocton Tigers

Region 5|

* Alexandria Valley Cubs
* Anniston Bulldogs
* Cherokee County Warriors
* Cleburne County Tigers
* Hokes Bluff Eagles
* Jacksonvlle Golden Eagles
* Lincoln Golden Bears
* Munford Lions

Region 6|

* Crossville Lions
* Douglas Eagles
* Fairview Aggies
* Guntersville Wildcats
* Locust Fork Hornets
* Oneonta Redskins
* St. Clair Saints
* Sardis Lions

Region 7|

* Ardmore Tigers
* Butler Rebels
* DAR Patriots
* J.O. Johnson Jaguars
* Madison County Tigers
* North Jackson Chiefs
* Pope John Paul II Falcons
* Randolph Raiders

Region 8|

* Brooks Lions
* Central Wildcats
* East Lawrence Eagles
* Haleyvillle Lions
* Priceville Bulldogs
* Rogers Pirates
* West Limestone Wildcats
* Wilson Warriors

Authority control databases: Geographic |

* NCES

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