Robert E. Lee High School (Montgomery, Alabama)

Robert E. Lee High School is a public secondary school in Montgomery, Alabama, United States, serving grades 9–12. The school is part of the Montgomery Public Schools system.

Robert E. Lee High School
Address
225 Ann Street

Montgomery
,
Alabama

United States
Coordinates32.378°N 86.271°W / 32.378; -86.271
Information
School typePublic high school
Motto"Ne incautus futurei"
"Let us not be unconcerned about the future"
Established1955
School districtMontgomery Public Schools
PrincipalAntjuan Marsh
Teaching staff81.50 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,492 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio18.31[1]
Color(s)Red & White    
MascotGenerals
Websitehttp://www.lee.mps-al.org/

History

In January 1953, the Montgomery Board of Education purchased 12 acres (49,000 m2) of property on Ann Street for $74,000 for a new high school. The new school would alleviate overcrowding at Sidney Lanier High School and accommodate children coming to Montgomery due to Maxwell and Gunter Air Force Bases.[2] The final cost of the new facility was nearly $1.25 million.

Lee High School opened to students for the first time on September 6, 1955.[2] The new school had 35 faculty members and approximately 800 students. Most of the 232 juniors and 173 seniors entering Lee were transfers from Lanier, and some 354 sophomores moved up from area junior high schools. Lee's first graduating class consisted of 144 students.

Expansion

An auditorium was added in 1963. The guidance office, lunchroom, and library were enlarged and the math wing and mini-gym were added during the 1970s. By 1979 rooms were air conditioned, after students and teachers raised the necessary $80,000. In 1992, the library underwent extensive renovation and the entire school received a new roof. In 1997, land behind Lee formerly occupied by apartments was donated to the school, and in 2000 the space was completely paved to provide parking. In the summer of 2002, the entire school system was networked and wired with fiber optic cable to provide better and faster internet and network capabilities. Fine arts at the school have grown. The fine arts program includes drama which perform plays in the Auditorium, Art, Debate, and Choral .

Lee High School started teaching 9th graders in the 2010/2011 school year. Lee high School has the wall of fame where names of prominent alumni have graduated. Robert E. Lee High School's motto is The pursuit of continuous excellence.

Confederate legacy and renaming

The school included a plaque dedicated to its former namesake, Robert E. Lee, instructing students to not defame him.[3]

In 2020 the school district's board of education voted to change the school's name.[4]

Sports

The Lee Generals represent the school in ASHAA sporting competitions. During the 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 school years the Lee Cheerleaders won the Cheersport National Championship.

State championships
  • Boys Basketball: 2020
  • Baseball: 1975
  • Boys' Cross Country: 1967
  • Football: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1970, 1979, 1986, 1991, 1992
  • Boys' golf: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1974
  • Boys' indoor track: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 2017
  • Boys' outdoor track: 1961, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1978, 1979, 1980
  • Girls' outdoor track: 1981
  • Wrestling: 1957, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1992

[5] Bob Ritter, Football & Track, 1961, State Champions, Capt. Of both Teams. Full Football Scholarship, Missouri University under Hall Of Fame Coach, Dan Devine. Two year Letterman. Bluebonnet Bowl, 1962. Blue - Gray Senior Classic, 1964 . Decorated USAF combat pilot in Vietnam, 1969,71,72,73.

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Lee High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  2. Carter, Clinton; Palmer, Kerry; Stifflemire, Roger (2015-01-01). 'Echoes' of Robert E. Lee High School: The First Decade, 1955-65. NewSouth Books. pp. 1–6. ISBN 978-1-60306-380-7.
  3. Charles, Safiya (2020-07-08). "Lee High School plaque warns students never 'discredit the name of this great man'". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  4. Johnson, Krista (2020-07-14). "Montgomery school board votes to change the Confederate names of three high schools". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  5. "Lee Montgomery Generals Sports History". Alabama High School Football Historical Society. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  6. Rankin, Duane (27 April 2018). "Montgomery to NFL: The Undrafted — Tyrone Rogers". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
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