Rebel Bert Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 The board has recommended the closure of Wingfield High beginning the fall of 2024. This will affect the schedules of 4A Region 6. I am not surprised with the number of vacant homes in the area of Southeat Jackson. My guess is those students will be split between Forest Hill and Jim Hill. Look for those numbers to increase in the next Reclassification set of numbers. Unfortunately there is dividing line where certain numbers go to Terry in the City north of Byram. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeridianMomma64 Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 I hate that for those kids… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Washed_Up_Athlete Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 Hartfield has entered the chat . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Bert Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 Wingfield students will probably go to Forest Hill or Jim Hill. One of two middle schools are on the list to close in SE Jackson. One feeds Wingfield the other I believe feeds Jim Hill. It will be interesting where the kids go from Elementary to Middle and then perhaps all to Jim Hill. 3 of 5 Elementary schools feeding Wingfield are on the list. The lone elementary feeding Jim Hill is also on the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Bert Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 11 minutes ago, Washed_Up_Athlete said: Hartfield has entered the chat . . . Hartfield taking kids from Jackson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSSportsGuy Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 The sad truth is the school district cannot afford to have so many schools, in aging facilities, that are half filled or less. This is way overdue. If Wingfield does close I expect the students to be divided between Forest Hill and Jim Hill. That would leave 6 high schools but I'd say 4 wouldn't be out of the question with the continual population drop. What will be tougher getting these rival schools and communities to mesh and support one another as the transitions happen. Jackson isn't the only community where this should be happening but it's truly sad what has happened there. I live and work in Rankin County and have never lived in the city proper because my family and I decided it would be better to own in the suburbs and put the kids in public school. We never regretted that decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Bert Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 12 minutes ago, MSSportsGuy said: The sad truth is the school district cannot afford to have so many schools, in aging facilities, that are half filled or less. This is way overdue. If Wingfield does close I expect the students to be divided between Forest Hill and Jim Hill. That would leave 6 high schools but I'd say 4 wouldn't be out of the question with the continual population drop. What will be tougher getting these rival schools and communities to mesh and support one another as the transitions happen. Jackson isn't the only community where this should be happening but it's truly sad what has happened there. I live and work in Rankin County and have never lived in the city proper because my family and I decided it would be better to own in the suburbs and put the kids in public school. We never regretted that decision. Provine or Jim Hill I can see closing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Do they even play football at Newell Field anymore? The stadium between Bailey and Murrah? If not it’s a dang shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David44 Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Downfall of Jackson is a tragedy, not only for Jackson but Mississippi as well. This should be a case study for future generations of electing and holding city officials accountable of their actions. Sadly though half the people don’t even bother to vote . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montana6 Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 1 minute ago, maroontide06 said: Do they even play football at Newell Field anymore? The stadium between Bailey and Murrah? If not it’s a dang shame. Haven't used that field since 2017. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 2 hours ago, MSSportsGuy said: The sad truth is the school district cannot afford to have so many schools, in aging facilities, that are half filled or less. This is way overdue. If Wingfield does close I expect the students to be divided between Forest Hill and Jim Hill. That would leave 6 high schools but I'd say 4 wouldn't be out of the question with the continual population drop. What will be tougher getting these rival schools and communities to mesh and support one another as the transitions happen. Jackson isn't the only community where this should be happening but it's truly sad what has happened there. I live and work in Rankin County and have never lived in the city proper because my family and I decided it would be better to own in the suburbs and put the kids in public school. We never regretted that decision. I get all of this, but what’s it going to take to minimize the blight that these closures are going to cause? Thankfully the King Edward got renovated and revitalized, but that’s just one building though. If they decide to close schools up there in Jackson they need to have a revitalization plan so that the property doesn’t become blight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Bert Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 8 hours ago, maroontide06 said: Do they even play football at Newell Field anymore? The stadium between Bailey and Murrah? If not it’s a dang shame. No and Belhaven built their stadium just south of it. My guess is Murrah doesn't have a home field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Bert Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 8 hours ago, David44 said: Downfall of Jackson is a tragedy, not only for Jackson but Mississippi as well. This should be a case study for future generations of electing and holding city officials accountable of their actions. Sadly though half the people don’t even bother to vote . 19% give or take now in Jackson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Bert Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 8 hours ago, maroontide06 said: I get all of this, but what’s it going to take to minimize the blight that these closures are going to cause? Thankfully the King Edward got renovated and revitalized, but that’s just one building though. If they decide to close schools up there in Jackson they need to have a revitalization plan so that the property doesn’t become blight. They do: sale or demolish is in the WAPT article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Bert Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 There are neighborhoods in SE Jackson that has homes vacant and overgrown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSSportsGuy Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 8 hours ago, maroontide06 said: I get all of this, but what’s it going to take to minimize the blight that these closures are going to cause? Thankfully the King Edward got renovated and revitalized, but that’s just one building though. If they decide to close schools up there in Jackson they need to have a revitalization plan so that the property doesn’t become blight. Blight is probably the city's second biggest problem after crime and the two really go hand in hand. I live in Rankin and some of those old hotels that are abandoned along 55 and 20 are terrible. I get the city doesn't have a ton of cash to tear everything down but I've truly wondered why there hasn't been a city wide effort to do something about these places. I don't like to see any school close because even those that aren't considered strong academically still have supporters and advocates. Despite my consolidation talk on this board I also don't believe bigger is always better but the sad truth is schools costs money to operate and repair and if there aren't bodies in them, one has to ask if the expense is worth it. I can forsee a day in my lifetime that the city could have 4 high schools that probably still wouldn't be at capacity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSSportsGuy Posted December 20, 2023 Share Posted December 20, 2023 The JPS board approved the plan to close eleven schools total last night and Wingfield is on the list. It's probably the most controversial closure although I believe there will be legal challenges that may stop it (at least for now). I truly hate it for the students and alumni but the district has lost so many students and the trend isn't slowing down. This will move students to Forest Hill and Jim Hill which may or may not impact their numbers enough to move the needle for them during the next reclassification round. I could see at least one or two more high schools closing in my lifetime as the district and city will continue to be hollowed out as the population declines. Sad day for many families across JPS but I respect the board for making the tough decision. There are other places in our state who should follow their lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Bert Posted December 20, 2023 Author Share Posted December 20, 2023 Jim Hill will probably be the next to close. Forest Hill in the Southwest Jim Hill/Provine in Central near JSU Lanier in west of Downtown/north of JSU, Stokes will have Stroke if they even mention closing Murrah by the University Callaway in the North Central Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Bert Posted December 20, 2023 Author Share Posted December 20, 2023 Last Classification Wingfield 473 Forest Hill 753 needing 208 to be 7A Jim Hill 712 needing 249 to be 7A 478-457=21, yes they both can go 7A at a 50/50 split. However they both need an additional 27 to drop Pearl out of 7A. I think just 1 can go to 7A at best. Both stay 6A then 1 school will trickle up in each class: Caledonia to 5A, Mooreville to 4A, St Andrew's to 3A, East Marion to 2A Region 8, Mize or Bay Springs or Scott Central to Region 6-2A or Scott Central to Region 6 and Bay Springs to Region 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wareaglefan1us Posted December 20, 2023 Share Posted December 20, 2023 Is this why I’ve heard schools like Florence and Terry are picking up kids from JPS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAnswer Posted December 21, 2023 Share Posted December 21, 2023 Florence doesn’t get JPS transfers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wareaglefan1us Posted December 21, 2023 Share Posted December 21, 2023 3 hours ago, TheAnswer said: Florence doesn’t get JPS transfers. I believe they were meaning people moving out there from JPS or they could have been mistaken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olcoach77 Posted December 21, 2023 Share Posted December 21, 2023 I would suspect Terry, Richland, Pearl would be impacted the most from JPS closures, possibly Clinton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrickCity Posted December 21, 2023 Share Posted December 21, 2023 On 10/4/2023 at 3:50 PM, MeridianMomma64 said: I hate that for those kids… Mamma, how are we feeling about the new coaching change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maroontide06 Posted December 21, 2023 Share Posted December 21, 2023 21 minutes ago, BrickCity said: Mamma, how are we feeling about the new coaching change? Who they gettin'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.