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P.D. Jackson-Olin High School

P. D. Jackson-Olin High School, founded in 1952 as Western Olin High School, renamed after principal Pierre Denson Jackson. Affectionately known as J.O., it is currently the largest high school in the Birmingham Public School System, serving over 1,700 students from the Ensley area. The school is located at 1300 Avenue F Ensley adjacent to McAlpine Park. The principal is Linda Parsons.

Mascot & school colors

Jackson-Olin's teams are called the Mustangs and the school colors are kelly green and gold.

New campus

In Fall 2006, Jackson-Olin moved to a new $30.8 million, 300,000 square foot building and merged its student body with the former Ensley High School. The new school has a capacity of 1,800 students in 90 classrooms on 2 floors. There is a 450 seat cafeteria, 1,800 seat gymnasium, 750 seat auditorium, a practice gym and a football stadium at the new campus. A career wing houses classrooms for auto repair, welding, and culinary arts as well as science labs. Goodwin Mills and Cawood were the architects for the new building, and Doster Construction was the general contractor.

Marching band

The Jackson-Olin marching band, the Mean Green Marching Machine is known for their outstanding showmanship and entertaining musical performances. A Western-Olin graudate himself, Mr. Donald "D.C" Crawford presided as the head band director for 32 prestigious years. He led the band to numerous awards, and spectacular performances. The band performed at the 2000 inaugural ceremony for Bernard Kincaid, Jackson-Olin Alumnus and former mayor of Birmingham, Alabama.

The dance team is known as the Golden Phillies and the flag line, the Dazzling Diamonds.

Notable alumni

• David Palmer
• Bernard Kincaid
• Vonetta Flowers
• Donald Crawford

References