Robert Wood Johnson High School is a public high school located in Gainesville, Georgia, United States, operated by the Hall County School District. The school serves 1,600 students in grades 9 to 12.
| Johnson High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
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3305 Poplar Springs , 30507 United States | |
| Coordinates | 34°13′29″N 83°51′13″W / 34.224828°N 83.853666°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1972 |
| School district | Hall County Schools |
| Principal | Jonathan Edwards [1] |
| Staff | 91.10 (FTE)[2] |
| Grades | 9 to 12 |
| Enrollment | 1,340 (2021–22)[2] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 14.71[2] |
| Color(s) | Baby blue and white |
| Mascot | Knights |
| Rivals | Gainesville High School Flowery Branch High School West Hall High School |
| Affiliations | International Baccalaureate[3] |
| Website | Johnson High School |
| [4] | |
History edit
Robert Wood Johnson High School was built in 1972 by the Hall County Board of Education under the direction of Superintendent Dean Myers. The school is named after the Johnson & Johnson Corporation's founder; the corporation owned a large piece of land in South Hall County and gave a small piece to the Board of Education as long as they in turn would name the school Robert Wood Johnson High School. The school at one time was called Robert Wood Johnson Memorial Comprehensive High School.
Johnson High School added a vocational wing in 1973.
The school's first principal was Donald Loggins.[5]
In 1982 the Frank J. Knight Center was dedicated. This is home to many PE classes, basketball, volleyball, and school assemblies.
In 1990 a stadium was built for football and soccer. Nicknamed "The Dungeon," the official name of the facility is "Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium," after a former principal who died of cancer.
In 1996, the Performing Arts Center was built between the main building and the Frank J. Knight Center. This building is home to drama classes and chorus and band performances, and is referred to as the PAC.[4]
Athletics edit
Boys Soccer
The school has seen success in its soccer program, winning state titles in 2018, 2022, and 2023.
The 2014 season marked the first time the school had ever gone to a state championship in any sport, but in the final they lost 2-0 to Dalton High School.[6]
The 2016 season was Johnson's second title shot when the Knights advanced to the class 4A state finals only to be dispatched by St. Pius in a 3-0 loss.[7]
The 2018 season was capped off with the Class 5A boys soccer finals against defending state champion McIntosh with a 1-0 victory over the Chiefs that captured the program's first-ever state title.[8]
Johnson’s bid for a second Class 5A state title in 2021 came to an end as in a rematch of the 2018 Class 5A final, McIntosh scored twice in the final 13 minutes to erase an early Johnson lead en route to a 2-1 victory in the state championship.[9]
In 2022, Johnson captured its 2nd 5A title after a come-from-behind 4-2 win over St. Pius in the Class 5A state championship match. It was their second 5A title in five seasons and their fifth appearance in a state championship game since 2014. It also avenged a 2-1 loss to McIntosh in the 2021 title match on the very same field.[10]
The 2023 season was marked by its attempt to go back to back for the first time in the school's history. Johnson went on to go undefeated the regular season and in the final a 4-2 win over Westminster sealed the Class 4A state championship. The title was the second straight for the Knights (21-0), who won the Class 5A title in 2022.[11]
The United Soccer Coaches High School national rankings poll, the nation’s preeminent prep soccer poll, proclaimed on June 20, 2023 the Johnson boys the 2023 National Champions after the Knights finished off their first-ever unbeaten season (21-0) and captured their third state title after knocking off Westminster 4-2 in the Class 4A state championship match.[12]
Feeder schools edit
- Chestnut Mountain Elementary School
- Chicopee Woods Elementary School
- Lyman Hall Elementary School
- Martin Elementary School
- Myers Elementary School
- South Hall Middle School
- Sugar Hill Elementary School
Notable alumni edit
- Casey Cagle, Lt. Governor of Georgia, 2007-2019[13]
- A.J. Styles, professional wrestler[14]
- Chester Willis, former NFL football player
- Mike "MoonPie" Wilson, former NFL football player[15][16]
References edit
- ^ "Our Admin Team – Johnson High School". Johnson High School. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Johnson High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ "Johnson High School". International Baccalaureate Organization. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
IB school code: 003342...since February 2008
- ^ a b A Little History of Johnson High School Archived 2008-07-25 at the Wayback Machine. Johnson High School. Retrieved on May 12, 2008.
- ^ "JHS HISTORY – Johnson High School".
- ^ "2013-2014 GHSA Class AAAA Boys State Soccer Tournament | GHSA.net". www.ghsa.net. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "(VIDEO) STATE CHAMPS: Johnson boys soccer breaks through to claim first ever crown". AccessWDUN. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "(VIDEO) STATE CHAMPS: Johnson boys soccer breaks through to claim first ever crown". AccessWDUN. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "STATE FINAL: Late flurry propels McIntosh past Johnson in 5A finals". AccessWDUN. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "STATE CHAMPS! Johnson boys capture 2nd 5A title". AccessWDUN. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "STATE FINALS: Knights lay claim as nation's best after winning 4A state title". AccessWDUN. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "NATIONAL CHAMPS: Johnson boys crowned nation's best in 2023". AccessWDUN. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "About the Lt. Governor". State of Georgia. Archived from the original on May 4, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
- ^ Kristen Morales (September 4, 2009). "Hall's star wrestler helps others get 'Made'". The Gainesville Times. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- ^ "Mike "MoonPie" Wilson". Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 23, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
- ^ "Mike Wilson". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2008.