Hamilton High School (Memphis, Tennessee)

Hamilton High School
Address
Map
1363 E Person Avenue

,
38106

United States
Coordinates35°06′00″N 90°01′01″W / 35.1001°N 90.0170°W / 35.1001; -90.0170
Information
TypePublic
MottoLove Hamilton Absolutely
School districtShelby County School District
NCES School ID470014801080
Teaching staff45.36 (FTE)[1]
Enrollment682 (2022–2023)
 • Grade 9212
 • Grade 10181
 • Grade 11153
 • Grade 12136
Student to teacher ratio15.04
Color(s)
  • Royal blue  
  • white  
MascotWildcats
Websiteschools.scsk12.org/Domain/16

Hamilton High School is a public high school in Memphis, Tennessee, located at 1363 E Person Avenue. Enrollment is 646 as of the 2019–2020 school year and the school is part of the Shelby County School District.[1]

The school has a Junior ROTC program and requires a school uniform.[2][non-primary source needed]

Hamilton High School graduates were among the Memphis State Eight that broke the color barrier at Memphis State in 1959.[3] There was a clash between students and police during the Martin Luther King era.[4][5] In 2011 organizers rallied to save the high school from closing.[6]

School colors are royal blue and white. Wildcats are the mascot, and the school motto is "Love Hamilton Absolutely".[7][8]

Former NFL player Curtis Weathers served as principal in 2015 and sought to transition the school into a Charter School.[9] The school was part of a grade tampering controversy at several Shelby County schools in 2017 and had its principal demoted to a teaching position as a result.[10]

97% of the students are black as of 2020.[1] Student scores are very low on math and reading proficiency state exams.[11]

  1. ^ a b c "Search for Public Schools - Hamilton High (470014801080)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "Hamilton High, Memphis, TN". Memphis School Guide. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Memphis State Eight Historical Marker". The Historical Marker Database.
  4. ^ Garrow, David J. (1981). The FBI and Martin Luther King, Jr.: From "Solo" to Memphis. Open Road Media. p. 161. ISBN 978-1-5040-1153-2. OCLC 915158153.
  5. ^ Bond, Beverly G. (2006). Beale Street. Arcadia Publishing. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-4396-1753-3. OCLC 1100671114.
  6. ^ Jones, Tom (March 10, 2011). "School's Out". Memphis magazine.
  7. ^ "Homepage". Hamilton High. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "Hamilton High School (Memphis, TN) Home". MaxPreps. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  9. ^ Roberts, Jane (March 27, 2015). "Hamilton principal plans to file application to turn school into a charter". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Pignolet, Jennifer (January 9, 2019). "Former Hamilton principal who lost job over grade tampering allegations loses her appeal". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Hamilton High School in Memphis, TN". U.S. News & World Report.