J. W. Mitchell High School
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox school
| name = J. W. Mitchell High School
| logo = Mitchell HS logo.jpg
| image = JWMitchell High School.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| streetaddress = 2323 Little Road
| city = Trinity
| state = Florida
| zipcode = 34655
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{coord|28.192893|-82.66684|type:edu_region:US|display=title,inline|format=dms}}
| pushpin_map = USA Florida
| pushpin_mapsize = 220
| us_nces_school_id = {{NCES School ID|120153004423|school_name=James W. Mitchell High School|access_date=January 1, 2025}}
| district = Pasco County Schools
| principal = Jessica Schultz{{cite web|url=https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/|title=J.W. Mitchell High School|accessdate=July 31, 2020}}
| staff =
| teaching_staff = 100.80 {{FTE}}
| ceeb = 101560
| avg_class_size =
| gender = coed
| schooltype = Public High School
| conference =
| slogan = Empowered by Community, Driven by Integrity, Dedicated to Excellence
| motto =
| mascot = Mustang
| colors = Black and gold {{Color box|Black}} {{Color box|#c4b454}}
| yearbook = The Stampede
| newspaper = Hoofbeat
| established = {{Start year and age|August 14, 2000}}
| picture =
| enrollment_as_of = 2023–2024
| homepage = [http://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/ School website]
}}
J. W. Mitchell High School (also called Mitchell or JWMHS), is a public high school in Trinity, Florida, located next to Seven Springs Middle School. Its current principal is Jessica Schultz. It is one of the largest schools in the Pasco County Schools district. The school opened on August 14, 2000.{{Cite web |title=J. W. Mitchell High School {{!}} Rowe Architects |url=http://rowearchitects.com/project/j-w-mitchell-high-school/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |language=en-US}}
History
J. W. Mitchell High School opened at the start of the 2000–01 school year, designed to relieve overcrowding at River Ridge and Gulf High Schools. Its first graduating class was in 2002. The school is named for James Mitchell, a rancher, community leader and businessman. His wife Dorothy served on the school board for about 20 years.{{Cite web |title=School Board member to seek 4th term |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/05/08/school-board-member-to-seek-4th-term/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228113547/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/05/08/school-board-member-to-seek-4th-term/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 28, 2023 |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}
The school gained nationwide publicity in 2019 when its science lab classes were the first in the US to use synthetic frogs for dissection, instead of preserved real frogs. The move eliminated student exposure to formaldehyde and overcomes ethical objections raised to the widespread killing and dissection of the amphibians.{{cite news|author=Aaro, David|title=Florida high school first in world to use synthetic frogs for dissection|publisher=Fox News|date=November 30, 2019|url=https://www.foxnews.com/science/florida-high-school-first-synthetic-frogs-dissection|access-date=November 30, 2019}}{{cite news|author=Elassar, Alaa|title=A Florida high school is the first in the world to provide synthetic frogs for students to dissect|publisher=CNN|date=November 30, 2019|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/30/us/florida-high-school-synthetic-frogs-trnd/index.html|access-date=November 30, 2019}}{{cite news|author=Lewis, Sophie|title=Florida high school introduces synthetic frogs for science class dissection|publisher=CBS News|date=November 26, 2019|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-high-school-introduces-synthetic-frogs-for-dissection-in-science-class/|access-date=November 30, 2019}}
State championships
During the 2009-2010 season, the Mustangs secured Pasco county's first ever soccer state championship. They beat Jacksonville Stanton 1-0, February 18, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/preps/4a-final-mitchell-brings-home-pasco-countys-first-state-crown-in-boys/1074358|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224221425/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/preps/4a-final-mitchell-brings-home-pasco-countys-first-state-crown-in-boys/1074358|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 24, 2010|title=4A final: Mitchell brings home Pasco County's first state crown in boys soccer|work=Tampa Bay Times|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}
During the 2011-2012 season, Mitchell's Hockey team won their first state championship. They beat Spanish River in Coral Springs, FL 10-2.{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/mitchell-high-wins-state-championship/1218673/|title=Mitchell High wins state championship|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=February 23, 2016}}
National championships
The Mustangs were Florida's first to win the USA Hockey High School Nationals for the 2015-16 school year.{{Cite web |last=USAHockey.com |first=Tom Robinson-Special to |date=2016-03-22 |title=J.W. Mitchell Wins Florida's First National High School Hockey Championship |url=https://nationals.usahockey.com/news_article/show/628433-j-w-mitchell-wins-florida-s-first-national-high-school-hockey-championship |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Youth & Girls Nationals |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |date=2016-03-21 |title=JW Mitchell becomes first Florida team to win USA Hockey High School Nationals |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2016/mitchell-becomes-first-florida-team-to-win-usa-hockey-high-school-nationals |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=USA TODAY High School Sports |language=en-US}} They most recently competed in the USA Hockey High School Nationals for a second time, during the 2021-22 school year, but did not end up victorious.{{Cite web |title=Mitchell High to compete at USA Hockey nationals for second time |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2022/03/22/mitchell-high-to-compete-at-usa-hockey-nationals-for-second-time-in-program-history/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-22 |title=Mitchell High School hockey heads to Texas to compete for national championship |url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/sports/mitchell-high-school-hockey-heads-to-texas-to-compete-for-national-championship |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS) |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Mitchell High School falls short at USA Hockey nationals |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2022/04/01/mitchell-high-school-falls-short-at-usa-hockey-nationals/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}
Band program
The J.W. Mitchell High School Band Program has over 200 members and features a diverse range of musical groups including the marching band, three concert bands, two jazz ensembles, two competitive color guards, and a percussion ensemble.{{Cite web |title=Bands Homepage {{!}} JWMHS |url=https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/bands-2/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-20 |title=Mitchell High School drumline makes history competing in Indoor World Percussion Championships |url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pasco/mitchell-high-school-drumline-makes-history-competing-in-indoor-world-percussion-championships |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS) |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Annual Prism concert is a favorite of band members at Mitchell High School |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/annual-prism-concert-is-a-favorite-of-band-members-at-mitchell-high-school/2257138/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}
Former principals
- Ms. Tina Tiede (2000–2004)
- Mr. Ric Mellin (2004-2009)
- Mr. Jim Michaels (2009–2015)
- Ms. Jessica Schultz (2016-Present)
Notable alumni
- Tyler Clippard – professional baseball player{{Cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/eqm2WCC|title=Imgur|last=Imgur|website=Imgur|language=en|access-date=2019-04-14}}
- Ryan Garton – professional baseball player{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/rays-calling-up-rhp-ryan-garton-mitchell-high/2278917|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529065718/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/rays-calling-up-rhp-ryan-garton-mitchell-high/2278917|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 29, 2016|title=Rays call up RHP Ryan Garton, send Beckham to Durham|last=Topkin|first=Marc|date=May 25, 2016|work=Tampa Bay Times|accessdate=May 25, 2016}}
- Patrick Schuster – professional baseball player{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gators/content/uf-takes-mitchell-ace/2017412|title=UF takes Mitchell ace|work=Tampa Bay Times|accessdate=February 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624230441/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gators/content/uf-takes-mitchell-ace/2017412|archive-date=June 24, 2016|url-status=dead}}
- Nathan Smith – professional NHL player for the Arizona Coyotes{{cite web|url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/sports/mitchell-high-grad-nathan-smith-selected-for-team-usa-hockey |title=Mitchell High grad Nathan Smith selected for Team USA hockey |date=January 25, 2022 }}
- Aidan Miller – professional baseball player{{cite web|url=https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/sports/2023/07/13/mitchell-high-s-aidan-miller-selected-in-first-round-of-mlb-draft-|title=Mitchell High's Aidan Miller selected in first round of MLB Draft|last=Staff|date=July 13, 2023|work=Bay News 9|accessdate=January 21, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/ J. W. Mitchell High School website]
{{authority control}}
Category:Educational institutions established in 2000
Category:High schools in Pasco County, Florida
Category:Public high schools in Florida