Northeast Jones High School

Northeast Jones High School (NEJ) is a public high school located in Jones County, Mississippi, United States, near the city of Laurel. Northeast Jones serves students in grades 7 through 12 and is one of three traditional high schools in the Jones County School District.

Northeast Jones High School
Address
68 Northeast Drive Laurel , Mississippi 39443 United States
Coordinates	31.695843°N 89.051724°W / 31.695843; -89.051724
Information
Type	Public secondary
Established	1965; 60 years ago (1965)
School district	Jones County School District
Principal	P.T. Jones
Teaching staff	84.63 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades	7–12
Enrollment	988 (2022–2023)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	11.67[1]
Color(s)	Black and gold
Athletics conference	MSHSAA 4A Region 5
Nickname	Tigers
Website	www.jones.k12.ms.us/nej/

History

As part of a wider Jones County School District consolidation, Northeast Jones High School opened in 1965 as the product of three local high schools.^[2]

After school integration in the United States, a black student was hanged in a bathroom and suffered non-fatal injuries.^[3] After a couple more years, black NEJ students rioted in 1972, drawing the National Guard to the school.^[3]

In 2024, Northeast Jones High School alumnus P.T. Jones was named the principal of Northeast Jones High School after serving many years as assistant principal at the school. Jones is the first African American head principal at Northeast Jones High School ^[4]

Northeast Jones High School is also home to Ann Tucker, age 84, who has been teaching at the school for 64 years. Although not officially documented, it is widely accepted that Ann Tucker has been teaching longer than anyone in the state of Mississippi. In 2022, Ann Tucker was recognized by the Mississippi State Legislature for her longevity and service to Northeast Jones High School. House Resolution 95 commended her for her "outstanding tenure".^[5][6]

Athletics

Northeast Jones athletic teams are nicknamed the Tigers and compete in Mississippi High School Activities Association 4A Region 5.^[7] The football team won the 1996 MSHSAA Class 4A championship.^[8]

Northeast Jones High School boasts numerous athletics teams including archery, baseball, basketball, e-sports, football, softball, swimming, cross-country track, golf, powerlifting, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and track and field. In 2024, the NEJ Archery team placed third in the Mississippi Archery Championships.^[9]

Performing arts

NEJ fields two competitive show choirs: the high school mixed-gender "Gold Horizons" and middle school mixed-gender "Tiger Vibe. The performing arts program also hosts an annual competition.^[10]

Notable alumni

• Marsha Blackburn, politician^[11]
• Robin Robinson, politician^[12]
• Shad White, politician^[13]

References

1. "Northeast Jones High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
2. "Glade Elementary". Jones County School District. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
3. Morgan, Anna (May 2019). "The Segregation, Integration, and Resegregation of High Schools in Jones County, Mississippi". The Aquila Digital Community. University of Southern Mississippi. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
4. "Our Principals - Northeast Jones High School". Our Principals - Northeast Jones High School.
5. "HR 95 (As Introduced) - 2022 Regular Session". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us.
6. Thornton, Mark (January 31, 2022). "A teacher for all time". Laurel Leader-Call.
7. "Northeast Jones Football Team Preview". MaxPreps. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
8. "Football Champions". Mississippi High School Activities Association. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
9. https://www.misshsaa.com/2024/04/11/2024-archery-scores/
10. "SCC: Northeast Jones Classic 2020". Show Choir Community. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
11. "Yearbook 1969 Northeast Jones High School". classmates.com. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
12. "Robin Robinson". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
13. Harrison, Bobby; Ganucheau, Adam (July 6, 2018). "Gov. Bryant appoints ex-staffer and 'millennial' Shad White as state auditor". Mississippi Today. Retrieved October 27, 2020.