J. J. Pearce High School

J. J. Pearce High School is a high school located in Richardson, Texas, United States. It is named after Joseph Jones “J.J.” Pearce[2], the superintendent for the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) from 1946 to 1977.[3] In 2018, it had an enrollment of 2,323 and a student-teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

J. J. Pearce High School
Address
1600 North Coit Road

Richardson
,
Dallas County
,
Texas
75080

United States
Information
TypeHigh School/secondary school
Established1967
School districtRichardson Independent School District
PrincipalCarrie Breedlove
Teaching staff159.90 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment2,323 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio14.53[1]
Color(s)     Royal Blue
     Red
MascotMustang
Websitehttps://schools.risd.org/PearceHS

History

Pearce was established in 1967 with a group of tenth graders housed at Richardson North Junior High School. Prior to 1967, all high school students in the Pearce area attended Richardson High School. In 1969, the school moved to its current home on Coit Road; the campus has been expanded several times since. Along with Berkner High School, it is one of two RISD high schools to have a natatorium. While Pearce hosts a natatorium, Eagle-Mustang Stadium is shared with Richardson High School. An indoor training facility was built in 2018 to accommodate Pearce athletes.

The racial mix of the neighborhood has remained relatively constant. There are students bused in from outside neighborhoods, mainly from lower income areas. Many families move to the Pearce area for the high caliber RISD schools. The school employs a well-qualified staff, including multiple Teacher of the Year recipients. Academic success is the primary emphasis of Pearce, with high levels of parent involvement and relatively high student participation in extra-curricular activities, displaying a proactive community.

The graduating class of 1987 was reunited on the TV Land original program High School Reunion, which premiered on March 5, 2008.

In September 2017, two Pearce students were accused of creating racist memes during the week leading up to the school's annual in-town rivalry football game against Richardson High School. The most controversial meme depicted the Pearce High School logo over KKK members and the Richardson High School logo over a burning cross. Each student served an out of school suspension.[4]

Academics

Newsweek ranked Pearce at #528 in the top 1,000 high schools in the nation. Schools were ranked based on the number of students who took Advanced Placement courses and AP tests. Pearce was named a 1988-89 National Blue Ribbon School.[5] In 2009, the state classified 81% of Pearce's graduates as "college ready", or ready to undergo university studies. The State of Texas defined "college readiness" by scores on the ACT and SAT, and in the 11th grade Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests. During the same year, the school's student body had 22% poor students, and 27% of its students had a risk of dropping out. Holly K. Hacker of The Dallas Morning News said that the readiness rate was about 20 points higher than statistics would predict, and that the school "far exceeds what is expected."[6]

Pearce High School also has an Academic Decathlon team. The school holds the record for the most national wins in United States Academic Decathlon history, claiming five first place titles and has also succeeded in being in the top ten schools in the state competition since its founding.. J.J. Pearce High School was a Recognized school for 2007-2008 as well.

The Mock Trial team of Pearce High School is widely respected across the region and remains the most prestigious program in Region 10 history. Since 1979, Pearce High School has won more regional titles than any other team in its district along with four state titles, tying for second most in Texas history.[7]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "PEARCE HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  2. Elkind, Peter (1995-10-12). "The forgotten man". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-07. Retrieved 2010-05-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "2 J.J. Pearce students blamed for racist meme showing football rival burning on a cross". Dallas News. 2017-09-28. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  5. Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002 (PDF) Archived 2009-03-26 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Hacker, Holly K. "Analysis shows true Texas high school performance, stripping away socioeconomic factors." The Dallas Morning News. September 3, 2011. Retrieved on February 10, 2012.
  7. Vokey 18

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