Tucker Community Meets its High School

The new Tucker High School opened its doors to the Tucker civic and business community last night and Tucker Patch was there. A reception was held in the school’s cafeteria, followed by a presentation in the auditorium and then guided tours of the new building.

“I want you to see what we have,” Principal James Jackson explained. “Some think we’re only about football, but nothing could be further from the truth.” For example, Jackson proudly noted that two of his students will be going to Harvard and another is headed to Stanford.

About-to-retire language department chairman Bob McCormick elaborated on Jackson’s statement; he pointed out that Tucker High has 20 rigorous advanced placement courses that qualify for college credit. Then there’s the International Baccalaureate program that McCormick coordinates. “We send papers around the world to be scored,” he said, naming Hong Kong, Peru and Sweden as examples.

McCormick also lauded Tucker High’s community service. The school’s habitat chapter was honored by the Georgia General Assembly last year with a resolution and was the first to organize in a DeKalb County school. Since 2002, the Tucker Habitat Chapter has raised almost $140,000 and sponsored eight homes.

The Tucker High School Foundation, which seeks to raise funds for educational enhancement activities, was also announced during the meeting. 

Lt. Col. James Williams explained Tucker High’s Air Force Jr. ROTC program. “We’re dedicated to serving our nation and community, said Williams, a former Vietnam War POW imprisoned with John McCain. Williams has headed the school’s Jr. ROTC since 1995 and has seen 1,800 students benefit from it.

Tucker High PTSA Co-President Curtis York has a daughter in the school and was excited about last night. He could not recall a similar event and said it was all about bringing the community inside the school to get to know each other. “They’re excited about us and we can always use their resources,” he said.

York explained that Riverside Pizza donated food for a fund-raiser and the Tucker Staples provided directional signs and flyers for another fund-raiser. That resource theme was echoed by Jackson. He stressed that this wasn’t necessarily about money, but about helping students find work and mentoring, among other possibilities.

Tucker High School has come a long way in its history from three rooms to two stories to its current four floors and 228,500 square feet. Principal Jackson, however, knows that his school of 1,450 students cannot rest on the laurels of a modern facility. That’s where the Tucker community can step in.