Douglas Anderson School of the Arts

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, commonly known as DA or DASOTA, is a magnet high school in the San Marco neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida, United States. The school opened in 1922 during segregation as a primary school for African American students. The school is named after a local civil rights activist, Douglas Anderson. In 1985, the school was renovated into a magnet high school specializing in performing, visual and language arts.^[2] A historical marker commemorates its history.

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
Location
2445 San Diego Road Jacksonville , Florida 32207 United States
Coordinates	30°18′01″N 81°38′20″W
Information
Type	Public magnet high school[1]
Motto	"Where arts and academics meet in excellence"
Established	1922
School district	Duval County Public Schools
Principal	Timothy Feagins
Teaching staff	53.00 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades	9–12[1]
Enrollment	1,068 (2022–2023)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	20.15[1]
Color(s)	Black and White
Mascot	Puffins and Dragons
Website	dcps.duvalschools.org/anderson

Awards

The school was designated a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence^[3] and received awards from the United States Department of Education, the International Network of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.^[4]

In December 2009, the school was designated a Florida Heritage Landmark by the Bureau of Historical Preservation. The ceremony was attended by students and school officials, Anderson's family, and the first graduates of the school from 1959.^[5]

History

Opened in 1922 as The South Jacksonville Grammar School for grades 1—9, the school was primarily attended by African American students; the only school in the region during that time.^{[citation needed]} In 1945, the school name changed to Douglas Anderson School.^{[citation needed]} During the 1950s, the school became a high school with the mascot of "Fiery Dragons" and in 1959, the school saw its first graduating class with a commencement speech given by Noah Marsh.^{[citation needed]} During the 1960s, the school closed briefly and reopened in 1968 as a campus for Florida Junior College.^{[citation needed]} In 1970, the school closed briefly again and reopened in 1971 as the Douglas Anderson Seventh Grade Center.^{[citation needed]} In 1985, the school opened as Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.^{[citation needed]}

Notable alumni

• Wes Borland - guitarist
• Daniel Breaker - Broadway and film actor
• Ben Harper - guitarist
• Patrick Heusinger - actor
• William Ryan Key - lead singer of the band Yellowcard
• Billy Merrell - author and poet
• John Otto - drummer
• Longineu W. Parsons III - drummer