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Theodore Roosevelt High School (New York City)
Encyclopedia
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was first organized November 14, 1918. When Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
died on January 6, 1919, the Board of Education decided to give the school his name. The school's sports teams are known as Rough Riders, in honor of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry
Rough Riders
The Rough Riders is the name bestowed on the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action. The United States Army was weakened and left with little manpower after the American Civil War...
, the unit organized by Colonel (later President) Roosevelt. The school mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is the teddy bear
Teddy bear
The teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear. They are usually stuffed with soft, white cotton and have smooth and soft fur. It is an enduring form of a stuffed animal in many countries, often serving the purpose of entertaining children. In recent times, some teddy bears have become collector's items...
.
First opened in 1919, the school served for several years as a vocational school and academic courses in the mid-1920s. As the South Bronx suffered from decay in the 1970s, Roosevelt saw an increase in truancy and disorder and a decrease in academic achievement.
During the 1990s, the school briefly enjoyed a renaissance under the leadership of Principal Thelma Baxter, who made efforts to get Roosevelt students to stay in school. In 1996, the school was removed from the state's list of failing schools, and the New York Daily News proclaimed, "Roosevelt HS turns corner."
In 1999, Baxter was promoted to superintendent in Harlem's District 5, and in 2000, Roosevelt returned to the list of failing schools, with a four-year graduation rate of only 33 percent and a reputation for violence. The school was added to the city's list of Impact Schools violent schools to which the mayor assigned more police in 2004 after a riot at the suspension center housed in the building.
The school was closed in accordance with directives from the NYS Education Department
New York State Education Department
The New York State Education Department is the state education department in New York. It is part of the University of the State of New York , one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States...
and the New York City Department of Education
New York City Department of Education
The New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. It is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,700 separate schools...
on June 30, 2006, after graduating its last class. For the 2005/2006 school year, the school had the lowest graduation rate in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
- 3%. The building remains open as the "Theodore Roosevelt Educational Campus", composed of six autonomous small schools
Small schools movement
The small schools movement, also known as the Small Schools Initiative, in the United States of America holds that many high schools are too large and should be reorganized into smaller, autonomous schools of no more than 400 students, and optimally under 200. Many private schools of under 200...
: Belmont Preparatory High School
Belmont Preparatory High School
Belmont Preparatory High School, or Belmont Prep is a small school located within the Theodore Roosevelt Educational Campus, across the street from Fordham University.-External links:* *...
, West Bronx Academy for the Future
West Bronx Academy for the Future
West Bronx Academy for the Future is a small school located within Roosevelt Educational Campus, across the street from Fordham University.-External links:* * *...
, Fordham Leadership Academy for Business and Technology
Fordham Leadership Academy for Business and Technology
Fordham Leadership Academy for Business and Technology , mostly called Fordham Leadership, is a small school located within Roosevelt Educational Campus, across the street from Fordham University.-External links:* *...
, Fordham High School for the Arts
Fordham High School for the Arts
Fordham High School for the Arts, often called simply Fordham Arts, is a small school located within Roosevelt Educational Campus, the site of the former Theodore Roosevelt High School, across the street from Fordham University....
, KAPPA International High School and the Bronx High School for Law and Community Service
Bronx High School for Law and Community Service
Bronx High School for Law and Community Service is a small school in the New York City borough of The Bronx. It is located within Roosevelt Educational Campus, across the street from Fordham University.-External links:* *...
.
The building's address is 500 East Fordham Road
Fordham Road
Fordham Road is a major street in The Bronx borough of New York City. It runs east-west from the Harlem River to Bronx Park.This street runs through the neighborhood of University Heights, divides Fordham from Fordham-Bedford and finally runs along the northern border of Belmont...
, directly across the street from the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University.