Cleveland Junior Naval Academy (also known as Cleveland High School) was a
magnetmilitary academy high school in
St. Louis, Missouri and was a part of the
St. Louis Public Schools. Cleveland High School opened in 1915 as a comprehensive high school, merging with the Junior Naval Academy in 1984. The Junior Naval Academy was a magnet military academy, founded in 1981.[2] In 2006, the school moved from its original location on Louisiana Avenue (38°34′40″N90°14′34″W / 38.5777°N 90.2429°W / 38.5777; -90.2429) to the Pruitt Military Academy building on North 22nd Street, then, in 2010, it moved from Pruitt to the Southwest High School building at Arsenal and Kingshighway.[3] In 2021, the St. Louis Public Schools board voted to close the location effective the upcoming school year.[4]
Events and celebration
Homecoming was a traditional homecoming festival, including a football game, parade, and dance. The parades were held on Saturday morning of the weekend designated for the homecoming football game. The
parade route was usually in the school's neighborhood. The dance was held that same Saturday, in the Field House, one of Cleveland High School's old buildings.
Pass-in-Review was an event held in the spring, usually near the end of April. The event began with a visitation by a high ranking
Navy Officer, who spent a couple of days inspecting the individual platoons in the regiment. On the Friday after the Regimental Inspection, the
Regiment was formed up on the nearby parade ground to perform the various procedures (i.e. Report-in, Parade the Colors, Guest Speaker, Drill Teams etc.) The ceremony commenced with the regiment parading past the military and civilian dignitaries in the review stand.
Naval Ball was held in May. The Naval Ball was the school's version of a
Prom, and was open to all Cadets (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.) Male cadets wore the Military Service
Dress Uniform. Female cadets wore the military service
Dress Uniform, or they had the option of wearing formal dresses or gowns.
Special activities
As a Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
NJROTC unit, cadets were offered many experiences that were only offered through the NJROTC program.
During the spring of their freshman year, Delta cadets could have attended a 5-day training course in
Tullahoma, TN called Mini-Boot Camp. Mini-
Boot Camp emphasizes one must be a good follower to be a good leader. Cadets received two ribbons after completion.
During the summer break between their freshman and sophomore years, cadets were offered a 3-week course called
Platoon Commander and MAA school. Cadets were taught the fundamentals of drill and small group leadership. Most cadets that completed this course went on to be platoon commanders or
Master at Arms.
During the summer break between sophomore and junior years, SELECT cadets were offered to go to the Area Nine Leadership Academy in Tullahoma, TN. This was the most prestigious and honorable course offered. Cadets were taught all of the essentials of being a leader. They were taught drill with swords and guide-ons,
military courtesy, proper procedures for military banquets, leadership skills, emphasis on
physical fitness etc. Cadets who attended were the top cadets in their unit. Normally, Cleveland would send five to eight cadets. In general, NJROTC cadets that attended became the commanding and
executive officers of their units. Upon completion of Leadership Academy, cadets were rewarded the silver aigrette which was the only aigrette nationally recognized by the NJROTC program.
Activities
For the 2011–2012 school year, the school offered 17 activities approved by the
Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA): baseball, boys and girls basketball, sideline cheer leading, boys and girls cross country, 11-man football, boys and girls soccer, softball, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls track and field, girls volleyball, wrestling, and speech and debate.[5] In addition to its current activities, Cleveland students have won several state championships, including:
Baseball: 1958
Boys Basketball: 1953
Girls Basketball: 1983
Boys Cross Country: 1949
Boys Swimming and Diving: 1942, 1948, 1955
The school also has produced two individual wrestling state champions.[6]