JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Friday’s graduation ceremony for Wingfield High School’s seniors was the last for the Jackson school.
The school closed its doors for the final time earlier this week after the Jackson Public Schools (JPS) Board of Trustees voted in favor of a plan to close the school in December 2023.
The 2024 graduating class of Wingfield High School started their journey during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Students did not know that the memories they shared for four years would be the last of their school’s history.
“Even though we are the last class of Wingfield High School, it brings me sadness, but it also brings me joy that we graduated. I’m glad to be the last Falcon. And even though we’re closing down, I will still forever be a Falcon. Two wings, one falcon,” said Sherlin Rangel, the student body president for Wingfield High School.
Every JPS high school is a staple of its community. Although Wingfield has closed, the school will forever live through the love of JPS.
“It has been a pillar in our community, you know, for a number of years. And the closing of the school was truly a bittersweet moment. We are, we were disheartened by the closing of the school, but we knew that that was something that had to occur. And we just wanted to encourage our students that there’s a village that’s a part of JPS that will embrace the scholars, the faculty, the community, because we are JPS, and we are one,” said Laketia Marshall-Thomas, assistant superintendent for JPS.
Many took the news of the school’s closure as tragic, but for the graduating class, it was an unforgettable moment.
“It’s really bittersweet, because it doesn’t… you didn’t process the school was closing until you finally walk across the stage a few minutes ago. And I know a lot of us are just really proud to be the last class of Wingfield. I know a lot of alumni came to support us, all of our families, because we here, we graduated. We’re alumni now,” said Takarra Champ, the valedictorian of Wingfield High School.
Now that the school has closed, the remaining high school students will attend another high school in the district.