Our history
William Marion Raines
Our Alma Mater was named in honor of William Marion Raines, a prominent black educator in Jacksonville and principal at Matthew Gilbert High School from 1938 until his death in 1950.
School No. 165
In 1964, with an increase in Jacksonville's African American population, Duval County School Board
decided to send African American students to Jean Ribault High School, but the all-white faculty and
students rejected the idea. The school board then decided to build a new facility, costing two million
dollars. School No. 165 opened its door
In 1964, with an increase in Jacksonville's African American population, Duval County School Board
decided to send African American students to Jean Ribault High School, but the all-white faculty and
students rejected the idea. The school board then decided to build a new facility, costing two million
dollars. School No. 165 opened its doors at 3663 Clarkson Avenue on January 25, 1965.
The opening of the school brought about the reassignment of 1,305 black high school students in
grades nine through twelve from Northwestern Junior-Senior High School to the new school. The
2000 student capacity high school was a $2 million project and duplicated the new Fletcher High
School in the Beaches community. The school opened unnamed and was referred to simply as
School No. 165. On June 10, 1965 at a school board meeting the school was officially named
William Marion Raines Senior High School.
Dr. Andrew A. Robinson
Dr. Andrew A. Robinson
Dr. Andrew A . Robinson was appointed principal of the
new school. Robinson, a 3 5 year old African-American and Jacksonville native, held a Bachelor of
Science degree from FAMU and a doctorate in education from Columbia University .
Accredited in 1968
Raines was originally accredited in 1968. It was the first school in Duval County to achieve accreditation. Raines was re-accredited in 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2008 and was given glowing
compliments from the visiting boards.
leadership
Raines has been under the leadership of 12 esteemed principals:
- Dr. Andrew A. Robinson (1965 -1969)
- Dr.Ezekial W. Bryant (1969 -1972)
- Kernaa McFarlin (1972 -1978)
- Ike James (1978 -1979)
- Jimmie Johnson (longest-serving principal, 1979 -1995)
- Dr. Milton H . Threadcraft (1995 -1997)
- Dr. Roy I. Mitchell (1997- 2002)
- Carol H. Danies (first female principal, 2002 - 2006),
- Nongongoma Majova-Seane (2006-2009)
- George E. Maxey (2009 - 2011)
- Ms. Shateena Brown (December 8, 2011 - 2013)
- Current principal Vincent Hall (2013-Present)*
*Vincent Hall is the first Raines graduate to serve as principal.
Magnet Programs
Raines became the county's science, math, and engineering magnet school in 1990. This new focus was supported by the addition of the Andrew A . Robinson Science wing in that same year. Raines
received its first ninth-grade students as a part of the magnet program, and additional personnel and programs have been added to help these students make the adjustment to high school.
Athletics
- Raines won its fourth state championship in football in 2025, making Raines the only public high school in Duval County to earn a state championship in football.
- The varsity boys' basketball team won the state championship in 1991, 2003 & 2004.
- We have 3 championships in boys' track, the last achievement in 1997.
- Most recently, the girls' track team won their first state titles, back-to-back state championships in 2008 and 2009.
WMRNAA Celebrating a decade of Impact
