From Airfield to Academic Excellence

See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Before the construction of airfields in Jacksonville in the 1920s, pilots used the local beaches as runways. However, they proved to be too far away from downtown to be convenient for any reason.  

As a solution, in 1923, local pilots started using a small grassy strip called Paxon Field on the city's western edge, which in the 1920s was likely Jacksonville's earliest airport. The field is named after the Paxon family, who were major property owners in Woodstock Park (a neighborhood along West Beaver Street). For years Paxon Field was owned by Lily May, wife of businessman Edward H. Paxon and daughter of Samuel J. Melson, the president of the S.J. Melson real estate company. Due to this, the field was sometimes known as Melson Field. 

SDASM Archives, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1926, Bessie "Queen Bee" Coleman, the first African American internationally licensed pilot, died rehearsing her well-known aerobatics show held at Paxon Field after her plane crashed a few miles away from the airfield. Her memorial plaque can be found on the wall before entering the front doors to the main building. Use of the field decreased once the city built a new airport, Imeson Field, in 1927. The airport served Jacksonville from 1927 until its closing in 1968.

During World War II, the U.S. Navy used Paxon Field as a secondary air facility for training, but eventually, the site was declared unneeded in January 1947. So, after the war, the property was set aside for the construction of the school; the echoes of aircraft engines were replaced by the chatter of students. 

Fisher, Robert E., Public domain, via Florida Memory (1958)

Paxon High School was originally named Paxon Field Junior-Senior High School when it was built in 1954. The grades included 7 through 12 until 1957 when Paxon Junior High (now known as James Weldon Johnson) was built across the street. In 1996, Paxon became a college preparatory school and an International Baccalaureate school, taking on its present name, Paxon School for Advanced Studies. 

With this new focus, Paxon High School introduced a curriculum packed with Advanced Placement (AP) courses, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, and dual enrollment opportunities. Students were able to earn college credits while still navigating the trials and tribulations of high school life. But Paxon isn't just about hitting the books. The school embraced a complete approach to education, offering a variety of extracurricular activities. Students can explore their passions, develop leadership skills, and build lifelong friendships. The spirit of community thrives here, making Paxon more than just a school – it becomes a second home. 

Today, Paxon School for Advanced Studies stands as evidence of what can be achieved with vision and determination. It consistently ranks among the top high schools in the nation, a beacon of excellence in Jacksonville. The school's history, marked by transformation and triumph, continues to inspire students to reach for the stars with their wings spread wide.