Argonaut High School is located in Jackson, California in Amador County. It has about 475 students in grades 9–12. Previously known as Jackson High School, the school merged with Ione High School in 1983 to become Argonaut High School, named after the Argonaut Mine just a 1/2 mile off campus. Academics Argonaut High received the coveted California Distinguished School award. While participation in AP programs runs about 40%, it is estimated that college readiness of students runs around 26.9%. Staff As of June 25, 2015, Kelly Hunkins, the former principal of Pine Grove Elementary, replaced Dave Vicari as principal of Argonaut High School. Vicari now serves as Personnel Director for the Amador County Unified School District. Athletics Argonaut High School is home of the Mustangs, and they participate in the Mother Lode League. They are well known for their exceptional football program under former Head Coach Rick Davis from 2001 to 2021. Argonaut/Jackson began its football program in 1922 and has won fourteen Mother Lode League Championships (41, 45, 52, 53, 57, 65, 66, 70, 84, 03, 08, 10, 11, 12). Argonaut shares a heated rivalry with the Amador High School Buffaloes. Argonaut and Amador play in a football game for the "Rotary Bell" called the "Big Game," an event that the county continues to come watch since its inception in 1923. Sutter/Amador High holds the overall series edge with 56 wins to Jackson/Argonaut's 39 with nine ties. Since the inception of Argonaut High in 1983, the Big Game between Argonaut and Amador is very close with Argonaut at 20 wins and Amador at 19. Argonaut won the 2021 game 43-0. Argonaut won 10 straight games in the series from 2003 to 2012. Argonaut currently plays its home games at Dan Barnett Field on the western edge of campus. The first game played at Dan Barnett Field was on Sep 16, 1989 vs Upper Lake High School. Argonaut is the only MLL team to have won two Sac-Joaquin Section football championships as well as a California state title. Argonaut won the Div IV championship in 2004 beating Linden 17-0 and the Div VI championship in 2021 beating Rosemont 31-20. Argonaut football won the Division 6AA Northern California Title on December 3rd, 2021 by beating St. Vincent de Paul (Petaluma) 42-12 in Jackson. This was only the 2nd ever NorCal football title won by an MLL school. Argonaut defeated Quartz Hill