Fort Lauderdale High School

Last updated

Fort Lauderdale High School
Address
Fort Lauderdale High School
1600 NE 4th Ave

Fort Lauderdale
,
Florida 33305

United States
Coordinates 26°08′54″N80°08′22″W / 26.1484186°N 80.1394895°W / 26.1484186; -80.1394895
Information
Type Public School
Motto"Strong and True, White and Blue"
Established1899
School district Broward County Public Schools
Superintendent Dr. Peter B. Licata
PrincipalErin Brown
Teaching staff96.00 (FTE) [1]
Grades 9-12
Enrollment2,228 (2022–23) [2]
Student to teacher ratio23.21 [1]
Color(s)  White
  Blue
MascotFlying L
Website http://www.fortlauderdalehigh.org/

Fort Lauderdale High School is a high school located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that serves students in grades 9 through 12. The school is a part of the Broward County Public Schools district. Founded in 1899 as a school for whites, the high school is the oldest continuously functioning high school in Broward County, Florida, and the oldest in South Florida. [3]

Contents

Fort Lauderdale High has an FCAT School grade of "A" for the 2011-2012 school year, the highest grade a school can achieve. [4]

It serves: [5] portions of Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, [6] Lazy Lake, [7] a portion of Oakland Park, [8] and a portion of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. [9]

History

On October 2, 1899, Fort Lauderdale’s first school would open in what was then Dade County. Ivy Cromartie (later to become Ivy Stranahan) welcomed nine students into a wood-framed schoolhouse located on South Andrews Avenue, south of the New River. By 1901, there were 18 students enrolled at Fort Lauderdale with only 997 enrolled in all of Dade County. In 1902 the School Board began offering transportation to students living in Hallandale who needed to attend school; each day, students would climb aboard wagons for the ride.

By 1910, Fort Lauderdale’s population had grown enough to require the building of a new school so, the old two-room schoolhouse was moved slightly northward to make room. The “modern” two-story concrete school was constructed for a total cost of $7,000. At the time, Fort Lauderdale was the only high school in the 68-mile stretch between Miami and West Palm Beach. By 1914, enrollment reached 325 with only 47 being high school students; this was the first year with a full nine-month term.

In 1915, a 46 to 16 vote led the way for construction of a new Fort Lauderdale High School in the newly designated Broward County. The new school was located three blocks east of Andrews Avenue adjacent to Stranahan Park and was constructed for $55,000. The school was also referred to as Central High School because of the large area it served. The first graduating class in 1915 consisted of five boys. By 1916, it could boast that all nine of its teachers had college degrees. In 1924, Fort Lauderdale established its first Honor Society. 1962 saw the opening of the new Fort Lauderdale High School at its present location on NE Fourth Avenue, with its first graduating class celebrating commencement in June, 1963. [10]

The past few years have seen tremendous changes to the FLHS campus, most notably the opening of a new three-story classroom building, a modern library, and a two-story cafeteria.

2007 also saw the renaming of NE 4 Ave between the city divider and NE 13 St as “Flying L Drive” in honor of the school's commitment to education and community service. The project was completed by a group of four students in John Pellegrino's Public Affairs class.

Magnet Programs

Pre-Law & Public Affairs

A college preparatory program designed for those interested in careers in Law, Criminal Justice, and Public Affairs.

Because of its location in the county seat, the program allows students access to governmental agencies that are utilized as “living laboratories” for the ultimate learning experience. Students participate in mock trials in a courtroom housed within the school as well as take field trips to the Broward County Courthouse to witness actual trials.

Due to the high interest of its students in Pre-Law, the FLHS debate team is one of the best in the state and competes nationally while providing valuable opportunities for its students. [11]

Advanced Studies Institute

Allows for students to take more Advanced Placement courses, putting them ahead when they enter college. They offer a wide variety of AP courses from Art to History to English.

Cambridge Program

An international pre-university program developed by Cambridge University, designed with a varied curriculum, which also allows students to earn college credit. [12]

Awards

Fort Lauderdale High School was named as one of the top 1000 public schools in the nation in 2005, [13] 2006, [14] and 2007. [15] Dr. Gina Eyerman was also named Assistant Principal of the Year at South Plantation High in 2003 just before coming to FLHS. [16]

Mascot

Fort Lauderdale High School is well known in Broward County for its unique mascot, the "Flying L": a large winged blue "L" with an arrow through its center. Originally the school mascot was known as "The Fort Lauderdale L". However, at the 1917 state track meet, a reporter from the Miami Herald remarked "Look at that L Fly" as track star Charlie Rhodes ran to victory, starring in numerous events. The following week, the town of Fort Lauderdale voted on nicknaming all of the school's sports teams "The Flying L's".

Athletics

Fort Lauderdale Track Team circa 1921 TrackTeam.jpg
Fort Lauderdale Track Team circa 1921

The Athletic Program began in 1915 with only two men's sports, Fort Lauderdale High now provides the students with eleven varsity sports for men and ten varsity sports for women. The school also offers four junior varsity sports for men and five junior varsity sports for women to participate in. In 1917, FLHS won their first state championship in track, which is where the unique mascot was derived. Over the years the program has accumulated fifty-nine state championships. In 2001 the girls' basketball team won the 4A State Basketball Championship and later in 2004 the boys' track team won the 3A State Championship and Class 3A Region 4 Championship.

In 1967, Fort Lauderdale High School met Dillard High School in the season opener for both teams. This, along with another game in Broward County between Ely and McArthur the same night, was the first meeting between white and black teams. Prior to the game, the FLHS team members held their own practices as the coaches refused to hold practice due to an ongoing teacher strike. [17]

The current Athletic Director is Timothy 'TJ' Lawrence. [18]

Demographics

As of the 2021-22 school year, the total student enrollment was 2,336. The ethnic makeup of the school was 46.4% Black, 47% White, 22.3% Hispanic, 1.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.7% Multiracial, and 0.9% Native American or Native Alaskan. [2]

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broward County, Florida</span> County in Florida, United States

Broward County is a county in Florida, United States, located in the Miami metropolitan area. It is Florida's second-most populous county after Miami-Dade County and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with 1,944,375 residents as of the 2020 census. Its county seat and most populous city is Fort Lauderdale, which had a population of 182,760 as of 2020. The county is part of the South Florida region of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Lauderdale, Florida</span> City in Florida, United States

Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, 30 miles (48 km) north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and most populous city in Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the 2020 census, making it the tenth-most populous city in Florida. After Miami and Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale is the third-most populous city in the Miami metropolitan area, which had a population of 6,166,488 in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauderdale Lakes, Florida</span> City in Florida

Lauderdale Lakes is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Miami metropolitan area of South Florida. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city's population was 35,954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Las Olas Boulevard</span> Road in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Las Olas Boulevard is a major east-west thoroughfare in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States that runs from SW 1st Avenue in the Central Business District to Florida State Road A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach. The name "Las Olas" means "The Waves" in Spanish. The road once carried the designations of State Road A1A Alt. and State Road 842.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Atlantic University</span> Public university in Boca Raton, Florida, US

Florida Atlantic University is a public research university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida and satellite campuses in Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, and Fort Pierce. The university is a member of the State University System of Florida. FAU was established as Florida's fifth public university and is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami metropolitan area</span> Metropolis in the U.S. state of Florida

The Miami metropolitan area is a coastal metropolitan area in southeastern Florida. It is the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States, the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the Southern United States, and the largest metropolitan area in Florida. It is also known as South Florida, SoFlo, SoFla, the Gold Coast, Southeast Florida, the Tri-County Area, or Greater Miami, and officially as the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area. With a population of 6.18 million, its population exceeds 31 of the nation's 50 states as of 2023. It comprises the three most populated counties in the state, Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County, which rank as the first, second, and third-most populous counties in the state, respectively. Miami-Dade County, with 2,701,767 people in 2020, is the seventh-most populous county in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova High School</span> Public high school in Davie, Florida, United States

Nova High School is a public high school located in Davie, Florida and is part of the Broward County Public Schools district. It is one of four schools that comprise the Nova Center for Applied Research and Professional Development, the others being Nova Eisenhower Elementary School, Nova Blanche Forman Elementary School, and Nova Middle School. Nova Eisenhower Elementary, the newest of the three lower schools, began in downtown Fort Lauderdale, in the old Fort Lauderdale High School building, while the current facility was being built in Davie.

Cardinal McCarrick High School (CMHS), later known as Cardinal McCarrick/St. Mary's High School, was a Catholic secondary school located in South Amboy, New Jersey, that operated under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. The school closed at the end of the 2014–15 school year, in the wake of an increasing financial deficit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cypress Bay High School</span> Public high school in Weston, Florida, United States

Cypress Bay High School is a public high school located in Weston, Florida open for students in grades 9−12. Cypress Bay is part of the Broward County Public Schools district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boyd H. Anderson High School</span> Public school in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, United States

Boyd H. Anderson High School, is a suburban public high school located in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. It is a part of Broward County Public Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plantation High School</span> Public high school in Plantation, Florida, United States

Plantation High School is a high school located in Plantation, Florida, part of the Broward County Public Schools district. As of 2023, the school serves 1,834 students in grades 9 through 12. It was originally located on the Fort Lauderdale Airport grounds, specifically on the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale base. This was used as a temporary location until the new building was ready to open at its present location. Students at Plantation High are called "Colonels". The original school logo was a graphic of a traditional Southern colonel—the equivalent of Colonel Reb, mascot of the University of Mississippi. In the early 1990s, amidst concerns of racial insensitivity, the logo was changed to a large red letter "C" similar to the Chicago Bears logo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everglades High School</span> Public school in Miramar, Florida, United States

Everglades High School is a public school located in Miramar, Florida, United States. The school serves approximately 2,425 students from Miramar and Pembroke Pines in grades 9 through 12. The current school hours are from 7:40 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. The most recent principal was Haleh Darbar, who was promoted effective February 1, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranahan High School</span> Public school in the United States

Stranahan High School, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was officially opened in 1953 as an elementary school. The school is a part of the Broward County Public Schools district. Originally for white students only, In 1963 Chester Seabury became the first African-American to graduate from a white high school in Florida when he graduated from Stranahan.

Dillard High School is a historic public middle and high school located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school was established in 1907 as Colored School 11 and was later named for black-education advocate James H. Dillard. It is a part of Broward County Public Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeast High School (Oakland Park, Florida)</span> High school in Oakland Park, Florida, United States

Northeast High School is a high school in Oakland Park, Florida. The school is a part of the Broward County Public Schools district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranahan House</span> Historic house in Florida, United States

Stranahan House is the home of Fort Lauderdale pioneers Frank and Ivy Stranahan. Built in 1901 as a trading post and converted into a residence for the Stranahans in 1906, the house is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and today operates as a historic house museum. The House is open for guided tours at 1, 2, or 3 p.m. most Tuesdays through Fridays, and hosts special events throughout the year. Check their website for availability.

Pompano Beach High School is a college-preparatory school located in Pompano Beach, Florida, which instructs grades 9 through 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Plantation High School</span> Public high school in Plantation, Florida, United States

South Plantation High School is a four-year public high school located in the city of Plantation, Florida in the United States.

Blanche Ely High School is a high school located in Pompano Beach, Broward County, Florida. The school is named for Blanche Ely, former principal and social activist.

Palmyra-Macedon High School, known as "Pal-Mac", is a public high school located on the border of Palmyra and Macedon, New York, United States. It is part of the Palmyra-Macedon Central School District which serves the towns of Palmyra and Macedon. The principal is Andrew Wahl. The school colors are red and white.

References

  1. 1 2 "FORT LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "2021-22 BENCHMARK DAY ENROLLMENT REPORT" (PDF). Broward County Public Schools. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ Yi, Karen (May 30, 2015). "Fort Lauderdale High celebrates 100th graduating class". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ "South Florida Times".
  5. ↑ "Fort Lauderdale High." Broward County Public Schools. Retrieved on September 23, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Zoning Map Archived September 23, 2018, at the Wayback Machine ." City of Wilton Manors. Retrieved on September 23, 2018.
  7. ↑ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Lazy Lake village, FL." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 23, 2018.
  8. ↑ "City Boundaries Archived 2018-09-23 at the Wayback Machine ." Oakland Park, Florida. Retrieved on September 23, 2018. The map is on the first page and schools are listed in subsequent pages.
  9. ↑ Map Archived 2016-12-31 at the Wayback Machine . Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida. Retrieved on September 23, 2018.
  10. ↑ The History of Broward County Public Schools 1899 – 1919 Archived 2006-03-21 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ FLHS Law Magnet Archived 2011-05-19 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ PowerPoint Presentation – Cambridge Program Archived 2011-05-19 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com
  14. ↑ America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com
  15. ↑ America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com
  16. ↑ The 411 – News You Can Use About Broward Schools Archived 2007-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ Boetel, Ray (November 3, 1992). "Races Against Time Football's Black And White A Pretty 25th Anniversary Picture". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  18. ↑ Broward Schools. "Athletic Department / Contact Information". http. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.