Miami Edison is an inner-city school. As of 2011[update], it is known for historically having the largest Haitian-American student population of any Miami-Dade public school.[2]
Miami Edison Senior High School had its humble beginnings in a small palmetto-thatched hut inhabited by spiders, beetles, 10 pupils, and one teacher. After this tropical edifice burned to the ground in 1895, the activities were moved twice, finally being established in a rickety, four-room structure in 1897. During the brief tenure of Principal Ernest Roller, only the common subjects and agriculture were taught. At this time, the forerunner of the Parent Teacher Association, the "Mother's and Teacher's League" was formed; its aim was to further the general welfare of the student body. This organization became the oldest PTA of service in Dade County when the name was changed in 1918.
In 1915, after the destruction of the old building by a violent windstorm, the long-cherished dream of Dr. J. G. DuPuis, A. N. Fallensen, and E. N. Webb, trustees, was realized as Dade County Agricultural High School came into existence. Mainly through their efforts, a land grant was secured and the new building was erected. Professor A. C. Alleshouse became principal in 1917, and was succeeded in 1920 by W. O. Lockhart. Being accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools made it necessary to secure a principal with a degree; J. N McArthur became principal until his transfer in 1923, when Jesse G. Fisher accepted the position. Even in these years of instability, the school continued to grow, as two wings were added in 1922 and five years later the first cafeteria was installed. Many school organizations came into being at this time to keep pace with the extension of the building. This rapid growth continued as the impetus given to athletics by the employment of the first regular coach brought the clamor for a gymnasium. The school board proceeded to erect the addition, but due to lack of an architect, the bleachers soon became the victim of the hurricane of 1936. The repaired building remained until the present middle school was constructed on the site.
In 1928, the present building was completed and into it moved 892 students and a faculty of 32, marking the beginning of the junior and senior high system. New additions included the Home Economics building, and the only boat-building class in the United States. In the following years, the school auditorium, the shops and the field house were added. In 1931 came a strong demand to change the school's name. Under the influence of Principal Fisher and Henry Filer, then chairman of the school board, suggested names were submitted to the student body. The recent death of America's great inventor, Thomas A. Edison, proved to be the deciding factor.
Thus, in October 1931, Dade County Agricultural High became Miami Edison Senior High in his honor. Soon after, this new name was immortalized as Frances Deen set to music the words of Marjorie Weatherup's "Alma Mater". In 1949, at the death of Julian Daniel, his great character, service, and leadership were honored by the establishment of the Julian Daniel Award and by the presentation of Key Club's annual scholarship. Robert A. Wilson became principal upon Fisher's retirement in 1950, and under his leadership, the extracurricular program was expanded.
Interested not only in academics, Miami Edison has for years also earned the reputation of being recognized a leader in all fields of athletics. The Red Raiders have shown their superiority in football, for they often dominated the strongest league in Florida, the Big Ten Conference. The varsity is proud of the fact that the Orange Bowl Stadium was dedicated by an Edison team playing Coral Gables in 1938, and has since remained the home of the Red Raiders. The pride and spirit of the students in all endeavors were shown when a strong Student Council and Inter-Club Council were organized in the 1930s. Through their efforts, the Honor Code, regarded as the basis of the "Edison spirit", was adopted in 1939. The Miami Edison "Red Raiders" symbol was originally a human skull with crossbones below it. The Coat of Arms was installed in the patio in 1958 and the "Little Red Devil" replaced the skull and crossbones as the symbol of their spirit.
In 1955, William B. Duncan became principal and has been able, through the efforts of an outstanding faculty, the support of community resources, and the motivation of the students, to set in motion those changes emphasized in the nation for a rededication to quality education for every student according to his ability. During his administration, the "Operation Amigo" program found its beginning in the United States in the halls of Miami Edison in January 1962. The chance to take in Peruvian students in cooperation with the Miami Herald was a complete success. For the prominent part Edison played in this now nationwide program in hemispheric understanding, Duncan became the first North American to be awarded the "Alfonso Ugarte" medal for intercultural friendship.
Thus, from humble beginnings in 1885 to the advent of a prominent high school in 1915, Edison has expanded from a tiny thatched hut to a present extensive structure; from a faculty of one to over 100; from a student body of 10 to over 2200; and from a school of agriculture to one with diversified courses. The prevailing school spirit, standards of integrity, and ideals of scholarship and sportsmanship have reigned supreme throughout the years. These ideals of Miami Edison have helped to mold many outstanding personalities, but no man lives without leaving his mark in some way, and Miami Edison is rich in all these - her sons, daughters, and those who cherish her name.[3]
After 1964, Miami Edison Senior High has seen many changes in recent years. Reflecting the population shifts of the region, Edison went from having a predominantly white student body in the early 1960s to an almost completely African-American one by the time the senior high moved to its present building in 1979. The 1980s had a further shift in population, with the influx of Haitians making the present student body predominantly Haitian-American.
No more principals have been like Jesse Fisher, who stayed at Edison almost 30 years (1923–1950), or William Duncan, who lasted almost 20 (1955–1973). Most Edison principals now stay for 3–5 years (as is the case district-wide). Following Duncan, the school had these principals: Judith Greene (1973–1977), Piedad Bucholtz (1977–1979), Frank deVarona (1979–1983), Craig Sturgeon (1983–1992), Willa Young (1992–1995), Gloria Evans (1995–1998), and the current principal, Santiago C. Corrada.
The Haitian students coming to Miami-Dade County during the 1980s and 1990s were mostly low-income, and high school-aged students generally attended Miami Edison High School.[2]
Because of overcrowding, two new wings (S and T) and a legion of portables have been added over the years. The mascot has changed again. The Little Devil is out, making way for the Pirate, for which students and staff voted during the 1997-98 school year. Edison students are still great achievers in sports. The girls' basketball team won the state championship in 1995 and 2001.
After the 2010 Haiti earthquake occurred, the MDCPS expected a large influx of students to Miami Edison. Ultimately, only six earthquake survivors enrolled there, with other students enrolling at other high schools.[2]
As of 2008, the school had 1,150 students. 240 of them were taking English as a second language classes, with the majority of them having Haitian Creole as their primary language.[4]
Academics
The state's accountability program grades a school by a complex formula that looks at both current scores and annual improvement on the reading, math, writing, and science FCATs.
The school's grades by year since the FCAT began in 1998 are:[5]
1998-99: F
1999-00: D
2000-01: D
2001-02: F
2002-03: F
2003-04: F
2004-05: F
2005-06: F
2006-07: D
2007-08: F
2008-09: F
2009-10: C
2010-11: C
2011-12: B
2012-13: B
2013-14: C
2014-15: C
2015-16: C
2016-17: C
2017-18: C
2018-19: B
News
In 2001, Leadership Miami and the Inner City Youth Center Miami Youth Center enlisted noted area abstract artist Antonia Gerstacker to organize area youth to help paint an inspirational mural facing the school's sports grounds.
South Miami Senior High School is a high school located at 6856 SW 53rd Street in Glenvar Heights, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, in the United States; located about a mile and a half west of the University of Miami. Its current principal is Mr. Hebert Penton.
Miami Killian Senior High School is a secondary school located at 10655 SW 97th Ave, Miami, FL 33176 in the Kendall area of unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida. The school is part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools System.
Gulliver Preparatory School or simply Gulliver Prep, is a private co-educational school. Its management offices are in Kendall, a census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Its four campuses are across the county.
Miami Palmetto Senior High School is a public high school located at 7431 S.W. 120th Street in Pinecrest, Florida. The school is on 23 acres (9.3 ha) in southwest Miami-Dade County, and is part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools district. Miami Norland Senior High is Miami Palmetto's sister school by original blueprints. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Its principal is Victoria Dobbs.
Liberty City is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida, United States. The area is roughly bound by NW 79th Street to the north, NW 27th Avenue to the west, the Airport Expressway to the South, and Interstate 95 to the east. The neighborhood is home to one of the largest concentrations of African Americans in South Florida, as of the 2000 census. Although it was often known as "Model City" both historically and by the City of Miami government, residents more commonly call it Liberty City.
Miami Beach Senior High School is a secondary school located at 2231 Prairie Avenue Miami Beach, Florida, across from the Miami Beach Convention Center and Botanical Garden. It is located at the corner of Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard. The school is in Miami-Dade County and is part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth-largest school district in the United States. In addition, Miami Beach Senior High is the second oldest in Miami-Dade County. In 2009, the school was recognized as a magnet school.
Miami Springs Senior High School is a secondary school located at 751 Dove Avenue in Miami Springs, Florida, United States; its principal is Nelson Gonzalez (2022–Present). The school is part of Miami-Dade County Public School's nationally accredited magnet program, specializing in travel and tourism, the oldest of its kind in the state of Florida.
The American Senior High School, or The American High School, is a high school located in Country Club, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida. Its principal is Stephen E. Papp. It has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Felix Varela Senior High School is a public high school located at 15255 SW 96th St. in The Hammocks, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States.
Hialeah Senior High School is a public high school located at 251 E 47th Street in Hialeah, Florida, United States.
Miami Central Senior High School is a secondary school located at 1781 NW 95th Street in West Little River, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Its current principal is Raymond Sands.
William Joseph is a former American football defensive tackle of Haitian descent, who last played for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami.
North Miami Senior High School (NMSHS) is a public high school in North Miami, Florida, United States. Located at 13110 NE 8th Avenue, The school opened as Edward L. Constance Junior-Senior High School in 1951; with 1,500 students in 7th, 8th and 9th grades. Another grade was added each year for the next three years. The class of 1955 was the first graduating class. Early in 1955, the name of the school was changed to North Miami Senior High School. In the fall of 1955 the 7th, 8th and 9th grades were moved to the new North Miami Junior High School.
Miami Southridge Senior High School is a secondary school located in South Miami Heights, Florida. Its current principal is Humberto J. Miret. The school serves ninth through twelfth grade students in a mostly unincorporated suburban and rural area in the southern stretches of Miami-Dade County between South Miami and Homestead.
Miami Senior High School, also known as Miami High School, is a public high school located at 2450 SW 1st Street in Miami, Florida, and operated by Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Founded in 1903, it is one of the oldest high schools in Miami-Dade County. The school building is famous for its architecture and is a historic landmark. Miami Senior High School has a rich alumni base, with many graduates of the high school going on to varied, prominent careers. The high school originally served the earliest settling families of Miami in the first half of the 20th century. By the late 1960s, with an increase in Miami's population, its student body grew at a fast pace.
Miami Carol City Senior High School (MCCSH) is a public high school located at 3301 Miami Gardens Drive in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States. It was established in 1963. The school is part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system. The school serves students from the area of Miami Gardens, a community south of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, north of downtown Miami, Florida and home to the Miami Dolphins, in what is currently known as Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami Northwestern Senior High School is a public four-year high school located in Miami, Florida, United States
Miami Jackson Senior High School, also known as Andrew Jackson High School or Jackson High School, is a high school located at 1751 NW 36th Street in the Allapattah neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. Its athletic team name is the Generals.
Miami Norland Senior High School is a public high school in the Norland neighborhood of Miami Gardens, Florida. It opened in 1958 and was segregated, serving only white students until 1969. Its student body is approximately 95 percent African American. Its teams have won state championships.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is the public school district serving Miami-Dade County in the U.S. state of Florida. Founded in 1885, it is the largest school district in Florida, the largest in the Southeastern United States, and the third-largest in the United States with a student enrollment of 356,589 as of August 30, 2021.
↑ Adapted from the 1964 Miami Edison Beacon [written by Ed Shumard, class of 1943) article graciously contributed by the Miami Edison Over the Hill Gang.
↑ Gabrieli, Christopher and Warren Goldstein. Time to Learn: How a New School Schedule is Making Smarter Kids, Happier Parents, and Safer Neighborhoods. John Wiley & Sons, April 25, 2008. ISBN047025808X, 9780470258088. p. 201.
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.
