Boca Raton Community High School

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Boca Raton Community High School
BocaRatonHS1.jpg
Address
1501 Northwest 15th Court
Boca Raton, Florida
United States
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Information
Type Public
Established 1963[1]
School district Palm Beach County School District
Principal Geoffrey McKee
Grades 9 to 12
Number of students 3,097
Color(s) Blue and Gold          
Mascot Bobcat
Rival Atlantic Community High School
Newspaper The Paw Print
Website

Boca Raton Community High School is a public, coeducational high school that is part of the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida. The school has been rated an "A" school each consecutive year by the Florida Department of Education since the year 2005. In 2010, Boca High ranked 62 in the 2010 Newsweek list of the 1,000 Top High Schools. In 2011, Boca High was ranked 22nd in the country according to Newsweek.com.[2]

The school is located at 1501 N.W. 15th Ct., Boca Raton, FL 33486.[3]

Campus

In 2002, the school was almost entirely demolished, and then reconstructed as a new, fully functional, state-of-the-art campus. There is a brand new science building.

In August 2007, the building of a new stadium began, and it was finished by July 2008. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the stadium features FieldTurf, a type of artificial turf with a thin, blade-like carpet that will allow use no matter what the weather. The new turf is also twice as soft as the previous field, so falling on it is safer.[4] The installation of the artificial turf is the first for any school in the Palm Beach County School District, according to Jim Cartmill, assistant director of program management with the School Board.

The stadium features a nine-lane track, bleachers that stretch from goal line to goal line (for the home team fans)and from 10-yard line to 10-yard line (for visitors), with seating for up to 4,025 people, a 1,000 seat increase over the previous stadium. The stadium is accessible to the handicapped. It also has a pole vault and high jump, along with seven new lighted tennis courts. An Olympic-sized swimming pool was added and opened in early 2011.[5]

Student body

Statistics

  • Student-Teacher ratio is 1:17.
  • 41% of teachers have Advanced Degrees.
  • The average number of years teachers spend teaching is 2.

Student ethnicity

Student Ethnicity is as follows:[6]

  • White 61%
  • Hispanic 23%
  • Black 11%
  • Mixed race 3%
  • Asian 3%
  • Indians <1%
  • European <1%

Student subgroups

Statistics:[7]

  • Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 21%
  • Students with disabilities 11%
  • Gifted students 2%
  • English language learners 6%

Academics

FCAT scores

2009 Passing Rate:

Grade 9

  • Reading 70% (State Average: 49%)
  • Math 85% (State Average: 68%)

Grade 10

  • Reading 58% (State Average: 37%)
  • Math 89% (State Average: 69%)
  • Writing 89% (State Average: 77%)

Grade 11

  • Science 53% (State Average: 37%)[8]
Year School Grade
1999 C
2000 C
2001 C
2002 C
2003 B
2004 B
2005 A
2006 A
2007 A
2008 A
2009 A
2010 A
2011 A
2012 A
2013 A

STEM Program

Boca High is known for its magnet program, called STEM. This stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and was started during the 2004-2005 school year.

Advanced placement

In 2011-2012, the following Advanced Placement (AP) exams are available to students:

  • Art History
  • Art: Studio 2-D Design
  • Art: Studio 3-D Design
  • Art: Studio Drawing
  • Biology
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Capstone Seminar
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Language & Culture
  • Computer Science A
  • Economics: Macro
  • Economics: Micro
  • English Language & Composition
  • English Literature & Composition
  • Environmental Science
  • European History
  • French Language
  • Geography: Human
  • Government & Politics: U.S.
  • Government & Politics: Comparative
  • German Language
  • Music Theory
  • Physics B
  • Psychology
  • Spanish Language
  • Spanish Literature
  • Statistics
  • U.S. History
  • World History[9]

AICE Curriculum

Recently, Boca Raton High School began to offer AICE classes, or Advanced International Certificate of Education. These courses are college accredited throughout universities in Florida; AICE is run by the University of Cambridge in England. The following AICE classes and standardized tests are offered at Boca Raton High School:

  • US History (History of the Americas)
  • International History
  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  • Thinking Skills
  • General Paper
  • Global Perspectives
  • English Language
  • Spanish Language
  • Business
  • Art and Design I
  • Art and Design II
  • Music I
  • Marine Science
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • General Math
  • Portuguese Language (initiated during the first quarter of the 2011-2012 school year)
  • Global Perspectives

Athletics

There has been a history of competitive rivalry with the neighboring high school, West Boca Raton High School, and Atlantic High School in football. In soccer and volleyball, however, the rivalry is with Spanish River High School.

Types of sports offered

As of 2008:

  • Baseball: Junior Varsity, Varsity
  • Basketball: Girls', Boys'- Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity
  • Bowling: Girls', Boys'- Varsity
  • Cheerleading: Junior Varsity, Varsity, Competition
  • Cross-Country
  • Dance: Girls',Boys',
  • Football: Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity
  • Golf: Girls', Boys',
  • Intramural Flag Football
  • Lacrosse: Girls', Boys'
  • Marching Band
  • Step team
  • Soccer: Girls', Boys'- Junior Varsity, Varsity
  • Softball: Junior Varsity, Varsity
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Competitive Cheerleading
  • Track/Field
  • Water Polo: Girls', Boys'
  • Weightlifting: Varsity
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Ice Hockey
  • Volleyball: Girls', Boys'
  • Wrestling: Junior Varsity, Varsity

Achievements

Swimming:

  • In 2007, after two years of near misses, the girls' team won the state championship. They went on to repeat the state title in 2008. The boys' team placed 37th in 2007, and followed with state runner-up in 2008; tied for the highest finish in school history. In 2012, the boys team places 1st overall at the state championships[10] As of 2005, the swim team is coached by Eric Hill.

Soccer:

  • In 2010, the boys' varsity soccer team finished first in Florida.
  • In 2009, the boys' varsity soccer team finished 2nd in the state championship.

Boys Lacrosse:

  • In 2009, the Varsity lacrosse team went 10-6 before losing to Spanish River 6-5 in the district semifinals. Since 2008, the Boys Lacrosse program is led by Matt Paolano.

Cross Country: In 2008 the boys cross country team defeated St.Thomas Aquinas to capture its first district title in 13 years. The boys team is coached by John Combs.

Marching Band:

  • In 2010, the PRIDE of the Gold Coast Marching Band, directed by Laura Beard, won 2nd place in the FMBC State Finals.
  • In 2012, the PRIDE of the Gold Coast Marching Band, directed by Jenn Mammino and Ben Sparrow, won 3rd place in the FMBC State Finals.[11]

Robotics:

  • In 2010, Boca High's FLL Team Mafia competed successfully, reaching the state Championship level. They also won "Master Champions" of the Palm Beach County competition.
  • In 2011, Team 3622 "Robocats" competed in FRC, winning the "Rookie All Star Award" and earned a place at the FIRST Championships in St. Louis, MO.

Science Olympiad:

  • The Boca High Science Olympiad team placed 1st in the state of Florida in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
  • Most recent placing at the National Tournament is 19th place
  • Notable Alumni include Akaash Mohan and RJ Antonello.

Debate:

  • The Boca High Public Forum Debate Team of Patrick Poplawska and Alex Pollock was ranked 4th in the nation in January 2012. Additionally the team earned 5th place in the 2012 FFL State Championship.

Student Government Association (SGA)

The Student Council of Boca Raton Community High School has a dominant presence at the Florida Association of Student Councils, and has been recognized accordingly. The leadershipians have won more project awards in more categories then any other school in the state of Florida. For the 2011-2012 school year, Boca High was elected President of the Florida Association of Student Councils with Ian Mellul as the student elected to serve as President.The Leadershipians most recently accomplished the following at the 2010 FASC States Competition:

  • Gold Medallion Council
  • 1st Place School Spirit
  • 1st Place Community Service
  • 1st Place Membership Motivation
  • 2nd Place Environmental Concerns
  • 2nd Place Citizenship Development
  • 3rd Place Faculty and Staff Relations[12]

Boca Raton NJROTC

File:Nat Team 10.jpg
2010 Nationals Competing Team
File:State win 2010.jpg
2010 Florida State Champions

The Bobcat Regiment was started in 1994 by LCDR Kenneth A. Bingham USN (Ret.) who was later joined by Chief Petty Officer Edwin A. Morales, USN (Ret.). It has since become one of the best in the nation.[13] The Regiment consists of five companies, with approximately 400 cadets in the unit as of 2014. Cadets' daily curriculum involves academics, physical training (PT) and general knowledge on life in the United States Navy. The JROTC main goal is to develop informed citizens. The current Commanding Officer of the unit is C/CDR Andrew Middlebrooks.

History:

  • 1st place 2015 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 1st Place 2015 Florida State Championship
  • 2nd place 2014 Navy Nationals
  • 1st place 2014 Florida State Championship
  • 2nd place 2013 Navy Nationals
  • 2nd place 2013 Florida State Championship
  • 2nd place 2012 Navy Nationals Championship
  • 1st place 2012 Florida State Championship
  • 1st place 2011 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 1st place 2011 Florida State Championship
  • 3rd place 2010 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 1st Place 2010 Florida State Championship
  • 2nd Place 2009 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 1st Place 2008 Academic Team at Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 2nd Place 2008 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 2nd Place 2007 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 2nd Place 2007 Florida State Championship
  • 2nd Place 2006 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 3rd Place 2006 Florida State Championship
  • 4th Place at 2005 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 2nd Place, 2005 Florida State Championship
  • 6th Place at 2004 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 1st Place at 2004 Florida State Championship
  • 3rd Place at 2003 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 2002 Top NJROTC Unit in Area 7
  • 2nd Place at 2001 Navy Nationals in Pensacola
  • 3rd Place at 2000 Navy Nationals in Chicago
  • 3rd Place at 1999 Navy Nationals in Chicago
  • 2nd Place at 1998 Navy Nationals in San Diego
  • 5th Place at 1997 Navy Nationals in College Station, Texas

Notable Alumni

  • Noah Centineo, actor
  • Mark Richt, Head Football Coach, University of Miami
  • Mac Mitchell
  • Mohammed Aldeib, influential thinker.
  • Ashlee Barnes Buanno, President/owner/CEO of Hartlines Corp.
  • Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez, MLB Pitcher, Texas Rangers
  • Mike Hawk, Wide receiver, Ball State University

See also

References

External links