Lake Highland Preparatory School is a private school in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1970. It is the largest private school in Orlando. Lake Highland Preparatory School is a Pre-K through 12, coeducational, private, day school situated on a 42 acres (17 ha) campus on Lake Highland in the heart of Orlando (901 N. Highland Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803). Lake Highland also has a Middle School campus (Charles Clayton Campus) for grades 7 and 8. Lake Highland is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of College and Schools and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. The total enrollment for 2009-2010 was 2,500 students, PK-12.
Video Lake Highland Preparatory School
History
The school was founded in 1970, during the racial integration of Orlando area public schools. When the school was first established, the chairman of the board of trustees, Joseph Guernsey, declined to comment when a reporter asked if the school was established to allow white parents to avoid racially integrated public schools. The school initially held classes on the campus of the racially segregated Orlando Junior College. In 1972, James Higginbotham resigned from his position at Orange County public schools to take a post at Lake Highland Preparatory. Higginbotham had been criticized for resisting court orders to desegregate Robinswood Middle School and Carver Middle School.
In 1976, a school spokesperson said black students were welcome, but none had ever applied or enrolled.
In 2013, the school instituted mandatory drug testing for all students. After the initial test, additional testing will be formed on both a random and "reasonable suspicion" basis.
Maps Lake Highland Preparatory School
Curriculum
According to the LHPS website, Lake Highland Preparatory School is dedicated to an academic program that stimulates, inspires and challenges its students. Knowledge and skill acquisition form the basis of our academics. Additionally, carefully planned experiences leading to the awe of discovery, observation, and exploration are key components of the learning process in all disciplines and in all classroom settings.
Athletics
LHPS athletic teams are called the Highlanders. Former head football coach Frank Prendergast serves as the school's athletic director. In 2012, 27 of the school's 200 graduating seniors signed to play for college teams. The Highlanders compete in the Florida High School Athletic Association; however, different teams compete in different districts of the FHSAA. For example, the football team competes at the 2B level, while the basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams participate in the 3A district. All other teams compete in the 1A district.
Lake Highland also sponsored a Pop Warner youth tackle football team. The team was discontinued after Varsity Head Coach, Cameron Duke, left the Varsity program for the Edgewater High School Varsity Football program. The Lake Highland Pop Warner program followed.
Most athletics facilities are located on-campus. Football and soccer teams play on Holloway Field at CNL Stadium (often shortened to "CNL Stadium" or "the Field"), while the basketball and volleyball teams compete inside the Weng Family Gymnasium (commonly referred to as "the Gym"). The baseball team plays across from Lake Highland as part of the O'Meara sports complex.
Historically, Trinity Preparatory School has been Lake Highland's primary athletic rival, mirroring their academic rivalry. Recently, Lake Highland moved out of Trinity's division, thus ending the annual football rivalry. Lake Highland and Trinity still participate in the same division in most other sports. Bishop Moore High School has supplanted Trinity as LHP's annual football rival.
Former major league baseball pitcher Frank Viola spent 10 years coaching at Lake Highland, 6 of them as head baseball coach.
Arts
Lake Highland Prep's instruction in the art curriculum in the fine and performing arts.
Field trips
Every year the seventh grade goes to Circle F Dude Ranch in Lake Wales, Florida. Additionally, every year the 8th grade travels to Black Mountain, North Carolina.
The school also has a leadership group called Blackwatch and DARA (for boys and girls respectively) for tenth to twelfth graders that go to Outdoor Odyssey in Boswell, Pennsylvania during the summer.
After school programs
The Orlando Hoshuko, a weekend supplementary school for Japanese children, holds its classes at the school.
The Lake Highland Lincoln-Douglas debate team was tied for the team with the most bids to the Tournament of Champions (debate) in the country in the 2015-6 season.
Notable alumni
Noted former students include:
- Joel Berry II, basketball player for the North Carolina Tar Heels, McDonald's All-American and 3x Florida Mr. Basketball
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, defensive back for the New York Giants (sophomore year only)
- Candice Accola, actress
- Traylor Howard, television actress
- Scott Stapp, lead singer of Creed
- Max Starks, a former offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Saint Louis Rams, and Arizona Cardinals.
- Kerri Strug, 1996 Olympic Games Gold Medalist in Women's Gymnastics
- Mark Tremonti, lead guitarist of Creed and Alter Bridge
- Ty Tryon, Professional Golfer
- Brittany Viola, NCAA Champion Diver
- John Green, New York Times Best Selling Author
References
External links
- Official website
Source of article : Wikipedia
0 Comments