- Pompano Beach High School
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Pompano Beach High School 
"Home of the Golden Tornadoes"Location Pompano Beach, Florida
United StatesInformation Type Public Secondary Established 1928, Reopened in 1997 Principal Hudson Thomas Faculty 57 Grades 9 to 12 Enrollment 1,259 Campus type Suburban Color(s) Blue and Gold Mascot Golden Tornadoes[1] Website Official Website Pompano Beach High School (formerly Pompano High School and The Pompano Beach High School Institute of International Studies) is a full magnet high school located in Pompano Beach, Florida, which instructs grades 9 through 12. Founded in 1928, it is the second oldest high school in the Broward School District.[2]
Pompano Beach High received an FCAT school grade of "A" for the 2009-2010 academic year. The school has maintained an "A" ranking for nine consecutive years since the score-based system began during the 2001-2002 academic school year.[3] Since 1958, the school's sports teams have been named the Golden Tornadoes.
Contents
Academics and Ranking
Pompano Beach High School is one of the highest achieving schools in Broward County. The school has been awarded the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence status,[4] which is considered the highest honor an American school can achieve and is shared by only 3.9% of schools nationwide[5] and is also an Apple Distinguished School for its use of innovative technology and project-based learning to educated students. Both of these awards were accomplished under the guidance of principal Dave Gordon, who retired in 2010.
In 2006, Governor Jeb Bush recognized Pompano Beach High School as one of the top fifty schools in the state of Florida.[6] Pompano ranked 13th out of nearly 1,100 high schools in the state and was recognized as the highest ranked fully comprehensive high school in Broward County.[7] Pompano Beach High School also ranked 6th in the state for the greatest gains in student achievement for its lowest quartile of students. The following year, the FCAT scores of the PBHS's students earned the school an "A" rating, the highest possible, for the sixth year in a row.[8] Pompano Beach High School was ranked one of the Best High Schools in the nation in 2009 by U.S. News & World Report, earning the Silver Medal Status.[9]
Due to the sustained high academic performance of its students, there are no classes on Friday. Since nearby Blanche Ely High School's FCAT scores fell several years ago, Pompano has been the only school in Broward County to enjoy this privilege for several years. The school follows Block Scheduling and offers many Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment and Honors Courses. Students are also encouraged to engage in additional instruction through Dual Enrollment, Virtual Education, or Executive Internships.
Magnet Programs
The International Affairs Program teaches students three years of a Foreign Language (French and Spanish), International Business Systems, International Finance & Law and General Global Studies. Videoconferencing Technology has been used in the past to communicate with students from the studied countries.
The International Business program includes the study of organizational structures, business management, entrepreneurship, human relations, cross-cultural communications, leadership, marketing, legal agreements, relations, banking and international finance.
The International Communication strand is designed to develop technical skills used in TV Production while providing an opportunity to enhance communicative skills in writing and speech in relation to technological fields. The program content includes the study of broadcasting and production. The program is aimed specifically at journalism and publication within the context of technology.
History
Early years (1928–1985)
Pompano High School was founded in 1928, in Pompano Beach, Florida, to address the growing need for secondary education in northeastern Broward County. The first class to graduate from Pompano High was the class of 1928, which had only twelve students.
Pompano Beach High Cafeteria
The school's sports teams were called the Beanpickers after the part-time job that many of the school's students had in the formerly agricultural area of the time. The Beanpicker was also the name of the school's yearbook, which was first published in 1943.
In 1947, following the merger of the towns of Pompano and Pompano Beach, the school changed its name to Pompano Beach High School. In 1957, construction began on NE 6th Street to create a new campus to facilitate the growing community. In 1958, the student body changed the name of the school's sport teams from the Beanpickers to the Golden Tornadoes. In 1960, a new football field, gymnasium, theater, classrooms and new offices were built. The school moved to its present location on March 14, 1960 and was at last developing with a full range of offered courses, sports, civic organizations and clubs.
In the 1980s, however, changing population trends and westward migration led to lower attendance rates, and in 1985, Pompano Beach High School closed for 12 years amid much political controversy and community protest. Its campus was then temporarily used as a center for adult education and community programs.[10]
Modern era (1997-present)
In 1997, the school was resurrected as a satellite campus of Blanche Ely High School called the Pompano Beach High School Institute for International Studies. Later, it once again became a school in its own right. Almost always known simply as Pompano Beach High School, it was Broward County's first all-magnet school,[11] specializing in "International Affairs with Informational Technology." Located on the 1960 campus, the school grew to fill the buildings it had once occupied, with the exception of several buildings that had come to be used in the intervening years by the City of Pompano Beach and by the Broward County School District. In 2001, the first class graduated from Pompano since the school's closure in 1985.[2]
PBHS Palm Trees and AuditoriumIn February 2004, the school's name was shortened to Pompano Beach High School. On April 13, 2004, a newly built campus opened adjacent to the older campus. On this new campus, the school's current cafeteria, library, offices, and classrooms are contained in a single three-story building. The new facility boasts a totally wireless environment with high-speed connectivity, a 3:1 student to computer ratio and a network with multiple servers. The school transformed their classrooms into 21st century digital models to include interactive "smart" boards, ceiling-mounted LCD projectors, and sound and voice amplification systems to help teachers meet student needs.[7] A new auditorium was completed in 2005, which the school uses for concerts, plays and special guest presentations. The two original gyms are still in use and have been renovated. The buildings that had been used by the school since its 1997 reopening were demolished to make room for the school's parking lot.
Despite having been closed for 12 years in recent history, the school maintains some connections with its long past. Volume 64 of the Beanpicker was published in 2007; the volume numbers for the years 1985–1997 were skipped. Alumni from the school's earlier days continue to meet for reunions.
Athletics
- During the fall 2004 Season, the Girl's Track and Field team won the Class 2A State Championship[12] and placed 5th nationally at the Nike Indoor Championships in the 4 x 200 Meter Relay.[13]
- Baseball
- Basketball (Boys' and Girls')
- Cheerleading
- Cross country running
- Color guard (flag spinning)
- Flag football
- Golf (Boys' and Girls')
- Soccer (Boys' and Girls')
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis (Boys' and Girls')
- Track and field
- Volleyball (Mens' and Women's)
Clubs and organizations
- Animal Awareness
- Anime Club
- Band
- Business Professionals of America
- Cappies
- Chorus
- Computer and Technology Club
- Crime Watch
- Drama Club
- Environmental Club
- Excel Club
- First Priority
- Florida Future Educators of America
- French Club
- Gay Straight Alliance
- Gift Givers
- Green Team (Landscape architecture)
- History Club
- Human Relations Council
- Jew Crew
- Journalism Club
- Junior ROTC
Chosen development site for the Japanese Garden before construction - Key Club
- Latino Club
- Literary Magazine
- The Fellowship of Christian Athletes
- The MC Club
- Model United Nations
- Movie Making Club (Temporarily disbanded).
Japanese Garden constructed and sponsored by students in Green Team - National Art Honor Society
- National Honor Society
- Orchestra
- Philosophy Club
- Photography Club
- Programming Club
- Renaissance Club
- Robotics Club
- Students Against Destructive Decisions
- Science Club
- SECME Club
- Student Government Association
- The Valiant Scholars of America
Demographics
As of 2011, the total student enrollment was 1522. The ethnic makeup of the school was 54% White, 20% Black, 17% Hispanic, 3% Asian or Pacific Islander, 3% Multiracial, and 3% Native American or Native Alaskan.[14]
Notable alumni
- Charlene Honeywell, United States District Judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida[15]
- Barry Krauss, Professional Football Player for the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins.[16]
- Pamela Kruse, former World Record Holder in the 400 Meter Freestyle[17] and 1968 Olympics Silver Medalist in the 800 Meter Freestyle.[18][19]
- John Nelson, 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist in the 4×200 Meter Freestyle Relay and 1964 Summer Olympics Silver Medalist in the 1500 Meter Freestyle.[20]
- Myron Lewis, Professional Football Player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
References
- ^ Pompano Beach High School » About Us
- ^ a b Pompano Beach High School » Pbhs Newsletter
- ^ FCAT School Grades - High
- ^ http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf
- ^ http://www.articlesbase.com/k-12-education-articles/blue-ribbon-school-award-recognizes-some-of-the-best-schools-919504.html
- ^ http://www.soflo.org/idata/data/Top50HighSchools.pdf
- ^ a b http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=14080
- ^ FCAT School Grades - High
- ^ http://www.usnews.com/listings/high-schools/florida/pompano_beach_high_school
- ^ http://www.pompanobeachhigh.com/page.asp?id=95
- ^ http://pompanobeachhigh.com/page.asp?id=95
- ^ http://www.dyestat.com/3state/FL/4out/apr30statemeet-2a.htm
- ^ http://www.dyestat.com/3us/4in/nic/donna2/index3.htm
- ^ Enrollment Counts
- ^ U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes - Nomination of Charlene Edwards Honeywell, senate.gov (November 9, 2009).
- ^ Barry Krauss Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com
- ^ Naiad's Triumph - TIME
- ^ Pamela Kruse Olympic medals and stats
- ^ girls swimming & diving
- ^ HickokSports.com - History - Olympic Men's Swimming Medalists
External links
- Pompano Beach High School official web site
- Pompano Beach JROTC Official Web Site
- Pompano Beach Band Official Web Site
Coordinates: 26°14′09″N 80°06′37″W / 26.2358869°N 80.1102139°W
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