Osceola High School (Kissimmee, Florida)

For other uses, see Osceola High School.

Osceola High School
File:KowboysOhs.jpg
Home of the Kowboys
Location
Kissimmee, Florida United States
Information
Type	Public
School district	Osceola County, Florida
Grades	9-12
Campus size	Half mile in Length
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Blue, Gold
Mascot	Kowboy Jake
Website	[1]

Osceola High School, "An International School," is located in Kissimmee, Florida, and is one of 79 schools in Osceola School District. It is a public school that serves 2569 students in grades PK, 9-12. It is the Home of the Distinguished “Double AA Scholar’s Program,” and is also known as the Home of the Kowboys.

Osceola High School has 20 students for every full-time equivalent teacher. The Florida average is 17 students per full-time equivalent teacher.

The school has 4X4 block scheduling. The basic educational program is offered in a school day of four instructional blocks of 90 minutes in length. This means a student will earn 4 credits from August through January and 4 credits from January through May.

The mission of Osceola High School is to graduate 21st century citizens who will be value oriented, competent in communication and problem solving, skillful in critical and analytical thinking, and aware of their interdependence in a global/multi-cultural society.^[1]

A skilled staff, serving as positive role models in a caring environment and dedicated to human resource development, will recognize and nurture the worth of the individual. Osceola High School will actively solicit citizen involvement and recognize its role in the development of a healthy, vibrant community.^[1]

Demographics

Students by ethnicity

• Hispanic 48 %
• White 32 %
• Black 14 %
• Multiracial 3 %
• Asian 3 %
• Indian < 1 %

Students by gender

• Male 60%
• Female 40%

Belief statement

We believe there is strength in our diversity and everyone can learn. True education is a shared responsibility between home, student, school and community. To assure a safe secure healthy learning environment, everyone must exercise personal responsibility and integrity.^[1]

School song: "Alma Mater"

O.H.S. we'll e'er be loyal,
Thine ideals uphold,
Ever true and faithful followers
Of the blue and gold.
Alma Mater, Alma Mater,
Dearest ever known,
Hail, oh hail, we'll never fail thee,
O.H.S. our own.^[1]

Smaller Learning Communities

Osceola High has begun an endeavor of creating Smaller Learning Communities within the school. These Smaller Learning Communities will be made up of teams of teachers who will work together to meet the individual needs and interests of the students they work with. Students in the 9th and 10th grade will choose their team based on the major they select. Major areas will be grouped into Houses that will be made up of loosely related majors. The math and language arts teachers will work with the same group of students for the entire year. Classes will be tailored to meet the needs and interests of the students in their house.^[1]

Osceola High School majors

• AA Program– Dual Enrollment
• Language Arts and Communications
• Social Sciences
• Mathematics
• Science
• Foreign Language
• Performing and Fine Arts
• Health Science/Physical Education
• Air Force JROTC
• Engineering
• Aviation
• Veterinary Assisting
• Business Technology
• Construction Technology
• Auto Service Technology
• Marketing
• Computer Technology Education
• Criminal Justice^[1]

The AA Scholars program

The AA Scholars program is the only program in the county that allows student to earn 2 years of college credit on the high school campus.^{[citation needed]} The curriculum is a rigorous 4 year plan made up of honors, Dual Enrollment courses which meet graduation requirements for Osceola High School and Associate of Arts Degree requirements for Valencia Community College.^[1]

The AA Program offers:

• A balanced, comprehensive educational plan
• Rigorous, competitive coursework in all major academic areas
• A flexible choice of courses to meet individual needs
• The opportunity to earn an Associate of Arts Degree while in high school
• Scholarship opportunities, including Bright Futures
• Monetary savings on college expenses (possible savings of $15,000-$30,000)

Air Force JROTC

Recently, Osceola High School's JROTC ranked second in the category of Best Overall Air Force JROTC Unit out of 17 high schools representing nine counties in the state. Osceola’s two drill teams, led by first-time commanders Sarah Rios and Jennifer Molina, delivered great team performances. Osceola’s two color guard teams, led by cadet captains Juan Mercado and Mike Danilowski, won the school its No. 2 ranking. Mercado’s color guard was regarded as the most “flawless performance” the judge had ever seen. The JROTC is under the direction of Master Sgt. Fred Kraemer.

• JROTC - In 2008-2009 is now 1st place overall in the state of Florida
• 1915 - Osceola High School plays its first football game, beating Orlando High School 6-0

Standard graduation requirements

Students graduating from Osceola High School will be required to complete the following course plan:

• English (Language Arts) — 4 credits
• Mathematics — 4 credits (Including Algebra I or equivalent)
• Science — 4 credits
• Social Studies — 3 credits
• World History
• American History
• American Government / Economics
• Fine or Performing Art — 1 credit
• Physical Education / Health — 1 and 1/2 credits
• Health — 1/2 credit
• Personal Fitness — 1/2 credit
• P.E. elective — 1/2 credit
• Electives — 12 and 1/2 credits
• 9th grade writing — 1 credit
• 10th grade Liberal Arts Math
• 10th grade Applied Communications — 1 credit
• Foreign Language required for college admission — 2 credits

Additional graduation requirements

In addition to the above listed classes, students scoring in level 1 or 2 on the FCAT will be required to take intensive reading courses. All students are required to pass FCAT testing as stated:

• FCAT Reading grade 10 test
• FCAT Math Grade 10 test
• FCAT Writing Grade 10 test

Students who do not pass the FCAT in 10th grade may retake the test in 11th and 12th grade.^[1]

Notable alumni

Charles H. Bronson - Politician, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Osceola High School website
2. ^ "Charles H. Bronson - Info". Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charles-H-Bronson/70508884016?ref=ts#!/pages/Charles-H-Bronson/70508884016?v=info&ref=ts. Retrieved 2010-03-25. 

Coordinates: 28°17′17″N 81°25′28″W / 28.288039°N 81.424394°W / 28.288039; -81.424394