Gainesville High School (Florida)

Gainesville High School is a high school in Gainesville, Florida. The first public high school in Gainesville, Florida was established in 1906 in what is now known as the Kirby Smith Building on East University Avenue. The school consisted of grades 1-12 and was known generally as the "Gainesville graded high school." Today the high school is operated by the Alachua County School District.

The current principal is Dr. R. Wiley Dixon who joined the GHS staff in July 2002. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Florida (also in Gainesville) in 1971, received his Specialist in Education from UF in 1982, and earned his Ph.D. also from UF in 1984.

In 2006, Gainesville High School was re-accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

History

Construction

The construction for the first school to be explicitly known as Gainesville High School was completed in 1923 near the intersection of SW 7th Street and West University Avenue. The school lasted at this location for over thirty years with Rhodes Scholar Principal, F.W. Buchholz at the helm for almost all of this period. With the construction of the present day campus at 1900 NW 13th Street in 1955, the former high school building served as Buchholz Junior High School until the roof collapsed in the mid-1960s.

From 1906 until 1970 Gainesville High School was the only public high school serving the city of Gainesville. However, because of large growth in the city throughout the 60's the capacity of GHS became strained forcing the school district to plan for a new high school. Because of the complications surrounding integration in the 1969-1970 school year, two new high schools opened in the city for the 1970-1971 school year. These two schools, F.W. Buchholz and Eastside continue to be arch-rivals of Gainesville High to this day.

Addition of the 9th Grade Center

In the mid-1990s, construction of a new wing on the Northwest corner of the campus was undertaken to ease further over-crowding and foster better integration of incoming 9th grade students. The new wing, referred to as the "9th Grade Center", houses 4 full-service computer labs, nearly 20 state-of-the art classrooms and science labs, and a large multi-purpose room which functions both as a meeting place and a cafeteria. The new facility also helped to bolster the school's new magnet program, the Institute of Health Professions (IHP), which is housed in the building.

The Cambridge Program

In 2004, the school took on a new academic magnet program aimed at attracting top academic talent from the county's middle schools. The Cambridge Program offers academically capable students an international, pre-university curriculum and examination system, emphasizing the value of broad and balanced studies. The Cambridge curriculum aims to encourage the skills of independent research and investigation, the use of initiative and creativity, and the application of knowledge and skills. A range of assessment techniques is used; emphasis is placed upon the use of externally scored examinations, known as "papers," which are administered by the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), as well as upon compulsory practical work where appropriate. The first GHS Cambridge class will be awarded its diplomas in 2008. As of the 2006-2007 school year, GHS is the only high school in the district teaching the Cambridge curriculum.

Awards

GHS has a student-run school newspaper called "Eye of the Storm"; the publication's former titles included "Hurricane Herald" and "Hurricane Watch". GHS also has a Web site on the Internet. In the 1980s and 1990s, the school boasted an award-winning television production lab that attracted national awards and acclaim.

In 2005 the Purple Hurricane Marching Band won twin Grand Championships within the Florida Marching Band Tournament. At the "Southern Showcase of Champions" competition, the band defeated their rival Port Charlotte with an 87.50. At the Azalea Marching Band Festival, the program soundly triumphed over rivals Lincoln, Santa Fe, and Winter Park High Schools. They received the highest finals score out of any FMBC competition during the 2005 FMBC season with a 92.5. Later that year, they received second place in Class AAA at the FBMC State Championships, with scores of 89.00 for their preliminary performance and 83.55 for their finals performance. They concluded their season by attending the ABC Channel 6 Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, PA. The 2006 Purple Hurricane Marching Band continued its newly-formed tradition of placing Grand Champion at "Southern Showcase of Champions" for the second year in a row. A [http://www.gainesvillehighschoolband.com website] was launched at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. The highest score in their history was achieved this season with their 2007 show, "One Hand, One Heart: The Music of Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story." with this show they completed a three peat as Grand Champion of Southern Showcase of Champions, defeating Buchholz High School, and going on later to win the Panhandle Marching Invitational. At the State FMBC Finals they earned 2nd Place in class AAA at Tropicana Field, earning a 93.30, the highest score in GHS history.

Overall, the school's performing arts programs are thriving, with recent graduates entering prestigious programs at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, the Chicago College of Performing Arts, and the School for Film and Television in New York.

Athletics

Gainesville High School competes under the name "The Purple Hurricanes." Coach Jim Niblack brought football fame to GHS during the 1960s, 70's, and 80's. During these three decades, Niblack led teams that were often considered to be among the best in the state and in contention for state titles. In 1980, the Canes, under Niblack, beat the Titusville Terriers to win the State Football Championship, the first ever for any Gainesville School. A popular chant during this time was: "We are the mighty, mighty (pause)...hurricanes" causing foes to tremble. Interestingly, all home football games for the 'Canes in the 1970s were played at nearby Florida Field, home of the Fightin' Gators. Currently, the Hurricanes play their home games at Citizen's Field, which is also used for home games by other Gainesville schools Eastside High School and Buchholz High School.

The basketball program has enjoyed a good amount of success, especially near the turn of the 21st century. Gainesville won its first state championship in 1969, and added two more in 1999 and 2000. In 1999, the 'Canes, backed by future NBA guard Orien Greene, dominated in-state rival Wolfson for their first state title in 30 years, winning by double digits. In 2000, Gainesville compiled a 33-2 record to repeat as state champions, as the team included two-sport athlete Vernell Brown, who later went (along with center Ian Scott) to play for the University of Florida football program, along with the returning star Orien Greene, whose Number 5 was retired following his performance which earned him the title of Florida's Mr. Basketball in 2000 and earned him a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Florida, although he later transferred to Louisiana-Lafayette before leaving college for the NBA due to lack of playing time. In addition, GHS won the 2005 title for its district.

They also excel in a variety of other sports, such as Volleyball, Tennis, Soccer, Baseball, Swimming, and Wrestling. Their track and field programs are extensive as well.

Notable Graduates

* Tom Petty - Musician [ [http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/tom_petty_and_the_heartbreakers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers] ]
* Clinton Portis - NFL Tailback for the Washington Redskins [ [http://www.nfl.com/players/clintonportis/profile?id=POR792942 Portis' NFL player page] ]
* Ian Scott - NFL Defensive Lineman for the Carolina Panthers [ [http://chi.scout.com/a.z?s=25&p=8&c=1&nid=2437927 Ian Scott, Scout.com profile] ]
* Kiki Carter - Musician, Activist, Author
* Orien Greene - Former NBA Guard for the Indiana Pacers
* Andrew Copeland - Sister Hazel
* Edward Leslie - Professional Wrestler Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake
* Stephen Stills - Musician
* Brittany Daniel - Actress
* Don Felder - Musician the Eagles
* Bernie Leadon - Musician the Eagles
* Tidal McCoy - Former Assistant and Acting Secretary of the Airforce

External links

* [http://ghs.sbac.edu/ Gainesville High School]
* [http://www.sbac.edu/ Alachua County Public Schools]
* [http://ghsthespians.com/ Independent website for the GHS Thespians (drama club)]
* [http://www.gainesvillehighschoolband.com/ GHS Band]

References