Interlachen High School

Infobox Secondary school

name = Interlachen High School
native_name =
motto = E=MC²
Excellence = Mind × Courage²
established = 1968
type = Public High School
category_label =
category =
gender_label =
gender =
affiliations =
affiliation =
president =
chairman_label =
chairman =
principal = Suzanne Mathe
asst principal = Tonya Whitehurst
Andrew Burnett
vice principal =
campus director =
headmaster =
dean = Sharon Spell
Aaron Geiselman
rector =
founder =
chaplain =
head_label =
head =
faculty = ~100
teaching_staff = 76
enrollment =
enrolment =
students = 966
grades_label = Grades
grades = 9 - 12
address = 126 N. CR-315
city = Interlachen
state = Florida
province =
country = United States
district = [http://putnamschools.org Putnam County School District]
oversight_label = Superintendent
oversight = Tom Townsend
accreditation = [http://www.advanc-ed.org/ AdvancED]
campus = Closed
colors = Blue, Silver, & Whte
colours =
athletics = FB, BB, BKB, SB, SOC, XC, VB.
mascot = Rams
emblem =
yearbook = Ram Trax
newspaper = Ram Pride!
free_label_1 = Main Adversaries
free_1 = Palatka High School
Keystone Heights High School
free_label_2 = Student-Teacher Ratio
free_2 = 20:1
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
testname =
testaverage =
National_ranking =
website = [http://www.ihsrams.net IHSRAMSnet]
footnotes =
picture =
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picture2 =
image_caption2 =

Interlachen High School is a public high school located in Interlachen, Florida. It is in Putnam County. The principal is Mrs. Suzanne Mathe; the assistant principals are Mr. Andrew Burnett and Mrs. Tonya Whitehurst. [http://www.ihsrams.net]

tudents

There are currently 966 students enrolled at Interlachen High School. Many of these students previously attended C.H. Price or Q.I. Roberts Middle School; there are a few "imports" or "stragglers," though, who came from middle schools in nearby Palatka, Jenkins Middle School and Beasley Middle School.

There is only a 5% dropout rate. 58% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. 35% of the students have been absent for more than 21 days. The student-to-teacher ratio is approximately 20:1. [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/fl/2719]

Academics

Interlachen High School offers standard and Honors courses in the core curriculum (language arts, mathematics, social studies, science). An array of vocational courses are offered, as well, including Agriscience, Business, Computer Systems Technology, Criminal Justice, Health Operations, and Television Production.

Interlachen High School also offers many after-school and extra-curricular programs. IHS holds branches of several nationally recognized clubs, such as National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, and Future Farmers of America.

Dual Enrollment

Many of the juniors and seniors at IHS participate in dual enrollment at St. Johns River Community College's Palatka campus or Santa Fe College in Gainesville. Through this program, students can earn college credit and high school credit simultaneously; a very select few have graduated from high school with their Associate of Arts degrees.

Presently, Introduction to Business and Microcomputer Applications are offered on campus by SJRCC. IHS has also offered (Freshman) Composition I and II in the past (also by SJRCC), but it has been discontinued.

Many dual enrollment students must sign out and drive to the college to attend their classes because they are not offered on campus. Students may leave campus to attend their class and return after their class has ended as long as it does not interfere with the students' high school classes.

Career Academies

In the 2006-2007 school year, the Freshman class participated in academies based on their level on academics. They had an exclusive special course, Practical Arts; it was removed from the curriculum the next school year.

The Sophomores of the 2007-2008 school year had the opportunity to join a Career Academy that focused all classes around a certain vocational class. The offered academies were Culinary Arts, Criminal Justice, Health Science, and Business. The Business and Culinary Arts Academies were cancelled due to lack of interest. The Business Academy was reinstated in the 2008-2009 school year. The academies generally consist of standard level classes in all the major areas with concetration on the specific vocational course. Students who are accepted are in the Academy for the remainder of high school unless they drop out (of either the Academy or school). Academies are now available for Sophomores to join.

Band

Interlachen High School is known for its outstanding music program. Mr. Nick Albanese, director of bands, graduated from the University of Florida and has held his place at IHS since 1993.

Since then, the band has been actively competing in competitions and festivals and developed its reputation by being awarded titles including Best in Show, Grand Champions, First Place, outstanding soloist titles to individual students, and "Superior" ratings. The band routinely competes in competitions held by the Florida Bandmasters Association; from 1993-2006, the band held a "Superior" rating streak (in 2006, they received a rating of "Excellent," one below "Superior").

In the summer of 2007, the band traveled to London, England, to perform in front of Westminster Abbey. The color guard was the first to ever perform at Westminster Abbey. The band also travels domestically: Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Boston, Massachusetts, and Winter Park, Colorado; the band has traveled to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as well. The band's most recent trip was in April, 2008, to Winter Park, Colorado, to compete against other nationally acclaimed bands.

In 2008, Interlachen High graduated 17 band members, many of which were high quality performers ranking in the first and second chairs.

Notable Alumni

* Adam Branch, basketball player for Warner Southern Royals [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=38324]

External Links

* [http://www.ihsrams.net IHSRAMSnet] , with school information (including course catalog, bell schedules, pictures, etc.)
* [http://www.putnamschools.org Putnam County School District] , Putnam County, FL
* [http://www.advanc-ed.org/ AdvancED] (Accreditation)

References