Summary
The American Senior High School, or The American High School, is a high school located in Country Club, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.[2] Its principal is Stephen E. Papp. It has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.[3]
| American Senior High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
18350 NW 67th Avenue , United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | September 1976 |
| School district | Miami-Dade County Public Schools |
| Principal | Stephen E. Papp |
| Teaching staff | 89.00 (FTE)[1] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 1,799 (2020–21)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 20.21[1] |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Red White Blue |
| School hours | 7:20 AM to 2:20 PM |
| Average class size | 22 |
| Student-faculty ratio | 19.8 |
| Website | americanshs |
Overview edit
American was opened in 1976 (the year of America's bicentennial); its name, sports teams (Patriots) and colors (red, white, and blue) were chosen to reflect this.
The school uses a Hialeah address but mainly serves northern Miami Lakes, including Palm Springs North and The Country Club of Miami.
American's main athletic rival is Barbara Goleman High School. Other rivals include Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School, Miami Carol City High School, Hialeah High School and Miramar High School.
American is composed of three buildings: the main building which houses most of the classrooms, and the buildings which house the freshman class in order for there to be enough room for the rest of the student body in the main building.[citation needed]
History edit
At the time the school was built, cow pastures were in the area. It opened with grades 9-11 with 12th added the next year. Its projected initial enrollment was 1,800. Glenda Graham Harris, then one of two women to be principal of a Dade County senior high school, was the initial principal.[4] In December 1976 the school had 1,846 students, with about 33% each Hispanic/Latino, African-American, and non-Hispanic white.[5]
Robert Bork of The Miami Herald wrote that upon opening and by December of that year, American SHS was "troubled by violence".[6] Parents who were non-Latino white organized a boycott in December to show frustration at the violence situation.[7] On Monday December 6, 1976, 791 students, or 42% of the student body, boycotted school.[5] The next day 36% boycotted.[6] By Thursday December 9 the percentage was down to 28%, or about 500 students.[7] The school board assigned two employees to defuse the situation.[8]
Demographics edit
American High's student population is 67% Hispanic, 28% Black, 1% Caucasian, and 1% Asian. About 81% of the students receive free or reduced-priced lunch, compared to a district average of 43%. The gender breakdown is 50% male, 50% female.[9]
American feeder pattern edit
Middle schools that feed into American include:
- Bob Graham Education Center
- Country Club Middle School
- Lake Stevens Middle School
- Lawton Chiles Middle School
- Mater Gardens Academy Middle
- Miami Lakes Middle School
Elementary schools that feed into American include:
- Charles D. Wyche Elementary
- Joella C. Good Elementary
- Lake Stevens Elementary
- Mater Gardens Academy Elementary
- Palm Springs North Elementary
- Spanish Lake Elementary
Notable alumni edit
- Larry Brown – professional football player, Minnesota Vikings (1987)
- Tyrese Cooper – track athlete
- Romy González - professional baseball player
- James Jones – former professional basketball player and 3x champion for the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers currently the vice president of basketball operations for the Phoenix Suns. Played collegiately at the University of Miami
- Dascha Polanco - American Dominican actress
- Darnell Sweeney - professional baseball player
- Olivier Vernon – professional football player, New York Giants, played collegiately at the University of Miami
- Darryl Williams – defensive back, Cincinnati Bengals (1992–1995, 2000–2001), Seattle Seahawks (1996–1998), played collegiately at the University of Miami
- Ronnie Williams - professional baseball player
- Smokepurpp - Rapper
References edit
- ^ a b c "AMERICAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
- ^ "Country Club CDP Archived 2009-08-15 at the Wayback Machine." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 11, 2011.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Hines, Bea L. (March 19, 1976). "New Principal Has High Goals For Life, School". Miami Herald. p. 1-E. - Clipping from Newspapers.com
- ^ a b Strasser, Steve (December 7, 1976). "791 Students Boycott High School Classes". Miami Herald. pp. 1-B, 2-B. - Clipping of first and of second page at Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Bork, Robert (December 8, 1976). "American High Boycott Continues". Miami Herald. p. 1-B. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Fewer Staying Home from American High". Miami Herald. December 10, 1976. p. 11-B. - Clipping from Newspapers.com
- ^ "Two Join American Staff". Miami Herald. December 9, 1976. p. 2-B. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
- ^ "American Senior High School (2021 Ranking) | Hialeah, FL".
External links edit
- American Senior High's official website
- American Senior High's official website (american.dade.k12.fl.us) at the Wayback Machine (archive index)
- Miami-Dade County public schools
25°56′25″N 80°18′25″W / 25.94014°N 80.307083°W