The school serves grades 9 through 12,[1] and has a preschool with a main teacher and student teachers.
Historyedit
According to a historical marker placed by the Apopka Historical Society, "Apopka's first public schoolhouse [was] built in 1885. It was a small three-room building that stood beside the original Apopka Baptist Church, west of the site known as the Old Church Cemetery... In 1891, the schoolhouse at this site burned down, forcing classes to be relocated to another building for the remainder of the year."[4]
The historical marker continues, "In 1896, voters approved the construction of a new schoolhouse on Fourth Street, later Main Street. The new school opened for the 1897 school year."[4] In 1901 the State of Florida accredited the school, which was named Apopka Union School.[5] That school building was destroyed by a tornado in 1918, and was rebuilt by May 1925.[6][7]
To honor WWII veterans, in 1953 the school's name was changed to Apopka Memorial High School, serving grades 7–12.[8]
In 1976, according to the school's alumni association, "Orange County Public Schools built a new school at the current location on Martin Street modifying the name to Apopka High School, and in 2009, the school was completely rebuilt."[8]
The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruling made segregation unconstitutional; however, it was several years before desegregation began in Orange County.[10]
In 1969, the first Black faculty and some students from all-Black Phyllis Wheatley High School (previously known as Apopka Colored School) were admitted to the school. Nine of the school's 63 faculty members that year were Black, as were 336 of the school's 1,269 students.[11]
A large percentage of residents of both races opposed the plan. 95% of Black residents wanted Wheatley to stay open, but most white residents did not want integration at all.[12][13] As a result, over 3,000 students boycotted the schools.[14][15] Despite these issues, the consolidation was described as one of the smoothest in Orange County.[16]
The football team won the class 6A State Championship in 2001. The Apopka Blue Darters, led by Head Coach Rick Darlington, have collected two 8A state titles ('12 & '14) along with a 2013 state runner-up.[17][18][19] The Apopka High School football team competes in District 4, Region 1 of FHSAA Class 8A. They hold an overall record of 106-29 since 2005. Darlington left Apopka after the 2018 season, and currently coaches football at DeLand High School.[20]
Apopka High School boys varsity bowling team had three consecutive undefeated seasons in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The boys' varsity team won the 2013 and 2014 Men's bowling state championships undefeated both years with the same five starters on the team for both years.
The boys basketball team won the 1962 Class A state championship.[21]
Curriculumedit
Apopka High School has a dedicated classroom for students to work on their Florida Virtual School assignments, a new graduation requirement instituted first for the class of 2015.[22] Adult education courses have been provided since at least 1974.[23]
Demographicsedit
Enrollment for the 2021–2022 school year included 1,120 Hispanic students, 1,083 Black students, 1,066 White students, 67 Asian students, 6 American Indian/Alaska Native students, and 75 students of two or more races.[1]
Zack Greinke, professional baseball player, Kansas City Royals, Anaheim Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros.[33]
^ abcde"Apopka High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^Tenbrook, Robbie; Williams, Bea (October 12, 1973). "Mascot Peps up Apopka". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
^"Blue Ribbon Schools Program Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002" (PDF). ed.gov/programs. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
^Hudak, Stephen (September 14, 2020). "A teacher, Billie Dean helped integrate Apopka High School". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
^Ormund Powers (March 21, 1969). "Why Apopka Fights for own school (part 1)". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
^Ormund Powers (March 21, 1969). "Why Apopka Fights for own school (part 2)". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
^"School Boycott". Orlando Evening Star. March 20, 1969. Retrieved 11 June 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^"School Boycott". Orlando Evening Star. March 20, 1969. Retrieved 11 June 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^"Clipped from the Orlando Sentinel". The Orlando Sentinel. 21 July 2007. pp. B2.
^"FHSAA Championship Record Books". Florida High School Athletic Association. FHSAA. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^"Apopka wins 2nd state football title in 3 years".
^"Apopka High School's Connection with College Football is Deeply Rooted". The Apopka Voice. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
^"DeLand High names Rick Darlington as new football coach". delandhsathletics.org. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
^Buchalter, Bill (February 11, 1990). "APOPKA HIGH TO HONOR FORMER BASKETBALL COACH". Retrieved 3 June 2022.
^"OCPS Graduation requirements" (PDF). ocps.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
^"Apopka adults earn diplomas". Sentinel Star. February 3, 1974. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
^Manis, Debbie. "Country singer John Anderson will perform at Cattle Barons' Ball". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
^"Predators Add Former Apopka High School Star Jeremy Gallon". OurSports Central. 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
^"Zack Greinke Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
^"Former Apopka DE Trey Hendrickson of FAU poised to realize NFL dream". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
^"Former Apopka, Gators OT Martez Ivey hoping to stick with Carolina Panthers". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
^"Aaron Jones". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
^"James McKnight". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
^"#19 Brandon Meriweather". University of Miami. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
^Decotis, Mark (15 August 2008). "Apopka to honor 'Fireball' Roberts". Florida Today. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
^"Warren Carlos Sapp". databaseFootbal.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
^"USA Track & Field | Donald Scott". usatf.org. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
^"Sammie Lee Smith". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
^"Michael Taylor Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 10, 2012.