Palm Beach Gardens Community High School
Location
4245 Holly Drive
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

United States
Coordinates26°49′30″N 80°06′04″W / 26.82494°N 80.10099°W / 26.82494; -80.10099
Information
TypePublic Magnet
MottoDon't Just Be Gator, Be a Greater Gator!
Established1969
PrincipalJay Blavatt
Faculty161 (FTE)[1]
Enrollment2,679 (2019-20)[1]
Student to teacher ratio16.64[1]
Color(s)Orange and blue   
MascotGators
Athletics8A
Websitewww.palmbeachgardenshs.org

Palm Beach Gardens Community High School is a public magnet high school for grades 9–12 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The school mascot is the Gator. It was built in 1968 as a public high school. The original school was demolished and a new school opened in August 2009 – 2010.[2]

In March 2019 principal Larry Clawson was offered a job at the district which he accepted. Former Howell L. Watkins Middle School Principal Dr. Don Hoffman became the high school’s principal.

Academics

Palm Beach Gardens' academic program is based on local School District of Palm Beach County policy, standards of the State of Florida. In addition, students are given the opportunity to join magnet programs such as global business and entrepreneurship, pre-med, sports management, tourism, TV and film production, and Culinary arts. The magnet programs are supplemented by two career-building organizations: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Health Occupations Students of America.

Athletics

In 1973, the Gator football team went 10–0 during the regular season, its first and only undefeated season beating Fort Pierce Central High School Cobras. Due to a tie-breaking rule, the team could not participate in the state football championship, even though they were ranked the No. 1 team in the state. In 2005, the Gators won the Florida class 6A state championship in football. In April 2019, the school hired Tyrone Higgins II, a former linebacker, as its head football coach.[3]

The softball team won states in 1985-1986, 1988-1991, 2005, 2006 and most recently in 2010 and 2011. In 2012 the softball team ranked No. 1 in the ESPN National Softball Fab50 ranking. They have also been states runners up in 1983, 2001 and 2008. Softball coach Randy Jackson had his 500th win in 2022.[4]

The boys' basketball team won states in 1984.

The baseball team have won the district title 19 times, most recently in 2021 and 2022. The baseball team has won the regional championship five times, most recently in 2022 when they finished state runners up.

The Gator lacrosse team won the 2008 1A Florida State championship, finishing their season 20–0.

The girls' varsity golf team won the State title four consecutive years, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974, then won it back in 1989.

The boys' varsity golf team won district champs in 2020 and in regionals they took 3rd place

During the 2008 season, the girls' varsity golf team became the County's Conference Champion, District Champions, and Regional Champions. They were again district champions in 2021.

The girls' volleyball team were states runners up in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Girls' swimming and diving won districts in 18'-20' and have been states runners up in 1970, 1971 and 1973.

The bowling team was states runners up in 1985.

CHAMPIONSHIPS
YearTeam
20116A Softball
20106A Softball
20081A Lacrosse
20066A Softball
20056A Football
20056A Softball
1991 4A Girls' softball
1990 4A Girls' softball
1989 Girls' Golf
1989 4A Girls' softball
1988 4A Girls' softball
1986 Girls' softball
1985 Girls' softball
1984 4A boys' basketball
1974Girls' Golf
1973Girls' Golf
1972Girls' Golf
1971Girls' Golf

School specifics

Academic statistics

  • Students per teacher: 25+
  • Enrollment: 2,500 +
  • Schoolwide reading proficiency: 31.5%
  • Schoolwide math proficiency: 60.7%
  • Graduation rate: 94.3%[5]

School demographics

  • African American/ Black: 50.7%
  • White: 20.5%
  • Hispanic: 21%
  • Asian: 3.7%
  • several more races: 3.3%
  • Other race: .7%[6]

Controversies

In February 2009, during a routine check of school spending by the Palm Beach County School District it was found that Principal Jonathan Prince was improperly spending school funds. Some of these charges include gas for a personal vehicle, room service at a convention, restaurant bills for his family, a tuxedo rental, flowers for school secretaries and an end-of-year dinner for the assistant principals and guidance counselors. In response, Prince was forced to pay back thousands of dollars, serve 20 hours of community service, and was demoted to Assistant Principal to avoid criminal charges.[7]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Palm Beach Gardens High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  2. ↑ Laura Green (August 13, 2009). "Gardens High welcomes new state-of-the art facilities". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Palm Beach Gardens hires alumnus Tyrone Higgins II as new head football coach".
  4. ↑ "Palm Beach Gardens softball coach Randy Jackson achieves 500-win milestone". Sun Sentinel. 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  5. ↑ schoolmatters.com
  6. ↑ "Palm Beach Gardens High School - Palm Beach Gardens, Florida - FL". GreatSchools. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  7. ↑ Roth, Lauren (9 July 2013). "New Colonial High principal misused school credit card in Palm Beach". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
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