West Boca Raton Community High School

West Boca Raton Community High School (WBRCHS) is a magnet high school in Boca Raton, Florida, United States. It was established in 2004 and is part of the School District of Palm Beach County.[3][4] The school primarily serves students from the western unincorporated part of Boca Raton known as West Boca Raton.

West Boca Raton Community High School
Campus of West Boca Raton High School
Address
12811 Glades Road

Boca Raton
,
Florida
33498

United States
Coordinates26°21′44″N 80°14′54″W
Information
Other names
  • West Boca Raton
  • West Boca Raton High
  • West Boca Raton High School
  • West Boca High School
TypeMagnet high school
Established2004 (2004)
School districtSchool District of Palm Beach County
NCES School ID120150004026[1]
PrincipalEdmund Capitano[2]
Teaching staff113.5 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment2,282(2020-21)[1]
Student to teacher ratio20.11[1]
Color(s)Navy, tan, white    
MascotBull
NicknameBulls
Websitewbrh.palmbeachschools.org

History

In 2003, the Palm Beach County School Board named a planned new high school, "West Boca Raton Community High School."[5] The school building was constructed by James Pirtle Construction Inc. of Davie[6] at a cost of $46 million.[7] Construction progress was featured on the district's construction project Web site.[8]

WBRCHS opened in 2004 with three initial magnet academies: information technology, culinary arts, and drafting and design.[9][10] Refuting rumors the school would be vocational, Principal Fran Giblin described the curriculum as "a comprehensive school that has the same offerings as other high schools in the county",[11] with "honors and advanced-placement courses as well as band, art, athletics and offerings typical of any other high school".[9]

In 2007, the National Career Academy and the Association for Career and Technical Education ranked the WBRCHS Culinary Arts Academy as a Model Academy. The ranking is based on "mission, structure, faculty, leadership, curriculum, and community involvement".[12]

By 2014, the Academy of Medical Sciences was added to the curriculum,[13] and in 2015, the Academy of Performing Arts was added, offering "theater, musical theater and instrumental music, drama", with dance to be added later.[14]

The Boca Raton Tribune wrote there is an "Aviation Academy planned for West Boca High School in 2023".[15]

The School District of Palm Beach County said in 2022 that the graduation rate for WBRCHS was 98%.[16]

Speed zone

In 2011 the county's traffic division established a speed zone on Glades Road in front of WBRCHS.[17] In 2014, two pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in front of the school.[18]

Band invited to London

London's former Lord Mayor of Westminster Duncan Sandy in 2015 invited the WBRCHS band to perform in London's New Year's Day Parade.[19][20]

Controversy

Former principal Mark Stenner admitted plagiarising graduation speeches from YouTube in 2015. He apologized and was relieved of his office.[21]

Walkout

"Our principal told us we can protest, but keep it in the school," said sophomore Zach Coey. "But who's going to hear our voices there?" And the principal, Craig Sommer, ended up walking with the kids.[22]

Following the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in February 2018, WBRCHS students observed 17 minutes of silence to honor the fallen students there. Then 90% of the student body walked out, marching 12 miles to the Parkland school. According to The Palm Beach Post, they marched from "...9:30 a.m. until reaching the northeast corner of Douglas High at 2 p.m. They were met by a crowd of Douglas High students and neighbors who cheered in support... Some at Olympic Heights in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Central in Wellington walked out Tuesday, although the crowds were far smaller than West Boca's."[22][23]

The walkout drew local and national attention.[24][25]

References
  1. "Search for Public Schools - West Boca Raton High School (120150004026)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  2. "School Information". West Boca Raton Community High School. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  3. "Magnet Schools". Florida School Choice. Florida Department of Education. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  4. Shatzman, Marci (September 2, 2015). "New principal settling into 'a dream job'". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  5. "School given notice to fix problems". South Florida Sun Sentinel. December 11, 2003. p. 14. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  6. "Fund drive for schools falls short". South Florida Sun Sentinel. January 14, 2004. p. 14. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  7. "How the money from the lottery was spent". South Florida Sun Sentinel. March 15, 2004. p. 8. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  8. "Website shows status of school construction". South Florida Sun Sentinel. March 21, 2004. p. 403. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  9. "Principal clarifies school's purpose". South Florida Sun Sentinel. December 16, 2003. p. 3. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  10. King, Dale (June 1, 2004). "Ring the School Bell for West Boca High". Boca Raton News. p. 5.
  11. "Principal defines school's role - Attendance zone is approved". South Florida Sun Sentinel. December 16, 2003. p. 4. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  12. Jenkins, Nicole (March 4, 2007). "West Boca High Culinary Academy a national model". Boca Raton News. p. 3A.
  13. "Career-minded middle-schoolers check out West Boca High". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  14. "Artful addition - West Boca High gets Performing Arts Academy". South Florida Sun Sentinel. December 27, 2015. pp. A1. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  15. "West Boca Raton Community High School Reaches New Heights with Boca Raton Airport Tour". bocaratontribune.com. May 3, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  16. "PBCSD Graduation Rate Climbs to Historic High". www.palmbeachschools.org. January 5, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  17. "Working to slow down traffic". South Florida Sun Sentinel. March 6, 2011. p. 175. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  18. "Pedestrians Hit by Vehicle at West Boca High School". Boca Raton's Most Reliable News Source. April 30, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  19. "London Calling". South Florida Sun Sentinel. May 12, 2015. pp. A1. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  20. "Band (continued)". South Florida Sun Sentinel. May 12, 2015. pp. A5. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  21. "West Boca principal apologizes". South Florida Sun Sentinel. July 30, 2015. pp. B2. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  22. "West Boca (continued)". The Palm Beach Post. February 21, 2018. pp. A10. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  23. "West Boca students' protest: 12-mile walk". The Palm Beach Post. February 21, 2018. pp. A1. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  24. "West Boca High School Students Walk Out Of School To Protest Gun Violence". WLRN. February 21, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  25. "Colleges Will Still Admit Students Peacefully Protesting". Time. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
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