Lake Highland Preparatory School

Lake Highland Preparatory School
Address
Lake Highland Preparatory School
901 Highland Avenue
Orlando, Florida 32803
Coordinates 28°33′29″N 81°22′19″W / 28.558°N 81.372°W / 28.558; -81.372Coordinates: 28°33′29″N 81°22′19″W / 28.558°N 81.372°W / 28.558; -81.372
Information
Opened 1970
President Alfred G. Harms, Jr.
Teaching staff 190
Grades PK-12
Enrollment 2,000
Campus size 42 acres (17 ha)
Color(s) Red      and White     
Team name Highlanders
Website www.lhps.org
Last updated: 5 January 2018

Lake Highland Preparatory School is a private, coeducational school in Orlando, Florida founded in 1970 as a segregation academy.[1] It is the largest private school in Orlando and serves grades Pre-K through 12.

History

The school was founded in 1970, during the racial integration of Orlando area public schools. At its founding, the chairman of the board of trustees, Joseph Guernsey, declined to comment when a reporter asked if the school was established to allow white parents to avoid racially integrated public schools.[1] In August 1970, days before the school opened, headmaster Terrence O'Hara told a PTA meeting that an "air of uncertainty over public schools" contributed to the growing enrollment at racially segregated private schools like LHPS. O'Hara said, "Some parents don't even know what public school they are to send their children to" and this "confusion" meant the parents "felt more secure with their children in private schools."[2]

The school initially held classes on the campus of the racially segregated Orlando Junior College.[1] In 1971, Orlando Junior College ended its post-secondary programs and merged with LHPS.[3]

In 1972, James Higginbotham resigned from his position as superintendent of Orange County public schools to take a post at Lake Highland Preparatory. Higginbotham had been criticized for resisting court orders to desegregate Robinswood Middle School and Carver Middle School.[4] On his first day as school president, Higginbotham gave a speech in which he denounced the court order desegregating public schools, stating that "an era was dying" because of "legalistic do-gooders."[5]

In 1976, a school spokesperson said black students were welcome, but none had ever applied or enrolled.[6]

In 2013, the school instituted mandatory drug testing for students. After the initial test, additional testing will be performed on both a random and "reasonable suspicion" basis.[7]

Campus

The school is situated on a 42 acres (17 ha) campus on Lake Highland in Orlando. The school also has a middle school campus (Charles Clayton Campus) for grades 7 and 8.

Athletics

LHPS athletic teams are called the Highlanders. Former head football coach Frank Prendergast serves as the school's athletic director.[8] In 2012, 27 of the school's 200 graduating seniors signed to play for college teams.[9] The Highlanders compete in the Florida High School Athletic Association; however, different teams compete in different districts of the FHSAA. For example, the football team competes at the 2B level, while the basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams participate in the 3A district. All other teams compete in the 1A district.

Most athletics facilities are located on-campus. Football and soccer teams play on Holloway Field at CNL Stadium (often shortened to "CNL Stadium" or "the Field"), while the basketball and volleyball teams compete inside the Weng Family Gymnasium (commonly referred to as "the Gym"). The baseball team plays across from Lake Highland as part of the O'Meara sports complex.

Historically, Trinity Preparatory School has been Lake Highland's primary athletic rival,[10] mirroring their academic rivalry. Recently, Lake Highland moved out of Trinity's division, thus ending the annual football rivalry. Lake Highland and Trinity still participate in the same division in most other sports. Bishop Moore High School has supplanted Trinity as LHP's annual football rival.

Former major league baseball pitcher Frank Viola spent 10 years coaching at Lake Highland, six of them as head baseball coach.[11]

Athletic Achievements

Lake Highland Prep has 27 state championships across 11 sports. Boys Wrestling has 6 state championships in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 and broke the state tournament point scoring records. Boys wrestling also won the first team dual state championships in 2018. Girls Volleyball has the next most state titles, 4, in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. And 6 individual state champions in 2018. Girls Basketball has 3 in 1998, 2015, and 2016. Girls Softball are 2002 and 2003 state champions. Boys Basketball are 2013 and 2014 state champions. Girls Soccer has a 2006 state championship. Boys Lacrosse has 4 state championships in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Girls Swim has a 2004 state championships. Girls Golf has a 2001 state championship. Girls 200 Medely Relay has a recent 2017 championship, and Girls 400 Free Relay also. Lake Highland Prep also holds 15 Orlando Sentinel Varsity Cup “Super Six” awards from 2002-2016. [12]

Academic Program

Lake Highland is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.

Arts

Lake Highland Prep's instruction in the art curriculum in the fine and performing arts.

After school programs

The Orlando Hoshuko, a weekend supplementary school for Japanese children, holds its classes at the school.[13]

Notable alumni

Noted former students include:

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pynn, Roger (February 25, 1970). "Private Prep School Plans Announced". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 8A – via Newspapers.com. Guernsey refused comment on whether the move was a result of suggestions that private schools were needed in light of federally ordered Integration of public schools.
  2. ↑ "Prep School Parents meet headmaster". Orlando Sentinel. August 27, 1970. p. 11A – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Wilkening, David (June 10, 1971). "College of Orlando graduates its last class". p. B1.
  4. ↑ "Higginbotham Resigns, Accepts Highland Prep Job". The Orlando Evening Star. May 9, 1972. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Madlee, Dorthy (June 15, 1972). "Higginbotham speaks out on courts — School Orders Blasted — Sterile System Feared". Orlando Evening Star. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Area Schools not Affected, Officials Say". The Orlando Sentinel. June 26, 1976. p. 4A – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Lake Highland Prep to drug test all students". 1 May 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  8. ↑ "East Ridge grad Cameron Duke is new Lake Highland football coach", Orlando Sentinel, December 17, 2013.
  9. ↑ Natalie Zmuda, "Gatorade's G Force Leaves No Sweat Behind: Hybrid Sales, Marketing Team Fans Out To Conquest Schools, Gyms, Athletic Facilities", AdAge, September 20, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Playoffs On Line In Lake Highland-trinity Rivalry", Orlando Sentinel, November 9, 1995.
  11. ↑ Tania Ganguli, "Viola is leaving Lake Highland", Orlando Sentinel, May 1, 2007.
  12. ↑ “Athletic Awards.” Lake Highland Preparatory School, www.lhps.org/athletics/awards.
  13. ↑ "地図 Archived 2015-02-16 at the Wayback Machine.." Orlando Hoshuko. Retrieved on February 16, 2015. "住所：901 Highland Ave. Orlando, FL 32803 "
  14. ↑ "Stan’s Plan: Former area coach molds son into Super Bowl corner" Archived 2014-12-17 at the Wayback Machine., Sanford Herald, February 1, 2009
  15. ↑ Boyar, Jay (March 2010). "Back to School". Orlando Magazine. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
  16. ↑ Orlando Sentinel - Former Creed singer Scott Stapp speaks, apologizes by Archived 2007-06-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ http://www.lhps.org/alumni/pages/florida.htm%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
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