Boca Raton Community High School

Boca Raton Community High School is a magnet high school that is part of the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It has been rated an "A" school each consecutive year by the Florida Department of Education since 2005 and was ranked 62nd on the list of America's Best High Schools by Newsweek in 2010.

Boca Raton Community High School
Address
1501 Northwest 15th Court Boca Raton , Florida United States
Coordinates	26°21′44″N 80°07′00″W / 26.362254°N 80.116757°W / 26.362254; -80.116757
Information
Type	Magnet
Established	1963 (1963)^[1]
School district	School District of Palm Beach County
Principal	Suzanne King
Staff	170.50 (FTE)^[2]
Grades	9–12
Number of students	3,288 (2019–20)^[2]
Student to teacher ratio	19.28^[2]
Campus size	39.9 acres
Color(s)	Blue and Gold
Mascot	Bobcat
Newspaper	The Paw Print
Website	brhs.palmbeachschools.org

Campus

In 2002, the school was almost entirely demolished, and then reconstructed as a new campus. There is a new science building.

In August 2007, the building of a new stadium began, and it was finished by July 2008. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the stadium features FieldTurf, a type of artificial turf with a thin, blade-like carpet that will allow use no matter what the weather. The new turf is also twice as soft as the previous field, so falling on it is safer.^[3] The installation of artificial turf was the first for any school in the Palm Beach County School District, according to Jim Cartmill, assistant director of program management with the School Board.

The stadium features a nine-lane track, bleachers that stretch from goal line to goal line (for the home team fans) and from 10-yard line to 10-yard line (for visitors), with seating for up to 4,025 people, a 1,000 seat increase over the previous stadium. The stadium is accessible to the handicapped. It also has a pole vault and high jump, along with eight lighted tennis courts. An Olympic-sized swimming pool was added and opened in early 2011.^[4]

Student body

Statistics

• Student-teacher ratio is 1:17
• 41% of teachers have advanced degrees
• The average number of years teachers spend teaching is 2

Student ethnicity

Student ethnicity is as follows:^[5]

• White 61%
• Hispanic 23%
• Black 11%
• Mixed race 3%
• Asian 3%
• Native American <1%
• European <1%

Student subgroups

Statistics:^[5]

• Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 32%
• Students with disabilities 11%
• Gifted students 2%
• English language learners 6%

Academics

FCAT scores

2009 Passing Rate:

Grade 9

• Reading 70% (State Average: 49%)
• Math 85% (State Average: 68%)

Grade 10

• Reading 58% (State Average: 37%)
• Math 89% (State Average: 69%)
• Writing 89% (State Average: 77%)

Grade 11

• Science 53% (State Average: 37%)^[6]

Year	School Grade
1999	C
2000	C
2001	C
2002	C
2003	B
2004	B
2005	A
2006	A
2007	A
2008	A
2009	A
2010	A
2011	A
2012	A
2013	A
2014	A
2015	A
2016	A
2017	A
2018	A

AVID Program

Boca High is initiating the use of AVID strategies, beginning 2017.

STEM Program

Boca High is known for its magnet program, called STEM. This stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and was started during the 2004–2005 school year.

Advanced placement

In 2011–2012, the following Advanced Placement (AP) exams are available to students:

• Art History
• Art: Studio 2-D Design
• Art: Studio 3-D Design
• Art: Studio Drawing
• Biology
• Calculus AB
• Calculus BC
• Capstone Seminar
• Chemistry
• Chinese Language & Culture
• Economics: Macro
• Economics: Micro
• English Language & Composition
• English Literature & Composition
• Environmental Science
• European History
• French Language
• Geography: Human
• Government & Politics: U.S.
• Government & Politics: Comparative
• German Language
• Music Theory
• Physics A
• Psychology
• Spanish Language
• Spanish Literature
• Statistics
• U.S. History
• World History

^[7]

Theater

The Boca Raton Community High School Theatre Department is home of the Thespian Troupe 2564 and a theatre department and drama club which puts on high-production musicals and plays in the 800-seat Kathryn Lindgren Theatre on campus. The Drama Club puts on an annual musical production each spring while the school offers thespian-related electives including theater, advanced theater, musical theater classes as well as dance.

AICE Curriculum

Boca Raton High School offers AICE (Advanced International Certificate of Education) classes. AICE is run by Cambridge Assessment International Education. These courses are college accredited throughout universities in Florida, and depending on the level of completion of studies, are eligible for scholarships applicable within the state. The following AICE classes and standardized tests are offered at Boca Raton High School:

• US History (History of the Americas)
• International History
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Thinking Skills
• General Paper
• Global Perspectives
• English Language
• Spanish Language
• Business
• Art and Design I
• Art and Design II
• Music I
• Marine Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• General Math
• Portuguese Language (initiated during the first quarter of the 2011–2012 school year)
• Travel and Tourism

Athletics

There has been a history of competitive rivalry with the neighboring high school, West Boca Raton High School, and Atlantic High School in football and baseball.^[8] In soccer and volleyball, however, the rivalry is with Spanish River High School.

Types of sports offered

As of 2018:

• Baseball: Junior Varsity, Varsity
• Basketball: (Boys/Girls) - Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity
• Bowling: (Boys/Girls)) - Varsity
• Cheerleading: Junior Varsity, Varsity, Competition
• Cross-Country - (Boys/Girls)
• Dance: (Boys/Girls)
• Football: Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity
• Golf: (Boys/Girls)
• Ice Hockey: Varsity
• Intramural Flag Football
• Lacrosse: (Boys/Girls)
• Marching Band
• Soccer: (Boys/Girls)- Junior Varsity, Varsity
• Softball: Junior Varsity, Varsity
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis
• Track/Field
• Water Polo: (Boys/Girls)
• Weightlifting: (Boys/Girls) Varsity
• Volleyball: (Boys/Girls)
• Wrestling: Junior Varsity, Varsity

Achievements

 

Boca High Ice Hockey D2 Champions

Swimming:

• In 2007, after two years of near misses, the girls' team won the state championship. They went on to repeat the state title in 2008. The boys' team placed 37th in 2007, and followed with state runner-up in 2008; tied for the highest finish in school history. In 2012, the boys team places 1st overall at the state championships^[9] As of 2018, the swim team is coached by Allan Williams.^[10]

Water Polo

• In 2019, the Men's Water Polo team captured their third District Championship in school history while also making their first State Championship Tournament in school history ^[11]

Student Government Association (SGA)

The Student Council of Boca Raton Community High School has a dominant presence at the (FASC), and has been recognized accordingly. The leadership students have won more project awards in more categories than any other school in the state of Florida. For the 2011–2012 school year, Boca High's Ian Mellul was elected to serve as president of the FASC.The leadership students most recently accomplished the following at the 2010 FASC States Competition:

Boca Raton NJROTC

 

2010 Nationals Competing Team

 

2010 Florida State Champions

The Bobcat Battalion was started in 1994 by LCDR Kenneth A. Bingham USN (Ret.) who was later joined by Chief Petty Officer Edwin A. Morales, USN (Ret.). The current Naval Science instructors are Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Powers USMC (Ret.), Master Chief Petty Officer Alberto C. Sosa USN (Ret.), and Chief Petty Officer Edwin A. Morales USN (Ret.). It has since become one of the best in the nation.^[12] The Regiment consisted of five companies, with approximately 400 cadets in the unit as of 2014. Cadets' daily curriculum involves academics, physical training (PT), and general knowledge on life in the United States Navy. The NJROTC's main goal is to develop informed citizens. The current Commanding Officer of the unit is c/CDR Ellie Rafalski.

Notable alumni

Sports

• Kevin Anderson, XFL quarterback^[13]
• Greg Bellisari, former NFL player^[14]
• Steve Bellisari, former AFL player^[15]
• Yvenson Bernard, former CFL running back, played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League
• Chi Chi Gonzalez, baseball pitcher; MLB Texas Rangers (2015–2016); currently pitching Minor League with the Colorado Rockies^[16]
• Ernie Jones, former NFL player^[17]
• Sabby Piscitelli (born August 24, 1983), American professional wrestler and former American football safety
• Mark Richt, former American football head coach and player who previously held positions as the head football coach at the University of Georgia and University of Miami
• Chris Stynes, former MLB player 1995–2004

Music

• Chris Carrabba, lead singer and guitarist of the band Dashboard Confessional, lead singer of the band Further Seems Forever, and the vocalist for the folk band Twin Forks.

Movies

• Noah Centineo attended 9th and 10th grade at Boca Raton High School before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting. He has been in Austin & Ally, The Fosters, and the Netflix romantic comedy, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Hedge Fund Managers

• Kenneth C. Griffin attended, was the president of his math club.^[18]

See also

• Education in the United States
• List of school districts in Florida

References

1. "Message missing (possible session timeout)" (PDF). Edline.^{[permanent dead link]}
2. "BOCA RATON COMMUNITY HIGH". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
3. New Stadium for Boca Raton Community High School June 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
4. New Stadium June 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
5. "Boca Raton Community High School".
6. "Boca Raton Community High School".
7. "Boca Raton Community High School".
8. "Bobcats Take Down Crosstown Rival Bulls". palmbeachhighschoolbaseball.com. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
9. 2008 State Title Archived May 20, 2008, at archive.today
10. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/high-school/boca-raton-high-names-new-swim-coach/5853brKC09gkDjtubWszQK/^{[bare URL]}
11. "Boca High Bobcats reach state semifinals in water polo".
12. Boca Raton Community High NJROTC May 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
13. "Kevin Anderson - Football". Fordham University Athletics.
14. "Greg Bellisari". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
15. "LONGTIME BOCA HIGH COACH BELLISARI PASSES AWAY AT 66". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
16. "Chi Chi Gonzalez - Colorado Rockies - MLB". Rotoworld.com. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
17. "Ernie Jones". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
18. Meyer, Graham (8 June 2011). "The File on Citadel's Ken Griffin". No. Politics & City Life. Chicago, IL, United States: Chicago Magazine. Chicago Tribune Media. Retrieved 11 March 2015.