The school serves grades 9 through 12,[1] and has a preschool with a main teacher and student teachers.
History
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]
Apopka Union School, circa 1901
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 vs. Board of Education of Topeka ruling made segregation unconstitutional; however, it was several years before desegregation began in Orange County.
For years, black senior high-school students from... Apopka were transported as far as 25 miles to Hungerford High School in Eatonville... In 1956, Superintendent Judson Walker recommended senior-high facilities for black students be created in Apopka... by adding grades to existing schools for black students... after being sued in 1962, Orange County was under Federal court oversight until 2010, when the district was finally granted "Unitary Status," indicating that the district had erased all vestiges of past discrimination.[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]
Curriculum
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]
Demographics
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]
