American Heritage School (Florida)
American Heritage School (AHS, Heritage) is an American private, college preparatory, independent, nonsectarian, and co-educational day school for grades Pre-K 3 through 12. The school's two campuses together teach 4,200 students and are located in the United States in Plantation, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale, and in Delray Beach, Florida, a suburb of Boca Raton.
American Heritage School | |
---|---|
Location | |
, United States | |
Coordinates | 26.121029°N 80.31086°W 26.4372378°N 80.1424404°W |
Information | |
Type | Independent, college preparatory |
Motto |
|
Established | 1965 |
Founder | William R. Laurie |
Grades | Pre-K 3–12 |
Gender | Coeducational |
Color(s) | Patriots: Black & gold Stallions: Blue & grey |
Mascot | Patriot & Stallion |
Website | www |
History
The school was first established by William R. Laurie in 1965. Heritage opened its first campus in 1971 at 800 South Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 1973, the school opened a second campus at 1725 Monroe St. in Hollywood, Florida. In 1975, Laurie opened a third campus located at 12200 W. Broward Boulevard in Plantation, Florida. The three campuses were later consolidated into the Plantation campus. Since moving to the 35-acre (14 ha) property, the campus has expanded several times.[1]
Heritage is a tuition-only school that neither asks for nor accepts donations. The school is managed by educators, and has no governing board. Children of faculty and staff receive full tuition at the school.[2] In January 1999, American Heritage School acquired All-Star Academy in Delray Beach, Florida, establishing it as the school's second campus.[3]
Campuses
American Heritage has two 40-acre (16 ha) campuses: the Plantation campus in Plantation[4] and the Boca Delray campus in Delray Beach.[5] Both house grades Pre-K 3 through 12 grade.[6] Facilities include investigative science labs headed by Ph.D. research scientists, engineering and robotics labs, media centers, a mock courtroom, outdoor environmental classrooms with a certified wildlife habitat, an arts center, a 25-yard short course pool, sports fields, and courtyards.[7] The arts center on the Plantation campus includes several performance spaces including an 800-seat main stage.[8] In March 2019, American Heritage opened the Science Research, Engineering, and Robotics building on the Delray Beach campus. The research center includes two biosafety level 2 laboratories: a chemistry lab and a biology lab. Also home to the pre-engineering department, the building includes a robotics lab with several 3D printers.[9]
Like the South Florida area, students at American Heritage come from diverse backgrounds. About 50 countries are represented among the student body.[10]
Academics
In the Lower School, advanced courses are offered, including the Stanford University math program for accelerated math students in grades 4–6. Fifteen elective classes are integrated into all students' daily schedules. The Upper School offers more than 300 courses, which includes 133 honors courses, 29 Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and 75 fine arts classes.[10][11] In 2015, AHS was one of five schools in the nation with three students with perfect scores in an AP exam.[12]
The Medical Professions program offers students a pre-med track including advanced courses in Genetics, Medical Terminology, and Pathology.[13] American Heritage also offers a number of other pre-professional programs which include pre-law, pre-engineering, biomedical engineering and computer science.[6]
In 2016, 50 students at AHS were named semifinalists to the National Merit Scholarship Program, the most in Florida and ninth in the nation.[14] In September 2018, 24 students on the Delray Beach campus and 70 students on the Plantation campus were named semifinalists to the 2019 National Merit Scholarship.[15] The school also has a competitive math team and a chapter of the Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society.[16] Heritage's competitive mock trial team has won several state titles.[17]
Athletics
As of 2018, Heritage's Patriots football team has won three out of its last five state championship titles and ended the undefeated 2017 season with a 27-game winning streak.[18][19] The team has won the Florida High School Athletic Association's Class 5A Football Championships in 2013,[20] 2016,[21] and 2017.[22] The 2018 Patriots included two cornerbacks rated five stars by 247Sports.com, Patrick Surtain II and Tyson Campbell. Together with two other four-star prospects from American Heritage, they were collectively referred to as the "AH4".[23]
The school's second team on the Delray Beach campus, the Stallions, have won the Class 1A Football Championships in 2007 and 2009, as well as the Class 3A Championship in 2011.[24]
American Heritage also has athletics programs for bowling, golf, volleyball and several other sports.[6]
Notable alumni
- Shaun Anderson – professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants[25][26]
- River Alexander – actor[27]
- Brian Burns – professional football player for the Carolina Panthers[28]
- Kenny Boynton – professional basketball player[29]
- Triston Casas – professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox[30]
- Nick Castellanos – professional baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds[31]
- Zack Collins – professional baseball player for the Chicago White Sox[32]
- Jakob Chychrun – professional ice hockey player for the Arizona Coyotes[33]
- Eric Hosmer – professional baseball player for the San Diego Padres[34]
- Greg Joseph - football placekicker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League
- Deven Marrero – professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox[35]
- Tarvarus McFadden – professional football player for the San Francisco 49ers[36]
- Isaiah McKenzie – professional football player for the Buffalo Bills[37][38]
- Camila Mendes – actress, Veronica Lodge on Riverdale[39]
- Sony Michel – football player, running back for the New England Patriots[40]
- Adrian Nieto – former professional baseball player for the Chicago White Sox[41]
- Dean Pelman (born 1995) – Israeli-American professional baseball player[42]
- Carlos PenaVega – actor[43]
- Antoan Richardson – Major League Baseball player and coach[44]
- Marco Wilson – college football cornerback for the Florida Gators
References
- Berry, John F. (August 7, 1991). "Weathering the Storm American Heritage School Survived the Pitfalls of Two Decades". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "American Heritage School". AHSchool.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- O'Connor, Lona (January 9, 1999). "Private School Rescued in Delray". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "Private School in Broward County | American Heritage School". www.ahschool.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- "Delray Beach Private School | American Heritage School | Boca Delray Campus". www.ahschool.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- "The difference a private education makes". City & Shore Magazine. October 1, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Morlacci, Alyssa (January 7, 2015). "Choosing the best education for your child". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Zink, Jack (January 7, 2005). "A New Stage". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Fagen, Faran (September 3, 2019). "Life in the lab: American Heritage students test out new science center". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Capullo, Lori (January 5, 2013). "The case for private vs. public schools". City & Shore Magazine. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Hirano, Roger (November 8, 2018). "American Heritage School". Newsweek. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Fishman, Scott (February 2, 2015). "School's students excel on AP exams". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Bianchi, Ariana (January 2007). "Medically-Minded: Students at American Heritage Prepare for their Future Professions". South Florida Hospital News. 3 (7). Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Richardson, Adrianne (October 11, 2016). "Fifty American Heritage School seniors named National Merit semifinalists". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Artemakis, Eileen; Budreau, Matthew (September 12, 2018). "Semifinalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program" (PDF). National Merit Scholarship Program. Retrieved January 7, 2020 – via Florida Department of Education.
- Odzer, Ari (January 16, 2019). "The 'Nerd Super Bowl': Inside the World of Competitive Math for 2 South Florida Teams". NBC 6 South Florida. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Seiden, Michael (March 23, 2017). "American Heritage School mock trial team seeks fourth state title". WPLG. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Furones, David (July 31, 2018). "American Heritage not to be counted out despite talent it lost to graduation". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Furones, David (August 17, 2018). "Big second half pushes American Heritage over University School in kickoff classic". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "FHSAA Class 5A Football Championship" (PDF). Florida High School Athletic Association. 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "FHSAA Class 5A Football Championship". Florida High School Athletic Association. 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "Florida High School Football Playoff Brackets: FHSAA (Class 5A)". MaxPreps. 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Stock, Christopher (February 7, 2018). "All Eyes on American Heritage as Miami Aiming for a Big Day". 247Sports.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "Year-by-Year Results – American Heritage Stallions Football (Delray Beach, FL)". MaxPreps. 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Villa, Walter (June 10, 2016). "Baseball dream goes on as Douglas teammates Welker, Luzardo get drafted". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- DeFranks, Matthew (July 6, 2018). "Marlins prospect Jorge Guzman, acquired in Giancarlo Stanton trade, to play in Futures Game". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Alexander, River. "River's Biography". RiverAlexander.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "Who is Brian Burns, the Florida State edge rusher drafted by the Carolina Panthers?". Miami Herald. April 25, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Mahoney, Jon (June 26, 2018). "Top Florida guard tandem looks to show off New York toughness". ABC News. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "Many scouts think he can become the face of a franchise. Will the Marlins draft him?". Miami Herald. June 1, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Schmehl, James (September 8, 2013). "Detroit Tigers top prospect Nick Castellanos collects first career hit, wants to prove he belongs in majors". mlive. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Kurtenbach, Dieter (June 5, 2013). "American Heritage's Zack Collins' bat coveted in MLB Draft". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Fialkov, Harvey (June 24, 2016). "Boca Raton's Jakob Chychrun selected 16th by Arizona in NHL draft". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Grathoff, Pete (February 18, 2018). "Friend gives insight on Eric Hosmer's mind-set during free agency". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Dodd, Rustin (June 21, 2017). "Childhood best friends Eric Hosmer, Deven Marrero finally share a major-league field". The Kanasas City Star. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Furones, David; Dusenbury, Wells (April 29, 2018). "Broward, Palm Beach high school grads sign with NFL teams as undrafted free agents". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Furones, David. "American Heritage standout Isaiah McKenzie goes to Broncos". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "Bills' Isaiah McKenzie goes 'a million miles an hour or he's sleeping'". The Buffalo News. December 9, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Figaro, Madame (March 14, 2018). "Camila Mendes, la "Blair Waldorf" de "Riverdale"". Madame Figaro (in French). Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Shweky, Brett (October 14, 2019). "Sony Michel: Weekly homegrown NFL spotlight on Patriot". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- "Cuban baseball players in Chicago". Los Angeles Times. November 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Bagga, Ashmeet (August 11, 2018). ""Love at Sea" 2018: The Hallmark Movie's Cast, Plot & Premiere Date". Earn The Necklace. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- Richardson, Antoan (September 25, 2017). "My Journey Home". The Players' Tribune. Retrieved January 7, 2020.