Freedom High School (Orlando, Florida)
| Freedom High School
| |
|---|---|
| Location | |
2500 Taft-Vineland Road Orlando, FL | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 2003 |
| School district | Orange County Public Schools |
| Principal | Rolando R. Bailey |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 3,114 (2012-2013) |
| Color(s) | Red, White, and Navy Blue |
| Athletics | FHSAA Class 8A, District 5 |
| Mascot | Patriot |
| Rivals | Cypress Creek High School, Dr. Phillips High School, Boone High School |
| Information | (407) 816-5600 |
| Website | www.freedom.ocps.net |
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Freedom High School is located in Orlando, Florida under the authority of principal Rolando R. Bailey. It is one of seventeen public high schools in Orange County. The school was established in 2003 in order to relieve crowding at nearby Cypress Creek High School; like other relief high schools, they share a rivalry. It is a rivalry dubbed (in sports) as the South Orange Classic. Freedom receives students from Freedom Middle School, Hunter's Creek Middle School and West Ridge Middle School (in Oakridge).
The school is sometimes mistaken for Olympia High School and Timber Creek High School because of the nearly identical campus layouts, and Lake Brantley High School in neighboring Seminole County because of the similar colors and mascot.
The school was to originally to be named after a deceased Marine, but after the September 11 attacks in 2001 the county decided to rename it to Freedom High School.
FHS is an "A" school. (2010–11) & (2013-14)
Academic programs
Freedom has a variety of academic programs for its prestigious students. These are: Monticello Academy, AVID, Advanced Placement(AP), Academy of Mass Media, Academy of Hospitality, and Early Childhood Education Academy.
In addition to that students have a chance to receive career and technical training through their Tech Prep and Dual Enrollment Program at three of the local tech schools and Valencia College.
Monticello Academy
The Monticello Scholar Academy of Excellence offers a course of study designed for students who compete academically at the national level. This rigorous and relevant curriculum will build and develop personal relationships. The Monticello Scholar Academy of Excellence focuses on developing the whole child through a tradition of: Leadership, Service, Honor, Excellence & Tradition.[1]
AVID
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a fourth through twelfth Grade system that prepares students academically and make them eligible for college.
Students involved in the program are enrolled in their school's most challenging and rigorous classes, Honors and AP, and develops each students organization and study skills.
At Freedom High School, students will enroll in college preparatory courses and the AVID elective class. In the AVID class, students are taught the needed skills for success and tutored in collaborative working groups with mentors. In the AVID elective class student are taught study skills, Cornell note taking, time management, writing, reading, and research skills. Students also learn about colleges and universities (especially the application and financial aid processes) and prepare for college admission tests such as the SAT or ACT. Students are encouraged to explore occupations through research,curriculum, and guest speakers.[2]
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement program sponsored by College Board are a series of college-level courses in which you can take exams (through College Board) to receive college credit.
Freedom offers many Advanced Placement Classes. All of the AP instructors, class content, and syllabus have been approved by the College Board.
AP Classes offered:
2-D Design; Drawing, US History, Psychology, World History, Human Geography, US Government, Euro History, Music Theory, Physics C E&M, Physics C Mech, Physics B, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Biology, Environmental Science, Statistics, Chemistry, German, Economics, English language and Composition, English Literature, Spanish Language, French Language, Japanese Language.[3]
Academy of Hospitality
The Academy of Travel and Tourism is one of several model programs established by the National Academy Foundation. These academies work by combining career-oriented courses in the classroom with career building experiences in local business and in the community.
It motivates students to complete a Hospitality oriented high school curriculum, to develop career goals, and to purse higher education.
High school students have an opportunity to learn about and prepare for college careers in Hospitality services and to interact in a meaningful way with their school and business community.[4]
Early Childhood Education Academy
The Academy of Early Childhood Education is for students who are interested in pursuing a career in Education or working in the child care industry. The academy offers students a rigorous and relevant curriculum, hands-on training, and opportunities for earning state certifications, the Early Childhood Professional Certificate, as well as scholarships and college credit. The academy students will work with the children on campus at Freedom Friends Preschool, local daycares, elementary and middle schools. The program consists of 120 hours of classroom instruction and 480 hours of direct work with children.[5]
Dual enrollment
Dual enrollment or DE involves students being enrolled in two separate, academically related institutions. A student goes to High School while also taking higher level courses at a local Community College or University. Credits received at the College level counts towards High School Credit as well.
Technical schools
Students have a chance to dual enroll at Mid Florida Tech, Westside Tech, and Orlando Tech.
Valencia College
Juniors and Seniors with a 3.0 unweighted G.P.A in Orange or Osceola County are given the chance to dual enroll at Valencia College to start their college education while still attending high school. This allows students to not only receive their high school diplomas but receive a college degree as well.
Dual enrollment courses become part of a permanent college transcript, so students must commit to doing the work required or risk jeopardizing future college plans.[6]
Extracurricular activities
Fine Arts
There are a variety of fine arts classes for students to join: Band, Ceramics, Chorus, Drama, Drawing, Orchestra, Painting and Photography.
Band is made up of 5 Ensembles; Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble and Color Guard. These 5 Ensembles combine to create the "Pride of the Patriots" Marching Band. The program is lead by Franklin Jennings.
Guitar is made up of 3 Ensembles; Guitar 1, Intermediate Guitar Ensemble and Advanced Guitar Ensemble. The program is lead by Christopher Perez.
Chorus is made up of 7 Ensembles; Beginning Women's Choir, Junior Varsity Choir, Varsity Choir, Men's Choir, Class Voice (Which is a program where students can receive 25-30 minutes of singing lessons), Patriot Singers and Advanced Women's Choir. The choirs are all directed by Edward Rothmel and Shannon Lyles.
Drama is made up of Theatre 1, Theatre 2, Theatre 3, Theatre 4 and Musical Theatre. The program is lead by Matthew Brown and Sara Probst.
Orchestra is made up of Beginning Orchestra, Orchestra 1, Orchestra 2, Chamber Symphony and the Patriot Philharmonic. The program is lead by Brian Hellhake.
Painting creates a lot of work that is displayed around campus as well.
Photography allows students to create more than what is seen through a viewfinder.
Athletics
There are a variety of sports to get involved with: football, girls' flag football, fencing, volleyball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, wrestling, weightlifting, track and field, water polo, golf, baseball, softball, and tennis.[7]
The teams are commonly referred to as "The Patriots" and the females as "Lady Patriots".