J. P. Taravella High School
Encyclopedia
J. P. Taravella High School is a secondary school located in Coral Springs, Florida
which teaches grades 9-12. The school is a part of the Broward County Public Schools
district.
J. P. Taravella is ranked within the top 1% of all public high schools in the United States. It was also the recipient of the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award in 1987, and has an FCAT
school grade of "B" for the 2009-2010 academic year.
J.P. Taravella has a very active vocal music department which has received many accolades both within Broward County and through out the state of Florida. The vocal music department is currently under the direction of Mrs. Katherine LaRosa.
In 2007 Taravella won the Grand Championship and also swept all awards at the Vero Beach Crown Jewel Marching competition. Also, recently the J.P. Taravella Marching Band was picked as one of two bands (the other being Florida A&M) to represent Florida in Obama's presidential inauguration.
The school is renowned for its competitive Speech and Debate team, coached by Beth Goldman, whose members have garnered numerous accolades--both locally and nationally. At the 2009 NFL National Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama, all three Taravella national qualifiers finished in the top six. Captain John Mern finished sixth in the nation in United States Extemporaneous Speaking, and Debate Co-Captains Mickael Silangil and Brian Zakarin finished fourth in the nation in Public Forum Debate.
, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and a founder of the City of Coral Springs.
of the school was 50% White
, 15% Black
, 24% Hispanic
, 2% Asian
or Pacific Islander
, 5% Multiracial
, and 3% Native American
or Native Alaskan.
Coral Springs, Florida
Coral Springs, officially chartered July 10, 1963, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States, approximately northwest of Fort Lauderdale. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 121,096...
which teaches grades 9-12. The school is a part of the Broward County Public Schools
Broward County Public Schools
Broward County Public Schools, a public school district serving Broward County, Florida, is the nation's sixth largest public school system and the largest fully accredited district in the nation, with over 260,000 students in more than 260 schools and education centers...
district.
J. P. Taravella is ranked within the top 1% of all public high schools in the United States. It was also the recipient of the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award in 1987, and has an FCAT
Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or the FCAT , is the standardized test used in the primary and secondary public schools of Florida...
school grade of "B" for the 2009-2010 academic year.
J.P. Taravella has a very active vocal music department which has received many accolades both within Broward County and through out the state of Florida. The vocal music department is currently under the direction of Mrs. Katherine LaRosa.
In 2007 Taravella won the Grand Championship and also swept all awards at the Vero Beach Crown Jewel Marching competition. Also, recently the J.P. Taravella Marching Band was picked as one of two bands (the other being Florida A&M) to represent Florida in Obama's presidential inauguration.
The school is renowned for its competitive Speech and Debate team, coached by Beth Goldman, whose members have garnered numerous accolades--both locally and nationally. At the 2009 NFL National Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama, all three Taravella national qualifiers finished in the top six. Captain John Mern finished sixth in the nation in United States Extemporaneous Speaking, and Debate Co-Captains Mickael Silangil and Brian Zakarin finished fourth in the nation in Public Forum Debate.
History
The school was named after Joseph Phillip Taravella (1919-1978), who was the president and chairman of Coral Ridge Properties IncorporatedWCI Communities
WCI Communities, Inc. is an American home builder. The company offers single family and condominium homes. WCI also provides design, construction, financing, land purchases, marketing, and community management services. The company operates realty, mortgage, and title businesses. WCI is based in...
, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and a founder of the City of Coral Springs.
Demographics
As of 2011, the total student enrollment was 3865. The ethnic makeupEthnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
of the school was 50% White
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
, 15% Black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
, 24% Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, 2% Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
or Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
, 5% Multiracial
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
, and 3% Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
or Native Alaskan.
Notable alumni
- Chad GilbertChad GilbertChad Everett Gilbert is an American musician and record producer. He is a founding member of the rock band New Found Glory, for whom he plays lead guitar, composes music and provides backing vocals...
, lead guitarist and composer for the Pop PunkPop punkPop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band New Found GloryNew Found GloryNew Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino... - Jordan PundikJordan PundikJordan Izaak Pundik is an American musician and songwriter.Pundik is a founding member and the frontman of rock band New Found Glory, for whom he sings lead vocals and contributes lyrics...
, Frontman and composer for the Pop PunkPop punkPop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band New Found GloryNew Found GloryNew Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino... - Ryan PrimackRyan PrimackRyan Primack is an original member and guitarist of the band Poison the Well. In 1998 Ryan and original vocalist Aryeh Lehrer founded the band, An Acre Lost which later changed their name to Poison the Well. He originally hails from Philadelphia. He was also in Where Fear and Weapons Meet...
, musician, founding member of Poison The WellPoison the Well (band)Poison the Well was an experimental hardcore band from Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida who were last signed to Ferret Music. Guitarist Ryan Primack and drummer Chris Hornbrook were the only remaining members of the band who were involved since their inception, although vocalist Jeffrey Moreira was... - Brian Tutunick, aka Olivia Newton Bundy Musician, bassist
- Todd WeinerTodd WeinerTodd Michael Weiner is former American football American football offensive tackle of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State.Weiner also played for the Atlanta Falcons....
, former NFL football player - Michelle A. Bart, (Class of 1987), National journalist and media correspondent, LGBT and Human Trafficking Victim's Advocate
- John J. MillerJohn J. MillerJohn J. Miller is the national political reporter for National Review and contributor to its Web component, National Review Online...
(Class of 1988), National political reporter - Jeordie WhiteJeordie WhiteJeordie Osbourne White , better known by his pseudonym Twiggy Ramirez , is an American musician, who is best known for being the bassist and guitarist for Marilyn Manson. He was also the bassist for A Perfect Circle, and Nine Inch Nails...
(Class of 1989), aka Twiggy Ramirez, bassist - Michael T. DunnMichael T. DunnMichael Thomas Dunn is an actor and film director. He is5'10" tall has blue eyes and brown hair. Dunn appeared in the recent feature films and Bloody 27. He graduated from J. P. Taravella High School in 1995 and The University of Central Florida in 2000...
(Class of 1995), actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and film directorFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:... - Dan MorganDan MorganDaniel Thomas "Dan" Morgan, Jr. is a former American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Panthers 11th overall in the 2001 NFL Draft...
(Class of 1997), former NFL football player - Matt FordMatt FordMatthew Lee "Matt" Ford is an American left-handed professional baseball pitcher.-High school:Ford attended J. P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Florida. Ford was named Broward County High School player of the year in 1998–99...
(Class of 1999), former major league baseball player - Todd WidomTodd WidomTodd Widom is an American professional tennis player.-Biography:Todd is the son of Eloise of Coral Springs, has one brother Gary, and is married to Beth Eisenberg also of Coral Springs. Right now Todd is coaching multiple Junior Tennis players while simultaneously going to school and working to...
(Class of 2001), professional tennis player - Jonathan D. LovitzJonathan D. LovitzJonathan D. Lovitz is an American actor, singer, dancer, and model.-Early life:In his final year of high school, he received the 2002 Silver Knight Award for Drama presented by The Miami Herald and American Airlines, recognizing him for his community service in creating after-school theatre...
(Class of 2002), professional actor and LGBT advocate - Etai Benshlomo (Class of 2005), Broadway theatre actor, main cast of WickedWickedWicked is generally used as an adjective to mean evil or sinful.Wicked may also refer to:* Wicked Pictures, an American pornographic studio...
. - Kylewilliam Campol (Class of 2006), musician, founding member of imadethismistake, author of "Safe Travels"
- Alexandra Flores (Class of 2008), avid reader, musician, scholar, author of notable essay "Hotel Chevalier and the Lancelot Proper"
- Sam Cucci (Class of 2010), singer, cantorial soloist
External links
- Official Site General Background
- JPTV Taravella's TV Station
- Drama Club Information Taravella Drama Troupe 3502 Link
- J.P. Taravella Music Band Info
- Varsity and JV Football Information Varsity and JV Football Information