Palm Bay Senior High School
Encyclopedia
Palm Bay Senior High School is a public high school located in Melbourne, Florida
, 2000 feet (609.6 m) north of the boundary of Palm Bay, Florida
. It is part of the Brevard County School District
.
, law
, forensics
and other social sciences
. The building was renamed to reflect the benefactors and law studies. There are rooms modeled after American courtrooms in which school's law classes perform mock trial
s. In 2005 the school added a separate law academy.
There are a number of portable classroom
s. Campus buildings have hallways that are open to the outside and lockers are outdoors.
and a historically black neighborhood in the south Melbourne area. At the time, Stone Middle School was serving as a school primarily for black students in the area, serving multiple grades. As desegregation
progressed, the schools were re-purposed as Stone became a middle school with white children being bussed in from all neighborhoods south of New Haven Avenue (US 192). Shortly thereafter, Southwest became Palm Bay Senior High. Southwest Middle School was reconstituted within Palm Bay in 1988.
There was some controversy regarding the school's chosen graduation venue in 2005, which was an auditorium in a local Calvary Chapel
facility which featured a large cross
shape carved into the wall behind the stage. A suit was filed in court by the families of two Palm Bay Senior High students, in an attempt to block the usage of the religious facility for a secular public school ceremony in favor of a secular venue. The judge presiding over the case ruled that it was too late to change the venue (and thus that the 2005 graduation ceremony of Palm Bay Senior High School, as well as those of several other local high schools, would proceed as planned in the Calvary Chapel facility), but that in following years the Brevard County public schools would have to find a secular venue for graduation ceremonies.
In 2006-2007, Palm Bay had the highest reported incidence of behavioral offenses within the school district's traditional high schools. This could be due to high reporting standards which could vary among schools.
In July 2011, the school's Advanced Placement Calculus teacher went public with her plans to leave teaching after 13 years, forced by divorce and the district's low salaries.
. The football team won the state championship in 2000 and 2002. In 2006, the school became one of the first high schools in Florida to have an artificial turf football field.
The team averaged 33.3 points during the 2010 fall season. The team has a 151-36 record for 1988-2010.
Competitions. In 2011, there were three Vex Robotics Design System teams.
In January 2008, the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Team 508 part of PiraTech Robotics stood first at the Florida Regional held in Tampa, Florida. FTC Team 509 as with Piratech Robotics won the "Amaze" award for their Omni Directional Robot.
FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC) Team 2023 also won the award for best website design at the Orlando regional competition.
In 2008, a visually impaired student placed third nationally in a robot-building competition for Discovery Channel
's "MythBusters
" program.
Junior ROTC
.
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
, 2000 feet (609.6 m) north of the boundary of Palm Bay, Florida
Palm Bay, Florida
Palm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 100,786 on 1 July 2008; it is the most populous city in the county...
. It is part of the Brevard County School District
Brevard County School District
Brevard Public Schools is a school district serving Brevard County, Florida, and based in Viera, Florida.In 2009, the district had about 72,519 students. 24% attend a school other than the one to which they are assigned. In 2009, the School Board was Brevard's largest local government employer with...
.
Campus
The campus consists of several main buildings that house administration and classrooms, as well as a gymnasium and auditorium. During the 2004-2005 school year, the school received a private donation which was used to expand the library. The school created more classrooms within the same building for classes in criminologyCriminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
, law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, forensics
Forensics
Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action...
and other social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
. The building was renamed to reflect the benefactors and law studies. There are rooms modeled after American courtrooms in which school's law classes perform mock trial
Mock trial
A Mock Trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or...
s. In 2005 the school added a separate law academy.
There are a number of portable classroom
Portable classroom
A portable classroom A portable classroom A portable classroom (in Australian English a demountable and often referred to as a demountable, a "Terrapin" or a "Portakabin" (after the two companies) in the UK and called a prefab in Ireland (not to be confused with a prefabricated building) is a...
s. Campus buildings have hallways that are open to the outside and lockers are outdoors.
History
The school originally opened as Southwest Junior High School in the 1950s, in an area near what is now the Florida Institute of TechnologyFlorida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology, also known as Florida Tech, is an independent private technical research university located in Melbourne, Florida, United States. Founded in 1958 as Brevard Engineering College, the institute has been known by its present name since 1966. Florida Tech's curriculum...
and a historically black neighborhood in the south Melbourne area. At the time, Stone Middle School was serving as a school primarily for black students in the area, serving multiple grades. As desegregation
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
progressed, the schools were re-purposed as Stone became a middle school with white children being bussed in from all neighborhoods south of New Haven Avenue (US 192). Shortly thereafter, Southwest became Palm Bay Senior High. Southwest Middle School was reconstituted within Palm Bay in 1988.
There was some controversy regarding the school's chosen graduation venue in 2005, which was an auditorium in a local Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of...
facility which featured a large cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
shape carved into the wall behind the stage. A suit was filed in court by the families of two Palm Bay Senior High students, in an attempt to block the usage of the religious facility for a secular public school ceremony in favor of a secular venue. The judge presiding over the case ruled that it was too late to change the venue (and thus that the 2005 graduation ceremony of Palm Bay Senior High School, as well as those of several other local high schools, would proceed as planned in the Calvary Chapel facility), but that in following years the Brevard County public schools would have to find a secular venue for graduation ceremonies.
In 2006-2007, Palm Bay had the highest reported incidence of behavioral offenses within the school district's traditional high schools. This could be due to high reporting standards which could vary among schools.
In July 2011, the school's Advanced Placement Calculus teacher went public with her plans to leave teaching after 13 years, forced by divorce and the district's low salaries.
Football
The school competes in class 4A within the Florida High School Athletic AssociationFlorida High School Athletic Association
The Florida High School Athletic Association is an organization whose purpose is to organize sports competition for high school It is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations ....
. The football team won the state championship in 2000 and 2002. In 2006, the school became one of the first high schools in Florida to have an artificial turf football field.
The team averaged 33.3 points during the 2010 fall season. The team has a 151-36 record for 1988-2010.
Robotics
The Palm Bay Senior High School Engineering program, dubbed PiraTech Robotics, has a group of robotics teams that compete in various FIRSTFirst
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one.First or 1st may also refer to:* First , minor summit below the Schwarzhorn in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland* First , mountain in Bernese Alps in Switzerland...
Competitions. In 2011, there were three Vex Robotics Design System teams.
In January 2008, the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Team 508 part of PiraTech Robotics stood first at the Florida Regional held in Tampa, Florida. FTC Team 509 as with Piratech Robotics won the "Amaze" award for their Omni Directional Robot.
FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC) Team 2023 also won the award for best website design at the Orlando regional competition.
In 2008, a visually impaired student placed third nationally in a robot-building competition for Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
's "MythBusters
MythBusters
MythBusters is a science entertainment TV program created and produced by Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series is screened by numerous international broadcasters, including Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Latin America, Discovery Channel Canada, Quest...
" program.
Junior ROTC
The school has a Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Junior ROTC
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a Federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the United States...
.
Notable alumni
- Deanne BellDeanne BellDeanne Olivia Bell is an American television personality known for PBS's Design Squad, Discovery Channel's Smash Lab, and National Geographic's "The Egyptian Job". She is currently a co-host for DIY Network's "Money Hunters" and ESPN's "Rise Up".Bell is originally from Palm Bay, Florida. In...
1997 - an American reality television show host known for PBS's Design SquadDesign SquadDesign Squad is a PBS reality television series geared towards middle and high-school children, where they design whimsical machines in order to win an Intel college scholarship worth $10,000. The show is produced by WGBH.- Hosts :...
and Discovery ChannelDiscovery ChannelDiscovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
's Smash LabSmash LabSmash Lab is a reality television series that premiered on December 26, 2007, on the Discovery Channel. The idea of the show is to take everyday technology and test it in "extraordinary ways."-Cast:...
. - Xavier CarterXavier CarterXavier Carter is an American professional track and field athlete. He attended Louisiana State University and was a star on the track and field team as well a member of the football team. Prior to LSU, Xavier Carter graduated from Palm Bay Senior High School in Melbourne, FL...
2004 - former Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
football player and Professional Track and Field athlete. - Joe CohenJoe CohenJoe Cohen is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League . Cohen played college football for the University of Florida, and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
2003 - Senior defensive tackle, from the 2006 National Champion Florida Gators football team, who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in 2007 - Reggie NelsonReggie NelsonReggie Nelson is an American professional football player who is a safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League...
2003 - Junior safety, from the 2006 National Champion Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
football team, who was drafted by the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2007 - Sean WidebergSean WidebergSean Wideberg is a senior right-handed pitcher for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team.-High school:...
2004 - former starting quarterback for the Pirates, current pitcher for the University of South CarolinaUniversity of South CarolinaThe University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
's baseball team.