Apopka High School is a public high school in Apopka, Florida, part of Orange County Public Schools serving grades 9 through 12. The school has been honored a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
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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 burned down, forcing classes to be relocated to another building for the remainder of the year.
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. In 1901, the State of Florida accredited the school, which was named Apopka Union School, which was destroyed by a tornado in 1918, and was rebuilt by May 1925. To honor WWII veterans, the school's name was changed to Apopka Memorial High School in 1953, serving grades 7–12. 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. Apopka High's accreditation was last renewed in 2010 by AdvancED: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Desegregation
According to Orange County Schools History,
The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruling made segregation unconstitutional; however, it was several years before desegregation began in Orange County.
In 1969, the first Black faculty and some students from all-Black Phillis 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.
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. As a result, over 3,000 students boycotted the schools. Despite these issues, the consolidation was described as one of the smoothest in Orange County.
Athletics
Apopka competes in the Florida High School Athletic Association and has about 26 total sports teams.
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. 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.
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.
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. Adult education courses have been provided since at least 1974.
Demographics
Apopka High School fosters a multi-ethnic student population that currently consists of some 3,446 students as of the 2024-2025 school year.
Notable alumni
John Anderson (musician), American country musician
Steve Baylark, professional football player, Sacramento Mountain Lions
Rogers Beckett, former professional football player, San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals
Rod Brewer, former MLB player (St. Louis Cardinals)
Jalen Carter, NFL defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles
Joe Chealey, basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
Chandler Cox, professional football player for the Miami Dolphins
Nate Douglas, politician and educator
Kenny Edenfield, football player and coach
Jeremy Gallon, football player
Zack Greinke, professional baseball player, Kansas City Royals, Anaheim Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros.
Trey Hendrickson, NFL defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens
Martez Ivey, football player
Aaron Jones, professional football player, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins.
James McKnight, former professional football player, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants.
Notable faculty
Bryan L. Reuss, orthopaedic surgeon