Palm Beach GardensCommunity High School is a public magnet high school for grades 9–12 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The school mascot is the Gator. It was built in 1968 as a public high school. The original school was demolished and a new school opened in August 2009–2010. In March of 2019 principal Larry Clawson was offered a job at the district which he accepted. Former Howell L. Watkins Middle School Principal Dr. Don Hoffman became the high school’s principal.
Academics
Palm Beach Gardens' academic program is based on local School District of Palm Beach County policy, standards of the State of Florida. In addition, students are given the opportunity to join magnet programs such as global business and entrepreneurship, pre-med, sports management, tourism, TV and film production, and Culinary arts. The magnet programs are supplemented by two career-building organizations: Future Business Leaders of America and Health Occupations Students of America. Palm Beach Gardens Community High School is known for notoriously attaining the largest FBLA-chapter in Florida, more than 400 members strong.
Athletics
In 1973, the Gator football team went 10–0 during the regular season, its first and only undefeated season beating perennial power, Fort Pierce Central High School Cobras. Due to a tie-breaking rule, the team could not participate in the state football championship, even though they were ranked the No. 1 team in the state. In 2005, the Gators won the Florida class 6A state championship in football. In April 2019, the school hired Tyrone Higgins II, a former linebacker, as its head football coach. The softball team won back-to-back class 6A state championship titles in 2005 and 2006 and again won back-to-back championships in 2010 and 2011. In 2012 the softball team ranked No. 1 in the ESPN National Softball Fab50 ranking. The Gator lacrosse team won the 2008 1A Florida State championship, finishing their season 20–0. The girls' varsity golf team won the State title four consecutive years, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974. During the 2008 season, the girls' varsity golf team became the County's Conference Champion, District Champions, and Regional Champions.
School specifics
Academic statistics
Students per teacher: 25+
Enrollment: 2,500 +
Schoolwide reading proficiency: 31.5%
Schoolwide math proficiency: 60.7%
Graduation rate: 94.3%
School demographics
African American/ Black: 47%
White: 28%
Hispanic: 16%
Asian: 3%
Two or more races: 3%
Other race: 0%
Controversies
In February 2009, during a routine check of school spending by the Palm Beach County School District it was found that Principal Jonathan Prince was improperly spending school funds. Some of these charges include gas for a personal vehicle, room service at a convention, restaurant bills for his family, a tuxedo rental, flowers for school secretaries and an end-of-year dinner for the assistant principals and guidance counselors. In response, Prince was forced to pay back thousands of dollars, serve 20 hours of community service, and was demoted to Assistant Principal to avoid criminal charges.