| South Dade Senior High School | |
|---|---|
| Motto | There's no peer to a Buccaneer! |
| Established | Original campus: August 1953 New campus: April 2008 |
| Type | Public Magnet (As of 2008-09) |
| Principal | Alicia Hidalgo |
| Students | 3,499 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location | 28401 SW 167th Avenue, Homestead, Florida, USA |
| District | Miami-Dade County Public Schools |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Royal Blue, White & Black |
| Mascot | Buccaneers |
| School hours | 7:20AM - 2:20PM |
| Average class size | 28 |
| Website | sdshs.net |
South Dade Senior High School is a secondary school located in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, near Homestead. The school was established in 1953.
South Dade Senior High School is a unique, dynamic community that is both multi-cultural and multi-ethnic and of varied socioeconomic levels. It is an established school situated in the middle of a traditionally agricultural area that is transitioning rapidly into a suburban community. Its student body consists of students from dozens of countries and ethnic groups, who enjoy the many opportunities to participate, accomplish and excel at South Dade Senior High School.
The school is located on 60 acres (240,000 m2) at the southernmost end of Miami-Dade County, Florida. It is the older of the two public high schools and serves the population of parts of the City of Homestead, Naranja, Leisure City, and other unincorporated areas. Tremendous growth in housing developments at the northern end of our attendance zone has caused our students population to swell from 2237 in October 1998 to 2816 in October 2002.
Faculty, administration, parents and community try to keep alive the traditions of more than 50 years. South Dade’s historic agriculture program has evolved, as all agribusiness in our area, into horticulture and environmental studies. Graduates in these programs will be able to earn college degrees locally through Miami-Dade College and the University of Florida.
The New Kids filmed in 1984, used the school as its main location.
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The original buildings of South Dade High School opened in 1953. Nineteen portable classrooms augment the permanent classrooms. The “open campus” concepts consists of many entrances, exits, and long corridors that provide a cozy natural feel. The school ensures a safe environment for learning by assigning six full time, two part time security guards to patrol the halls and to monitor security cameras that have been placed around the campus.
Forty-six school support staff members, including full time cafeteria, custodial, mechanical, security, clerical, and paraprofessional staff assist in the smooth operation of the school. The 450-seat cafeteria can handle all the students in three lunch shifts with the use of food carts and picnic benches set up in the all-new lunch pavilion.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in August 1992(only four months after the last Ten-Year Study of South Dade High School was completed), the school building was repaired and repainted. The science wing, which opened in 1995, suffered from the structural and environmental problems common in the era of school construction, however, this issue has been resolved. Six more portable classroom are in operation since August 2003 to meet the demands of our growing student population. This growth has led to a utilization factor of 138 percent. The years of inadequate funding by the State of Florida, and Miami-Dade Public Schools in particular, have not impacted our ability to offer a proper physical environment for students and teachers.
The school was formerly the home of the Rebels in the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s, using Confederate images as on the marching band uniforms. The school changed its nickname with respect for cultural diversity. For a brief time, the school nickname became "Big Blue." Then at the 1979-1980 Homecoming Football Game, the school nickname became "The Buccaneers."
As of the 2006-2007 school year, students are required to wear school uniforms.
In April 2008, the school relocated down the street from the old location, on a former agriculture field.
In the 2008-2009 school year, South Dade Senior High School became a magnet career school, offering six magnet academies: Professional Services; International Finance, Business & Technology; Sports, Nutrition & Health Science; Visual & Performing Arts; Law Studies & Public Safety; and International Education (IB).
In August 2009, South Dade Senior High School opens a pre-school "Little Bucs Preschool" on campus for children in the community as well as for children of faculty and staff members, that are potty-trained children between the ages of 3–5 years old.
In 2009-2010 school year, South Dade Senior High School restructure their school schedule from six periods to eight (4 x 4 schedule). This new schedule will provide students with the opportunity to take elective classes previously unavailable to them because of graduation requirements and/or district mandates.
The Scene school newspaper
Southernaire school yearbook
BUCTV school TV production
Academy of Professional Services
Academy of International Fincance, Business & Technology
Academy of Sports, Nutrition & Health Science
Academy of Visual & Performing Arts
Academy of Law Studies & Public Safety
Academy of International Baccalaureate (IB)
Its athletic rival is Homestead High School
- Florida High School State Champions (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008)
- Florida High School State Runners-Up (1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009)
- State Champions or State Runners-up 14 out of 15 years. - Broke "The Streak" of Brandon High Schools 459 dual match victories in a row spanning from 1973–2008
- Florida High School State Champions (2003) - Girls
Avocado Elementary School
Naranja Elementary School
Neva King Cooper Educational Center
Redland Elementary School
Redondo Elementary School
West Homestead Elementary School
Homestead Middle School
Redland Middle School
South Dade Middle School - Grades 4-8
South Dade Senior High School
South Dade Adult Center
South Dade Skill Center
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