Frank W. Springstead High School

Frank W. Springstead High School
Address
3300 Mariner Boulevard Spring Hill, Florida 34609 United States
Information
Type	Public High School
Established	1976 (1976)
Status	Open
School district	Hernando County School Board
Principal	Carmine Rufa
Faculty	110[1]
Grades	9 - 12
Enrollment	1,765[2] (2014)
Color(s)	Red      White      Blue
Athletics	Cross Country, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Marching Band, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling
Mascot	The Eagle
Rival	Nature Coast Technical High School
Accreditation	Florida Department of Education
National ranking	929[1]
Website	SHS Edline

Frank W. Springstead High School is a public Hernando County high school in Spring Hill, Florida. The school opened in 1976. In 2014, Springstead High School was ranked as #929 which was based on their Advanced Placement test scores, graduation rate, and SAT and ACT scores.^[1] Springstead High School was chosen to become the only International Baccalaureate school in Hernando County. This program started in the 2008-2009 school year.

Bell Schedule

As of the 2016-2017 school year, the school day is composed of six 55 minute periods, a lunch block, and study hall period of an hour. Lunch is after fourth period in three blocks, A lunch, B lunch, and C lunch. Each student goes to their block correspondingly, if it is not yet the students turn to go to lunch, they will wait for their block in study hall. Each lunch block is thirty minutes long. Fifth period is a study hall for students to complete their homework and make up work. The school day begins at 7:15 AM and ends at 2:05 PM.^[3]

Career and Technical Studies

Springstead offers career-focused studies in the biomedical, marketing, and film fields, offering certifications in each of the three programs. Springstead's career and technical studies are not the strongest due to the focus on college-readiness rather than learning a career in high school.

Dual Enrollment

The school also has a dual enrollment program through Pasco–Hernando State College, where online and on-campus options can be explored.

Advanced Placement

Springstead's AP program is among the most developed in the county, historically setting highs nationwide. The 2015-16 year witness an 100% pass rate in AP U.S. History, taught by Mr. J. Imhof.

Online Studies

Springstead works in conjunction with Florida Virtual School and Hernando e-school to provide access to online high school courses and allows students to take online college courses through Pasco-Hernando State College.

International Baccalaureate

Springstead is the only high school in Hernando county currently offering an IB program. Students begin in a pre-IB program in freshman and sophomore years before beginning the core IB program in junior year and finishing it senior year. Springstead currently offers several standard-level (SL) and high-level courses (HL)^[4] and the program as a whole is well regarded by the community.^[5]

To earn an IB diploma, you have to take courses from six subjects, one each from groups 1-5, and either one from group 6 or a substitute from one of the other groups.

• Group 1: Language A: literature, Language A: language and literature, and Literature and performance. 
• Group 2: Classical languages, Language B, and Language ab initio
• Group 3: Business management, Economics, Geography, History, Information technology in a global society, Philosophy, Psychology, Social and cultural anthropology, World religions, and Global Politics
• Group 4: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design Technology, Environmental systems and societies, Physics, and Sports, exercise and health science
• Group 5: Mathematical Studies SL (known as Math Studies), Mathematics SL, Mathematics HL, and Further Mathematics HL
• Group 6: Dance, Film, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts^[6]

How I.B. works is that each student beginning in their junior year is allowed to choose three SL courses and three HL courses. At the end of either junior or senior year, depending on if the courses are one year or two year long courses, the student will take an I.B. mandated exam. Each of the six exams will be scored out of 7. The I.B. diploma requires you to score at least a 24 cumulative points to earn the diploma.

Along with those courses, Theory of Knowledge is a mandatory course for all I.B. students, students must complete a community service project (CAS), and must complete an 4,000 word extended essay (EE) on a subject area of their choice.

F.W. Springstead is an I.B. World School.

Springstead Theatre Program

One of the most prestigious programs in not only Hernando County but the state of Florida, Springstead offers theater as an elective all throughout the four years of high school. Taught by Ms. B. Pusta, the students who are involved in her classroom are taught the fundamentals of not only theatre, but of life. Students that come out of her class often mention that they are taught to be responsible, prompt, and accountable along with the principles of and lessons on theatre.

Springstead's theatre program is bolsters by national registration as a Thespian troupe. Springstead's Thespian troupe resides in District 14, and is numbered 3910. Traditionally doing well at both district and state levels, troupe 3910 represents Hernando County and Springstead with distinction. Just this past year during the school year of 2016-17, the troupe scored numerous excellent and superior ratings at District 14 competition along with two critics' choices. Many competitors went on to the state level (to then score excellent and superior ratings at the state level), including a one-act play entitled Seagulls by Carol Churchill. The cast of the one-act (Ashley E., Jerry L., and Mya P.) scored straight superiors at both the district level and the state level, making a mark on the already prestigious and well-represented troupe 3910.

Director of chorus Mr. M. Pennington makes a large mark on the community by hosting and directing his musicals in the Springstead theatre, twice a year. This past year (2016–17), his musicals of choice were A Christmas Carol and Tarzan.^[7]

Marching Band

Springstead's Eagle Brigade Marching Band is known as one of the best marching bands in the state, consistently placing in the top five each year at FMBC State Finals.

In November 2012, Springstead won the Florida Marching Band Championships at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida for class 2A.

Springstead's Band is under the great direction of Richard Dasher and has been since 1988. Recently the band placed seventh at the FMBC State Semi Finals competition and they hope to win first place this upcoming year and many after that.

Submarine Team

In 2009, Springstead's human-powered submarine team, Sublime Race Team, placed first^[8] in the Tenth International Submarine Races in Bethesda, MD, edging out 17 universities and 1 other high school.^[9] Headed by Stephen Barton, the Sublime Race Team is composed of high school students within the Hernando county school district.^[10]

Air Force Junior ROTC

The FL-952 Air Force JROTC Group was established at F.W. Springstead High School in August 1995 by an agreement between the Hernando County School Board and the United States Air Force. In recent years, the group has shifted its main focus from competing in drill competitions in Florida, and the occasional Regionals in Georgia, to helping the community in various ways. For example, FL-952 has partnered with Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay in having JROTC cadets become teachers for a day. In their case, having the cadets go to nearby Explorer K-8 to teach 2nd graders on how money flows in a community.^[11] The JROTC program has also participated in the annual Kiwanis Club Christmas Parade in Brooksville over the past two years.^[12][13] FL-952 plans to increasing their role in the community over the next few years, especially with the changing of both their SASI and ASI instructors starting the 2014-2015 school year.

Notable Alumni

• Huey Whittaker - football player^[14]
• Corey Hill - wrestler; current professional mixed martial arts fighter^[15]
• Thor Boucher President, Board of Education; current elementary school principal for OST programs in San Francisco, CA ^[16]

References

Sources

• http://www.hcsb.k12.fl.us/shs/Alumni/Alumni.htm
• http://www.hcsb.k12.fl.us/shs/main.htm
• https://web.archive.org/web/20120103102949/http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/

Coordinates: 28°28′09″N 82°36′59″W / 28.469165°N 82.6164888°W / 28.469165; -82.6164888