RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL (FLORIDA)

'Ridgewood High School' is a four-year public high school serving residential suburbs in New Port Richey, Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. It is part of the Pasco County Public School System in Pasco County, Florida. The school was founded in 1978 as a junior high school with the intent of it becoming the third high school in western Pasco County.

Contents

History

School symbols

Academics

Learning communities

Alma Mater

Athletics

Notable alumni

References

External links

History

The Pasco County School Board approved creation of a new Junior High School in the Ridgewood area of New Port Richey in response to population growth in the area during the 1970s, with the expectation that the school would ultimately become West Pasco's third high school. The school was built for $3.2 million and opened in 1978. Wendell L. Krinn became the first principal of the school.The Written History and Story of Ridgewood High School, accessed January 5, 2007
Ridgewood officially opened up as a high school in 1983 with a freshman class, adding one grade per each year, until it had a full four-year complement in the 1985-1986 school year, which was the first graduating class. As part of the transition to a high school, Ridgewood underwent a $1.6 million renovation project, which included a gym added to the back of the main building, a stadium built by the football field, as well as a new weight room and tennis courts.

The 20th anniversary class of Ridgewood High School, Class of 2006 before Graduation.

After winning the "Pride of Pasco" academic award, in 1988, the title stuck as the nickname of the school.Ridgewood High School excelled during this period, leading the county in HSC Test scores four consecutive years under the leadership of Krinn.
In 1998, Dr. Arthur O'Donnell became the second principal in Ridgewood's history after transferring from Hudson High School. In 2003, he retired after working 19 years in the Pasco County School system. Randall Koenigsfeld succeeded O'Donnell as Principal of Ridgewood High.

School symbols

During the establishment of the school in the late 1970’s, the student body at Ridgewood voted to make the official nickname and logo the Ram, "which symbolizes the endless determination of our spirit to strive for high standards in every aspect within our institution." There was actually a real ram brought in as a mascot for sporting events who would soon be replaced by the present day Rocky the Ram.” The colors orange and blue were adopted, matching those of the University of Florida Gators.

Academics

Ridgewood High School has a graduation rate of 80%, well exceeding the Pasco County average of 72% and state of Florida average at 68%. RHS's dropout rate is 2.2%, which is consistently lower than both the district and state averages. The school has 105 certified faculty members, 29 of which with Masters or post-Masters degrees, and 2 with Doctorates. 51% of the Ridgewood faculty has at least a decade of experience in the teaching field, while 30 teachers at the school have more than 25 years of teaching experience.
RHS curriculum offers 14 classes of Advanced Placement, an honors program, and countless Dual-Enrollment options due to the incredibly close proximity to Pasco-Hernando Community College. Likewise, Marchman Technical Education Center resides next door to Ridgewood High giving students even more options. Ridgewood is the pilot school for a new wellness program in Pasco County, attempting to improve and teach good habits for now and in the future. 80% of Ridgewood High School students move on to post-secondary education.
In 2006, Ridgewood High School won the state championship of the Odyssey of the Mind competition, representing the state of Florida against the world. [1] [Odyssey of the Mind Results 2006], accessed July 1, 2007

Learning communities

In 1997, Ridgewood High School started implementing the learning community concept, which has been expanded over the years to the current four learning communities at Ridgewood High School.Profile for Ridgewood High School: Improvement and Self Study Report for Accreditation, accessed January 11, 2007

★ The 'Academy of Business and Law' (ABLE) focuses on business and law through the study of business and law courses as part of an enhanced core curriculum.

★ 'Communication and the Arts Standing Together' (CAST) program educates students in the communications field, and prepares them for future careers in the industry through study of communication and the arts.

★ The 'Health Occupational and Technological Services' (HOTS) program focuses on hands-on science courses, with attention to developing critical-thinking skills. Students address the influence of science on society. Guest speakers from related fields participate in the process.

★ The 'Graduation Enhancement Program' (GEP) helps "at risk" students improve their academic achievement, vocational skills and community involvement to connect students to the world at large.

Alma Mater

:''To Her name we pledge our honor.
:''In joyous song we raise
:''Ridgewood our Alma Mater.
:''Thy glorious name we praise.
:''Where sea and tide are rolling,
:''Forever will our voices ring
:''Her deeds we proudly sing.
:''In thy beauty and majesty
:''Beneath the orange and blue victorious,
:''Her name shall never die.
:''There's no other name so glorious
:''All hail, Ridgewood High.

Athletics

Rams Booster Stadium in 2006.

RHS won two state titles in Cross Country under then Coach Glenn Cable in 1991^[1] and 1999.^[2] Ridgewood won the Class 3A state title in Fast-Pitch Softball in 1992, led by coach Marlyn Bavetta, defeating Berkeley Preparatory School by a score of 7-6.^[3][4] Ridgewood achieved success in both sports during the 1990s with victories at both the district and conference level.
Girls basketball advanced into the state playoffs, winning several district and conference titles and moving on to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2004.^[5] Ridgewood Football made its first playoff appearance in 2002 under coach Troy Cornwell, falling to Belleview High School by a score of 48-6 in the first round of the Class 4A tournament.^[6]
Gary Anders was hired in 1987 to coach the Ridgewood boys basketball team and serve as athletic director. The basketball program would win several conference titles under Anders and back-to-back district titles in the mid-1990s and again achieving the feat in 2003 and 2004.^[7] Ridgewood won another conference title in 2006. Anders won his 400th basketball game in 2003^[8] and made the Elite 8 in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) basketball tournament.^[9]
Former Assistant Principal and teacher Larry Beets was hired as head baseball coach, and after winning back to back conference championships in 1986 and 1987, won district titles in 1990 and 1991, and a Regional Championship in 1991 and 1998. From 2003-2005, the team won three straight district championships capped off in 2006 with six consecutive playoff appearances. The Rams would also make the 2003 State Championship game, falling to Bishop Kenny High School by a score of 13-0 in the Class 4A finals at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida.^[10] Larry Beets was recognized by the ''St. Petersburg Times'' as "Coach of the Year" for his accomplishments with a team that had less "firepower" than its competitors yet managed to pull off a major upset in the district final.^[11]
Competing in a group of 61 high schools in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, participating in 19 different sports, Ridgewood High School was recognized in 1992 as a winner of the fourth annual St. Petersburg Times All-Sports Championship, paced by state titles in boys cross country and softball.^[12]

Notable alumni

★ Adamm Oliver (Class of 2003), All-ACC Defensive End for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ^[13]

★ Julie Stenger (Class of 1986), the first woman from Pasco County to win an appointment to the United States Military Academy (West Point).

★ Mike Rabelo (Class of 1998), Catcher in the Detroit Tigers organization ^[14]

★ Matt Holden (Class of 1998), founder of Darkened Sky Studios, a video game design company and producers of Chron X [2]

References

1. The kings of cross country, ''St. Petersburg Times'', November 25, 1991
2. Boys Cross Country 2006-07 Championship Records, Florida High School Athletic Association, accessed January 5, 2007
3. Ridgewood wouldn't be denied Series: SOFTBALL, ''St. Petersburg Times'' by Jim Carson, May 10, 1992
4. Softball 2005-06 Championship Records, Florida High School Athletic Association, accessed January 5, 2007
5. Girls Basketball 2006-07 Championship Records, Florida High School Athletic Association, accessed January 5, 2007
6. Football 2006-07 Championship Records, Florida High School Athletic Association, accessed January 8, 2007
7. Ridgewood secures consecutive titles Series: 4A, ''St. Petersburg Times'' by Greg Auman, February 2, 2004
8. Celebration can wait, Anders' Rams still busy Series: BOYS BASKETBALL DISTRICT TOURNAMENTS, ''St. Petersburg Times'' by Jamal Thalji, February 20, 2003
9. Boys Basketball 2006-07 Championship Records, Florida High School Athletic Association, accessed January 5, 2007
10. Baseball 2005-06 Championship Records, Florida High School Athletic Association, accessed January 5, 2007
11. COACH OF THE YEAR, ''St. Petersburg Times'', May 28, 2006
12. Ridgewood, Berkeley share all-sports crown, ''St. Petersburg Times'' by Tim Looney, May 17, 1992
13. Adamm Oliver, Georgia Tech, July 1, 2007.
14. and
Former Tampa Player Mike Rabelo Called Up By Detroit Tigers, University of Tampa, September 18, 2006.

External links

★ Ridgewood High School website

★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Ridgewood Public Schools

★ History of Education in Pasco County - Ridgewood High School