School Visits Models of School Excellence

Friday, February 27
8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
(Ticket Required)

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn what effective schools are "doing right" by seeing them first hand. Tour these outstanding schools, selected because they offer sound educational programs and innovative practices that work. Sign up today! Tickets to each school are limited to 50 per school and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost of each school visit is $20. Buses will depart from the Orange County Convention Center at 8:00 a.m. Friday, February 27, and will return to the Convention Center at approximately 12:30 p.m. To pre-register for a school visit, complete the appropriate information on the online Registration and Ticketed Events Payment Form.

Celebration High School
Principal: John J. Bushey
Grades 9 - 12
1,500 students

Celebration High School was part of the Celebration K-12 School for the past seven years. This year, the high school moved to a new facility that houses not only the 400 students from Celebration School, but also welcomed approximately 1,100 new students from throughout the county. Celebration students may choose from traditional, college prep, dual enrollment, and academy programs. The formation of academies in Fine and Performing Arts, Hospitality and Tourism, Business and Finance, Technology and Engineering, Health and Human Services, Speech and Debate, and Drum Corp are part of the physical design of the school. All freshmen are enrolled in a Leadership Academy that provides study and test-taking skills, student and teacher advisory groups, time management skills, and character education.

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Dr. Phillips High School
Principal: Eugene Trochinski
Grades 9 - 12
3,566 students

The second largest of Orange County's 135 schools, Dr. Phillips High School serves a diverse community of students who speak more than 50 native languages. DPHS offers a Center of International Studies magnet program to provide an awareness of global issues, an understanding of other cultures, and the attainment of multilingual abilities. The Visual and Performing Arts magnet program provides advanced coursework needed to master skills for success in the creative arts, including drama, art, and music. Other programs include alternative education, ESOL/LEP, and dual-enrollment courses with nearby Valencia Community College. The school has been recognized annually with the Gold Apple Award for volunteer hours.

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Indian Trails Middle School
Principal: Eugene Petty
Grades 6 - 8
1,430 students

One of 11 middle schools in Seminole County, Indian Trails Middle School models the "school within a school" concept with four academic houses, each containing a sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade team. Each school day beings with an advisement period, followed by six classes. Indian Trails received an A+ and Five Star rating from the Florida Department of Education; students placed first in middle school math in the district and third in reading on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Staff, students, and parents are committed to providing a safe environment where academic excellence is supported and individual talents are nurtured.

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Ocoee Middle School
Principal: Katherine C. Clark
Grades 6 - 8
1,450 students

A Florida Demonstration School, Ocoee Middle School is recognized as a "break the mold/technology-based" school. Computers are integrated into the curriculum in every learning space. Students learn using the Internet, e-learning curriculum, student e-mail, and Tablet PCs. Teachers are able to completely individualize student learning via the e-learning assignments and keep in close contact with parents through e-mail. Student grades, attendance, discipline records, and homework are available to parents via the Web. Ocoee is also one of the first Schools Interoperability Framework showcase sites in the nation. Students use a student ID card for keyless entry, library checkout, and cafeteria purchases.

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Olympia High School
Principal: Janice M. Pratt
Grades 9 - 12
2,750 students

Olympia High School is characterized by a variety of enriching programs dedicated to student achievement, including Advanced Placement, Experience Scholars Academy, Economics Leadership Academy, engineering, graphic design, software/hardware design, and Web design. The number of students enrolled in AP classes increased 660 percentfrom 54 in 2001-2002 to 632 in 2002-2003. Each month, students and teachers focus on "asset-building" activities to develop a healthy and productive community. Activities include monthly asset themes, a positive referral program, a youth leadership program, and mentoring programs in cooperation with the local elementary schools. The school has been recognized for exemplary community service and parental involvement.

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University High School
Principal: Anna D. Diaz
Grades 9 - 12
3,400 students

University High School is a Blue Ribbon School that has established a variety of schools within the school. A Global Information and Futures Technology magnet focuses on such high-tech areas as computer graphics, medical imaging, optics and lasers, and military simulations. The Law and Order Academy provides students with the academic and personal skills necessary to enter legal and justice professions. The Journalism and Multi-Media Technology Academy provides juniors and seniors with practical experience in the publishing and media fields through internships. Other academies include Academy of Finance, Academy of Information Technology, Cisco Networking Academy, Oracle Academy, A+ Certification, and the Leadership Academy.

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Winter Springs High School
Principal: Doreen Gruber
Grades 9 - 12
2,700 students

Recognized as a Governor's A+ school, Winter Springs High School offers a rigorous, challenging curriculum that prepares students to attend the finest colleges and universities in the nation. Winter Springs makes extensive use of technology for instruction as well as research and classroom tools. In addition to its 13 specialized and general use classroom computer labs, the school has more than 700 computers on campus. The school provides programs for gifted, mentally disabled, autistic, profoundly mentally disabled, and trainable mentally disabled students. A Tech Prep program enables students to begin studying specific technical areas in anticipation of post-graduate study.

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