Fort Lauderdale High School is one of three exceptional high schools in the country named by the College Board as Gaston Caperton Inspiration Award winners for improving their academic environments and helping underserved students achieve equitable access to higher education, overcoming remarkable obstacles in the process. College Board officials this week presented Fort Lauderdale High School Principal Priscilla Ribiero with a $25,000 cash award as part of the honor to apply toward programs that encourage students to attend college.

        “Inspiration Schools help show us that all students, regardless of background, can achieve success in the classroom,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “At a time when higher education is absolutely critical to restoring our nation’s economy, these schools are providing a pathway to college and giving all their students a greater chance at achieving the American dream."

The 2012 Gaston Caperton Inspiration Award–winning schools are:
•     Johnny G. Economedes High School, Edinburg, Texas•     Fort Lauderdale High School, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
•     Woodbury Junior/Senior High School, Woodbury, New Jersey

        The College Board is honoring each of the schools at inspirational assemblies attended by administrators, teachers, students, parents and local dignitaries. On Tuesday, May 8, 2012, College Board Senior Vice President Peter Negroni presented the 2012 Gaston Caperton Inspiration Award to Fort Lauderdale High School in front of students, teachers, administrators, alumni and parents. District and other officials were also invited to celebrate the school’s achievement.

The Gaston Caperton Inspiration Awards celebrate schools for their outstanding college-preparation programs and partnerships among teachers, parents and community organizations. Through their dedication and commitment, these school communities have opened doors to higher education for students facing economic, social and cultural barriers by improving their academic environment, creating a college-going culture and helping a significant proportion of students realize the promise of higher education. Winning high schools demonstrate significant and consistent growth across the entire student population in the number of students taking rigorous courses and the percentage of students accepted to two- or four-year colleges.

The award was created by College Board President Gaston Caperton in 2001. In early 2012, the name of the award was changed from the Inspiration Awards to the Gaston Caperton Inspiration Awards to commemorate Caperton’s service to the College Board and to mark his final year of leadership. To date, the program has awarded approximately $950,000 to high schools throughout the country.

Fort Lauderdale High School

Fort Lauderdale High School (FLHS) is the oldest continuously functioning high school in Florida’s Broward County and brings together a wide variety of students to participate in an academically challenging and supportive environment.

Serving a large number of traditionally underserved students, 67 percent of FLHS students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The faculty works with many young mothers and fathers as well as students living in group homes or facilities for the homeless. Additionally, many students arrive from South American and Caribbean countries with limited knowledge of English and require significant academic support to move through the rigorous curriculum.

“This is a school where the entire community — teachers, staff, parents and students — pull together to ensure student success,” said FLHS Principal Priscilla Ribeiro. “This is a team effort every day, and I am honored to be a part of it.”

FLHS offers students numerous workshops and extended learning opportunities, and has built mentoring partnerships with businesses and individuals within the community. Examples include “Freshman Parent” nights designed to help middle school students transition to high school with special breakout sessions in Spanish and Haitian Creole to ensure that all families can participate, and “Step Up” — a digital pilot program that provides iPads for a diverse group of students who are placed in rigorous, project-based college-level courses.

“Since the day I first came to this school, it was clear that the goal for me was to be successful and to go to college,” said FLHS senior Adiel Benitez. “I’m ready and confident to start at the University of Florida in the fall.”

FLHS celebrated an impressive 82 percent graduation rate for the class of 2011, and 94 percent of graduates went on to attend postsecondary school.

“This is a very special place,” said FLHS faculty member Marie Hautigan. “Our goal is to reach out and attract the most students possible and educate them to become tomorrow’s successful leaders.”

 

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