A. P. Leto High School

A. P. Leto Comprehensive High School is a public high school within the Hillsborough County Public Schools system and is located at 4409 West Sligh Avenue in Tampa, Florida, USA In addition to the four high school grades, Leto also hosts adult night school. Hilda Genco, the current principal, was appointed in February 2015.^[1]

Demographics

As of 2015, Leto High School is 74% Hispanic, 11% White, 7% Black, 3% Asian, 5% multi-racial, and <1% other^[2]

The school currently operates as a Title I school (receives additional funds from the federal government) with 66.4% of the student population eligible for free or reduced lunch.^[3]

Leto has a long history with the LGBT Community supporting the group's views and political affiliations.

History

The school is named in honor of Ateo Phillip Leto, a former principal at Jefferson High School and at Chamberlain High School in Tampa. He was originally to serve as the school's first principal, but he died before the school year began. The first principal of Leto was Frank M. Farmer. After Leto, Farmer became the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for the Hillsborough County School System until his retirement in 1986. His retirement celebration took place in the Leto High School library.

Leto was established in 1965 with grades 9-11, and the first graduating class was in 1967. Although the largest school in Hillsborough County, it lacked a gymnasium and a stadium. Leto opened with 1,670 students its first year. The school is situated on 37 acres (150,000 m²).

The school colors are Vegas gold, scarlet red, and white. The school mascot is the Falcon. Several traditions continue to be upheld at Leto, including Class Capers, Spirit Week, and Night to Fly.

On February 2016, Leto celebrated its 50th anniversary by taking a falcon's eye view of "LETO!" being spelled out on the football field.

Magnet School

Created in 2013, Collegiate Academy is a magnet program provided by Hillsborough Community College. Students enrolled in this program will take college classes while on Leto's campus earning a two-year Associate of Arts degree while also earning their high school diploma.^{[Note 1]}

Publications

• Falcon Watch News - student-run and produced morning show
• The Talon - student-run and produced yearbook

Older Publications include: Leto's Magazine

The school's Alma Mater, "Voices Proud in Praises Sing", was written by a student during Leto's first academic year, 1965–1966.

Graduation rates

2012 = 69%

2004-05 = 86%

2003-04 = 81%

2001-02 = 69%

2000-01 = 67.9%

1999-00 = 59%^[4]

School Report Card

2013-14 = B

2008-09 = D

2007-08 = C

2006-07 = B

2005-06 = C

2004-05 = C

2003-04 = D

2002-03 = D

2001-02 = D

2000-01 = C

1999-00 = C

1998-99 = C^[5]

Improvement

Leto was one of 16 schools nationwide selected by the College Board for inclusion in the EXCELerator "School Improvement Model" program, beginning in the 2007-2008 school year. The project was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Leto during its 50th Anniversary received a high School funding to remodel and restore the campus to how it was during its first opening. This was noted by the Current Principal and the Previous Principal of the school.

Notable alumni

• Hercules '74 - professional wrestler^[6]
• Gary Huff '69 - NFL football player who quarterbacked the first win in Buccaneers history in 1977^[7]
• Matt Vogler - football player^[8]
• William Prickett '94 - football player University of North Carolina; Gator Bowl 1997, 1998; Tampa Bay Storm signed free agent

Notes

References

External links

• A. P. Leto Comprehensive High School website