Palmer Trinity School

Palmer Trinity School
Location
Palmetto Bay, FL, USA
Information
Type Private
Established 1991 (when Palmer School [founded in 1972] and Trinity Episcopal School [founded in 1981] merged)
Enrollment 650
Color(s)

Navy Blue, Gold

         
Mascot Falcons
Rival Westminster Christian School
Website http://www.palmertrinity.org

Palmer Trinity School is an independent, college preparatory, coeducational Episcopal day school located on 54 acres (220,000 m2) in Palmetto Bay, Florida (a Miami suburb). The school currently enrolls more than 650 students in grades 6-12.[1]

Palmer Trinity is the only Episcopal Middle and Upper School in Miami-Dade County. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[2] and the Florida Council of Independent Schools.[3]

History

Palmer School campus, circa 1973

Palmer Trinity School was formed in 1991 when Palmer School (founded in 1972) and Trinity Episcopal School (founded in 1981) merged.[4] The school was formerly located in the census-designated place of Cutler until the incorporation of Palmetto Bay on September 10, 2002.[5][6]

Palmer Trinity was badly damaged by Hurricane Andrew, but one building was used to host the 82nd Airborne for 6 weeks in the aftermath.

After the merger, Palmer Trinity gradually grew from 300 to 650 students. A Humanities Building, Music Center, Fitness Facility, Math/Science Building, and expanded Library were added to the original three buildings.

Palmer Trinity's campus incorporates South Florida flora, including gumbo limbo trees, royal poincianas, palms, ferns, and orchids. It has the largest grounds of any independent school in Miami-Dade County.

It has encouraged the use of wireless laptop computers since 1999, and has 50 athletic teams.

Today Palmer Trinity’s students, over 50% of whom are bilingual, come from 37 countries. Students come from Christian, Jewish, Islamic, and Hindu religious backgrounds.[7]

Palmer Trinity has attempted to expand its campus onto a neighboring 33 acre property since 2006. A legal debate that has been in and out of appellate courts has cost millions of dollars to both Village of Palmetto Bay and Palmer Trinity.

The Coral Lab

The Coral Lab at Palmer Trinity School is used for science classes and sustainability education.

The school's Coral Lab is an interdisciplinary center for education, training, and research in marine biology engaging in research in the laboratory and in the field, studying ocean organisms and environmental problems. Many students ultimately choose a career in marine science, biology, or policy. Courses offered include marine conservation, biology of corals, coral propagation, aquarium fish breeding, and mangrove ecology.

Breakthrough Miami at Palmer Trinity School

Breakthrough Miami students in class at Palmer Trinity School

Started during the 2009-2010 school year, Palmer Trinity School's partnership with Breakthrough Miami gave way to Breakthrough's first expansion site into Southwest Miami-Dade County. During the summer more than 150 rising 5th-, 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade students visit the school for Breakthrough's Summer Institute at PTS, and it hosts sessions throughout the year.

Breakthrough Miami is modeled after the "Summerbridge", later Breakthrough Collaborative, program founded in San Francisco, CA, by Louis Loufbourrow in 1978.

Notable Alumni

References

Coordinates: 25°36′14″N 80°19′16″W / 25.6038889°N 80.3211111°W / 25.6038889; -80.3211111

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