Southwest Miami High School

Southwest Miami Senior High School
Location
Olympia Heights, Florida United States
Coordinates	25°43′21″N 80°20′18″W / 25.72246°N 80.33839°W / 25.72246; -80.33839Coordinates: 25°43′21″N 80°20′18″W / 25.72246°N 80.33839°W / 25.72246; -80.33839
Information
Type	Public secondary
Established	1956 (1956)
Founder	Emmanuel Comas
School district	Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	5,361
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Purple, White, and Black
School hours	7:20 AM to 2:20 PM
Average class size	22
Website	sweagles.org

Southwest Miami High School is a secondary school located at 8855 SW 50th Terrace in Olympia Heights, a census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States.^[1][2]

Its principal is Carlos Diaz. School colors are purple and white. Southwest is currently an A school and has been since 2010.^[3] Of the more than 30 public schools that are neither all magnet schools nor charter schools, Southwest is ranked second best in Miami-Dade county by U.S. News & World Report.^[4]

History

Southwest Miami High School was founded on September 1956 as Southwest Miami Junior Senior High School. The school was built to alleviate overcrowding at neighboring Coral Gables Senior High School. Featuring grades 7-10, it was eventually converted to a high school in 1959 upon graduating its first senior class.

Southwest's athletic rival is Miami Coral Park Senior High School.

In 2003 a portion of the ceiling over the school library collapsed.^[5]

Demographics

Southwest Miami High School is 93% Hispanic, 55% Black and 6% other.^[6]

Student media

The student newspaper is the Lancer, the yearbook is Aquila (Latin for "eagle"), and TV production students are responsible for the morning announcements.

Performing arts

The Royal Lancer marching band performs at halftime of football games and the Illusion dancers perform throughout the school year.

Athletic achievements

Southwest has a rich history in athletics. By the time the first graduating class (1959) donned their caps and gowns, the Eagles had already won state championships in boys' basketball and boys' track. On May 7, 1964, Southwest became the first Dade County white school to face a black school in a sport other than track when it took on George Washington Carver Senior High School in baseball. The Florida High School Athletic Association began sponsoring state championships in boys' volleyball in 2003 and, in the first eight years of the state tournament, the Eagles took home two state championships.^[7]

In 2010, alumnus Andre Dawson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.^[8] The baseball field at Southwest is named in his honor.

State championships

Notable alumni

Athletics

Baseball

• Dave Augustine, Class of 1967 - outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1973-1974)
• Ray Bare, Class of 1967 - pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals (1972, 1974) and Detroit Tigers (1975–1977)
• Carlos Castillo, Class of 1994 - pitcher with the Chicago White Sox (1997–1999) and Boston Red Sox (2001)
• Andre Dawson, Class of 1972 - outfielder with the Montreal Expos (1976–1986), Chicago Cubs (1987–1992), Boston Red Sox (1993–1994) and Florida Marlins (1995–1996)
• Fernando Hernandez, Class of 2002 - pitcher with the Oakland Athletics (2008)
• Hansel Izquierdo, Class of 1995 - pitcher with the Florida Marlins (2002)
• Dane Johnson, Class of 1981 - pitcher with the Chicago White Sox (1994), Toronto Blue Jays (1996), and Oakland Athletics (1997)
• Juan Peña, Class of 1994 - pitcher with the Boston Red Sox (1999)
• Michael Tejera, Class of 1995 - pitcher with the Florida Marlins (1999, 2002–2004) and Texas Rangers (2004–2005)
• Jeff Urgelles, Class of 2000 - bullpen coordinator with the Miami Marlins (2010–present)

Basketball

• Jose Fernandez, Class of 1989 - head coach of the University of South Florida women's basketball team

Football

• Randy Burke, Class of 1973 - wide receiver with the Baltimore Colts (1977, first round pick)
• Tony Chickillo, Class of 1979 - defensive line with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1983, fifth round pick), also played for the San Diego Chargers (1984-1985) and the New York Jets (1987)
• Steve Tannen, Class of 1966 - defensive back with the New York Jets (1970, first round pick)

Swimming

• David Marsh, Class of 1977 - won 12 national titles as coach at Auburn University

Professional wrestling

• Konnan, Class of 1982 - professional wrestler for WWE

Government

• Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Class of 1970 - Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1989–present)
• Carol Browner, Class of 1973 - administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (1993-2001)
• Dario Herrera, Class of 1991 - member of the Nevada Assembly (1997-1999); Clark County, Nevada commissioner (1999-2003)

Other

• Ed Calle, Class of 1977 - musician
• Alberto Cutié, Class of 1987 - Episcopal cleric, former Roman Catholic priest
• Jonathan Demme, Class of 1962 - film director
• Teresita Fernandez, Class of 1986 - artist
• Lissette Garcia, Class of 2003 - Miss Florida USA 2011
• Lindsay Hyde, Class of 2000 - founder and President of Strong Women Strong Girls
• Jim Lampley, Class of 1966 - sportscaster
• D. S. Lliteras, Class of 1967 - author

References

External links

• Southwest Miami High School's official site
• Southwest Miami High School on Facebook
• Southwest's student newspaper, Lancer
• Southwest Miami High School Alumni Association
• Southwest Miami High School football, boys' basketball and baseball
• Miami-Dade County public schools