Edgewater High School

History

In 1950, the School Board of Orange County, Florida, unveiled plans to build two new high schools in Orlando. These two schools were built from the same architectural plans and both were opened on the same day, Tuesday, September 2, 1952. The first was named William R. Boone High School and the second was named Edgewater High School. Boone was named for William R. Boone, a long-serving principal of the original Orlando High School (which is now Howard Middle School, on Robinson Street in downtown Orlando, near Lake Eola). The campuses of Boone and Edgewater contained identical buildings, but their arrangement on each campus was different. Edgewater's first principal was Mr. Orville R. Davis, a veteran of Orange County Public Schools, who was once the principal of the original Memorial Junior High School (now Memorial Middle School), also in Orlando.

Edgewater and Boone were originally to be named North and South High Schools, respectively. However, William R. Boone, who was to be principal of South, died the summer before the schools opened. South High was renamed in his memory. North High was then named for the road it was built beside, Edgewater Drive.

Edgewater High School has recently been renovated into a three-story facility on the land which previously held mobile homes to the North of the old campus, most of which will be destroyed to create a new sports field. The remaining buildings will undergo a refurbishment to house freshmen and will be available by the start of the 2011–2012 school year. The new facility is mostly indoors to allow for overall protection from the elements and a more secure campus, and uses new technology such as new Promethean boards and an all new auditorium. Students were given access to the facility on the first day back to class in 2011 after winter break, and both staff and students are currently working on adjusting to the new facility.

Demographics

The demographic breakdown of the 2,034 students enrolled in 2016–17 was as follows:

Gender

• Male – 53.4%
• Female – 46.6%

Race and Ethnicity

• Black or African American – 49.5%
• White – 26.9%
• Hispanic and Latino – 18.6%
• Two or More Races – 2.4%
• Asian – 2.3%
• American Indian and Alaska Native – 0.2%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander – 0.1%

63.4% of the students were eligible for free or reduced price lunch. Edgewater High School is a Title I school.

Athletics

Edgewater High School has various varsity sports teams, including baseball, basketball, bowling, cheering, cross country, flag football, football, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, and wrestling.

State Championships

• Boys' Basketball – 1976, 2004
• Girls' Basketball – 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014
• Boys' Cross Country – 1994

Notable alumni

• CJ Baxter (2023), college football running back for the Texas Longhorns
• Mike Brewster, former NFL and currently a coach.
• Greg Cleveland (1982), former NFL football player
• Marquis Daniels (1999 - transferred), former NBA basketball player and current coach for Auburn Tigers
• Howie Dorough, singer-songwriter
• Mike Freeman (2006), baseball player
• Davis Gaines (1972), actor
• RJ Harvey (2019), NFL football running back for the Denver Broncos
• John Hunt, former NFL football player
• Kenny Ingram (2004), former NFL player and coach
• Karl Joseph (2012), NFL football player
• Sharon Lechter, author
• Norm Lewis (1981), actor
• Quincy McDuffie (2009), football player
• Alexis Prince (2012), WNBA basketball player
• Anfernee Simons (2018), NBA basketball player
• Sharon Vaughn, singer-songwriter
• Darius Washington Jr. (2004), basketball player
• Mike Sims-Walker, former NFL football player

References

References

1. "Edgewater High". National Center for Education Statistics.
2. (October 5, 2018). "Boys Basketball 2018–19 Championship Records". [[Florida High School Athletic Association]].
3. (March 6, 2018). "Girls Basketball 2017–18 Championship Records". [[Florida High School Athletic Association]].
4. (October 5, 2018). "Boys Cross Country 2018–19 Championship Records". [[Florida High School Athletic Association]].
5. (22 November 2023). "Eyes of Texas on Edgewater's CJ Baxter". Orlando Sentinel.
6. Carter, Scott. (February 19, 2019). "Carter's Corner: Remembering Greg Cleveland". [[Florida Gators]].
7. Buchalter, Bill. (March 19, 1998). "Edgewater Standout Daniels Moves North". [[Orlando Sentinel]].
8. "Mike Freeman Stats, Fantasy & News". [[MLB Advanced Media]].
9. Palm, Matthew J.. (April 28, 2011). "Davis Gaines goes back to school". [[Orlando Sentinel]].
10. Herring, Troy. (September 21, 2018). "RJ Harvey leads the Eagles forward". [[West Orange Times & Observer]].
11. "Kenny Ingram Recruiting". 247sports.com.
12. Hays, Chris. (July 21, 2019). "Former Edgewater star Karl Joseph grateful he's living NFL dream with Oakland Raiders". [[Orlando Sentinel]].
13. (February 12, 2016). "2016 Hall of Fame".
14. Palm, Matthew J.. (April 12, 2014). "Norm Lewis inducted into Edgewater High Hall of Fame in Orlando". [[Orlando Sentinel]].
15. (December 13, 2012). "Edgewater's Quincy McDuffie a true success story". [[News 13]].
16. "Alexis Prince Bio". baylorbears.com.
17. "Anfernee Simons' High School Basketball Stats".
18. "Sharon Vaughn, Induction Year 2019".
19. "Darius Washington, Jr.". Rivals.com.