Venice High School (Florida)

History

Venice High School was built in the late 1940s in Venice, Florida. The high school (grades 9–12) opened in 1956 with John E. Davis as its first principal. Venice Junior High (grades 6–8) opened sometime in 1959 when the student body outgrew the high school. Guy Rose was the first Vice Principal under Davis in charge of the Junior High. The original buildings remained unchanged until 2012, when the high school and junior high were demolished (the original gymnasium and Powell–Davis Stadium remained) to build the existing facility. The campus was completed in 2014, including a new music suite housing the chorus and band and a city-mandated performing arts center.

The school's "Indians" mascot has been controversial.

Programs

Featured programs include Career Technical Education: PC Support, Health Options, Digital Design, Early Childhood, Culinary Arts, Engineering, and Business Entrepreneurial pathways.

Venice High School offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, which is an academically focused curriculum for students ages sixteen to eighteen (grades 11 and 12) preparing to enter university.

Venice Performing Arts Center

Attached to Venice High School is the Venice Performing Arts Center (VPAC). This building includes the performing arts classes, which include band, orchestra, acting, and chorus.

The VPAC has an apprenticeship program for Venice High School, where juniors and seniors can gain theater and job experience and help their community.

Student demographics

Venice High School enrolls over 2,000 students annually, compared to the state average of 750 for K-12 schools. Of those in attendance in 2005, 95% of the student body is Caucasian, 2% Hispanic, 1% Asian, and 1% African American.

Competitive teams

Venice is known for its athletics programs, including state volleyball championships (1998, 2005, 2012, 2014, 2018) and baseball (2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019). Venice's football program, coached by John Peacock, has been recognized as one of the best teams in the state, making several state championship appearances since their first in 2000 (7th in the nation) and winning a second in 2017.

• Football State Champions- in 2000, 2017, 2021, & 2024
• Baseball State Champions- 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, & 2019
• Volleyball State Champions- 1998, 2005, 2012, 2014, 2017 & 2022
• Academic Olympics – Venice High School's Academic Olympics Team competes in the county and contributes to the Sarasota County All Star Team for the Commissioner's Academic Challenge (CAC) at the state level. The team most recently won the county championship in 2017.

Accolades

In 2006, the Florida Department of Education named Venice High School an "A" school. In 2007, the school missed the 525 points needed for an "A" grade by 4 points, receiving a score of 521 to earn a "B" grade. The school has increased its graduation rate from 63.9% in 1999 to 84.7% in 2007. Its dropout rate is 1.6%.

Notable alumni

• Dri Archer, NFL player
• Alexandra Barreto, actress
• Charles Brantley, college football player
• Trey Burton, NFL player
• Tyler Gauthier, NFL player
• Dalton Guthrie, MLB player
• Mark Guthrie, LSU Tiger Baseball Pitcher, former MLB player
• Orion Kerkering, MLB player
• Jon Knott, MLB player
• Forrest Lamp, NFL player
• Ryan Miller, MLB player
• Alvin Mitchell, football player
• Greg Pitts, actor
• Jack Voigt, LSU Tiger Baseball, Outfield and DH, MLB player and minor league coach
• Elliot Washington II, football player
• Winston Watkins Jr., college football player
• Malachi Wideman, football player
• Damon Wilson II, football player
• Clyde Everett Lassen, Medal of Honor Recipient, Commander, US Navy, Vietnam
• Stephen Clark,25-year, decorated combat veteran, Command Master Chief, US Navy, Seabees, also served as a Sarasota County School District as an Administrator for 21 years.

References

References

1. "VENINCE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics.
2. {{GNIS. 250972. Venice High School
3. Davidson, Michael Scott. (July 31, 2014). "School Board hears request to change Venice 'Indian' mascots".
4. "School Accountability Report ..".
5. (30 April 2020). "3-star Florida CB Charles Brantley commits to Michigan State".
6. (June 5, 2018). "Two area players chosen in draft".
7. Fernandes, Doug. (August 25, 2021). "SUPER 11: Venice High's Elliot Washington is Herald-Tribune's top football area recruit". [[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]].
8. [https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2024/06/07/first-baptist-five-star-wide-receiver-winston-watkins-jr-transfers-to-venice/74013922007/ Five-star wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. leaves First Baptist, headed to Venice]
9. Brockman, Jim. (February 5, 2020). "SIGNING DAY: Venice's four-star recruit Malachi Wideman signs with Tennessee".
10. Wilson, David. "Five-star Venice DE Damon Wilson talks Miami, Jason Taylor, a decision timeline and more".
11. [https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2024/11/11/sarasota-schools-asked-to-honor-medal-of-honor-winner-with-school-name/76107538007/]