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Colonial High School
Address
Main Campus: 6100 Oleander Dr Freshman Campus: 7775 Valencia College Ln Orlando, Florida United States
Information
Type	Public/magnet school
Motto	It's Great to be a Grenadier!
Established	1958
School district	Orange County Public Schools
Superintendent	Barbara M. Jenkins
Principal	Betzabeth Reussow
Staff	150.00 (FTE)
Number of students	3,389 (2023–2024)
Student to teacher ratio	22.59
Color(s)	Red and black
Mascot	Grenadier
Website	colonialhs.ocps.net

Colonial High School is a public high school located in Orlando, Florida, United States.

Colonial serves grades 8–12 within the neighborhoods of Azalea Park, Engelwood Park, Rio Pinar, Lake Fredrica, Ventura, Pershing, Vista East, Vista Park and parts of unincorporated Orange County.

History

Colonial High School was originally built in 1958 as "Colonial Senior High", named after the nearby SR 50 (locally known as Colonial Dr.) and serving as one of the first high schools in Orange County. It was originally built to serve grades 7–12, but in 1988 Colonial High began serving grades 9–12.

In 1990 University High School was built as a relief school, which later formed a rivalry with Colonial.

The main campus underwent total reconstruction in 2000, at a cost of $49 million with completion in 2004.

In 2009 Colonial celebrated its 50th anniversary, with the class of 2009 becoming its 50th graduating class.

During 2014 the school was ranked 90 out of 100 in the nation for its enrollment size, but as of 2016 its ranking has fallen to 114.

In the summer 2018 Colonial began reconstruction of its performing arts center with completion for the 2019-2020 school year.

Ninth grade center

After the transition from junior high schools to middle school in 1988, Colonial High School was assigned an added grade to serve. In response to the new enrollment size, a separate 9th grade center was built as a relief campus in what is now known as Waterford Elementary School. In the early 1990s, the 9th grade campus was moved closer to the original main campus, now located at 7775 Valencia College Lane, approximately 3 miles from the main campus.

In 2005 the 9th grade center underwent total reconstruction with completion in 2006.

Athletics

The school's athletic teams are known as the Grenadiers. They have won numerous Metro Championships over their more than 50-year history.

In November 2011, Head Coach Rene Plasencia and Assistant Coach Casey Calhoun led the boys' cross country team to a sweep of team titles culminating with the first State title of any sport in Colonial High School history. The team was led by junior standout Andres Arroyo who also won the individual title of 4A state champion.

Each year, Colonial High School and its rival, University High School, vie for possession of a stylized leather boot, the eponymous symbol of the much-hyped annual football game known as "The Boot Game". The winning school displays the boot in a trophy case until the following year, when the next Boot Game is played.

Notable alumni

• Casey Anthony (2004), mother of Caylee Anthony and media sensation
• Andrés Arroyo (2013), middle-distance track athlete and competitor at 2016 Summer Olympics
• Delta Burke (1974), film and television actress
• Kevin Elliott (2007), former NFL wide receiver (Buffalo Bills)
• Mike Metcalfe (1991), former professional baseball player (Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Joel Piñeiro (1996), former MLB pitcher
• Dot Richardson (1979), two-time Olympic gold medalist in softball at 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics
• Larry E. Smedley (1967), Medal of Honor recipient during Vietnam War, posthumously awarded honorary high school diploma in 2008 by school board

Notable faculty

• Rene Plasencia, politician, social science teacher and track & field coach
• Buck Gurley, former NFL player, assistant football coach and defense coordinator

References

1. ^ "Colonial High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
2. "Colonial High School". August 1, 2024.
3. "Future Site of Colonial High School". March 1, 1954.
4. "AdvancED - Unexpected Error". www.advanc-ed.org. Archived from the original on 2016-07-12.
5. "Top 100 Largest High Schools in America. Did You Attend One Of Them?". 26 August 2014.
6. "A Community of Learners" (PDF).
7. "Grenadier Athletics".
8. "Visit our Colonial High School Athletics website at:". ocps.net. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017.
9. "Colonial High School First State Championship Cross Country 2011 - FHSAA Cross Country State Finals".
10. "History of The Boot". ocps.net. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017.
11. "Colonial High School Class of 2004 Alumni". colonialhs.ocps.net. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
12. "Mother Offers Insight Into Casey Anthony". WESH. 2008-07-21. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
13. Hays, Chris (2012-09-03). "Kevin Elliott celebrates after tough journey to making Jaguars roster - Orlando Sentinel". Articles.orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
14. "Mike Metcalfe Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
15. "Joel Pineiro, Tennessee P - Scout". stlcardinals.scout.com.
16. Ruiz, Stephen. "Dot Richardson, on hall induction: 'No wouldas, shouldas, couldas'". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
17. "Colonial High School Class of 1979 Alumni". colonialhs.ocps.net. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
18. "Colonial High should bear hero's name".

External links

• Colonial High School
• School profile

28°33′13″N 81°18′17″W / 28.553511°N 81.304604°W / 28.553511; -81.304604

• Orange County Public Schools
• High schools in Orange County, Florida
• Schools in Orlando, Florida
• Public high schools in Florida
• Magnet schools in Florida
• 1958 establishments in Florida
• Educational institutions established in 1958