Port St. Lucie High School, nicknamed "P.S.L.H.S", is the city of Port St. Lucie's first high school within its boundaries. It is located in the southeast area of St. Lucie County and is open to students only in that area. Currently, the school is ranked a "D" school under the Florida Department of Education's grading scale, pending the release of the final grades for the 2010-2011 school year.

Campus and History

The Port St. Lucie High School campus is a box shaped campus with a central, open commons area. Due to a variety of problems, from overpopulation, to age, to the schools restricted location along the borders of the Savannas State Preserve, the school is unable to expand and makes heavy use of portable classrooms. PSLHS also has a variety of athletic facilities and is the only school with its own football stadium in St. Lucie County.

Port St. Lucie High School opened to grades 9 - 11 in August 1989 with an enrollment of approximately 1500 students; grades 9 - 12 thereafter. These students were made up of others from Fort Pierce Central High School and Fort Pierce Westwood High School. PSLHS later became an International Baccalaureate school in December 2007, joining Lincoln Park Academy as the only schools in St. Lucie County with the program, as well as the only public school in the district with the IB Program.

Administration

• Principal- Dr. Mark J. Rendell
• Assistant Principal- Dr. Michael Arnett
• Assistant Principal- Alex Oge
• Assistant Principal- April Rogers
• Assistant Principal- Brooke Wigginton
• Deans: Mark Cowles, Dana Gantt
• Athletic Director- Dan Ninestine

Academics

PSLHS offers a wide variety of academic classes and programs that are divided by grade level. All 9th Grade students take part in the Freshman Academy, a program designed to increase the cohesiveness of students and set them up for future success. 10th through 12th graders enroll in an Academy based on a career interest or specialized programs, such as the International Baccalaureate Program. In total, PSLHS offers 11 Advanced Placement Courses, 12 Career Academies, and several additional elective programs to students, as well as Dual Enrollment courses in association with Indian River State College.

AP Courses

• American Government, Art History, Calculus, English Language & Composition, English Literature & Composition, Environmental Science, Human Geography, Psychology, Spanish, US History, World History

Career Academies
There are 3 divisions of Academies available at PSLHS:

• Visual and Performing Arts Academy, which includes Eurhythmics (Color Guard), Instrumental & Vocal Music, Television Production, Theater, and Visual Arts.
• Business and Industry Academy, which includes Automotive Technology, Construction Trades, Culinary Operation, and Information Technology.
• Letters and Sciences Academy, which includes Health Science, International Baccalaureate, and Military Science.

Additional Elective Programs

• Band, Drama, Dance, French, Medical Skills, Spanish, US Army JROTC.

Fight Song & School Alma Mater

Fight Song

Port St. Lucie Jaguars, we are winners all the way

Black and Red our colors shine

Our team is here to stay

GO JAGUARS!

We have spirit, honor, and might

When we hustle, we do it right

Jaguars are NUMBER 1!

All hail Port St. Lucie High!

Alma Mater

Port St. Lucie, Alma Mater

School we love so well

Let each loyal son and daughter

Loud your praises tell

Time and faith will bear us onward

Scatter us afar

Let the lessons you have taught us

Be our guiding star

Red and Black our royal colors

Reaching for the sky

We will always love and cherish

Port St. Lucie High...

We will always love and cherish

PORT ST. LUCIE HIGH!

Extra-curricular Activities

• Established in August 1993, the PSLHS Army JROTC program is one of the best JROTC units on the Treasure Coast and among the best in the state. Over its entire 18 year history, the Jaguar Battalion has been an "Honor Unit with Distinction", the highest classification an Army JROTC unit can hold. The battalion hosts six Varsity level special teams, including a Drill Team, a Raider Adventure Team, an Orienteering Team, an Air Rifle Marksmanship Team, and a Color Guard, as well as a Tutoring Team and a Booster Club. The Jaguar Battalion's Drill Team has made multiple trips to both the States and National competitions, and has dominated local and District drill competitions for years.

• The PSLHS Marching Band, nicknamed the "Pride of Port St. Lucie", has long been one of the largest and most successful bands in Florida. The PSLHS Band has received continuous "Superior" ratings at the Florida Band Association District Music Performance Assessments over the past 20 years, as well as at the state level. The PSLHS Band has also took part in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl activities, and the 2007 Fed Ex Orange Bowl Festivities, where it won multiple awards for their performances. The PSLHS Marching Band Has won Several Awards at the Treasure Coast Crown Jewel Band Festival. The PSLHS Band is currently under the direction of John McGallagher and hosts five concerts a year. Past themes for the marching band have included the "Hits of Queen" in 2006, the "Music of Micheal Jackson" in 2007, the "Music of Santana" in 2008, the "Music of Bon Jovi" in 2009, "Swing Time" in 2010, and the "Music of Chuck Mangione" in 2011. The Port Saint Lucie High School Band is made up of six components: Jaguar Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, Percussion and Flag Auxiliary Corps, Dance Corps and Winter Guard.

• For years, PSLHS has become highly regarded for its Drama Program. Currently under the direction of Mr. Patrick Madden, the PSLHS Drama Department puts on two shows annually, with all showings selling out for years. Plays have included The Sound of Music, Willy Wonka, Beauty and the Beast, and a number of Broadway-level plays.

• PSLHS has also become highly regarded for its Dance Program. Currently under the direction of Mr. Brian Spector, the PSLHS Dance Department puts on one annual show each year during the Spring. Each of the annual shows are based on two different Broadway musicals and showcases a variety of dance styles such as ballet, hip-hop, and traditional ballroom dancing.

Sports

Port St. Lucie High School offers 24 Varsity teams in 16 FHSAA recognized sports. The Jaguars, as well as the Lady Jags, have long had success in athletics, though no PSLHS team has won a Florida High School Athletic Association

Florida High School Athletic Association

The Florida High School Athletic Association is an organization whose purpose is to organize sports competition for high school It is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations ....

 (FHSAA) State Championship. PSLHS is traditionally strong in Boy's Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball, and Competitive Cheerleading. Due to its high student population, PSLHS competes in the second highest FHSAA Division for most sports.
Fall Sports

• Boy's & Girl's Bowling, Boy's & Girl's Golf, Boy's & Girl's Cross Country, Girl's Volleyball, Boy's & Girl's Swimming, Football, Cheerleading

Winter Sports

• Boy's & Girl's Basketball, Boy's & Girl's Soccer, Girl's Weightlifting, Wrestling, Co-Ed Competitive Cheerleading

Spring Sports

• Boy's & Girl's Track and Field, Boy's and Girl's Tennis, Girl's Flag Football, Baseball, Softball

Team State Runners Up

• 2007- Baseball, Class 5A
• 2010- Competitive Cheerleading, Large Co-Ed Division
• 2011- Competitive Cheerleading, Large Co-Ed Division

Individual State Champions

• 1996- Rupert Blackwood, Track & Field
• 1997- Jason Casiano, Wrestling
• 2000- Thelton Detry, Wrestling
• 2011- Tori Degginger, Wrestling

Individual State Runners Up

• 1996- Jason Casiano, Wrestling
• 1999- Hebrews Josue, Wrestling
• 2000- Mario Rinaldi, Wrestling
• 2002- A.J. Rinaldi, Wrestling
• 2003- George Keyser, Wrestling
• 2005- Jason Harrison, Bowling

Notable Accomplishments

• 1990- Football, District Champions (The 1990 championship is the only one for football in school history, and was in the school's second year in existence. It followed a winless inaugural season.)
• 1997- Baseball, USA Today
  USA Today
  USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
  
  High School Player of the Year- Rick Ankiel
• 1998/99- Wrestling, National High School Coaches Association All-American, #8 In Nation- Hebrews Josue
• 1999 and 2007- FHSAA Boys Basketball "Final Four"
• 2011- Competitive Cheerleading- Won the Inagural FHSAA Region 4 Championship (Large Co-Ed Division).
• 2010 and 2011- The PSLHS Competitive Cheerleading Squad won back-to-back FHSAA State Runner Up titles behind the four-time defending State Champion Sebring High School.
• Baseball has won 8 District Championship in the program's 21 year history.

PSLHS has produced a large number of collegiate athletes and has produced a number of professional athletes including former St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...

, and current Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...

 outfielder Rick Ankiel

Rick Ankiel

Richard Alexander Ankiel is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently with the Washington Nationals. He bats and throws left-handed....

, and Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....

 forward Larry Sanders

Larry Sanders (basketball)

Larry Sanders is an American basketball player drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He played power forward for the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams. As a junior Sanders averaged 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He then declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft and was...

.

External links

• St. Lucie County School District http://www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/pslh/
• PSLHS's Sports Page http://www.c2cschools.com/?section=public&page=view&school=9108
• PSLHS's Band Website http://prideofpsl.yolasite.com/
• PSLHS's JROTC Website http://www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/pslh/JROTC/jrotcindex.html