Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Address
Map
5901 Pine Island Road

Parkland
,
Florida
33076

United States
Coordinates26°18′16″N 80°16′04″W / 26.3044468°N 80.2678302°W / 26.3044468; -80.2678302[1]
Information
Other names
  • MSDH
  • MSD
  • MSDHS
  • Stoneman Douglas High School
TypePublic high school
MottoBe Positive, Be Passionate, Be Proud to be an Eagle
Established1990 (1990)
School districtBroward County Public Schools
SuperintendentPeter B. Licata
NCES School ID120018002721[2]
PrincipalMichelle Kefford
Teaching staff138.12 (on an FTE basis)[2]
Grades9–12
Enrollment3,504 (2022-23)[2]
Student to teacher ratio25.37[2]
Color(s)Burgundy and silver   
NicknameEagles
RivalCoral Springs High School
NewspaperThe Eagle Eye
Websitewww.browardschools.com/stonemandouglas Edit this at Wikidata

Image of the school in June 2008

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was a public high school in Parkland, Florida, United States. Established in 1990 as part of the Broward County Public Schools district and named after the writer Marjory Stoneman Douglas, it was the only public high school in Parkland, serving almost the entire city as well as a small section of neighboring Coral Springs.[3][4][5]

On February 14, 2018, the school was the scene of a deadly mass shooting perpetrated by a 19-year-old former student of the school, in which 17 people were murdered and 17 others injured.[6] On June 14, 2024, the building where the shooting took place was demolished.[7]

History

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Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was named after the Everglades environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas. The school is located just under two miles from the Everglades National Park, on part of the historical Everglades[8] for which Marjory Stoneman Douglas advocated. The school opened in 1990, the year of her centennial,[9] with students in grades 9 through 11, most of whom transferred from nearby schools Coral Springs High School and J. P. Taravella High School. The first senior class graduated in 1992.

Shooting

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Main article: Parkland high school shooting

On February 14, 2018, a mass shooting at the campus perpetrated by a 19-year-old former student of the school armed with a semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle left 17 dead and 17 more wounded in less than six minutes.[10][11] The gunman was apprehended hours later.[12][6][13] At the time, it was the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history, surpassing the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999, in which 13 people were killed.[14][15] In 2016, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School school resource Broward County Sheriff's Office deputy had an investigator for the Florida Department of Children and Families speak to the defendant, but the defendant's therapist said that he was "not currently a threat to himself or others" and did not need to be committed. A mental health counselor said the defendant did not meet the criteria under Florida law that allows the police to commit a mentally ill person against their will. Stoneman Douglas High School conducted a "threat assessment" on the defendant after the counselor's report, and the Florida Department of Children and Families ultimately concluded that the defendant was not a threat because he was living with his mother, attending school, and seeing a counselor.[16][17]

Authorities charged the gunman with first-degree murder, and the case went to trial in September 2021 along with the case of an attack by the defendant against a jail officer.[18][19][20] On October 20, 2021, the gunman pleaded guilty to all charges, including murder and attempted murder.[21] On November 2, 2022, the gunman was sentenced to 34 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, one life sentence for each of the victims murdered and wounded by the gunman.[22]

Students from Stoneman Douglas were instrumental in helping organize nationwide student protests following the shooting, and in spurring the revision of Florida law, on March 4, 2018, to raise the legal rifle-owner age from 18 to 21, with a three-day wait.[23][24][25]

The building where the shooting occurred was permanently closed, and it served as evidence at the subsequent murder trial. Demolition of the structure began on June 14, 2024. The project was completed on July 5.[26] Future plans for the site have not been finalized.[27][28]

Athletics

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The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Athletics Department operates programs in football, volleyball, lacrosse, softball, tennis, track, water polo, bowling, basketball, cheerleading, soccer, wrestling, swimming, cross country, and golf.[29]

The cheerleading squad at the school received international attention in 2012 when its coach[30] was fired in response to complaints from parents. Parents complained about being charged thousands of dollars for their children to participate in the program, and alleged that the coach mishandled the team's finances and encouraged bullying.[31]

Academics

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Newsweek's 2009 national ranking of high schools rated Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as No. 208 in the U.S., and No. 38 in Florida, which was the highest ranking of any school in Broward County.[32]

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School had a Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) school grade of "A" for the 2011–2012 academic school year.[33]

Extracurricular activities

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There are numerous clubs at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School including DECA, speech and debate, Key Club, and cultural clubs including ISA (Indian Student Associations), Black Student Union Club, French Club, and Spanish club.[34]

Drama Club

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Several students in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Drama Club wrote "Shine", a song memorializing the victims of the school shooting in 2018 and others who have experienced gun violence. It has been performed at various venues, including a nationally-broadcast CNN town hall, and at the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C. on March 24, 2018. It has also been performed by other musical groups, such as the Badiene Magaziner Vocal Studio at the March for Our Lives rally in New York City on the same day.[35] The drama club performed at the 2018 Tony Awards.

Newspaper

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The Eagle Eye was the student-run news publication of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.[36] They made international press for their reporting of the 2018 shooting and its aftermath.[37][38] Two issues of the student newspaper were submitted for the Pulitzer Prize for their work covering student obituaries.[39][40]

Winterguard

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The Stoneman Douglas World Guard has made finals at WGI World Championships 9 times.[citation needed]

Demographics

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As of the 2017–2018 school year, the total student enrolment was 3,330. The ethnic makeup of the school was 57% White, 22% Hispanic, 11% Black, 7% Asian and 3% multiracial. 27% of the students were eligible for free or reduced cost lunch.[2]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Stoneman Douglas High School". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 8, 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Search for Public Schools - MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL (120018002721)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  3. ^ "Stoneman Douglas, Marjory." Broward County Public Schools. Retrieved on July 15, 2024.
  4. ^ "Zoning Map." City of Parkland. Retrieved on September 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "Zoning Map." City of Coral Springs. Retrieved on September 22, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Grinberg, Emanuella; Levenson, Eric (February 14, 2018). "At least 17 dead in Florida school shooting, law enforcement says". CNN. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Sanchez, Alaa Elassar, Carlos Suarez, Denise Royal, Ray (June 14, 2024). "Parkland high school massacre site: Demolition begins as families of the victims look on". CNN. Retrieved June 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ U.S. Geological Survey (1999). "Florida Everglades". Circular 1182. U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on June 26, 2008. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  9. ^ Jack E. Davis (2009). An Everglades Providence: Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the American Environmental Century. University of Georgia Press. pp. 552–. ISBN 978-0-8203-3071-6.
  10. ^ Casiano, Louis (September 25, 2019). "Florida official recommends suspended Parkland sheriff be reinstated". Fox News.
  11. ^ Earl, Jennifer (February 14, 2018). "Florida school shooting among 10 deadliest in modern US history". Fox News Channel. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  12. ^ Jack Buckby (2020). Monster of Their Own Making; How the Far Left, the Media, and Politicians are Creating Far-Right Extremists
  13. ^ Shapiro, Emily (February 14, 2018). "Police respond to shooting at Florida high school, suspect at large". Yahoo! News. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  14. ^ Laughland, Oliver; Luscombe, Richard; Yuhas, Alan (February 15, 2018). "At least 17 people dead in Florida school shooting: 'It's a horrific, horrific day'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  15. ^ Earl, Jennifer (February 14, 2018). "Florida school shooting among 10 deadliest in modern US history". Fox News. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  16. ^ Pagliery, Curt Devine, Jose (February 27, 2018). "Sheriff says he got 23 calls about shooter's family, but records show more". CNN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Blinder, Alan; Mazzei, Patricia (February 22, 2018). "As Gunman Rampaged Through Florida School, Armed Deputy 'Never Went In'". The New York Times.
  18. ^ Kosnar, Michael; Arkin, Daniel (February 16, 2018). "Florida shooting: FBI was alerted about threat on YouTube". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  19. ^ Lockie, Alex. "Suspect in Florida shooting could face death penalty for 17 counts of premeditated murder". Business Insider. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  20. ^ "Nikolas Cruz expected to go to trial in September for Parkland school shooting". Local 10. May 7, 2021.
  21. ^ Spencer, Terry (July 18, 2022). "Prosecutor recalls coldness, cruelty of Parkland gunman". Associated Press. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  22. ^ "Florida school mass shooter sentenced to life in prison". TODAY. Singapore. November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  23. ^ "Florida school shooting timeline". FoxNews.com. February 18, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  24. ^ "National School Walkout: Thousands Protest against Gun Violence ..." The New York Times. March 14, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  25. ^ Fleshler, David; Hobbs, Stephen; Huriash, Lisa J.; Trischitta, Linda (March 2, 2018). "Captain in Parkland school shooting was brought onto force by Sheriff Israel". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  26. ^ "Building where Parkland school shooting happened fully torn down". July 4, 2024.
  27. ^ Spencer, Terry (June 13, 2024). "Six years after the Parkland school massacre, the bloodstained building will finally be demolished". AP. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  28. ^ "What's to Become of the 1200 Building Location on the MSD Campus?".
  29. ^ "Athletic Schedules". Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  30. ^ Nevins, Buddy (October 16, 2012). "More bullying alleged against fired cheerleading coach; Coral Glades High did nothing". Florida Bulldog. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  31. ^ Gutman, Matt (October 5, 2012). "Florida Cheerleader Coach Fired for Alleged Pay-to-Play Scheme". ABC News. Walt Disney Company. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  32. ^ "SUBJECT: 10 District High Schools, One Charter Named Among Newsweek's Top High Schools". Broward County Public Schools. June 10, 2009. Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  33. ^ "FCAT School Grades – High". Broward County Public Schools. 2012. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  34. ^ "Clubs and Activities / Clubs and Activities". www.browardschools.com.
  35. ^ Erika Pesantes. "Amid the darkness of massacre, student songwriters 'Shine' light". Chicago Tribune (March 10, 2018).
  36. ^ "About". THE EAGLE EYE. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  37. ^ "Florida school shooting survivors release 'cathartic' memorial magazine". the Guardian. April 8, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  38. ^ Lombardo, Clare (February 22, 2018). "'It's Not Just A Story. It's Our Lives': Student Journalists In Parkland". NPR. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  39. ^ Mazzei, Patricia (April 16, 2019). "Parkland Students Bask in Pulitzer Mention: 'They Took Us Seriously'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  40. ^ Daugherty, Owen (April 15, 2019). "Stoneman Douglas student newspaper praised by Pulitzer officials". The Hill. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  41. ^ Diaz, Johnny (February 14, 2018). "Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland | Facts about the site of the mass shooting". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  42. ^ "Human Rights Campaign on Twitter". March 24, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  43. ^ "Matt Fox Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  44. ^ "Flyers' Shayne Gostisbehere reacts to shooting at old high school". February 15, 2018.
  45. ^ a b c Bowker, Tom (March 15, 2001). "Real World Punk". Miami New Times. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  46. ^ Jaffe, Michael (June 29, 2023). "Orioles prospect who survived Parkland school shooting 'disgusted' by acquittal of SRO". WBFF.
  47. ^ Turner, Jim. "5 questions for Jared Moskowitz, Florida's director of emergency management". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  48. ^ "Florida shooting: Cubs' Anthony Rizzo sends support to his high school". USA Today. February 14, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  49. ^ Shellene, Richard (December 2013). "The Bright Lights of Broward". Lifestyle Coral Springs. Retrieved August 29, 2022. Jackie Sandler…She later attended Stoneman Douglas High
  50. ^ Marr, Madeline (February 14, 2018). "It was the scene of unspeakable violence. Hours before, it was just another high school". Miami Herald. Retrieved February 15, 2018. Notable alumni include ..."Sharknado" actress Cassie Scerbo...
  51. ^ Davis, Craig (February 26, 2015). "McIlroy saves up-and-down day with late birdies". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
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