# Howard W. Blake High School

Howard W. Blake High School is a public magnet high school, with an emphasis on the arts, in Tampa, Florida, United States. It is operated by the School District of Hillsborough County. Originally opened in 1956 as a school for African-Americans, it was integrated as a junior high school after the end of segregation. The current building opened in 1997, when Blake again became a high school.

## History

Don Thompson Vocational High School opened as a segregated school for African-Americans in 1956. It was soon renamed Howard W. Blake Comprehensive High School in honor of Howard Wesley Blake, an African-American educator and educational activist from Tampa.
The original Blake High School closed after the 1970–71 school year as Hillsborough County Public Schools desegregated. It reopened in the following year as Blake 7th Grade Center, an integrated school that only taught one grade level of students. In the early 1990s, the school housed students from 7th through 9th grade and was renamed Blake Junior High School, a middle school. This school closed in 1996, and the old building was demolished soon thereafter.

### Magnet school

In the fall of 1997, the Blake name was transferred to Blake High School, a new high school housed in a new building opened as a magnet school for the visual, communication and performing arts.
The 2007–2008 school year marked Blake's 10th anniversary as a magnet school. Part of the celebration was organised by the school's Magnet Arts Coordinator. Her event for the anniversary featured Blake alumni from the previous ten years, and included gallery pieces and performances by artists such as Ari Richter and Chicago's star of Wicked, Dan'yelle Williamson.
The school performed the play Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind and the choir and symphony orchestra performed the Requiem by Mozart.

## Academic standards

Blake Accelerated Curriculum Program is an online high school magnet program in the school district of Hillsborough County. It is one of seven franchises of Florida Virtual School. Students only report to campus for FCAT testing, and optional extracurricular activities. Students can customize their education to be accelerated or to just accommodate their needs. Some students accelerate their high school career and graduate 1–2 years early.

### Graduation rate

In 2012 Blake's graduation rate was 80% as compared to a statewide rate of 74.5% and a Hillsborough County rate of 72.6%.

### Florida Department of Education grade

* 2014 - B
* 2013 - B
* 2012 - B
* 2011 - B
* 2010 - A
* 2009 - D
* 2008 - D
* 2007 - D
* 2006 - C
* 2005 - C
* 2004 - D
* 2003 - C
* 2002 - C
* 2001 - C
* 2000 - C
* 1999 - C

## Magnet programs
### Theater

The theater program provides for the study of drama, musical theater and technical theater/design. The theater department is part of the International Thespian Society and competes annually at Florida State Thespians, where they have won Superior ratings in virtually all categories. The theater department produces seven shows a year: two plays, two musicals, a musical concert, a one-act play, and a Senior Showcase.
Many students of the theater department have continued into university or community theater. Several have appeared professionally on stage or screen, such as:
* Danyelle Williamson, actress
* Shannon Magrane, singer
* Taylor Trensch, actor
* Owen Teague, actor
During their high school careers, Blake students have worked as actors, directors, playwrights, stage managers, designers, and technicians. Some have worked at local theaters in the Tampa Bay area, including the American Stage Theatre, FreeFall Theatre, Stageworks, and Jobsite.

### Music

Blake High School offers a music curriculum consisting of band, orchestra, choir, guitar, piano, harp, jazz ensembles and marching band in addition to theory and history courses. The faculty of the music department comprises eight persons. There are opportunities for music students to perform in the community in All-State, All-County, Music Performance Assessment, and Solo and Ensemble festivals.

### Dance department

The department is headed by two teachers who teach ballet and modern dance, including master classes. The department is host to guest faculties, and hosts classes from Dance Repertory, Ballet, Modern (Jazz, Pilate) Master Classes, Choreography I & II, Dance Honors and Senior Projects. With these the department runs five shows a year, two faculty shows, two student choreographies and one Senior Showcase. Some students participate in the Youth American International Grand Prix.

### Creative writing

As in all the other majors at Blake High School, creative writing majors are selected by the department teachers through an audition process. Students wishing to be in the program prepare a portfolio of their writing, and submit an application to be seen. At the end of their four years the students will be able to publish a chapbook of their best work.

### Journalism

The journalism program is working on having all their material posted via their new website. The program has achieved awards at school competitions such as the Florida Scholastic Press Association. Students are selected to be in the program based on their portfolios containing previous editorials, short stories, articles, and any other writing. There is then an interview with the advisor for the program.

### Visual arts

Visual arts students are selected for enrollment through an audition process that considers all their works of art, sketchbooks, potential, academic achievement, and attendance. Visual arts students take all level-one courses in drawing, painting, printmaking, jewelry, photography, sculpture and ceramics. Students can then decide to take level 2 and 3 classes in any given fine art. By the end of their junior year, they may audition to become an AP studio / portfolio student and will concentrate in one media.
Master certification is available for students who are willing to work extra hard to have ten (instead of the usual eight) visual art credits by the time they graduate, including AP Art History. Students attend professional artist lectures, gallery openings, and submit work to contests.

### Television and film

TV/Film students are selected by an audition process. The award-winning TV and Film Production program prepares students for careers in the broadcast and film industries. From scriptwriting to video editing, students will develop skills necessary to become a broadcast journalist and/ or filmmaker. Whether it's participating in student short film contests, covering live events as a reporter, or hosting a radio podcast, the choices are endless as a crew member of the WBUZ team.

## Athletics
### Stadium

Riverfront Stadium is the on-campus stadium that the school shares with women's soccer team Tampa Bay Sun FC. The stadium is home to the soccer and football teams.

### Men's

Men's sports include swimming, basketball, baseball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, track and field, tennis, and wrestling.

### Women's

Women's sports include swimming, flag football, soccer, cross country, tennis, softball, volleyball, basketball, and cheerleading.

## Alumni

* Jaylah Hickmon, known professionally as Doechii, Grammy Award-winning singer and rapper
* Ryan Davis, former NFL player
* Earl Edwards, former NFL player
* Eddie McMillan, former NFL player
* Leon McQuay, former NFL player
* Isaiah Rodgers, NFL player