Stories

Students

NFL Defensive Great Home-grown in OCPS

OCPS alumnus David “Deacon” Jones was born in Eatonville, Fla., where his parents ran a barbecue stand. He attended Hungerford High School and played football, baseball and basketball. Jones graduated in 1957 and began his college football career at South Carolina State University.

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History,Schools

OCPS School Namesakes Reflect 150 Years of History

OCPS currently has 21 schools named after people, most with local ties. While OCPS policy allows schools to be named after people, it has been uncommon in recent years. Four OCPS schools are named after a woman and 17 are named after men.

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Students

Former Florida Legislator Dick Batchelor is a Notable OCPS Alumnus

Named one of “The 50 Most Powerful People” in Central Florida by “Orlando Magazine,” Dick Batchelor is known far and wide in local and state politics. For more than four decades, he has advocated for children’s issues and bolstered the Central Florida economy by billions of dollars.

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History,Schools

Jones High Celebrates 125 Years of Trailblazing

In 1882, the first Orlando school for blacks was organized on the southwest corner of South Garland and West Church streets...

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History,Students

Dozens of Separate Schools Educated Orange County’s Black Students

For much of the 150-year history of Orange County Public Schools, an entirely separate network of schools existed to educate the African American children of the district.

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Students,Schools

Living her dream: One alum’s dual-enrollment path to nursing

Meagan Jones says she is living her dream as a labor, delivery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse thanks to her mother, OCPS Career and Technical Education, and others.

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History,Students,Schools

Beyond the "3Rs"

Back in 1869, when the Orange County Public School district was first established, core lessons were centered around the “three Rs”: reading, writing and arithmetic. Today, OCPS students learn many more subjects.

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Students

A former Miss America is among OCPS notable alumni

OCPS alumna Ericka Dunlap dreamed of being Miss America from the time she was 6 years old. With three older sisters, one of whom was in college studying fashion design, she was the perfect “mini model” and developed a love of dressing up and walking the runway at age 3.

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History,Schools

Delaney School Still Standing

The historic Delaney School, which opened in 1920, is still in use today as a City of Orlando Senior Center.

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History,Students

Former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings an OCPS Alumna and Teacher

The 16th Lieutenant Governor of Florida, Antoinette “Toni” Jennings, has dedicated her life to serving others.

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History,Students,Schools

Boone-Edgewater Battle for the Barrel

Boone and Edgewater high school football teams go head to head for their 68th match up. Best known as the Battle for the Barrel, this is Central Florida’s oldest high school football rivalry game.

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Schools

Voters Support Education with Local Taxes

Since 2003, Orange County Public Schools has opened 53 new schools to respond to growth and relieve overcrowding.

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History,Students

Baseball Great Johnny Damon Began Career at OCPS

Former baseball outfielder Johnny Damon, an alumnus of Orange County Public Schools, was inducted into the OCPS Hall of Fame in 2015.

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History

Investing in the Success of our Students

The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools is committed to providing our schools and teachers with the resources they need to help each student succeed.

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History,Schools

Orange Technical College - Educating Since 1933

Originally named the Orlando Vocational School, Orange Technical College opened its doors in 1933, right in the heart of Central Florida on Rosalind Street offering select trade programs.

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History,Schools

Orlando High School lives on in memory and on a modern campus

In 1927, Orlando High School opened in Robinson Street near Lake Eola. It closed in 1952 to make way for two new city high schools. But the campus lives on – first as a junior high school and today as an arts-focused middle school magnet.

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History

Celebrate 150 Years With Us

Have you ever heard of a sesquicentennial? It means 150th anniversary, a milestone that Orange County Public Schools will be celebrating all year.

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History,Staff

Meet William A. Lovell - Our First Superintendent

William A. Lovell served as the first superintendent of Orange County Public Schools from 1869-1872.

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OCPS's Stories

Stories