Miami Norland Senior High School


Miami Norland Senior High School is a public high school in the Norland neighborhood of Miami Gardens, Florida. It opened in 1958 and was segregated, serving only white students until 1962. Its student body is approximately 95 percent African American. Its teams have been very successful, winning state championships in various sports. The school is 1 of 139 schools in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

History

Miami Norland Senior High School opened its doors to students in 1958 as an all-white school, accepting fifty students between grades seven through twelve. Nearby Miami Palmetto Senior High School was established at the same time and is considered a sister school. Miami Norland had a cost of $1,699,000. The expected enrollment was 2,250. Once Norland Junior High School opened across the street, grades 7-9 moved there. Miami Norland continued to have three grade levels until 1985, when grade 9 was added.
The first principal of Miami Norland, Foster Hunter, guided the school from its inception into the mid-1970s. For more than a decade, it was an all-white school; this changed in 1969, when all schools in Dade County were court-ordered to desegregate.
The original buildings of Miami Norland were demolished during the summer of 2016, after a new, more modern facility was built to replace the old facility. Prior to the teardown, the school hosted a walk-through for alumni to take a last look at the old building. The new building opened for classes on August 22, 2016, at the beginning of the 2016–17 school year. This new building was the last new facility for the northern Miami-Dade County high schools.
The school now offers an Academy of Fine Arts, Hospitality and Tourism and Teaching magnet programs.
Prior to the opening of North Miami Beach High School and Dr. Michael Krop High School, students from North Miami Beach were assigned to North Miami High School and Miami Norland High School.
It was in the Norland census-designated place, in an unincorporated area until Miami Gardens incorporated as a city on May 13, 2003.
Students are required to wear school uniform shirts in maroon, white or gray. They may wear solid maroon, gray, khaki, or black pants or shorts.

Demographics

Miami Norland is 95% Black, 4% Hispanic and 1% non-white Hispanic.

Athletics

Home of the Vikings, Miami Norland athletic teams wear the colors of maroon and gray, and compete within the Florida High School Athletic Association. The school offers a select few sports, including basketball, cross country, soccer, track and field, and volleyball. Boys-only sports are football and wrestling, while the lone girls-only sport is flag football.
The Miami Norland basketball and football teams have enjoyed success in recent years by winning a number of FHSAA championships. The girls' basketball team won in 2009, and the boys' basketball squad were victorious in 2006, 2008, 2012–15. They also competed in the 2014 and 2015 Battle at The Villages, but only achieved as high as second place. The football team won the 2002 and 2011 titles.

Notable faculty

  • James Coley
  • William Lehman
  • Sergio Rouco
  • John Varone
  • Lawton Williams

    Notable alumni

Miami Norland has produced a number of professional athletes, especially National Football League players.
NameGrad ClassCategoryBest Known For
Antonio Brown2006American footballSeven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, Super Bowl champion
Dwayne Bowe2003American footballWide receiver, Pro Bowl selection
Xavier Rhodes2008American footballCornerback, Pro Bowl selection
Darrin Smith1988American footballLinebacker, two-time Super Bowl champion
Mike McKenzie1994American footballCornerback, Super Bowl champion
Carlton Davis2015American footballCornerback, Super Bowl champion
Wilbur Summers1973American footballOne of the earliest graduates to reach the NFL
John Turner1974American footballOne of the earliest graduates to reach the NFL
Steve Griffin1983American footballFormer NFL player
Randy Shannon1984American footballFormer NFL player, later college coach
Kareem Brown2001American footballNFL defensive tackle
Antwan Barnes2003American footballNFL linebacker
Richard Gordon2005American footballNFL tight end
Travell Dixon2009American footballNFL cornerback
Tourek Williams2009American footballNFL linebacker
Lestar Jean2011American footballNFL wide receiver
Ereck Flowers2012American footballNFL offensive tackle
Duke Johnson2012American footballNFL running back
Vosean Joseph2016American footballNFL linebacker
Dewan Hernandez2016BasketballOnly graduate to play in the NBA
Amir Celestin1990BasketballProfessional basketball player
Zachery Peacock2006BasketballProfessional basketball player
Antonio Hester2009BasketballProfessional basketball player
Tombi Bell1997BasketballPlayed in the WNBA
Gil Patterson1974BaseballMajor League Baseball pitcher
Bruce Savage1978SoccerPlayed for the United States men's national soccer team
Tyrese Cooper2006Track and fieldTrack athlete
Tabarie Henry2006Track and fieldOlympic sprinter
Edwarda O'BaraLongest coma patient on record
Ronni Sanlo1969EducationEducator and LGBTQ+ advocate
Daniel Conahan1973Convicted murderer and rapist
Ian Richards1993LawJudge