Santa Fe High School (Florida) Explained

Santa Fe High School
Zipcode:	32615
Country:	United States
Coordinates:	29.8072°N -82.5244°W
Principal:	Timothy Wright
Enrollment:	1,154 (2022-23) ^[1]
Teaching Staff:	40.40 (FTE)
Faculty:	90 (2019-20)
Ratio:	26.88
Grades:	9–12
Nickname:	Raiders, SFHS
Colors:	Gray and red ^[2]
Footnotes:	^[3]

Santa Fe High School is a high school serving grades 9–12 from the Alachua-High Springs area in the northwestern part of Alachua County, Florida. It is located in Alachua, Florida and a part of the Alachua County Public Schools.^[4]

History

The consolidated Santa Fe High School was conceived in 1954 to replace schools in High Springs, Newberry and Alachua.^[5] The school opened in 1956.The school mascot was originally the Rebels, but was later changed to the Raiders in 1970 when the school was integrated by federal court order.^[6] The school colors are red and gray.

Academics

Santa Fe is a U.S. News & World Report award-winning public high school, ranking within the top 5 public high schools out of 18 in Alachua County, the top 40% of public high schools in the State of Florida, and the top 30% of public high schools in the nation.^[7]

Santa Fe has three magnet programs: the Institute of Biotechnology, which combines with the Biomedical Mustangs magnet program at A.L. Mebane Middle School to offer a track for students to become licensed and experienced to either continue their education at the Santa Fe College Perry Center for Emerging Technologies (also in Alachua), or enter the workforce in one of the several emerging technology companies located within the City; the Academy of AgriScience; and the Academy of Veterinary Assisting.^[8]

Athletics

The football team has won two state championships, 1991 and 1994 and was State Runner-Up in 1969.^[9]

Boys basketball was State Runner-Up in 2021.^[10]

The baseball team won the 1975 State Championship and was Runner-Up in 1972.^[11]

The girls volleyball team won the 2021 and 2022 FHSAA 4A State Championship and was State Runner-Up in 2018 and 2019.^{[12] [13]}

Girls Track and Field was State Runner-Up in 2001, and Boys Track and Field was State Runner-up in 1985.^[14]

Boys Weightlifting were State Champions in 1987 and 1990 and State Runner-Up in 1981, 1982, 1985, and 1991.^[15]

The boys soccer team has won a total of three district championships in 2012, 2013, and 2019.^[16]

Marching Band

The "Raider Regiment" marching band has won eight state championships, five consecutively from 1999 to 2003, then again in 2005, 2009 and 2010.^[17]

Notable alumni

• Gina Crews, graduated in 1991; starred in Survivor Marquesas 2002
• Lenny DiNardo, graduated in 1998, was a member of the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox
• Craig Fugate, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)
• Tracy Ham, graduated in 1982; retired Canadian Football League player; inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007^[18]
  • Dwayne Dixon, former college WR coach, inductee into Arena Football Hall of Fame and University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame Linval Joseph, graduated in 2007; defensive tackle second-round draft pick in the 2010 NFL draft
• Adrian N. Peterson, former NFL running back, inductee into College Football Hall of Fame
• Mike Peterson, former NFL linebacker, inductee into University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame
• Shea Showers, football player
• Freddie Solomon, (American football, born 1972)
• Kirby Snead, MLB pitcher

Notes and References

1. Web site: Santa Fe High School. National Center for Education Statistics. May 7, 2020.
2. Web site: FHSAA Member Schools. 2024-03-15. Florida High School Activities Association. en-US.
3. Web site: Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Santa Fe High School. ed.gov. 7 May 2015.
4. Web site: Santa Fe High School / Homepage. 2022-02-09. www.sbac.edu. en.
5. News: Alachua Towns May 'Secede'; Consolidated High School Considered. Tallahassee Democrat. Associated Press. November 24, 1954. 3. November 3, 2019.
6. News: Santa Fe High Retires 'Rebels' As School Name. April 16, 1970. Tampa Tribune. 1-B. November 3, 2019.
7. Web site: U.S. News & World Report Education Rankings .
8. Web site: Magnet Programs / Homepage . 2024-07-03 . www.sbac.edu . en.
9. Web site: Athletics at Santa Fe / Football . 2024-07-03 . www.sbac.edu . en.
10. Web site: Athletics at Santa Fe / Basketball (Boys) . 2024-07-03 . www.sbac.edu . en.
11. Web site: Athletics at Santa Fe / Baseball . 2024-07-03 . www.sbac.edu . en.
12. Web site: Lee . Ainslie . High school volleyball: Santa Fe sweeps Calvary Christian to capture first state title . 2022-01-01 . Gainesville Sun . en-US.
13. Web site: SFHS Volleyball .
14. Web site: Athletics at Santa Fe / Track & Field (Girls & Boys) . 2024-07-03 . www.sbac.edu . en.
15. Web site: Athletics at Santa Fe / Weightlifting (Boys) . 2024-07-03 . www.sbac.edu . en.
16. Web site: Athletics at Santa Fe / Soccer (Boys) . 2024-07-03 . www.sbac.edu . en.
17. Web site: Van Hoose. Kara. Santa Fe High School Marching Band wins first at state championships. www.wuft.org. WUFT NEWS.
18. Web site: Obama nominates Florida's seasoned emergency director Craig Fugate to head FEMA. https://web.archive.org/web/20121030225632/http://www.tampabay.com/news/weather/hurricanes/obama-nominates-floridas-seasoned-emergency-director-craig-fugate-to-head/981251. dead. October 30, 2012. Tampa Bay Times. Craig Pittman and Wes Allison. 4 March 2009. 23 September 2013.