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than the Gwynne
Institute but was still very impressive. It was three stories tall and made of red brick. Over the entrance, “Gwynne High School” was carved onto a large concrete stone. The first floor housed the principal’s office and four large laboratories which included room to room- telephone service. The second floor had seven large classrooms, the library, and two rooms equipped to show movies. The building was equipped with electric bells and fire alarms. The lower level had showers, restrooms, a cloakroom, and a boiler room. It was another facility that the community took great pride in. At that time, the Gwynne Institute became the elementary school while Gwynne High School accommodated grades 7 through 12. This particular building was also referred to as Fort Myers High School, Myers High, and the New High. This building served as the high school from October 1914 through May 1921.
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375:, Dual Enrollment, Vocational, Honors and general education classes. Additionally, FMHS is the only school in Southwest Florida with an Academy of Finance program. Another asset of FMHS, which is most notable in some academic circles, FMHS is the only high school in Lee county which caters explicitly to the deaf and blind student populations. In addition to the educational programs, the school has thirty FHSAA athletic teams for both young men and women. FMHS is rich in traditions and has a very active Alumni.
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The community raved about the new $ 610,000 school located on Cortez Blvd. The school has been located at this same site ever since. The original school included the main building, auditorium, an industrial arts building, home economics building, gymnasium, and stadium. There have been numerous additions over the years including the Edison
Learning Center, the science building, the new gymnasium, the library, a new cafeteria, and the Commons Area wing.
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and also referred to as Fort Myers High School. The students still affectionately called it “Gwynne High.” The community once again settled for nothing but the best and the school was acclaimed as one of the finest high school facilities in the state of
Florida. This would not be a short stay, however, as the first two high schools had been. This location served as the high school, grades 10 through 12, for 29 years, from October 1921 until May 1950.
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School as Fort Myers High School and in 1902 the school was dignified by being called the Lee County High School. The school was admittedly a disgrace to the community and severely overcrowded as enrollment passed 300 in 1908. Additional classroom space was made at the
Holiness Church on Second Street and the County Commissioners also made room for classes in the county barn.
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The school's baseball team was brought to national attention after events during the 2023 season led to the cancellation of the remainder of the baseball season, federal discrimination lawsuits, and investigations at the local and state level. In
February 2023, assistant coach Alex Carcioppolo used a
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Serving as
Principal at its current site have been: Ray Tipton 1950, Maurice Coleman 1951, Damon Hutzler 1952-62, Harold Thompson 1963-73, Herbert D. Wiseman 1974-1992, Dr. James Browder 1992-1994, Joni Logan 1994-1999, Dr. James Browder 2000-2003, Richard Shafer 2003-2006, David LaRosa 2006-2018 and
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Four men served as its principal during that span: R.M. Sealey 1914, J.F. Farrow 1915, C.W. Crumly 1916-18, and H.F. Steedly 1919-20. In the fall of 1920 a beginning and end took place. Principal H.F. Steedly welcomed back 126 students, including members of the very first football team; however, this
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Romero M. Sealey served as the principal the three years it operated as the high school, October 1911 through May 1914. But soon growth caught up with the Gwynne
Institute and a new building was needed once again to house the high school students. Today, the Andrew D. Gwynne Institute still stands at
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equal amount. An additional $ 10,000 was obtained from a special bond issue. The school board kept their promise and provided enough additional funds to pay for the building which, with equipment, cost $ 45,000. Of all the private citizens, none deserve more honorable mention than the Gwynne family.
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On Monday, September 4, 1950, Principal Ray Tipton welcomed 1,250 high school and junior high school students to their new school, Fort Myers High School. The new school was situated on 22 acres of land in Edison Park and was another state-of-the-art facility as fine as any in the state of
Florida.
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In 1950 the building was sold and used as the
Masonic Temple. In 1990 the building was torn down and in its place today stands the black-glassed Lee County Constitutional Complex. A part of the front wall of the school with Lee County High School inscribed on it stands in a small park in front as a
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By 1914, growth demanded that more facilities be created to properly educate Fort Myers high school students. At a cost of $ 40,000, supported by a bond, the Gwynne High School opened its doors in
October of 1914. The building faced Second Street on the corner of Royal Palm. It was slightly smaller
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At that point, Mrs. Andrea D. Gwynne and her son pledged to match any sum raised by the town. With that incentive, the townspeople started a subscription list in 1910. Carl F. Roberts, a well-known citizen, headed this whirlwind campaign and in two months raised $ 8,000. The Gwynnes then pledged an
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Colonel Andrew D. Gwynne, a wealthy cotton broker and wholesale grocer from Memphis, Tennessee, was a winter visitor to Fort Myers. He was appalled at the sight of children attending school in the county barn. He told his wife that if Fort Myers ever launched a campaign for a new school facility he
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The third high school in nine years opened its doors on October 20, 1921. The new building was made of yellow brick and was constructed at a cost of $ 224,500. It was located facing Thompson Street and bordered by Royal Palm, Anderson, and Fowler Streets. It was known as the Lee County High School
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Between 1887 and 1910, high school-aged students in Fort Myers attended classes in a loose configuration of buildings that were neither adequate nor fully accredited. In 1887, Myers School was built and in 1902 a two-story wooden addition was added. As early as 1900, references were made to Myers
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investigation was conducted and later the head coach, Kyle Burchfield, was removed from his position. In response to Burchfield's departure, team coaches and players held a walkout in protest. Third base coach Robert Hinson was the first to leave, abandoning his post after 2 pitches, followed by
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Although Colonel Gwynne did not live to see the opening day, no one was more interested in the betterment of educational conditions in Fort Myers than the Colonel. It was his oft-expressed wish before his death that the children should be better provided for in educational matters. As a fitting
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On October 19, 1911, the Andrew D. Gwynne Institute opened its doors as a fully accredited, state-of-the-art school that the entire community was extremely proud of. It housed 10 rooms, a principal’s office, a library, a spacious 500-seat auditorium, four restrooms, water fountains, and heat by
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would be the last year that Gwynne High School would house the high school. In the fall of 1921 it became the junior high with grades 7 through 9 and would remain so until 1950. In 1976 the building was torn down and today the site serves as a parking lot for the United Telephone Company.
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The citizens of Fort Myers were concerned about their children’s education and saw that a need existed to create a new school. During the summer of 1909, parents took their plea to the school board to provide a modern building. The board members admitted that the current situation was an
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Serving as principal at this site were: James L. Orr 1921-22, J. Colin English 1923-24, Miss Katherine Moore 1925-30, Howell Watkins 1931-32, Sidney Ellison 1933-35, Charles Whitnel 1936-37, Ellis Greene 1938-41, E.B. Henderson 1942-45, and Ray Tipton 1946-50.
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Principal James L. Orr welcomed 160 students in 1921, which was a comfortable fit. By the time Principal Ray Tipton opened the school in the fall of 1949, 1,116 students squeezed into the severely overcrowded little school. It was once again time for a change.
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embarrassment to the community and not serving its purpose nor meeting the children’s needs. However, they insisted they did not have enough money to build the type of school that Fort Myers needed but they promised to do what they could.
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would gladly make a donation to take care of part of the expense. Colonel Gwynne died in Memphis on July 20, 1909 but his widow, Andrea, and son, Captain William F. Gwynne, remembered his pledged donation.
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Sources: The First 100 Years: Lee County Public Schools 1887-1987 by Donald Stone and Beth Carter, The Story Of Fort Myers by Karl Grismer, and Gridiron Greenies by Bobby Sizemore
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board meeting. After talking with parents, Principal Robert Butz canceled the remainder of the season on April 13th. Multiple lawsuits were filed, one of which by former
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testimonial of the love that his fellow townspeople felt for him and for the interest that he showed in them, the first official high school in Fort Myers bore his name.
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In 1996 a $ 14 million renovation took place. Upon completion, Fort Myers High School had expanded to 37 acres and had a complete technology overhaul and upgrade.
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The walkout, and subsequent cancelation of the season as a result, was widely covered by the media. After the game, parents alleged racism and prejudice at the
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Fort Myers Senior High School's resident woman's basketball team was awarded their third consecutive state title in 2018. The same year point Guard,
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other team coaches and players. The protest, supported by many parents, left the team's only two people of color alone on the field and led to the
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356:. It was opened October 19, 1911, making it one of the oldest schools in the state of Florida, and the oldest in
868:"High school cancels rest of baseball season after players protest coach's removal amid Title VI investigation"
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The school was integrated in 1969, largely by adding students displaced by the closing of historically black
999:"Second lawsuit filed against Fort Myers High School after baseball coach's text with racial slur surfaces"
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the corner of Second and Jackson Streets and is used as an annex by the School Board of Lee County.
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1051:"A Florida High School Baseball Team's Battle Against Itself – New ESPN Investigative Documentary"
921:"Families of Fort Myers High Baseball team allege racism, prejudice at fiery school board meeting"
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The Green Wave band and color guard performing during half time at a varsity football home game
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895:"FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM IN RACIST TEXT SCANDAL HAS SEASON CANCELED AFTER WALKOUT"
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837:"Fort Myers High School baseball: 5 things to know about how the season unraveled"
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radiation. Its enrollment that first year was 285 students, grades K through 12.
774:"Fort Myers High School cancels remainder of baseball season after team walkout"
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whose son was remained on the field during the walkout. In July 2024,
552:- poet and children's author known as "Father Goose;" graduated 1964
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1129:"Fort Myers rallies behind girls basketball '3-peat' state champs"
973:"Fort Myers baseball player's parents file discrimination suit"
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racial slur in a team group chat and was subsequently fired. A
811:"A racial slur and a Fort Myers High baseball team torn apart"
946:"Fort Myers High School cancels remainder of baseball season"
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Kristlin Gear aka Krissy Gear Fort Myers High School results
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released a feature documentary covering the events.
364:. The enrollment as of May 2021 is 1,944 students.
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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Public school in Fort Myers, Florida, United States
568:- art historian, curator, and former director of
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1164:Buildings and structures in Fort Myers, Florida
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589:(né Algernod Lanier Washington) - rap musician
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1110:United States Congressman Connie Mack profile
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570:Museum of Arts and Sciences (Daytona Beach)
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657:. National Center for Education Statistics
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367:Fort Myers Senior High School offers the
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
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697:"Jim Browder: "It's all about the kids""
507:Florida High School Athletic Association
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971:Bryant, Howard (February 15, 2024).
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47:adding citations to reliable sources
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1149:High schools in Lee County, Florida
893:Thornton, Cedric (April 19, 2023).
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509:fining and sanctioning the school.
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835:Levy, Dustin B. (April 17, 2023).
613:- professional female skateboarder
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479:Dr. Robert Butz 2018 to current.
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809:Bryant, Howard (April 23, 2024).
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546:- former NFL football player.
346:Fort Myers Senior High School
1049:Hall, Andy (July 21, 2024).
348:(also known as "FMHS") is a
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1131:. Wink News. March 7, 2018.
772:Reed, Ed (April 13, 2023).
749:"Lee lagged on integration"
400:Early history in Fort Myers
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655:"FORT MYERS HIGH SCHOOL"
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360:. It is managed by the
195:26.628149°N 81.877577°W
1091:. Ft. Myers News-Press
463:reminder of the past.
446:Lee County High School
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284:1,902 (2022–2023)
124:Fort Myers High School
595:- Former MLB player (
540:- professional runner
518:Major League Baseball
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200:26.628149; -81.877577
624:Lady Wave Basketball
619:- Florida politician
583:, Florida politician
577:- Florida politician
43:improve this article
899:blackenterprise.com
847:Fort Myers, Florida
784:Fort Myers, Florida
354:Fort Myers, Florida
250:Christian Engelhart
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160:Fort Myers, Florida
1115:2007-02-28 at the
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566:Gary Russell Libby
558:- Director of the
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950:fox4now.com
872:foxnews.com
538:Krissy Gear
335:.leeschools
313:Tsunami Sam
229:Established
211:Information
198: /
173:Coordinates
1143:Categories
636:References
593:Pat Putnam
358:Lee County
323:Green Wave
281:Enrollment
186:81°52′39″W
183:26°37′41″N
69:newspapers
1029:nbc-2.com
1003:nbc-2.com
371:program,
247:Principal
1113:Archived
1060:July 26,
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707:July 16,
677:"usnews"
502:Title VI
319:Nickname
297:Color(s)
147:Location
520:player
328:Website
83:scholar
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