Ridge Community High School - What Makes It Tick

Thinking about what makes a high school truly special, or perhaps you're just curious about a place that's a big part of its local area? Well, you know, there's this public high school in Polk County, Florida, that really stands out in its community. It's a place where young people from grades nine through twelve come together to learn and grow, offering a whole bunch of different ways for students to get involved, from classroom work to sports fields and beyond. You might be wondering, what exactly does a school like this offer, and what's it like for the students who spend their days there?

It's a spot that, in a way, tries to give its students a good mix of things to do, whether they're looking to get a head start on college classes or perhaps just want to join a team and play some sports. This school, you see, is a big part of Davenport, Florida, and it's where a lot of young folks in the area get their education. They have different academic paths, and there are chances to be part of various activities, which, honestly, is what many people look for in a good school setting. It's a place that, quite literally, shapes a lot of futures.

So, if you're keen to find out more about what goes on inside the walls of this particular school, including its academic offerings, the sports teams it fields, and even how it handles the day-to-day stuff like student conduct, you've come to the right spot. We'll talk about what makes this school what it is, from its place in the wider school district to the specific things it provides for its students, and, you know, what people generally say about it. It's almost like peeling back the layers to see the heart of the place.

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Table of Contents

• What's the Deal with Academics at Ridge Community High School?
• Beyond the Books - Ridge Community High School's Special Programs
• Getting Connected - Ridge Community High School's Online Tools
• How Does Ridge Community High School Support Students?
• Making Good Choices - The Choice Room at Ridge Community High School
• What About Sports and Activities at Ridge Community High School?
• The Bolt's Brigade - A Look at JROTC at Ridge Community High School
• Where Can You Find Ridge Community High School Information?
• A Snapshot of Ridge Community High School's Standing

What's the Deal with Academics at Ridge Community High School?

When it comes to what students can learn, Ridge Community High School, a public school in Polk County, Florida, provides a range of study paths. They offer, for instance, a selection of advanced placement courses, which are college-level classes that high school students can take to earn college credit early. This is, you know, a pretty big deal for those looking to get a jump start on their higher education. They also have a program for students who are considered gifted, giving them a chance to explore subjects in more depth, which is actually quite helpful for those with particular talents.

The school also has arrangements that let students take college classes while still in high school. This is called dual enrollment, and it's available through partnerships with Polk State College and Southeastern University. So, you know, a student could be taking a class at the high school in the morning and then, perhaps, heading over to a college campus for another class in the afternoon. It's a way for young people to experience what college is like and earn credits that count for both high school and university, which, honestly, can save a lot of time and money later on.

Speaking of specific subjects, the mathematics department at Ridge Community High School puts a lot of effort into helping students get better at math. They really want to help young people with their number skills and encourage them to think through problems and figure things out on their own. They have classes like intensive mathematics, which, you know, really focuses on building a strong foundation, along with algebra, algebra II, geometry, and even a math course specifically for college preparation. It's almost like they're trying to cover all the bases to make sure students are ready for whatever comes next.

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Beyond the Books - Ridge Community High School's Special Programs

Beyond the main courses, Ridge Community High School offers a variety of clubs and activities. These groups give students a chance to explore interests outside of their regular schoolwork, whether it's something academic, creative, or perhaps even just for fun. It's a way for young people to connect with others who share their passions, and that, you know, can make the school experience much richer. However, it's been noted that the school has, in some respects, seen lower scores on state tests and that students sometimes don't get as involved in school life as much as one might hope. This is something that, you know, schools often work on, trying to find ways to get everyone more engaged.

Despite some of those numbers, the school does try to encourage students, especially when it comes to school spirit and events. They have things like "Bolts Bash," which is, apparently, a really fun time where students can hang out and enjoy themselves. It’s almost like a way to celebrate being part of the school community and to give students a chance to just be themselves in a relaxed setting. They also seem to like to motivate students who show promise for taking on more challenging schoolwork, trying to give them a little boost toward more demanding academic paths. That, you know, is a pretty good thing for those looking to push themselves.

Getting Connected - Ridge Community High School's Online Tools

For students who want to keep track of their school records, grades, and other important information, Ridge Community High School has an online student portal. This portal, basically, acts as a central spot where young people can log in and find all sorts of commonly used resources. It's a bit like having a personal dashboard for your school life, which, honestly, makes it a lot easier to stay organized and informed about how you're doing. Being able to access these details quickly is, you know, pretty helpful in today's world where so much is done online.

If you're looking for broader information about Ridge Community High School, like its policies, procedures, or other general online resources, the official website is the place to go. It's where you can, for instance, find out about the school's overall approach to things, which can be useful for parents, guardians, or anyone else wanting to understand how the school operates. This website is, you know, pretty much the main hub for all the official details, giving a good picture of the school's public face and how it runs day to day.

How Does Ridge Community High School Support Students?

Ridge Community High School aims to help every student learn to make good choices about their actions. They want to create an environment where young people understand the impact of their decisions. This approach is, you know, a pretty important part of helping students grow into responsible individuals. The school's goal is to keep students in school and learning, even when small issues come up. They really try to work with students to help them stay on track and avoid bigger problems, which, you know, is what any good school tries to do.

When a student is sent to a specific area because of a minor concern, it's part of a program designed to help them. This program, in some respects, handles things like being late to class, small behavior problems, issues with what students are wearing, and other similar, minor rule breaks. The idea is that this place is for learning, giving students a chance to think about their actions and make better choices going forward. It's almost like a way to gently guide students back to making positive decisions and, you know, keep them focused on their learning.

Making Good Choices - The Choice Room at Ridge Community High School

The "Choice Room" at Ridge Community High School is a specific spot where students can learn about making positive behavioral choices. The goal of this space, you know, is to help students make the best decisions possible and to keep them in school, rather than sending them home or suspending them for small things. Through this particular program, they deal with all sorts of minor school concerns. So, for example, if a student is often tardy, or if there's a small issue with how they're acting, or even if their clothes don't quite fit the school's dress code, these are the kinds of things that get handled here.

It's basically a way to address those little rule breaks without them becoming bigger issues. When a student is sent to the Choice Room, it's not really about punishment, but more about teaching and guiding them. They want to help students understand why certain rules are in place and how their actions affect their learning and the school environment. It's a pretty practical approach, you know, to making sure that minor problems don't get in the way of a student's education, and it's all about helping them learn to manage themselves better for the future.

What About Sports and Activities at Ridge Community High School?

Ridge Community High School offers a broad range of chances for students to get involved in organized sports. This means young people can pick from a whole bunch of different teams, which, you know, is pretty exciting for those who love to compete or just want to be part of something bigger. The athletics program is set up to give students opportunities to play various games and build skills outside of the classroom. It's almost like a way to learn teamwork, discipline, and, of course, to stay active and healthy.

The list of sports available at Ridge Community High School is, you know, quite extensive. Students can try out for baseball, basketball, and even beach volleyball, which is a bit unique for a high school. There's also cross country, flag football, and football for those who enjoy running or team contact sports. Golf and ice hockey are also on the list, which, frankly, shows a pretty diverse set of options. And then, you know, there's lacrosse too, so there's a good chance that almost any student looking to play a sport will find something that fits their interests.

If you're interested in keeping up with the school's basketball team, the Ridge Community Bolts, you can find their schedule, who's on the team, their rankings, and how they stand in their league on MaxPreps.com. This website, you know, is a really handy place for fans and family members to get all the latest information about the team's performance. It's pretty much the go-to spot for everything related to their basketball season, which, honestly, makes it easy to follow along and cheer them on.

The Bolt's Brigade - A Look at JROTC at Ridge Community High School

The Bolt's Brigade is the JROTC program at Ridge Community High School in Florida, and it's a pretty special part of the school. This program, you know, really focuses on teaching young people some important life skills. They learn about what it means to be a good leader, how to be a responsible citizen, and the importance of serving their community. It's almost like a structured way to help students develop character and a sense of purpose, which, frankly, is something that stays with them long after they leave high school.

This group, the Bolt's Brigade, has actually achieved some significant things. For instance, they won the national drill competition in 2021, which, you know, is a pretty big accomplishment and shows a lot of dedication and hard work from the cadets. It really speaks to the quality of the program and the commitment of the students involved. The JROTC at Ridge Community High School is, in some respects, a standout program that provides unique opportunities for personal growth and achievement, giving students a chance to be part of something truly excellent.

Where Can You Find Ridge Community High School Information?

Ridge Community High School is a public high school located in Davenport, Florida, and it's part of the Polk School District. It serves students from the ninth grade all the way through the twelfth grade. The school has a student body of about 2,666 students, or sometimes reported as 2,851 total students, which, you know, makes it a pretty sizable school. With that many students, it's actually the 57th largest public high school in Florida and the 556th largest across the entire country, which, frankly, puts it in a pretty significant position when you look at school sizes.

When it comes to the number of teachers, Ridge Community High School has about 124 teachers. This means that the ratio of students to teachers is roughly 22.0 to 1, or sometimes it's said to be about 23 students per classroom teacher. This figure, you know, gives you a general idea of how many students are typically in a class, which can sometimes influence the amount of individual attention a student might get. It's a number that, in a way, helps paint a picture of the learning environment.

Ridge Community High School is also known as a Title I high school, which means it receives federal funding to help students who come from lower-income backgrounds. This funding, basically, helps the school provide extra support and resources to make sure all students have a fair chance at succeeding. The school is currently run by Principal Stephen Ely, who, you know, oversees the day-to-day operations and the overall direction of the school. It's almost like the main person guiding the ship.

A Snapshot of Ridge Community High School's Standing

In terms of how it's been graded, Ridge Community High School most recently received a "C" grade in 2019 from the Florida Department of Education. This grade, you know, gives an overall assessment of the school's performance at that time. According to state test scores, about 22% of students are at least proficient in math, and around 37% are at least proficient in reading. These numbers, in some respects, give a glimpse into how students are performing on standardized tests in key subjects.

When you compare Ridge Community High School to other public schools in Florida, it's currently ranked within the bottom 50%. This ranking, you know, takes into account various factors and places the school in a certain position relative to others across the state. However, it's important to remember that these rankings are just one way of looking at a school, and they don't always tell the whole story of what a school offers or how it supports its students. It's just one piece of the puzzle, basically.

You can get more details on Ridge Community High School, including its enrollment numbers, state testing assessments, and a breakdown of its student body, by looking up information for the Polk School District. The school's address is 500 West Orchid Drive, Davenport, FL 33837. This is where you can find out about school facts and demographics, and even see how Ridge Community High School compares to other schools in the Davenport area. It's almost like having a complete data sheet for the school.

This article has explored Ridge Community High School, a public high school in Polk County, Florida, covering its academic offerings like AP courses and dual enrollment, its athletics program with a wide array of sports, and its unique student support systems such as the Choice Room. We also touched upon the highly regarded Bolt's Brigade JROTC program and provided general information about the school's size, student-teacher ratio, and its standing within the state. The goal was to give a clear picture of what Ridge Community High School is all about, from its learning environment to its community involvement.