Howard W. Blake High School

History

The school is named in honor of Howard W. Blake, a Tampa native who attended Florida A&M University, Claflin University, and Atlanta University. After Tampa integrated its schools, Blake was known as Blake Junior High and was a seventh grade center until 1997.

Magnet school

Upon re-opening in 1997, the school added a magnet school for the visual, communication and performing arts.

The 2007-2008 school year marked Blake's 10th anniversary as a magnet school. Part of the celebration was organised by the school's Magnet Arts Coordinator. Her event for the anniversary featured Blake alumni from the previous ten years, and included gallery pieces and performances by artists such as Ari Richter and Chicago's star of Wicked, Danyelle Williamson.

The school performed the play Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind and the choir and symphony orchestra performed the Requiem by Mozart.

Academic standards

Howard Wesley Blake School of the Arts has high standards for its students. It offers 22 AP classes and seven dual-enrollment courses on campus.

Blake Accelerated Curriculum Program'is an online high school magnet program in the school district of Hillsborough County. It is one of seven franchises of Florida Virtual School. Students only report to campus for FCAT testing, and optional extracurricular activities. Students can customize their education to be accelerated or to just accommodate their needs. Some students accelerate their high school career and graduate 1–2 years early.

Graduation rate

In 2012 Blake's graduation rate was 80% as compared to a statewide rate of 74.5% and a Hillsborough County rate of 72.6%.

Florida Department of Education grade

Theater

The theater program provides for the study of drama, musical theater and technical theater/design. The theater department is part of the International Thespian Society and competes annually at Florida State Thespians, where they have won Superior ratings in virtually all categories. The theater department produces seven shows a year: two plays, two musicals, a musical concert, a one-act play, and a Senior Showcase.

Students of the theater department have continued into university theater or are working in LA and Broadway, such as:

During their high school careers, Blake students have worked as actors, directors, playwrights, stage managers, designers, and technicians. Some have worked at local theaters in the Tampa Bay area, including the American Stage Theatre, FreeFall Theatre, Stageworks, and Jobsite.

Blake Theater faculty include:

Music

Blake High School offers a music curriculum consisting of band, orchestra, choir, guitar, piano, harp, jazz ensembles and marching band in addition to theory and history courses. The faculty of the music department comprises eight persons. There are opportunities for music students to perform in the community in All-State, All-County, Music Performance Assessment, and Solo and Ensemble festivals.

Dance department

The department is headed by three teachers who teach ballet and modern dance, including master classes. The department is host to guest faculties, and hosts classes from Dance Repertory, Ballet, Modern (Jazz, Pilate) Master Classes, Choreography I & II, Dance Honors and Senior Projects. With these the department runs five shows a year, two faculty shows, two student choreographies and one Senior Showcase. Some students participate in the Youth American International Grand Prix.

Creative writing

As in all the other majors at Blake High School, creative writing majors are selected by the department teachers through an audition process. Students wishing to be in the program prepare a portfolio of their writing, and submit an application to be seen. On the day of their appointment, they meet with two teachers. Together, they go through the portfolio and the student reads a sample of their writings aloud. The writings may to be poetry, prose, or a combination. After acceptance the students are put through a rigorous course that helps them not only produce new works but also teaches them how to perform, submit their pieces professionally, publish a magazine and edit their own work. At the end of their four years the students will be able to publish a chapbook of their best work.

Journalism

The journalism program is working on having all their material posted via their new website. The program has achieved awards at school competitions such as the Florida Scholastic Press Association. Students are selected to be in the program based on their portfolios containing previous editorials, short stories, articles, and any other writing. There is then an interview with the advisor for the program.

Visual arts

Visual arts students are selected for enrollment through an audition process that considers all their works of art, sketchbooks, potential, academic achievement, and attendance. Visual arts students take all level-one courses in drawing, painting, printmaking, jewelry, photography, sculpture and ceramics. Students can then decide to take level 2 and 3 classes in any given fine art. By the end of their junior year, they may audition to become an AP studio / portfolio student and will concentrate in one media.

Master certification is available for students who are willing to work extra hard to have ten (instead of the usual eight) visual art credits by the time they graduate, including AP Art History. Students attend professional artist lectures, gallery openings, and submit work to contests.

Men's

Men's sports include swimming, basketball, baseball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, track and field, tennis, and wrestling.

Women's

Women's sports include swimming, football, soccer, cross country, tennis, softball, volleyball, and basketball.