Winter Park High School - Ninth Grade Center (The Original WPHS)

Ninth Grade Center (The Original WPHS)

Built in 1923 in Mediterranean Revival style at a cost of $137,000, the Winter Park High School Ninth Grade Center originally measured only 10 acres (40,000 m2). Over time, the school's population began to grow, and before long, it became overcrowded. In 1969, a new campus was constructed less than three miles (5 km) away. The old Winter Park High School became Winter Park Junior High School. In 1987, the county transitioned from junior high schools (grades 7-9) to middle schools (grades 6-8). Winter Park Junior High was not converted to a middle school; rather, it became the Ninth Grade Center affiliated with Winter Park High School, as there was not enough room on the newer high school campus for all four grades now part of high schools in the county. Now the freshman campus, with about 1,020 students, is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Freshman students wishing to participate in extracurricular activities (band, orchestra, sports, etc.) or classes not offered at the Ninth Grade Center can take a bus after their 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th period from the Ninth Grade Center to the main campus. The Ninth Grade Center's schedule is offset eighteen minutes earlier to accommodate the bus ride. The campus offers a wide array of courses and prepares students for an excellent Winter Park High experience. Currently, what's left of this campus still stands today. Some of the older buildings have been partially demolished in the 2008-09 school year, and new buildings are currently complete.