Glades Central High School

Glades Central Community High School
Address
Map
1001 SW Ave M

Belle Glade
,
Palm Beach
,
Florida
33430

United States
Coordinates26°40′09″N 80°40′52″W / 26.669238°N 80.681241°W / 26.669238; -80.681241
Information
School typePublic secondary
Opened1970
StatusOpen
School districtPalm Beach County School District
PrincipalAngela Avery Moore[1]
Teaching staff51.50 (FTE)[2]
Grades9–12
Enrollment868 (2022–23)[2]
Student to teacher ratio16.85[2]
Color(s)Maroon and Gold
   
NicknameRaiders
RivalPahokee Blue Devils
Websitegchs.palmbeachschools.org

Glades Central Community High School is a high school in Belle Glade, Florida. In the 2014–15 school year its enrollment numbered 992 students. The school was a football powerhouse. In 2001, the New York Times reported that Glades Central had produced more current National Football League players than any other high school in the country with 7 during the 2001 season.[3] The school has a football rivalry with fellow powerhouse Pahokee High School.[4]

Belle Glade High School opened in 1943. It was whites only. Golden Rams were the mascot. Black students attended Lake Shore High School.[5] Bobcats were the mascot.

The Raiders have won six Florida High School football titles, tying for the second most in state history with Lakeland and University Christian.[6] Their main rivals are the Pahokee Blue Devils. The Blue Devils play the Raiders each year in the so-called "Muck Bowl," one of the most famous high school rivalry games in the nation, which can draw up to 25,000 spectators each year. Glades Central has won 17 out of the 25 games since 1995.

In 2024 its 868 students were 61 percent black, 36 percent hispanic and 2 percent white. Most students were from economically disadvantaged families.[7]

The student body has been predominantly black. Students come from African American, Jamaican and Haitian backgrounds. Bryan Mealer wrote the 2012 book Muck City about the school, its football history, and community.[4]

The area has been stuck by devastating hurricanes. Alumnus Omar Haugabook, a police officer and former Troy University quarterback, became head football coach in 2024.[8] He had been interim head coach.[9]

  1. ^ "Phone Directory". Archived from the original on 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
  2. ^ a b c "GLADES CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Longman, Jere (November 23, 2001), "A Town Where Football Is the Glue and the Hope", New York Times
  4. ^ a b "Lawrence E. Will Museum to open football exhibit honoring Glades greats".
  5. ^ Muck City page 23
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) p.6
  7. ^ https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida/districts/the-school-district-of-palm-beach-county/glades-central-high-school-5385#:~:text=Glades%20Central%20High%20School%20is,of%20students%20are%20economically%20disadvantaged. [bare URL]
  8. ^ "Omar Haugabook named new head football coach at Glades Central Community High School". February 2024.
  9. ^ "Haugabook named Glades Central High School interim head football coach". 28 November 2023.