Coordinates: 28°3′47.04″S 153°26′19.83″E / 28.0630667°S 153.4388417°E / -28.0630667; 153.4388417

Miami State High School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
For other uses, see Miami High School (disambiguation).

Miami State High School
The main entrance of Miami State High School
Miami State High School's main entrance in 2016
Location
2137-2205 Gold Coast Highway

Miami, Gold Coast
,
Queensland
,
4220

Australia[1][2]
CoordinatesLua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Information
TypeState secondary day school
MottoLatin: Semper floreat costa[3][4]
(May the coast always flourish)
Established1963[5][6]
PrincipalClint Curran[7][1]
Year levelsYear 7 – Year 12[8][1]
GenderCoeducational[1]
Enrolment1,541 students[9]: 2 [10] (August 2024)
CampusUrban[citation needed]
Colours
  •   Yellow
  •   Blue
  •   White
SloganFirst Class Location, World Class Education
Websitemiamishs.eq.edu.au[1][2]

Miami State High School is a secondary school in the suburb of Miami in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia).[1][2] It is currently the Gold Coast's second oldest state school, second in age only to Southport State High School (established 1955).[6]

The traditional custodians of the land on which Miami State High School rests are the Yugambeh language group of the Bundjalung nation.[3]

Originally named South Coast District State High School, Miami High was officially opened in April 1963.[11] It soon became known as Miami High and, after a number of years, the more compact name was officially adopted.[11] It was built to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding population on the Gold Coast.[11] At the time, the only public high schools were Southport High School and Tweed River High School, about 35 kilometres (22 mi) apart, with the site of Miami High about midway between the two on the Gold Coast Highway at the very northern end of Miami.[11]

Infrastructure

[edit | edit source]

Initial Construction

[edit | edit source]

The chosen site presented a number of construction challenges because the southern half was a swamp and the northern half was on the steep slope of Nobby's Headland, an upthrust of schist about 50 m high at its highest point.[11] The challenges were met by the simple expedient of blasting the slope and dumping the rubble in the swamp, but with a consequent complete loss of topsoil that created enduring problems for many years.[11]

It construction in the sixties always stayed behind the needs of the students for three reasons:[11]

    (a) competition with established schools for resources;
    (b) the transition of the Baby Boom Generation from primary school to high school; and
    (c) the inclusion of year 8.

1965 and 1966 saw open underschool areas, originally intended for protection from sun and rain, being converted to temporary classrooms and several flimsy demountable buildings being installed as other temporary classrooms.Despite their nominally temporary nature, many of these structures were still in use twenty years later.[11]

Buildings

[edit | edit source]
Aerial view of Miami State High School in 2020.

The school has a assembly hall with a 1,500 seat capacity. This assembly hall as the first venue on the coast that could seat more than 1,000 people.[12] It has hosted performers such as AC/DC, Sherbet, Skyhooks, and Hot Chocolate.[12]

In 1967, the Australian federal government built a two-story, four-laboratory science block, as part of a program to improve the teaching of science throughout Australia. Several of the laboratories were promptly pressed into service as regular classrooms.[11]

In 2014, construction of a multi-storey learning facility for years 7 and 8 was completed, as part of the “Flying Start” program, which brought year 7 students into the Queensland high school system.[3][4][13] The building has two prominent brick murals composed of brickwork in a standard grey mortar with recessed joints, dually functioning as cladding and a piece of artwork.[4] The northern elevation has a brick mural depicting a breaking wave.[4][13] The pattern is said to be a surfing metaphor for "the need to focus on the task at hand from start to finish and achieve the best outcome for you.", similar to the principles of surfing a tube which requires "a good start, stay calm and composed in the middle, before ending the journey in one piece, albeit a changed and inspired person."[3][4][13] The western elevation, facing the highway, has a "binary wall" mural, featuring a binary computer code spelling out the school's slogan and motto, "Miami State High School, Learning through a team effort, Semper Costa Floreat".[3][4][13] The architect, Conrad Garget, described it as "a cost effective, artistic, inspiring, character enabling, durable and low maintenance structure which both describes the story of development in education through the use of computers."[3]

The building prompted the then school principal, Jim Baker, to have the word ‘Inspire’ rise vertically on the western elevation of the entry building, and, subsequently, to similarly name all the school's existing buildings.[4][13]

Sports

[edit | edit source]
Miami High School's playing field in 2016

Miami State High School possesses an all-weather playing surface featuring four basketball, four netball and three volleyball courts, a sports field, fully equipped gymnasium and 25 metre swimming pool.[6]

In January 2024, The Sports Centre of Excellence was officially finished and open for school and approved community usage. Students can utilise the building's world class sports facilities to develop their athletic abilities and excel in their chosen sports.

The new hall features two sports courts, a kinesiology lab and theory room, three learning areas and a staff room. There are also additional amenities and equipment storage, office space, a performance stage and a kitchen with kiosk facilities.

An exciting addition to the sports courts are professional glass backboards for basketball, which were jointly funded by the school and the Department of Education.

A total of $13.2 million (including GST) was invested to deliver the new multi-purpose hall.[14]

AFL Team Achievements

[edit | edit source]
Senior Female (Years 10-12)
[edit | edit source]
1st place, gold medalist(s) Champions: (2) 2018, 2019
Junior Female (Years 7-9)
[edit | edit source]
1st place, gold medalist(s) Champions: 2016

Hollywood Sign

[edit | edit source]
File:MIAMI HIGH sign, Miami State High School, 2015.jpg
The "Miami High" sign in 2015.

Miami's most iconic landmark is the school's yellow ‘Hollywood-style’ sign.[12][15] Exerect in 1979, the sign was the brainchild of then principal, William Callinan, and was designed to cover the scarp face, once the site of a rock quarry.[12][15] After a trip to Los Angeles, Bill was inspired by the Hollywood sign to build the school's sign in the same design.[15] Originally, it read 'Hi Miami High', but it now reads simply "Miami High".[12] The school's sign on the side of the hill is listed on the Gold Coast Local Heritage Register, due to it being "historically significant in demonstrating the important fun and fantasy phase of development on the Gold Coast.".[16][15]

Fencing

[edit | edit source]

The school grounds are enclosed in a 2-metre tall spiked black steel perimeter fence.[17] The fence was constructed in 2022, as part of a state government initial which saw similar fence erected in 140 school in 2021.[17] The reason for the fence was attributed to the general "rise in crime around state schools in south-east Queensland".[17]

Curriculum

[edit | edit source]

Exchange Academy

[edit | edit source]

Miami State High School offers a number of Excellence and Specialisation programs for high achieving and goal driven students in the following fields: Academic, Cultural and Sporting.[18]

Exchange Program

[edit | edit source]

Miami High has introduced an international exchange program with students from all over the world now attending the school.

Aviation

[edit | edit source]

Since 2025,[19] they canceled the courses.

Languages

[edit | edit source]

The school's language department offers Japanese, Spanish, and Auslan (Australian Sign Language).[5]

As part of it extra-curicullar program it organises international trips to Japan and Spain.[5]

Executive

[edit | edit source]

Principals

[edit | edit source]

The following is a full list of the school's principals since the schools inception:

Previous principals
Tenure Name Ref
1963–1966 Claude Rayner [citation needed]
1967–1968 John Rowe [citation needed]
1969–1985 William "Bill" Callinan [15]
1986–2016 Jim Baker [20]
2017–2023 Susan Dalton [21]
2024–Present Clint Curran [22][23]

In 2025, the current principal of Miami State High School was Clint Curran[23][7] and the deputy principal is Michelle Flynn.[7]

Students

[edit | edit source]

Years

[edit | edit source]

In 1964, Queensland's primary schools ceased to teach year 8, which was transferred to the high schools.[citation needed] The "infant" Miami State High School went from catering to year 9 to catering to years 8–10, causing the school to be barely being able to provide enough classrooms for the start of the year.[citation needed]

As part of a 2013 trial, officially implemented in 2015, year 7 was subsequently included, so that Miami State High School now catered for years 7–12, to align Queensland with the other states, as part of Anna Bligh's state-wide "Flying Start" program.[24]

Student enrolments

[edit | edit source]

In 2022, Miami State High School was reported to have a maximum student enrolment capacity of 1,449 students.[25]

The trend in school enrolments (August figures) has been:

Year Years Boys Girls Total Ref
7 8 9 10 11 12
2014 - - - - - - 560 586 1,146 [26]
2015 - - - - - - 627 644 1,271 [27]
2016 - - - - - - 621 625 1,246 [28]
2017 - - - - - - 596 620 1,216 [29]: 3 [30]
2018 - - - - - - 620 635 1,255 [29]: 3 [31]
2019 253 253 199 224 231 163 656 666 1,322 [29]: 3 [32]
2020 270 253 248 197 198 166 659 673 1,332 [33]: 2 [34]
2021 313 268 264 247 178 190 728 732 1,460 [33]: 2 [35]
2022 302 309 261 259 252 157 754 786 1,540 [36]: 2 [37]
2023 256 297 314 248 238 202 764 791 1,555 [38]: 2 [39]
2024 265 248 296 298 248 186 737 804 1,541 [9]: 2 [10]
2025 245 268 252 294 287 221 TBA TBA 1,567 [citation needed]

Notable alumni

[edit | edit source]

The following are notable alumni of the school:

Notable alumni in Politics & Business
Name Achievement Ref
Anna Bligh Former Premier of Queensland [40]
Richard Black Former Chief Technology Officer, Bank of England
Notable alumni in the Entertainment Industry
Name Achievement Ref
Amanda Ware Australia's Next Top Model (Cycle 6) Winner [41][42]
Kim Watkins TV Presenter
Notable alumni in sport
Name Sport Top-level team/affiliation Ref
Maddison Levi Australian rules football
Rugby sevens 		Gold Coast
Australia 		[43]
Teagan Levi Australian rules football
Rugby sevens 		Gold Coast
Australia 		[44]
Lucy Single Australian rules football Gold Coast [45]
Scott McGrory Cycling Australia [46]
Heidi Piper Fencing Notre Dame [47]
Sharon Jaklofsky Long jump Netherlands
Alex Glenn Rugby league Brisbane, New Zealand [48]
Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew Surfing Australia [12]
Benjamin Schulte Swimming Part of the contingent for Guam at the 2012 Summer Olympics (London). [49][50]

See also

[edit | edit source]

Lua error in mw.title.lua at line 392: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  18. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  19. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  20. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  21. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  22. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  23. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  24. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  25. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  26. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  27. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  28. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  29. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  30. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  31. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  32. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  33. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  34. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  35. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  36. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  37. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  38. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  39. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  40. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  41. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  42. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  43. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  44. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  45. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  46. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  47. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  48. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  49. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  50. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
[edit | edit source]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value)..
Retrieved from "http://70.231.62.181/index.php?title=Miami_State_High_School&oldid=15785332"