Oxbridge Academy (Florida)
| Oxbridge Academy Foundation, Inc. | |
|---|---|
| File:Oxbridge Academy Foundation logo.png | |
| Location | |
3151 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, Florida | |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, day, college preparatory school |
| Motto | For A Lifetime |
| Religious affiliation | Nonsectarian |
| Established | 2011 |
| Founder | William L. Koch |
| NCES School ID | A1501048 |
| Principal | Ralph Maurer |
| Faculty | 62[1] |
| Grades | 6–12 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Enrollment | 520[2] (2019) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 10:1 |
| Campus size | 54 acres |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Colors | Red, White, Navy Blue |
| Athletics conference | Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) |
| Mascot | Thunderwolf |
| Nickname | Thunderwolves |
| Publication | Oxbridge Today |
| School fees | New student: $1,575 Annual student fee: $2,500 |
| Tuition | Middle school: $34,500 Upper school: $41,500[3] |
| Website | www |
Oxbridge Academy is a private, coeducational, college-preparatory middle and high school in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. The school, managed by the Oxbridge Academy Foundation, Inc., serves grades 6–12.[4]
History
[edit | edit source]The school was funded with a $50 million donation from Bill Koch.[5][6] Koch's goal was to create a school for his own children where academically gifted students of all socioeconomic backgrounds could do hands-on projects and learn by problem solving, a place where students ruled.[4] Oxbridge was opened in under a year on a 45-acre campus that once held a Jewish community center.[4] By 2016, Koch had donated more than $75 million to the school.[4]
By 2014, the school added a football team at the request of the student body. In April 2016, Koch announced that Academic Dean John Klemme would serve as the School's president, placing Robert Parsons on paid leave pending an investigation of harassment claims.[7] Parsons' compensation package was worth $1 million, with an annual salary of about $600,000 per year.[4]
On May 27, 2016, Koch fired Parsons and declined to renew the contracts of director of athletics Craig Sponsky and the football coach Doug Socha; Koch noted that a "power elites group" in the school "ran the asylum".[8]
In July 2016, David Rosow was elected president and CEO of Oxbridge Academy.[9]
On June 20, 2018, the school announced that it was ending its football program after a number of its players transferred to other schools.[10] The program was revived for the 2023–24 school year.[11]
Athletics recruiting violations
[edit | edit source]In 2016, the school self-reported athletic recruiting violations and forfeited all athletic victories for the previous two years, including three FHSAA district championships.[12]
Notable students and alumni
[edit | edit source]- Travis Homer – class of 2016, NFL player for the Chicago Bears[13]
- Keidron Smith – class of 2018, NFL player for the Denver Broncos[14]
- Barron Trump – class of 2024, son of 45th and 47th President of the United States Donald Trump[15]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ [1] Oxbridge Academy Foundation, Inc., Mar. 17, 2019
- ^ Quick Facts Oxbridge Academy Foundation, Inc., March. 17, 2019
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e Frances Robles, Upheaval Amid ‘Alarming’ Revelations at William Koch’s Florida School, The New York Times, June 1, 2016.
- ^ William Koch page 32 April 2013 Florida Trend magazine
- ^ Kevin Thompson Oxbridge Academy near West Palm Beach seeks to be region's 'critical thinking' private school June 5, 2011 Palm Beach Post
- ^ Tony Doris Exclusive: Oxbridge CEO on leave, pending internal investigation April 22, 2016 Palm Beach Post
- ^ Letter to Oxbridge Community, May 27, 2016, accessed June 1, 2016.
- ^ In 4-page letter to parents, Koch says Oxbridge righting its missteps Aug 02, 2016 Palm Beach Post
- ^ Wells Dusenbury Oxbridge Academy shutting down football program this fall June 20, 2018 Sun-Sentinel
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Palm Beach Post: Financial aid inconsistencies root of Oxbridge sports teams’ forfeits, August 2, 2016, accessed August 20, 2016.
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