The Benjamin School

The Benjamin School is a coeducational, college-preparatory independent school with two campuses in Palm Beach County, Florida. It serves 1,284 students in pre-K 3 through twelfth grade.

the Benjamin School
Location
11000 Ellison Wilson Road
North Palm Beach, FL 33408 (PK3-8)
4875 Grandiflora Road
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 (9–12)
United States
Information
TypeIndependent, non-sectarian
MottoNulli Secundus ("Second to None")
Established1960
Head of schoolDavid C. Faus[1]
Faculty138
GradesPK3 through 12
Enrollment1,284
Student to teacher ratio8:1
Color(s)   Orange and navy
Athletics conferenceFHSAA
MascotBuccaneer
Websitewww.thebenjaminschool.org

It is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and Florida Kindergarten Council, the Southern Association of Independent Schools, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[2][3][4]

History and campus

The Benjamin School was founded in 1960 under the name North Palm Beach Private School by married couple Marshall and Nancy Benjamin.[5] It was located in a three-car garage.[6] At that time, the year-round population of Palm Beach was expanding and the Benjamins received donations from wealthy families who would have sent their children to boarding school.[7] In 1974, seventh and eighth grades were added with the intention of growing through high school. The first high school class graduated in 1979.[8]

In 2005, scenes for an episode of My Super Sweet 16 featuring a Benjamin student were filmed outside of the school.[9]

The school built a digital television production studio in 2011 to go along with the addition of broadcast journalism and TV and film production classes.[10] In 2014, The Benjamin School began a modernization campaign that raised around $40 million to pay for the Benjamin Hall performing arts center, the aquatics center, the field house, the varsity house, and the Maglio Family STEM Center.[11][12][13]

A January 2017 tornado in Florida severely damaged the school's football stadium. Repairs were not complete until close to a year later.[14]

In January 2018, the school switched from unarmed to armed security guards. Many nearby schools did the same due to the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting the following month.[15]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the school received a $3.1 million loan from the federal government through the Paycheck Protection Program, which was instituted to assist struggling small businesses.[16] Largely due to that pandemic, the school reported that applications more than doubled from 2017 to 2022 and total enrollment went from 1,051 to 1,284.[17]

Student body

The racial makeup of The Benjamin School's K-12 student body during the 2019-20 school year was 79% White, 4% Hispanic, 3.8% African American, 3.7% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 8.4% multiracial.[18]

Many current or retired professional golfers who live in the Palm Beach area send their children to the school, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Greg Norman.[19][20]

Academics

Benjamin students can choose from a wide range of courses, including 23 AP and 16 honors courses.[21] High school graduation requirements include 4 credits of English, 4 credits of mathematics, 3.5 credits of science, 3 credits of social studies, 1 credit of fine arts, and 0.5 credits of computer science. All students must complete a two-week internship during their junior or senior year.

The world languages curriculum starts in pre-kindergarten with weekly Chinese, French, and Spanish lessons. In first grade, students choose a language to focus on through fifth grade. Middle and upper school students may either continue with the same language or select a new one. Three consecutive years of study in the same language are required for high school graduation.

Niche named Benjamin the third best private high school in Palm Beach County for 2022.[22] Seniors have historically achieved 100% college acceptance.[21]

Extracurricular activities

Arts

Students can participate in choir, band, drama club, or dance team. The dance team "The Dazzlers" perform at every school football game as well as other events on campus. The arts department puts on many performances throughout the year.

Athletics

The Benjamin Buccaneers compete in the FHSAA, Class 4A – Region R4. For football, they are a part of the independent Southeastern Football Conference with other Florida private high schools.[23]

High school students can participate in baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross-country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling teams. To graduate, they must either take two semesters of PE or play a sport for two seasons.

Publications

The student newspaper is The Pharcyde. In 2012, it was named the Most Outstanding Private/Parochial School Newspaper in America by the American Scholastic Press Association.[24]

The school's broadcast program, BTV N3WS, was named an All-Florida Publication by the Florida Scholastic Press Association in 2017.[25]

Notable alumni
US Rep. Tom Rooney

Notable faculty and trustees

References
  1. "Welcome from the head of school". The Benjamin School.
  2. "Membership Directory – Florida Council of Independent Schools". www.fcis.org. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  3. "Benjamin School – SAIS". www.sais.org. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  4. "AdvancED – Institution Summary". www.advanc-ed.org. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  5. DiPaolo, Bill. "Nancy Benjamin, co-founder of Benjamin School, dies". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  6. "The 28 Most Beautiful High School Campuses in Florida". Aceable. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  7. "More Schools". www.pbchistoryonline.org. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  8. "The Benjamin School 50-Year Anniversary Book". Issuu. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  9. Yee, Ivette M. (15 August 2005). "JUPITER TEEN'S PARTY ON MTV ... OTHERS CAN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO IT". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  10. Thompson, Kevin. "Benjamin School to unveil high-tech TV news studio". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  11. DiPaolo, Bill. "$11 million Benjamin Hall opens Saturday in Palm Beach Gardens". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  12. "STEM facility on track to open by 2019". WPBF. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  13. "Private school in Florida plans a $3.6 million science center". American School & University. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  14. Wagner, Jodie. "Benjamin stadium repairs won't be complete in time for Kickoff Classic". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  15. Clough, Alexandra. "How Palm Beach County private schools handle security". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  16. Stapleton, Christine. "Big churches, elite law firms, private schools get COVID loans". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  17. Modi, Priyanka (7 September 2022). "Palm Beach Resi Sales Delayed Due to Full Private Schools". The Real Deal. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  18. "The Benjamin School". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  19. "Golf's Hot Spot". Golf Digest. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  20. George, Dave. "Golf world's capital? Palm Beach County area has a strong case". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  21. "Points of Pride". www.pbcedu.org. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  22. "Explore The Benjamin School". Niche. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  23. Herald, Miami. "Southeastern Football Conference Makes A Splash | High School Sports Blog". miamiherald.typepad.com. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  24. Paine, Chris. "Academia: Benjamin School wins national newspaper award". Palm Beach Daily News. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  25. "FSPA – All Florida". fspa.wildapricot.org. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  26. Aiello, Kathy (22 May 2014). "HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITER MARK SWIFT '88 NAMED 2014 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS". www.thebenjaminschool.org. The Benjamin School. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  27. Wagner, Jodie (21 May 2013). "Benjamin School to honor alumnus Rooney". www.palmbeachpost.com. The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  28. "BENJAMIN'S COCOTOS CHOOSES BRAZIL OVER STATE TENNIS MEET". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  29. Aiello, Kathy (23 March 2017). "OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST RYAN BERUBE '92 VISITS UPPER SCHOOL". www.thebenjaminschool.org. The Benjamin School. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  30. "The Benjamin School Alumni Accomplishments in the Arts". www.thebenjaminschool.org. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  31. "Four-star Cornerback Kaiir Elam Commits to UF On National Signing Day". The Benjamin School. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  32. Lichtenstein, Adam (23 August 2017). "Benjamin names former Major Leaguer Jack Armstrong head baseball coach". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  33. "Schmidt's Slumpbuster strikes out with Phillies". Tampa Bay Times. 6 March 1994. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  34. "DARREN LOWE ASSUMES POSITION AS BENJAMIN'S HEAD LACROSSE COACH". The Benjamin School. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  35. "Our Trustees". www.thebenjaminschool.org. Retrieved 9 January 2019.

26.83824°N 80.06363°W / 26.83824; -80.06363

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