High School, Industry

The Evolution of Doral Academy

by Sofia Zuniga

 

Ever wondered how one of the nation’s best schools of 4,000+ students started? Here is a timeline of a few events that led up to where Doral Academy Preparatory is today!

 

A Google Earth photograph from 1994, showing the warehouse which became the A building and Doral Palms Hospital, which became the B building.
  • 1999: The first class of 25 students opened in Mater Academy. 
  • 2000: Middle school students were housed in Doral Elementary for 1 year. 
  • 2001: Doral Academy high school opened in the B building. 
  • 2002: The school had to relocate middle school students to the Dolphin Mall movie theater with 100 students in grades 6-8 while the permits for the A building were in process.
  • 2003: The boys’ soccer won the district and regional championship.
  • 2004: The canopy for spill out opened for the school year.

 

A photograph from 2006 showing the outside canopy cafeteria area.

 

  • 2005: The boys’ soccer team won the district championship.
  • 2006: The official performing arts school was established.
  • 2008: The boys’ wrestling team and boys soccer team won the district championship.
  • 2009: FirebirdTV started their broadcasting program.
  • 2010: Class of 2010 donated benches located throughout the school campus.

 

A Google Earth photograph from March of 2010.

 

  • 2011: The music program officially began 
  • 2011: Doral Academy is the first high school to embed a college onto its campus.
    • Doral College, a private, not for profit college, opens on the Doral Academy Prep campus to fulfill its mission of permitting students to make a seamless transition to college while still attending high school. The College entered into an agreement with the high school to provide college services through its Associate in Arts Degree Program. Students began to attend Doral College classes concurrently with their high school classes, working simultaneously toward both their high school diplomas and AA degrees through three instructional delivery models: face to face, online, and hybrid.
  • 2012: C building was built and parking was adjusted.
  • 2012: The Boys Soccer team, Girls Cross Country, Baseball all won district championship.
  • 2012: The opening of the brand new C building and parking space was adjusted. 
  • 2013: The Girls Soccer team and Softball team won the district championship.
  • 2014: Blue Ribbon Award Winner
  • 2014: Gym was built and opened.
  • 2015: Blue Ribbon Award Winner
  • 2015: The Firebird Players score Superior at the District 8 One-Act Festival on their first competition.
  • 2016: The Firebird singers won State Superior at State Music Assessment of the Florida Vocal Association.
  • 2016: The Softball team, Girls Basketball and Boys Tennis, won the district championship.

 

A Google Earth photograph from January of 2016.

 

  • 2017: Blue Ribbon Award Winner
  • 2017: Construction for Doral Hall begins.
  • 2017: The girls’ tennis team won district and regional championship. The team also won state semifinalists.
  • 2017: Doral Academy administered over 2,200 Advanced Placement Exams 
  • 2017: The Mu Alpha Theta placed 3rd at the National Convention out of 53 schools.
  • 2018: The boys’ basketball team won the Class 7A State of Florida Championship. 
  • 2019: The FBLA Club placed in 24 categories and headed to the state level during the 2018-2019 school year.
  • 2019: Doral Hall officially opens its doors.
  • 2019: Doral Academy Computer Science Club wins first place at CyberQuest, a state-wide cybersecurity competition.
  • 2020: Doral Academy refurbishes the library into an E-Sports gaming room and a social media management space.
  • 2020: Student-led podcast, The Nest, begins streaming on all major platforms.
  • 2020: Marching band opens up FFCC season Premier with first place.
  • 2020: Firebird Rubies won state champions at the Florida State Dance Championship.
  • 2020: Varsity Wrestling team won the title of District Champions.

 

Fun facts: 

  • As of 2019, The current school population is at about 4,000 students with 150 faculty members and about 300 on staff.
  • Consistently among the highest performing schools in the state of Florida.
  • Noted by every major top publication as one of the top schools in the country.
  • 99% are college-bound.
  • Students have obtained $27 Million in scholarships.
  • #1 Athletic program in Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida.
  • First high school to embed a college onto their campus.
  • Numerous accolades for clubs, academic teams, and performing arts programs.
  • 4000 student waitlist.