Daytona High School

Daytona Public School on Bay Street served as the home to Daytona High School from 1910 through 1925. The first school athletic association was formed in 1912 for intramurals and the first competitive school sport was basketball in 1913. The original High School colors were Silver & Blue and the teams were known as the DPS "Panthers." The original Junior High School teams were known as the "Yellow Jackets" and later became "The Pirates." The article below describes the school.

The Daytona Public School
(Excerpted from "The Sentinel" of 1911)

Walking from Ridgewood avenue down Bay street one would surely observe on the left a large brick building of modern architecture and imposing structure. It is supported by a base of grey building stone which forms the first story. The upper portion is of red brick with a Spanish-tiled roof. As one ascends the broad steps he reaches the impressive entrance, each side of which is a Doric column of the grey stone.

On entering the building the spacious hall first attracts the attention of the observer. From this corridor two broad staircases can be seen, which lead to the upper portion of the building. After ascending these stairs the first door one would approach in going down the hall to the right opens into the High School mathematics room. One can readily see by the number of seats, the amount of figuring on the numerous blackboards and the papers about the desk that Mr. Wright's time is well filled. The rest of this wing is occupied by the class-rooms of the seventh and eighth grades; the lower classes being either in the basement or the first floor.

The entire upper portion of the left wing is used by the High School classes. The Latin classes, which are taught by Miss Wilkenson, meet in the room on the right. On the opposite side of the hall is the one in which Miss Rogers teaches Science and German. This differs widely in its furnishings from the other rooms of the building. From the door one can see on the left a number of cases with glass doors, in which the necessary chemicals and physical apparatus are kept. There are also a few specimens of Botany and Zoology. The rest of the walls are lined with blackboards. Back of the recitation seats is a laboratory table with sinks and shelves, used for experiments in Physics and Chemistry.

At this end of the hall is a large room occupying the entire northern extremity of the wing. In here all the pupils of the High School assemble for study; in this assembly-room Miss Franklin teaches her English and History classes. There are large windows on three sides, making it light and airy. On either side of the doorway are standing blackboards behind which the scholars hang their wraps. In the rear portion of the room is a large table which is well filled with reference books and encyclopedias. In one corner is a number of book-cases in which are various good books of reference and literature. These volumes make up the High School library.

In the entire rear wing of the building is the School Auditorium of admirable dimensions and of such beauty as not to fail to elicit expressions of wonder and delight from those who look upon it. The balcony, which is supported by beautiful Ionic columns, serves to increase the seating capacity. From the balcony and the main floor about eight hundred persons can view the platform, which is in front of the audience hall.

The cornerstone of the Daytona Public School was laid November, 1909. The Auditorium was completed in time to hold the 1910 commencement exercises and we began school work in the building last fall. We are all very proud of our lovely building, which everyone thinks is a credit to Daytona and even to Florida.

Quoted from the Daytona High School Annual, "The Sentinel," 1911, pg. 39-40.

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