West Orange High School is the western most school in Orange County Public School (OCPS) district, located 15 miles from downtown Orlando and eight miles north of Walt Disney World. West Orange was completed in 1975 at a cost of 6.5 million dollars; West Orange High was formed by a consilidation of two over-crowded high schools within western Orange County: Lakeview High and Ocoee High. the first
classes were held at Lakeview High School in September 1975. Upon completion of the new facility, classes began onsite in January of 1976. In 2005 West Orange was identified as a school in need of rebuilding due to poor constuction quality and an outdated design. Historically West Orange High School has been on of the larger schools in OCPS (number two in 2012) and at its peak capacity in 2001 had an enrollment of 4,560 students. Currently West Orange has an enrollment of about 3,428 students and has been growing by approximately 150 students a year since 2007. About 46% of WOHS students are white, 23% Hispanic, 21% Black, 6% Asian, and 4% other. West Orange High School has an instructional stuff of 154 (41% with advanced degrees), seven Guidance Counselors, Five Administrative Deans, 1 CRT, 1 Reading Coach, Five Assistant Principals, and one Principal (James Larsen). Approximately 1,700 students are transported by 42 busses each day to attend school. 325 students or apprximately 10% have tested learning disabled and 303 or 9% are labeled as gifted. In the 2011-2012 school year 1,020 or 30% of WOHS students participated in Advanced Placement courses taking 1,760 exams (2,123 scheduled for the 2012-2013 school year). 37% percent of our students are considered economically disadvantaged as determined by their participation in the Free/Reduced Lunch Program.West Orange High School is unique in its location to Walt Disney World (disney fireworks can be seen every night at 9:00 PM while sitting int he football stadium) and the land mass it serves. West Orange serves primarily the city of Winter Garden and is bordered on the West by Lake County, the South by Osceola County, the East by the city of Ocoee (with its own Ocoee High School est. 2005) and to the North by the City of Apopka and Apopka High School. West Orange High is a true community school that has a large number of parent volunteers donating 21,000 hours of service this year.The current grade for West Orange is published as a 'B' however the school scored high enough to be considered an 'A' if not for a grade level penalty in one category. The current graduation rate is 92% up from 72% in 2007.
