Oxbridge Academy (Florida)

Oxbridge Academy is a private coeducational college-preparatory middle and high school in West Palm Beach, Florida. The school, managed by the Oxbridge Academy Foundation, Inc., serves grades 6–12.[3]

Oxbridge Academy Foundation, Inc.
Location
Map
3151 North Military Trail
West Palm Beach, Florida

Coordinates26°43′24″N 80°06′45″W / 26.7234°N 80.1125°W / 26.7234; -80.1125
Information
TypePrivate
MottoFor A Lifetime
Established2011
NCES School IDA1501048
PrincipalRalph Maurer
Faculty62[1]
Grades6–12
Enrollment520[2] (2019)
Student to teacher ratio10:1
Color(s)Red, White, Navy Blue
MascotThunderwolf
NicknameThunderwolves
Websitewww.oapb.org

History

The school was funded with a $50 million donation from Bill Koch.[4][5] 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.[3] Oxbridge was opened in under a year on a 45-acre campus that once held a Jewish community center.[3] By 2016 he had spent more than $75 million on the school.[3]

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.[6] Parsons compensation package was worth $1 million, with an annual salary of about $600,000 per year.[3]

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".[7]

In July 2016, David Rosow was elected president and CEO of Oxbridge Academy.[8]

On June 20, 2018, the school announced that it was ending its football program after a number of its players transferred to other schools.[9] The program was revived for the 2023-24 school year.[10]

Athletics recruiting violations

In 2016, the school self-reported athletic recruiting violations and forfeited all athletic victories for the previous two years, including three FHSAA district championships.[11]

Notable students and alumni

References