Crooms Academy of Information Technology

Crooms Academy of Information Technology (Crooms AoIT), locally called Crooms, is a technology magnet school located in Sanford, Florida, known for being one of the few schools in the United States that issues laptops to every student. Crooms is much smaller than many U.S. high schools, having a little more than 650 students. The school is operated by Seminole County Public Schools.

Crooms Academy of Information Technology
Information
TypePublic
MottoRich in Tradition, Pride, and Vision
Established1926, 2001 in present form
FounderJoseph N. Crooms
School districtSeminole County Public Schools
PrincipalDr. Brandon Hanshaw
Faculty25.69 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Number of students685 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio26.66[1]
Color(s)Orange & Maroon
MascotPanther
NicknameCroomies
Websitehttp://www.cait.scps.k12.fl.us/

History

Crooms Academy was founded in 1926 by Joseph N. Crooms as the county's first high school for African-American students.

In 1970 Seminole County was desegregated and for several years Crooms served as the 9th Grade Center for Seminole High School. In 1973 the original building burned and in the past years the other school buildings have deteriorated. In the early 1980s, the 9th Grade Center was discontinued and the school lost its identity as a community high school. Its role changed several times and has included an administrative center, a school for students with behavior problems, and a place for pregnant teenagers. Most recently, it was a school for academically struggling students. In 2000, the U.S. Justice Department agreed to lift Seminole's desegregation order by 2003 if the county met certain conditions. Included in this is rebuilding Crooms Academy and turning it into an academy of information technology.

The Buildings

The campus consists of a two story building consisting mostly of classrooms and computer labs (Building 1), a gymnasium (Building 3), and a cafeteria (Building 2). The cafeteria building also houses four classrooms and a computer lab. The small size of the campus allows for a capacity of approximately 700 students. Construction has begun on a new gymnasium expected to open before the 2020-2021 school year.

The Technology

HP is the number one supplier of the technology at Crooms. Each student is issued a laptop based on grade level and return condition of previously issued laptops. Every technology-based classroom is equipped with a desktop computer for the student to use in case their laptop is being repaired.

The school's cyber center functions as a standard high school library with attention given to providing a location for students to bring their laptops and have a quiet place to study with charging stations located in several areas around the room.

An iMac lab is available on campus which students use in conjunction with their core and elective classes to edit videos, create podcasts, and develop other multimedia projects while learning the Mac OS.

The school also features SMARTBoards in every classroom with the exception of computer labs. Lessons "written" on the board can be saved to a computer, uploaded to eCampus, SCPS's online education system, and easily accessed and downloaded by students from school or home.

Many students who are technologically savvy have shown their skills in various ways, some make programs, others build computers, and some have created websites

Current

For the 2005-2006, 2006–2007, 2007–2008, and 2008-2009 school years Crooms was rated an A.[2]

Crooms Academy was also recently ranked as one of U.S. New's Top 100 Best High Schools in the country for 2008, moving from a bronze to silver medal.[3]

In August 2010, Crooms was awarded the 2010 Business-Education Partnership Award for being recognized for the educational programs they provides to their students.

In October 2011, Crooms was ranked #1 in a survey done by U.S. News for the 2012 Most Connected Classrooms in the United States.[4]

References
  1. "CROOMS ACADEMY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  2. "2005-2009 School Grades." Florida School Grades. June 2007. Florida Department of Education. 18 Jun 2009 Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Best High Schools." Crooms Academy of Information Technology: Best High Schools USNews.com. 03 Jan 2009 Archived April 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "2012 Most Connected Classrooms" USNews.com. 27 Oct. 2011 Archived October 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
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