**Updated 12/23/11

 

GEOGRAPHIC POWER

 

Florida's Most Successful Programs

 

In an attempt to find out where the best football programs can be found, I have broken the state up into eight (8) regions. These regions are purely geographic and are not necessarily dictated by population, media coverage, FHSAA Region or any other criteria. The regions and their associated counties are as follows:

 

PANHANDLE – Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa,

Walton, Washington

 

NORTHWEST - Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty. Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla

 

NORTH - Alachua, Citrus, Columbia, Gilchrist, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Sumter, Union

 

NORTHEAST- Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, St. John’s

 

EAST CENTRAL- Brevard, Indian River, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, St.Lucie, Volusia

 

WEST CENTRAL- DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota

 

SOUTHWEST- Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Monroe

 

SOUTHEAST- Broward, Dade, Martin, Palm Beach

 

Using data provided by the FHSAA, I developed a simple point system for all 264 schools that have advanced to the state semi-finals and beyond since 1963 when Coral Gables won the first state championship tournament. Points are awarded as follows:

 

State Champion = 5 points

Co-State Champion = 4 points

Runner-Up = 2 points

Semi-Final Loss = 1 point

 

By totaling the accumulated points for each school, county and associated region we can create a geographic representation of where the state powers are located. So let’s begin.

 

Using the Point Scale Method, the top Florida High School programs since 1963 are:

 

1) Bolles 61 pts

2) Glades Day 54 pts

3) St. Thomas Aquinas 48 pts

4) Pahokee 45 pts

5) Glades Central 43 pts

5) North Florida Christian 43 pts

6) Lakeland 39 pts

8) University Christian 36 pts

9) Manatee 35 pts

10) Jefferson County 31 pts

 

Here is the Regional Rankings Since 1963:

 

Southeast 567 pts

West Central 416 pts

Northwest 264 pts

Panhandle 259 pts

Northeast 219 pts

East Central 215 pts

North 187 pts

Southwest 68 pts

 

Here is the Top County Rankings Since 1963:

 

1) Palm Beach 227 pts

2) Dade 197 pts

3) Polk 160 pts

4) Duval 146 pts

5) Broward 142 pts

6) Leon 126 pts

7) Hillsborough 109 pts

8) Brevard 93 pts

9) Escambia 81 pts

10) Manatee 63 pts

 

Using the Point Scale Method, the top programs for each Region since 1963 are:

 

SOUTHEAST-

 

Glades Day 54 pts

St. Thomas Aquinas 48 pts

Pahokee 45 pts

Glades Central 43 pts

Miami Carol City 28 pts

 

WEST CENTRAL-

 

Lakeland 39 pts

Manatee 35 pts

Frostproof 30 pts

Fort Meade 27 pts

Plant 26 pts

 

PANHANDLE-

 

Baker 28 pts

Port St. Joe 24 pts

Pine Forest 22 pts

Blountstown 19 pts

Graceville 17 pts

 

NORTHWEST-

 

North Florida Christian 43 pts

Jefferson County 31 pts

FAMU 23 pts

Madison County 23 pts

Suwannee 22 pts

 

NORTHEAST-

 

Bolles 61 pts

University Christian 36 pts

Trinity Christian (Jax) 23 pts

Bradford 16 pts

Hastings 14 pts

 

NORTH-

 

Union County 22 pts

Santa Fe 18 pts

Wildwood 17 pts

Trinity Catholic 15 pts

Dunnellon 13 pts

Columbia 11 pts

Forest 11 pts

 

EAST CENTRAL-

 

Merritt Island 22 pts

Cocoa 18 pts

Palm Bay 14 pts

Rockledge 13 pts

Titusville 13 pts

 

SOUTHWEST-

 

Clewiston 18 pts

Naples 14 pts

Immokalee 7 pts

Bishop Verot 5 pts

Moore Haven 4 pts

 

It’s quite evident the Southeast region holds a commanding lead from 1963 through 2011 (49 seasons) but was the dominance continuous through the duration of this period? To find out we will use the point scale method to break down each decade to see if any power shifts have occurred over the years.

----------------------------------------------------

 

The 60’s:

 

The top Florida High School programs from 1963 thru 1969:

 

1) Coral Gables 20 pts

2) Bradford 10 pts

2) Carver 10 pts

4) Columbia 8 pts

5) Melbourne 7 pts

6) Jesuit 6 pts

7) 10 Tied with 5 pts

 

Here are the Regional Rankings from 1963 thru 1969:

 

Southeast 44 pts

West Central 40 pts

North 26 pts

Northeast 26 pts

Northwest 19 pts

East Central 12 pts

Panhandle 10 pts

Southwest 3 pts

 

Here are the Top County Rankings from 1963 thru 1969:

 

1) Dade 26 pts

2) Hillsborough 22 pts

3) Palm Beach 11 pts

4) Bradford 10 pts

5) Brevard 9 pts

5) Duval 9 pts

7) Columbia 8 pts

8) Broward 7 pts

8) Polk 7 pts

10) Lake 6 pts

10) Leon 6 pts

 

Notables from the 60’s – West Central strong; North Region above average; Panhandle weak

----------------------------------------------------

 

The 70’s:

 

The top Florida High School programs from 1970 thru 1979:

 

1) Merritt Island 17 pts

2) Blountstown 15 pts

2) FAMU 15 pts

4) Milton 13 pts

5) Glades Central 12 pts

5) Hastings 12 pts

7) Forest 11 pts

8) Dunnellon 10 pts

8) Jefferson County 10 pts

8) Leon 10 pts

 

Here are the Regional Rankings from 1970 thru 1979:

 

Southeast 70 pts

Northwest 61 pts

Panhandle 58 pts

West Central 56 pts

East Central 42 pts

North 42 pts

Northeast 26 pts

Southwest 4 pts

 

Here are the Top County Rankings from 1970 thru 1979:

 

1) Palm Beach 31 pts

1) Polk 31 pts

3) Leon 30 pts

4) Dade 29 pts

5) Marion 21pts

6) Brevard 20 pts

7) Calhoun 15 pts

8) Santa Rosa 13 pts

8) St. John’s 13 pts

10) Jefferson 11 pts

10) Orange 11 pts

 

Notables from the 70’s – Northwest and Panhandle drastically improved.

----------------------------------------------------

 

The 80’s:

 

The top Florida High School programs from 1980 thru 1989:

 

1) Glades Day 25 pts

2) Baker 20 pts

3) Manatee 16 pts

4) Suwannee 15 pts

5) Titusville 13 pts

6) Woodham 12 pts

7) Avon Park 11 pts

7) Dillard 11 pts

7) Godby 11 pts

7) University Christian 11 pts

 

 

Here are the Regional Rankings from 1980 thru 1989:

 

Panhandle 92 pts

West Central 74 pts

Southeast 74 pts

Northwest 49 pts

North 34 pts

East Central 34 pts

Northeast 31 pts

Southwest 18 pts

 

Here are the Top County Rankings from 1980 thru 1989:

 

1) Escambia 41 pts

2) Palm Beach 38 pts

3) Okaloosa 25 pts

4) Manatee 22 pts

5) Polk 21pts

6) Duval 19 pts

7) Dade 18 pts

8) Broward 17 pts

9) Brevard 16 pts

10) Alachua 15 pts

10) Suwannee 15 pts

 

Notables from the 80’s – Panhandle dominates decade; Southwest finally hits double-digit totals.

----------------------------------------------------

 

The 90’s:

 

The top Florida High School programs from 1990 thru 1999:

 

1) Bolles 22 pts

2) St. Thomas Aquinas 20 pts

3) University Christian 18 pts

4) North Florida Christian 17 pts

5) Frostproof 16 pts

6) Union County 15 pts

7) Glades Central 14 pts

8) Southeast (Bradenton) 13 pts

9) Lakeland 11 pts

9) Miami Carol City 11 pts

9) Santa Fe 11 pts

 

Here are the Regional Rankings from 1990 thru 1999:

 

Southeast 118 pts

West Central 87 pts

Northeast 56 pts

Northwest 52 pts

North 50 pts

Panhandle 50 pts

East Central 33 pts

Southwest 14 pts

 

Here are the Top County Rankings from 1990 thru 1999:

 

1) Duval 54 pts

2) Polk 45 pts

3) Dade 42 pts

4) Broward 39 pts

5) Palm Beach 37 pts

6) Leon 24 pts

7) Alachua 22 pts

7) Manatee 22 pts

7) Okaloosa 22 pts

10) Union 15 pts

 

Notables from the 90’s – Southeast back on top; Northeast makes a move; Panhandle stumbles.

----------------------------------------------------

 

The 00’s:

 

The top Florida High School programs from 2000 thru 2009:

 

1) Pahokee 28 pts

2) Bolles 27 pts

3) St. Thomas Aquinas 21 pts

4) North Florida Christian 19 pts

5) Lakeland 18 pts

6) Fort Meade 17 pts

6) Madison County 17 pts

8) Chaminade 16 pts

8) Miami Northwestern 16 pts

10) Armwood 15 pts

10) Plant 15 pts

 

Here are the Regional Rankings from 2000 thru 2009:

 

Southeast 217 pts

West Central 123 pts

East Central 81 pts

Northeast 65 pts

Northwest 61 pts

Panhandle 46 pts

North 27 pts

Southwest 27 pts

 

Here are the Top County Rankings from 2000 thru 2009:

 

1) Palm Beach 93 pts

2) Dade 65 pts

3) Broward 59 pts

4) Polk 52 pts

5) Hillsborough 48 pts

6) Leon 43 pts

7) Duval 41 pts

8) Brevard 34 pts

9) St. John’s 21 pts

10) Collier 20 pts

 

Notables from the 00’s – Public schools crack the top 4 for the first time since the 80's; East Central rebounds.

----------------------------------------------------

 

The 10’s:

 

The top Florida High School programs from 2010 thru 2011:

 

American Heritage (Delray Bch) 7 pts

Armwood 7 pts

Miami Central 7 pts

Miami Norland 7 pts

Plant 7 pts

Cocoa 6 pts

Glades Day 6 pts

Jefferson County 6 pts

Manatee 6 pts

Trinity Catholic 6 pts

 

Here are the Regional Rankings from 2010 thru 2011:

 

Southeast 44 pts

West Central 35 pts

Northwest 22 pts

Northeast 15 pts

East Central 13 pts

North 8 pts

Panhandle 5 pts

Southwest 2 pts

 

Here are the Top County Rankings from 2010 thru 2011:

 

1) Hillsborough 21 pts

2) Dade 17 pts

2) Palm Beach 17 pts

4) Duval 13 pts

5) Broward 10 pts

5) Leon 10 pts

7) Manatee 7 pts

8) Brevard 6 pts

8) Marion 6 pts

8) Jefferson 6 pts

 

After reviewing each decade, we can definitely see noticeable shifts in the Regional Rankings. However, with the exception of the 80’s, it is obvious the Southeast Region has maintained overall dominance.

 

It must be noted that because we are looking at school achievements regardless of classification, the Point Scale Method is NOT an indication of overall strength or power ranking. It IS however, a very effective way to measure program success.

 

FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ADVANCED TO STATE TITLE GAMES SINCE 1963

 

School

County

Region

State Titles

Runner-Up

Appearances

Last Title

Last App

Notes

Glades Day

Palm Beach

Southeast

7

7

14

2010

2010

 

Bolles

Duval

Northeast

11

2

13

2011

2011

 

St. Thomas Aquinas

Broward

Southeast

6

7

13

2010

2010

 

North Florida Christian

Leon

Northwest

7

3

10

2011

2011

 

Glades Central

Palm Beach

Southeast

6

4

10

2006

2010

 

Pahokee

Palm Beach

Southeast

6

3

9

2008

2008

 

Fort Meade

Polk

West Central

1

8

9

2004

2008

 

Lakeland

Polk

West Central

6

1

7

2006

2008

 

University Christian

Duval

Northeast

6

1

7

1994

1994

 

Manatee

Manatee

West Central

5

2

7

2011

2011

 

Frostproof

Polk

West Central

3

4

7

1999

1999

 

Jefferson County

Jefferson

Northwest

5.5

0

6

2011

2011

Co-Champs 1982

Baker

Okaloosa

Panhandle

4

2

6

1993

1993

 

Miami Carol City

Dade

Southeast

4

2

6

2003

2003

 

Miami Northwestern

Dade

Southeast

4

2

6

2007

2008

 

Pine Forest

Escambia

Panhandle

3

3

6

2000

2006

 

Madison County

Madison

Northwest

2

4

6

2007

2011

 

Miami Southridge

Dade

Southeast

1.5

4

6

1993

1999

Co-Champs 1991

Clewiston

Hendry

Southwest

0.5

5

6

1982

2006

Co-Champs 1982

FAMU

Leon

Northwest

4

1

5

2006

2007

 

Plant

Hillsborough

West Central

4

1

5

2011

2011

 

Suwannee

Suwannee

Northwest

4

1

5

1990

1999

 

American Heritage(Delray)

Palm Beach

Southeast

3

2

5

2011

2011

 

Armwood

Hillsborough

West Central

3

2

5

2011

2011

 

Port St. Joe

Gulf

Panhandle

3

2

5

2005

2005

 

Trinity Christian

Duval

Northeast

3

2

5

2010

2010

 

Union County

Union

North

3

2

5

1996

2003

 

Dillard

Broward

Southeast

2

3

5

1989

2000

 

Leon

Leon

Northwest

2

3

5

1974

1992

 

Southeast

Manatee

West Central

2

3

5

1994

1994

 

Coral Gables

Dade

Southeast

4

0

4

1968

1968

 

Blountstown

Calhoun

Panhandle

3

1

4

1977

2004

 

Godby

Leon

Northwest

3

1

4

1987

2008

 

Lincoln

Leon

Northwest

3

1

4

2010

2010

 

Merritt Island

Brevard

East Central

3

1

4

1979

1989

 

Chaminade

Broward

Southeast

2

2

4

2005

2005

 

Graceville

Jackson

Panhandle

2

2

4

1993

2005

 

Trinity Catholic

Marion

North

2

2

4

2010

2010

 

Wakulla

Wakulla

Northwest

2

2

4

1981

2011

 

Wildwood

Sumter

North

2

2

4

1970

1985

 

Atlantic

Palm Beach

Southeast

0

4

4

N / A

1978

 

Benjamin

Palm Beach

Southeast

0

4

4

N / A

1994

 

Bartow

Polk

West Central

3

0

3

1996

1996

 

Cocoa

Brevard

East Central

3

0

3

2010

2010

 

Avon Park

Highlands

West Central

2

1

3

1988

1988

 

Bradford

Bradford

Northeast

2

1

3

1966

1985

 

Escambia

Escambia

Panhandle

2

1

3

1985

1999

 

Miami Norland

Dade

Southeast

2

1

3

2011

2011

 

Milton

Santa Rosa

Panhandle

2

1

3

1979

1979

 

Naples

Collier

Southwest

2

1

3

2007

2007

 

Santa Fe

Alachua

North

2

1

3

1994

1994

 

Titusville

Brevard

East Central

2

1

3

1983

1983

 

Woodham

Escambia

Panhandle

2

1

3

1984

1985

 

Columbia

Columbia

North

1

2

3

1967

1997

 

Haines City

Polk

West Central

1

2

3

1973

1991

 

Holmes County

Holmes

Panhandle

1

2

3

1965

1987

 

Jefferson 

Hillsborough

West Central

1

2

3

2010

2010

 

Nease

St. John's

Northeast

1

2

3

2005

2007

 

Osceola (Kissimmee)

Osceola

East Central

1

2

3

1998

2007

 

St. Augustine

St. John's

Northeast

1

2

3

2005

2007

 

Edgewater

Orange

East Central

0

3

3

N / A

2004

 

Hardee

Hardee

West Central

0

3

3

N / A

1995

 

Warner Christian

Volusia

East Central

0

3

3

N / A

2010

 

Carver

Palm Beach

Southeast

2

0

2

1969

1969

Now a Middle School

Dunnellon

Marion

North

2

0

2

1979

1979

 

Forest

Marion

North

2

0

2

1975

1975

 

Fort Walton Beach

Okaloosa

Panhandle

2

0

2

1995

1995

 

Hastings

St. John's

Northeast

2

0

2

1971

1971

Closed 1985

Jupiter Christian

Palm Beach

Southeast

2

0

2

2008

2008

 

Palm Bay

Brevard

East Central

2

0

2

2002

2002

 

Rockledge

Brevard

East Central

2

0

2

2002

2002

 

Bay

Bay

Panhandle

1

1

2

1976

1993

 

Choctawhatchee

Okaloosa

Panhandle

1

1

2

1990

1990

 

Dwyer

Palm Beach

Southeast

1

1

2

2009

2009

 

Ely

Broward

Southeast

1

1

2

2002

2002

 

Eustis

Lake

North

1

1

2

1983

1983

 

Fort Pierce Central

St. Lucie

East Central

1

1

2

1971

1971

 

Gulliver Prep

Dade

Southeast

1

1

2

2000

2008

 

Jesuit

Hillsborough

West Central

1

1

2

1968

1992

 

Lafayette

Lafayette

Northwest

1

1

2

1981

1997

 

Melbourne

Brevard

East Central

1

1

2

1966

1966

 

Miami Central

Dade

Southeast

1

1

2

2010

2011

 

Miramar

Broward

Southeast

1

1

2

2009

2011

 

Niceville

Okaloosa

Panhandle

1

1

2

1988

2009

 

Palatka

Putnam

Northeast

1

1

2

1981

1983

 

Palmetto

Manatee

West Central

1

1

2

1975

1986

 

Raines

Duval

Northeast

1

1

2

1997

1997

 

Taylor County

Taylor

Northwest

1

1

2

1997

1997

 

Walton

Walton

Panhandle

1

1

2

1985

1985

 

Washington (Miami)

Dade

Southeast

1

1

2

2007

2011

 

Westminster

Broward

Southeast

1

1

2

1990

1991

 

Bishop Verot

Lee

Southwest

0

2

2

N / A

1994

 

Clermont

Lake

North

0

2

2

N / A

1980

Merged- Now South Lake

Columbus

Dade

Southeast

0

2

2

N / A

1982

 

Dunedin

Pinellas

West Central

0

2

2

N / A

1987

 

Lake Gibson

Polk

West Central

0

2

2

N / A

2004

 

Lake Wales

Polk

West Central

0

2

2

N / A

1994

 

Newberry

Alachua

North

0

2

2

N / A

2007

 

Riverview (Sarasota)

Sarasota

West Central

0

2

2

N / A

1990

 

Robinson

Hillsborough

West Central

0

2

2

N / A

1971

 

Rutherford

Bay

Panhandle

0

2

2

N / A

1999

 

Shorecrest

Pinellas

West Central

0

2

2

N / A

1976

 

Tampa Catholic

Hillsborough

West Central

0

2

2

N / A

2009

 

Trinity Prep

Orange

East Central

0

2

2

N / A

1977

 

Williston

Levy

North

0

2

2

N / A

1988

 

Wolfson

Duval

Northeast

0

2

2

N / A

1968

 

Apopka

Orange

East Central

1

0

1

2001

2001

 

Bishop Moore

Orange

East Central

1

0

1

1970

1970

 

Blake

Hillsborough

West Central

1

0

1

1969

1969

 

Buchholz

Alachua

North

1

0

1

1990

1990

 

Cardinal Mooney

Sarasota

West Central

1

0

1

1972

1972

 

Chapman

Franklin

Northwest

1

0

1

1968

1968

Now an Elementary School

Chiefland

Levy

North

1

0

1

1997

1997

 

Clay

Clay

Northeast

1

0

1

1967

1967

 

Ernest Ward (McDavid)

Escambia

Panhandle

1

0

1

1979

1979

Merged- Now  Northview High

Evangel Christian

Polk

West Central

1

0

1

2005

2005

Defunct-Now Victory Christian

Gainesville

Alachua

North

1

0

1

1980

1980

 

Greensboro

Gadsden

Northwest

1

0

1

1975

1975

 

Hialeah Miami Lakes

Dade

Southeast

1

0

1

1975

1975

 

Hollywood Hills

Broward

Southeast

1

0

1

1973

1973

 

Immokalee

Collier

Southwest

1

0

1

2004

2004

 

Mainland

Volusia

East Central

1

0

1

2003

2003

 

Miami

Dade

Southeast

1

0

1

1965

1965

 

Miami Edison

Dade

Southeast

1

0

1

1970

1970

 

Miami Killian

Dade

Southeast

1

0

1

2004

2004

 

Monsignor Pace

Dade

Southeast

1

0

1

2003

2003

 

Palm Beach Gardens

Palm Beach

Southeast

1

0

1

2005

2005

 

Pasco

Pasco

West Central

1

0

1

1992

1992

 

Pensacola

Escambia

Panhandle

1

0

1

2009

2009

 

Pinecrest (Lithia)

Hillsborough

West Central

1

0

1

1969

1969

Closed

Seminole (Sanford)

Seminole

East Central

1

0

1

2008

2008

 

Tate

Escambia

Panhandle

1

0

1

1980

1980

 

Venice

Sarasota

West Central

1

0

1

2000

2000

 

Vero Beach

Indian River

East Central

1

0

1

1981

1981

 

Washington (Pensacola)

Escambia

Panhandle

1

0

1

1994

1994

 

Evans

Orange

East Central

0.5

0

1

1991

1991

Co-Champs 1991

Admiral Farragut

Pinellas

West Central

0

1

1

N / A

2011

 

American Heritage(Plantation)

Broward

Southeast

0

1

1

N / A

1998

 

Astronaut

Brevard

East Central

0

1

1

N / A

2000

 

Auburndale

Polk

West Central

0

1

1

N / A

1967

 

Belen Jesuit

Dade

Southeast

0

1

1

N / A

2009

 

Booker

Sarasota

West Central

0

1

1

N / A

2005

 

Boone

Orange

East Central

0

1

1

N / A

2007

 

Brandon

Hillsborough

West Central

0

1

1

N / A

1969

 

Branford

Suwannee

Northwest

0

1

1

N / A

1974

 

Cardinal Gibbons

Broward

Southeast

0

1

1

N / A

1990

 

Century

Escambia

Panhandle

0

1

1

N / A

1986

Merged- Now Northview High

Chamberlain

Hillsborough

West Central

0

1

1

N / A

2001

 

Chipley

Washington

Panhandle

0

1

1

N / A

2011

 

Crestview

Okaloosa

Panhandle

0

1

1

N / A

2002

 

Deerfield Beach

Broward

Southeast

0

1

1

N / A

2005

 

DeLand

Volusia

East Central

0

1

1

N / A

2009

 

Dixie County

Dixie

Northwest

0

1

1

N / A

1971

 

Dixie Hollins

Pinellas

West Central

0

1

1

N / A

1995

 

Dr. Phillips

Orange

East Central

0

1

1

N / A

2010

 

Estero

Lee

Southwest

0

1

1

N / A

1998

 

First Coast

Duval

Northeast

0

1

1

N / A

2011

 

Fort Lauderdale

Broward

Southeast

0

1

1

N / A

1966

 

Groveland

Lake

North

0