Miami Beach Senior High School turns 100 on Tuesday, Oct. 6, marking a century since the city's first high school was established in 1926.

The City of Miami Beach said on X that the school has educated generations of students who went on to lead in government, business and other fields. The Miami-Dade County School Board approved Resolution No. 26-024 in April recognizing the school's 100th anniversary.


From Drexel Avenue to Prairie Avenue

The school owes its beginnings to Miami Beach pioneer Carl Fisher, who provided funds to purchase land for the original campus at 1424 Drexel Ave. in South Beach. Architect August Geiger designed the original building, and C.C. Carson served as the school's first principal.

For its first 20 years, the school was named for Fisher's mother, Ida M. Fisher, according to the school's history page.

Construction began in 1926, and classes moved into the building in 1928. The school later moved to its current campus at 2231 Prairie Ave. in 1960.

Miami Beach Senior High is the second-oldest high school in Miami-Dade County, behind Miami Senior High School, which was founded in 1903. It serves students from Miami Beach and neighboring communities including Surfside, Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, North Bay Village and Indian Creek.

Alumni span journalism, entertainment and business

The school's graduates include prominent figures in journalism, entertainment, business and government.

Television journalist Barbara Walters graduated in 1947. Stephen M. Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, graduated in 1958. Actors Mickey Rourke and Andy Garcia graduated in 1971 and 1974, respectively, while Ellen Barkin attended the school and was part of the Class of 1972. Former Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber graduated in 1978.

Another alumnus, Stanley "Skip" Bertman, graduated in 1956 before returning to coach baseball at Miami Beach High. Bertman led the Hi-Tides to the 1970 state championship and two state runner-up finishes before continuing his coaching career at the University of Miami and LSU, where he led the Tigers to five national championships.

The city officially renamed Flamingo Park Baseball Field as Stanley Skip Bertman Field on April 23.

"I'm proud of the name of this field in particular because I was here so often and played so often here," Bertman said during the renaming, as reported by Local 10.

A century of education continues

The school enrolls roughly 2,100 students in grades 9 through 12 and is led by Principal Al Torossian. Miami Beach Senior High became an International Baccalaureate World School in 2010.

The Class of 2026 received 678 scholarship awards totaling more than $32.3 million among 210 students, according to the school's website.

As Miami Beach Senior High enters its second century, its original class motto still reflects the school's history: "Let us be known for our deeds."