Miami State High School
Miami State High School is a school in Miami, Queensland established as South Coast District State High School in 1963. It is currently the Gold Coast's second oldest state school, second in age only to Southport State High School (established 1955). The traditional custodians of the land on which Miami State High School rests are the Yugambeh Language Group of the Bundjalung Nation. Originally named South Coast District State High School, Miami High was officially opened in April 1963. It soon became known as Miami High and, after a number of years, the more compact name was officially adopted. It was built to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding population on the Gold Coast. At the time, the only public high schools were Southport High School and Tweed River High School, about  apart, with the site of Miami High about midway between the two on the Gold Coast Highway at the very northern end of Miami. Infrastructure

Initial Construction

The chosen site presented a number of construction challenges because the southern half was a swamp and the northern half was on the steep slope of Nobby's Headland, an upthrust of schist about 50 m high at its highest point. The challenges were met by the simple expedient of blasting the slope and dumping the rubble in the swamp, but with a consequent complete loss of topsoil that created enduring problems for many years. It construction in the sixties always stayed behind the needs of the students for three reasons: 
(a) competition with established schools for resources; 
(b) the transition of the Baby Boom Generation from primary school to high school; and 
(c) the inclusion of year 8. 1965 and 1966 saw open underschool areas, originally intended for protection from sun and rain, being converted to temporary classrooms and several flimsy demountable buildings being installed as other temporary classrooms.Despite their nominally temporary nature, many of these structures were still in use twenty years later. Buildings

The school has a assembly hall with a 1,500 seat capacity. This assembly hall as the first venue on the coast that could seat more than 1,000 people. It has hosted performers such as AC/DC, Sherbet, Skyhooks, and Hot Chocolate. In 1967, the Australian federal government built a two-story, four-laboratory science block, as part of a program to improve the teaching of science throughout Australia. Several of the laboratories were promptly pressed into service as regular classrooms. In 2014, construction of a multi-storey learning facility for years 7 and 8 was completed, as part of the “Flying Start” program, which brought year 7 students into the Queensland high school system. The building has two prominent brick murals composed of brickwork in a standard grey mortar with recessed joints, dually functioning as cladding and a piece of artwork. The northern elevation has a brick mural depicting a breaking wave. The pattern is said to be a surfing metaphor for "the need to focus on the task at hand from start to finish and achieve the best outcome for you. ", similar to the principles of surfing a tube which requires "a good start, stay calm and composed in the middle, before ending the journey in one piece, albeit a changed and inspired person." The western  elevation, facing the highway, has a "binary wall" mural, featuring a binary computer code spelling out the school's slogan and motto, "Miami State High School, Learning through a team effort, Semper Costa Floreat". The architect, Conrad Garget, described it as "a cost effective, artistic, inspiring, character enabling, durable and low maintenance structure which both describes the story of development in education through the use of computers." The building prompted the then school principal, Jim Baker, to have the word ‘Inspire’ rise vertically on the western elevation of the entry building, and, subsequently, to similarly name all the school's existing buildings. Sports

Miami State High School possesses an all-weather playing surface featuring four basketball, four netball and three volleyball courts, a sports field, fully equipped gymnasium and 25 metre swimming pool. In 2022, work started at the school for an $11 million indoor sports centre. TV and film studio

The school has a film and TV studio. Hollywood Sign

Miami's most iconic landmark is the school's yellow ‘Hollywood-style’ sign. Exerect in 1979, the sign was the brainchild of then principal, William Callinan, and was designed to cover the scarp face, once the site of a rock quarry. After a trip to Los Angeles, Bill was inspired by the Hollywood sign to build the school's sign in the same design. Originally, it read 'Hi Miami High', but it now reads simply "Miami High". The school's sign on the side of the hill is listed on the Gold Coast Local Heritage Register, due to it being "historically significant in demonstrating the important fun and fantasy phase of development on the Gold Coast.". Fencing

The school grounds are enclosed in a 2-metre tall spiked black steel perimeter fence. The fence was constructed in 2022, as part of a state government initial which saw similar fence erected in 140 school in 2021. The reason for the fence was attributed to the general "rise in crime around state schools in south-east Queensland". Curriculum

Exchange Program

Miami High has introduced an international exchange program with students from all over the world now attending the school. Aviation

Since 2007, Miami State High School has offered Aerospace studies. In 2012, this made it unique as the only school in south east Queensland to offer aviation as a subject in the senior syllabus. Languages

The school's language department offers Japanese, Spanish, and AUSLAN (Australian Sign Language). As part of it extra-curicullar program it organises international trips to Japan and Spain. Executive

Principal

The first principle was Claude Rayner. In 2023, the current principal of Miami State High School was Susan Dalton." She was the first female principal at Miami State High School. The current acting principle is Alyce Bradford and the acting deputy principal is Michelle Flynn. Deputy Principles

The first deputy principal was Ken Maynard, appointed in 1967. The current deputy principals for each year are:- 

Expenditure on teacher participation in professional development for the year 2006 reached a total of $24,530. Permanent and temporary staff at the school had an attendance rate of 96% for the same year. The retention rate of staff from 2005 to 2006 was 95%. Students

Years

In 1964, Queensland's primary schools ceased to teach year 8, which was transferred to the high schools. The "infant" Miami State High School went from catering to year 9 to catering to years 8 - 10, causing the school to be barely being able to provide enough classrooms for the start of the year. As part of a 2013 trial, officially implemented in 2015, year 7 was subsequently included, so that Miami State High School now catered for years 7-12, to align Queensland with the other states, as part of Anna Bligh's state-wide "Flying Start" program. Class Sizes

The trend in the average size of classes has been: -

Student Enrolments

In 2022, Miami State High School was reported to have a maximum student enrolment capacity of 1,449 students. Student retention rates from year 8 to year 12 was 75%. The trend in school enrolments (August figures) has been:-

Discipline

The trend in student discipline has been: -

Notable alumni

Politics & Business

Entertainment

Sports

See also

List of schools in Gold Coast, Queensland
List of schools in Queensland
Lists of schools in Australia

References

Public high schools in Queensland
Schools on the Gold Coast, Queensland
Educational institutions established in 1963
1963 establishments in Australia