By the Coral Gables Gazette editorial board

Seventy-five years is a milestone worth pausing to celebrate. This month, Coral Gables Senior High School marks three-quarters of a century as one of South Florida’s most enduring public institutions. Founded in 1950—just 25 years after Coral Gables itself—the school has been a fixture of the city’s civic and cultural life ever since.

What began as a small high school serving a young, planned community has evolved into a regional institution that now draws students from in and outside the city. Today’s Cavaliers come not only from Coral Gables but also from surrounding neighborhoods, reflecting the school’s transformation into a hub of academic opportunity and community identity far beyond its original borders.

For many families, Coral Gables High is more than an alma mater. It’s a tradition. Three generations of residents have walked its halls, cheered from its bleachers, and crossed its graduation stage. That kind of continuity is rare, and it underscores the school’s role as a civic anchor. When alumni return for the 75th anniversary celebration on October 24—from pep rallies and campus tours to food trucks and music—they will be reconnecting not just with classmates, but with a living institution that has shaped their lives and the city.

Since its first graduating class in 1951, Coral Gables Senior High has produced a remarkable roster of alumni whose achievements span the arts, sciences, public service, and sports. Among them:

• Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as U.S. Attorney General.
• Frank Gore, the NFL’s third all-time leading rusher.
• Mike Lowell, World Series champion and MVP.
• Robert H. Frank, noted Cornell University economist and New York Times columnist.
• Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop.
• Karen Russell, acclaimed novelist.
• Winston Scott and William Lenoir, NASA astronauts.
• John Pennel, Olympic pole vault pioneer.
• Silvio Horta, creator of Ugly Betty.
• Gail Edwards of Full House and It’s a Living.

Add to these hundreds of state leaders, teachers, entrepreneurs and civic volunteers whose names may not be as widely known but whose impact has been no less profound. This roster isn’t just a point of nostalgia; it’s evidence of a public school fulfilling its highest purpose—developing talent, character, and citizenship at scale.

Coral Gables High’s anniversary arrives at a time when public education faces scrutiny and challenge nationwide. Yet here stands a living testament to its staying power. The school’s Mediterranean-Revival campus—with its courtyards, fountains, and Art Deco accents—remains a symbol of the city’s values: beauty, tradition, and ambition. Over the decades, its classrooms have become launch pads for astronauts, innovators, journalists, public servants, and artists.

As Coral Gables continues to evolve, the school’s role as a community anchor matters more than ever. It links past to present, connects students from diverse backgrounds, and helps define the city’s identity as a place that nurtures excellence and inclusion.

The upcoming 75th anniversary celebration will be a statement about the enduring power of public education to build futures and community at the same time. As alumni and residents gather for the throwback pep rally, campus tours, and festivities, they will also be investing in the school’s next chapter.

It is easy to look at Coral Gables High’s past and see a legacy of accomplishment. It is harder, but more important, to look at its future and ensure it remains as strong for the next generation as it has been for the last three. Doing so will take ongoing support from alumni, families, and civic leaders who recognize that a thriving public high school benefits the entire community.

Happy 75th, Gables High. Go Cavs.