Henry B. Plant High School

H.B. Plant High School is a public high school located in the neighborhood of South Tampa in Tampa, Florida, United States. It opened in 1927 between South Himes Avenue on the east and Dale Mabry Highway on the west. The school is named in honor of railroad and hotel tycoon Henry B. Plant, who connected Tampa to the United States railroad system in 1884, helping the isolated village to grow into a large city over the following decades. The school mascot is the Panther, and its motto is "Strength Through Unity." Plant High School has an enrollment of more than 2,500 students. Academics U.S. News & World Report ranked Plant High the 17th best public school in Florida and 263rd nationally in 2015. The school has twice been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (1990 and 1997). Music The high school music program consists of musical theater, an orchestra, five chorale groups, two a cappella groups and a marching band, a wind ensemble, a symphonic band and a jazz band. The Marching Panther Band is a combination of all these groups and performs at all football games and various community events.