South Miami Senior High School is a high school located at 6856 SW 53rd Street in Glenvar Heights, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, in the United States; located about a mile and a half west of the University of Miami. Its current principal is Mr. Hebert Penton History South Miami Senior opened its doors to students on November 10, 1971. It was built to relieve the overcrowding at Southwest Miami High, Coral Park Senior High and Coral Gables High School. The student body selected the Cobra as its mascot. The school's first principal, Warren Burchell, was originally from Ohio and chose the school colors, orange and brown, for the team colors of the NFL Cleveland Browns. Since opening, South Miami has had eight principals: Dr. Warren G. Burchell, Judy Weiner, Thomas L. Shaw, Eugene Butler, Craig Speziale, Gilberto Bonce, Dr. Cadian Collman-Perez, and Hebert Penton. Dr. Burchell's term was the longest, at 22 years. Demographics The school is 84% Hispanic, 8% Black, 7% White non-Hispanic, and 1% Asian. Notable alumni Athletics Baseball Jose Barrios – former MLB player Dennis Sherrill – former MLB player Equestrian Margie Goldstein-Engle – equestrian show horse champion Football Ed Beckman – former NFL tight end Fernanza Burgess – former NFL quarterback Wayne Capers – former NFL wide receiver Phil Clarke – former NFL linebacker John Corker – former NFL linebacker Damian Harrell – Former Arena Football League wide receiver/defensive back Paul Hazel – former NFL linebacker Fred Jones – former NFL player Dennis McKinnon – former NFL wide receiver Derrick Thomas – former NFL linebacker, Pro Football and College Football Hall of Famer Others Pitbull - rapper/singer Marco Rubio – politician Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio – former Miami Dolphins cheerleader Ivette Corredero – runner-up in Big Brother 6 Raúl De Molina – host of El Gordo y la Flaca Albert Gonzalez – hacker, convicted of computer fraud Mia Michaels – choreographer, judge on So You Think You can Dance Carlos Ponce – singer, songwriter, actor Julio Robaina – politician See also Silver Knight Awards Miami-Dade County Public Schools Education in the United States References External links South Miami Senior High School's official website Educational institutions established in 1971 1971 establishments in Florida Miami-Dade County Public Schools high schools