EA welcomes new Florida partner school
c/o Wildwood Middle High School
Eloquence Academy extends a formal welcome to Wildwood Middle High School!
Located in Wildwood, Florida, within the Sumter school district, Wildwood Middle High School is a Title 1 public school serving 764 students in grades 6 through 12. All students receive free lunch, and nearly 85% are socioeconomically disadvantaged, qualifying for government aid programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Medicaid. Despite funding and performance metrics that place the school in the bottom 50% statewide in proficiency and academic testing, Wildwood boasts a strong record in extracurricular engagement, including athletics and academic competitions. Students are dedicated to the events they compete in and are always pushing each other to be the best versions of themselves.
c/o Eloquence Academy
In particular, this marks Wildwood’s fourth year operating a speech and debate program. In 2022, the school’s team took first place in a World Schools Debate team event sponsored by the North Florida Catholic Forensic League, and its students secured additional top finishes in categories such as Varsity Extemporaneous and Novice Declamation. Coach Iliana Miranda shared that Wildwood adopted the debate program with the aim to “share solid, researched ideas with their community and make the world a more united place.”
Wildwood seeks to expand its program beyond Central Florida. With the partnership, the school will receive access to tournament entry support, coaching staff, and curriculum resources. We are grateful to Iliana and excited to see what the future holds.
###
Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy offers online and in-person debate classes, summer camps, workshops, tournaments, and in-school programs for 2,200+ students across 35 states and 15 countries. Ultimately, EA aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate.
