Arlington High School (Massachusetts)

For other schools of the same name, see Arlington High School.
Arlington High School
Address
869 Massachusetts Avenue
Arlington, MA, Middlesex County, 02476
USA
Information
Type Public high school
Established 1922
Principal Mathew Janger
Grades 9-12
Number of students 1150 (2006-2007)
Color(s) Maroon/Red, Gray, and White             
Slogan "Red and Gray Spirit, Let's Hear It! (May not still be the slogan)
Song "Cheer today for the Red and Gray"
Mascot The Indian
Team name Spy Ponders
Accreditation New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Average SAT scores 578 verbal
583 math
571 writing
1732 total (2014-2015)[1]
Newspaper The Ponder Report
Yearbook Spy Ponder (Formerly "The Indian")
Website www.arlington.k12.ma.us/ahs

Arlington High School is a public high school located in Arlington, Massachusetts. As of 2010, the school enrolls approximately 1,300 students annually. The current principal is Mathew Janger.

History

The current Arlington High School, designed by Howard B.S. Prescott, was opened in 1915 for grades 10-12. What is now known as "Fusco building" was the only original building. Boys and girls were required to enter the building through two separate entrances. Two additions were later added on, the "Collomb building," as it is now known, in 1937 and then the "Downs building."

Peirce Field, an outdoor field for football, soccer, track, field hockey, lacrosse, baseball and softball, was created by filling in "Cutter's Pond", which had been previously used for milling. Mill Brook still runs underneath the high school to this day. The field was renovated in 2004 due to toxin levels in the soil, which stemmed from a company located where the Department of Public Works is currently situated. A settlement was reached with the company to pay for the entire cleaning, capping, and renovation.

Since the mid-1990s several news documentary shows have been to Arlington High School, including Chronicle, Nightline, and MTV Made. It has also been the topic of many news stories covered by Fox News, Fox 25, Channel 7, among many other TV channels and radio stations.

An HBO show chronicling Dane Cook's Tourgasm tour featured a segment where Cook returned to Arlington High School and spoke to the students and faculty.

In 2011, interim principal Mary Villano suspended school dances because of drinking and inappropriate dancing.[2]

Pledge of Allegiance Controversy

In 2010, a petition was presented to the School Committee by Arlington High School student John Barrington, asking that students be allocated time each day to recite the Pledge of Allegiance over the Arlington High intercom system. At first, voting on the resolution resulted in a tie and therefore it did not pass. There was no definite reason given as to why the vote came out as it did. However, then School Committee Vice Chair Leba Heigham did however state she wasn't sure if (the school system) could find teachers willing to say the Pledge.[3] The efforts gained national attention especially on Fox News and the Glenn Beck Show. Following national media attention then Principal Charles Skidmore decided to allow the recitation over the loudspeaker,[4] going beyond his initial compromise of a voluntary recitation in the lobby, after the school committee voted unanimously to establish a policy stating schools must offer the Pledge every day.[5]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "2014-15 SAT Performance Statewide Report".
  2. ↑ Brock Parker (November 30, 2011). "Arlington High bans student dances". Boston Globe.
  3. ↑ http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/42552/
  4. ↑ "Massachusetts School Offers to Allow Pledge of Allegiance -- but Not in Class". Fox News. 29 June 2010.
  5. ↑ http://wbztv.com/local/arlington.pledge.flag.2.1902098.html
  6. ↑ http://www.bostonjuniorbruins.com/andypowers.html
  7. ↑ "Arlington High School Alumni News".

External links

Coordinates: 42°25′4.5″N 71°9′42.2″W / 42.417917°N 71.161722°W / 42.417917; -71.161722

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