Altoona Area High School
| Altoona Area High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
|
1415 Sixth Avenue Altoona, Pennsylvania, Blair County 16602 United States |
|
| Coordinates | 40°30′36″N 78°23′52″W / 40.50998°N 78.39787°WCoordinates: 40°30′36″N 78°23′52″W / 40.50998°N 78.39787°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public school (government funded), High School |
| Established | 1895 |
| School board | 9 locally elected members |
| School district | Altoona Area School District |
| NCES District ID | 4202340 |
| NCES School ID | 420234000913 |
| Principal | Patty Burlingame |
| Faculty | 115.3 (on full-time equivalent (FTE) basis) |
| Enrollment | 1800 (2008–2009) |
| Pupils | 1765 (2009-10) |
| • Grade 10 | 662 |
| • Grade 11 | 534 |
| • Grade 12 | 501 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 15.6 |
| Color(s) | Maroon and white |
| Mascot | Mountain lion |
| Tuition | for nonresident and charter school students $8,068.45 (2011) |
| Website | http://aahs.aasdcat.com |
Altoona Area High School is the public high school for the Altoona Area School District in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The high school serves the communities of Altoona, Logan Township, and a small portion of Tyrone Township. The school is located at 1415 Sixth Avenue, in the downtown section of Altoona, PA 16602.
The school district is the eighteenth largest in the state, and the high school is one of the largest and well known in the state. Altoona Area High School (AAHS) teaches grades 10 through 12.
In U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of American high schools, in which schools are awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on state proficiency standards and how well they prepare students for college, Altoona Area High School received a bronze in 2013.
The first six official graduates of Altoona Area High School graduated in 1877.
A riot occurred at the school in 1907 after boys in the senior class attempted to disrupt a junior class social. A large fight ensued and several students were injured after students threw stones and fired revolvers.
Another riot occurred at the school in 1910 after 25 senior students—on their last day of school—marched into the school's chapel service with their faces smeared. A large fight resulted, leading to the arrest of 2 students and suspension of 25 others.
In 1943, Altoona High became the only high school in the United States to have a World War II veteran as its class president. Robert G. Pennington, 18, had enlisted in 1942, and served four months in the Marine Corps before obtaining a medical discharge. He then returned to school.
Country music star and gay rights activist Chely Wright attended the school's 1998 prom, after accepting a request from student Dave Showalter that she be his date.
In 2002, school officials permitted an undercover female police officer to pose as a student for 3 months in order to identify drug transactions at the school. Five students were charged with drug violations.
The school was first located at the Webster Building, then became established in a separate building until 1895. In 1905, it moved to its present location on sixth avenue. This building cost $250,000. After the First World War, the building was not large enough to house the number of students it had enrolled. In 1927, a $1 million annex was added to accompany the facilities. A $14 million project during the 1970s allowed the school to be completely renovated and a 1200-seat auditorium was built. A new gym, called the fieldhouse, was also constructed. In 1995, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association High School All-America game was telecast live for the fieldhouse by ESPN2.
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