State College Area High School

State College Area High School
We are the Future!
Location
Westerly Parkway State College, Pennsylvania, Centre County, 16801, United States
Information
School type	Public, Secondary
Established	1894
School district	State College Area School District
CEEB Code	394685
Principal	Craig Butler
Vice principal	Curtis Johnson
Vice principal	Sharon Perry
Vice principal	David Geanette
Asst. Principal	Marcia Kramer
Grades	9-12
Houses	South Building North Building
Color(s)	Maroon and Gray
Athletics conference	PIAA District 6
Mascot	Little Lion
Average SAT scores	1653  (2007)
Communities served	Borough of State College and the Townships of College, Ferguson, Halfmoon, Harris, and Patton
Website	State College Area High School

State College Area High School is the only public high school in the State College Area School District. Located within walking distance of Penn State University, the school offers a wide and diverse selection of electives, and is known for its academic, athletic, and musical prominence. State High is well known for their outstanding music program and the Knowledge Masters/Quiz Bowl team which is consistently nationally ranked. The school created the world's first driver's education in car course in 1934, which was cut after the 2010-2011 school year due to budget cuts from the new school board.^[2]

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,710 students and 198.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 13.7.^[3]

Campus

The high school campus is located just on the fringe of downtown State College, and spans the road Westerly Parkway. The campus comprises two buildings: the North Building and the South Building. The North Building was constructed in the 1960s, and since then has undergone numerous renovations. A new science wing and a new large basketball gym and indoor track are the most recent additions. The building has many small courtyards. In recent years, both buildings have faced flooding issues.

Delta Program

The Delta Program is an alternative secondary school associated with State High. Students are encouraged to utilize community resources to the fullest, and can take classes from the high school, Delta, and Penn State. Delta Students enjoy small class sizes, mixed grade levels, and a set of freedoms which are typically restricted to college-age learning. To encourage a unity between teachers and students, teachers are referred to on a first name basis. The Delta Program is also a firm believer in Democratic education, a system of learning and school governance in which students and staff participate in a free and equal school democracy.

• Community service is an important aspect of the Delta experience. As of the 2010-2011 school year, a student would have to maintain 30 hours annually to stay within the Delta Community.
• Students, parents, and advisors meet regularly to discuss academic progress and set new goals. These meetings allow the teachers and parents one-on-one time with the student to discuss achievements as well as any problems to student may be having.
• Students are allowed open campus and are free to leave the Delta building during their lunch and free periods. Many students walk downtown, which is only a few minutes away from the school.

Knowledge Masters/Quiz Bowl

State College's Knowledge Masters/Quiz Bowl team has won numerous titles and awards, including national championships in both 2000 and 2011 at the NAQT High School National Championship Tournament. They also have second place finishes in 2006, 2007 and 2010 and a third place finish in 2010. They have national championships in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2010 and 2011 in the PACE National Scholastics Championship and were the runners-up in 2005 and 2009. State College also won first place in the spring 2011 Knowledge Masters Open and the freshmen team won first place in the fall 2010 Knowledge Masters Open.

Notable alumni

• Tristan N. Aitken, Captain, United States Army, killed in action in Iraq^[4]
• Stan Belinda, Major League Baseball pitcher
• William John Cahir (Bill Cahir), Sergeant, United States Marine Corps, killed in action while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, 14 August 2009 [4].
• Spc. Craig Ivory. United States Army Died August 17, 2003 after being medivaced while serving in Kuwait.
• Larry Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals running back^[5]
• Gabe Norwood, basketball player
• Jordan Norwood, former Pennsylvania State University wide receiver, currently signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Leah Rozen, nationally recognized film critic^[6]
• Doug Sweetland, Annie-award winning Pixar animator^[7]
• Matt Suhey, former National Football League and Pennsylvania State University running back.
• Bill Welch, former mayor of State College, Pennsylvania.
• Matt Kocher, former University of Pittsburgh NCAA Wrestling All-American, State College's most recent State Champion.
• Ron Dickerson Head Football Coach at Gardner-Webb University and former Arkansas Razorbacks football player.
• Jonathan Harrison Manager at Accenture in Philadelphia, PA.

See also

• State College, Pennsylvania
• State College Area School District

References

1. ^ "PIAA - Schools - Directory - State College Area High School". http://www.piaa.org/schools/directory/details.aspx?ID=11277. Retrieved 13 December 2008. 
2. ^ "PROGRAM FOR DRIVERS TAKES OFF", Centre Daily Times, April 29, 1996. Accessed November 3, 2007. "Sixty-two years after State College Area High School became the first school in the country to offer a driver education course, the school is quietly on the cutting edge again."
3. ^ State College Area High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 27, 2007.
4. ^ "Tristan N. Aitken, Captain, United States Army". Arlington National Cemetery. 21 January 2007 [1].
5. ^ "NFL.com - Prospect Profiles". NFL. 21 January 2007 [2].
6. ^ "New York Film Critics Circle: Leah Rozen". New York Film Critics Circle. 21 January 2007 [3].
7. ^ 31st Annie Award Nominees and Winners List

External links

• State College Area High School Homepage

Preceded by Edison High School

National Academic Championship champion 1998

Succeeded by James Island High School

Coordinates: 40°46′57″N 77°51′26″W / 40.7824°N 77.8572°W / 40.7824; -77.8572