Manchester High School (Connecticut)

Manchester High School was founded in 1893 with Fred A. Verplanck serving as the school's first principal. The first graduating class of 1894 had a total of six students.[2] The school was held in the Ninth District School, where Bennet Academy is located today. In 1902, the wealthy Cheney family offered to construct a new high school building to accommodate the students' needs. In 1904, the new South Manchester High School opened on Main Street. The four-story building is in the Colonial Revival architecture style, with columns, cornices, and an arched entrance; these elaborate architectural details were designed by architects Hartwell, Richardson & Driver of Boston.[3] The building included all of the modern amenities of the time. It was dedicated in December 1904. The Town of Manchester purchased the property, and the school, from the Cheney family in 1928, when the school became Manchester High School.

The yearbook, SOMANHIS (South Manchester High School), was founded in 1915. Volume 100 was released in 2015. Volume 104 is set to be released at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.

In 1956, a new campus on East Middle Turnpike opened. The graduating class of 1956 was the last class to graduate from the "old" school. The new Manchester High School is much larger than the original building, and was a state-of-the-art facility when it first opened. At the time of the opening of the new high school, Manchester High School was the largest secondary school in New England. In 2015, it is the current campus of Manchester High School. Most of the classrooms, as well as the library and main office, are located in the "quadrangle," a set of four hallways connected to make a square. The cafeteria is next to the Brookfield Street parking lot and has its own entrance and lobby. The gymnasium is next to the cafeteria, and the pool and an additional gym are nearby. Also on the campus are baseball and softball fields, a soccer/football field, and a track.

Manchester High School's Bailey Auditorium in 1988, from East Middle Turnpike.

The school's first renovation took place in the 1980s, with a new wing being added as well as maintenance to keep up with safety regulations. This wing now houses the Bentley Alternative Education School.

In 2007, a major expansion and renovation took place with the purpose of relieving the school's congestion. The main component of the expansion, the Freshman Center (commonly referred to as the freshman wing), extends off one of the quadrangle's hallways and contains classrooms, science labs, computer labs, and a presentation room. The freshman wing is air-conditioned, unlike the rest of the school. Additional parts of the school were renovated, namely the 1100-seat Bailey Auditorium. The renovation brought a new stage, re-upholstered seats, air conditioning, and a new state-of-the-art sound system to Bailey Auditorium. The cafeteria was also expanded during the renovation, as well as the School Store and Student Activities office.[4] The freshman wing and new auditorium and cafeteria opened for the 2007-2008 school year, with a celebratory concert held in the just-renovated Bailey Auditorium.[5] A ribbon-cutting ceremony accompanied the opening of the freshman wing on September 4, 2007.[6]

Manchester High School offers at least 14 Advanced Placement classes, including AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, AP Chem, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP World History, AP United States History, AP Psychology, AP European History, AP Government, AP Music Theory, AP Literature and Composition, AP Language and Composition, and AP Studio Art. Additionally, students may receive college credit through the University of Connecticut's Early College Experience (ECE) program. Manchester High School is a school that has not met the Acceptable Yearly Progress goals set by the No Child Left Behind Act.[7] This is determined by the results of the Connecticut Academic Performance Test administered statewide to 10th grade students. The most recent data available is from 2011 and indicates that the school graduates a lower percentage of students than the state average, that only 68.3% of students are regarded as proficient at mathematics while 77.5% are regarded as reading at a proficient level.[8][9]

In 1983, Dr. LeRoy Hay was awarded the National Teacher of the Year award.

Manchester High School aerial shot, 2014.

Manchester High School is regarded under the No Child Left Behind Act as having a school poverty percentage of 46% and a school minority percentage of 49.4%. These numbers are based on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test results from 2011 and reflect the 10th grade class evaluated during that testing cycle.[8]

Manchester High School offers soccer, football, cross country, swimming, wrestling, indoor and outdoor track and field, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, golf, tennis, cheerleading and hockey. MHS's main sports rivals are Glastonbury High School, East Hartford High School, South Windsor High School, and East Catholic High School.

Manchester High School has a multiple-award-winning music program.[10] In addition to general Band, Orchestra, Chorus, or Chorale, students can choose to audition for higher-level ensembles, which include the Roundtable Singers, Marching Band, Advanced Percussion, and Chamber Orchestra. These four groups, along with the Handbell Choir, compete annually in competitions around the state and country. There is also a jazz band, jazz combo and a string quartet, among other smaller ensembles. Sock 'N Buskin, Manchester High School's oldest club, puts on several plays a year, as well as a musical in the spring.

In addition to an extensive performing arts program, Manchester High School has many clubs and activities, including an award-winning robotics team, several cultural clubs, a Gay-Straight Alliance for Equality (GSAFE), and more. Manchester High School APB (Activities Planning Board), Future Business Leaders of America (Future Business Leaders of America), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and DECA are groups focused on community and leadership. Other clubs, among others, include the Exploratory Jewelry Club and Papyrus and Quills, a creative writing club.

MHS freshman center entrance in 2014.

Since 2012, Manchester High School has gone through major changes in an attempt to improve the school and increase safety.[11]

• Elizabeth S. Anderson, philosopher and MacArthur Fellow[16]
• Herman Bronkie, MLB third-baseman.
• Seth DeValve, NFL tight end.
• Leo Katkaveck, professional basketball and minor league baseball player.
• Bill Masse, MLB outfielder and Olympian.
• Joe McCluskey, American track and field Olympian.
• Moe Morhardt, MLB player.
• Tang Sauce, Hip hop recording artist, dancer and musician.
• Jessica Schneider, Justice Correspondent for CNN.
• Dr. Paul J. Turek, physician, surgeon and fertility specialist.
• Walter Lee Jr., Retired Chief of Police for the Connecticut State Capitol Police.[17]

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• Strategic School Profile 2005–2006 from state Department of Education
• MHS @ Great Schools

• Manchester High School webpage
• Redline, the student news site of Manchester High School