Avon High School (Connecticut)

Avon High School

Avon High teaches its students to use their minds well.
Address
510 West Avon Road
Avon, Connecticut 06001
United States
Information
Founded 1958
School district Avon Public Schools
Principal Timothy Breslin (interim)[1]
Faculty 67
Grades 9-12
Enrollment about 1100
Student to teacher ratio 15:1
School color(s) Blue and White
Athletics conference Central Connecticut Conference
Mascot Falcon
Accreditation NEASC
Average SAT scores avg. 1717 (2011)
Website www.avon.k12.ct.us/avon-high-school

Avon High School is a public high school in Avon, Connecticut, United States, serving grades 9–12. The student population is about 1100, but projections see huge increases for future enrollment. Because of this, the school has undergone extensive renovations over the last 20 years. The school started its latest renovation project in 2006, which was completed in the fall of 2008. The latest renovation included the addition of classrooms, a second gymnasium, a new kitchen and cafeteria, orchestra room, several media centers, and interior cosmetic changes. An indoor track and a softball field were proposed, but were canceled due to a lack of funding. Avon High School has consistently sent its students to the most selective schools around the nation. The school was also renovated during 1996 and 1997. The interim principal for the 2016-2017 school year is Timothy Breslin.[1] On August 11, 2016, Newsweek ranked Avon High School as the 116th best public high school in the United States.[2]

Academics

Academic departments include Math, Social Studies, English, Science, World Languages, Health, Visual Arts, Music, and Physical Education. There are 67 subject area teachers.[3]

In order to graduate, students of the class of 2018 (the class of 2019 faces updated graduation requirements) and earlier must earn a minimum of 22.5 credits according to the following distribution:[4]

Avon High School is notable for its Science program, pushing top scholars of the school to take AP Science classes. Avon High School is notorious for receiving a high 5 rate in the AP Sciences, particularly AP Chemistry. However, due to the rigorous nature of these AP Science classes, they take up 2 periods of the day, unlike any other course offered at the high school. Avon High School's intensive science program requires freshmen to take Environmental Science, a course that teaches students of the world they live in and prepares them for the rigor of the rest of the science course of studies.

Avon High School is also known for its remarkable Math and English departments, featuring highly experienced faculty and far-above-average AP pass rates. Its Math department offers Linear Algebra, a course taken by top scholars who have completed AP Calculus prior to their senior years and wish to dwell further into college-level math. Avon High School's fantastic Social Studies department has a strong liberal arts feel to it that fosters intellectualism and thinking.

The capstone of the Avon High education is the Senior Mastery Project, a required component of the 12th Grade Humanities curriculum. Students spend one semester researching a topic of interest with the close guidance of a faculty adviser. The semester culminates with an extended essay explaining the research, a visual presentation to be displayed in the library, and a 30-minute presentation during Senior Mastery Night.

World languages are not required, but are strongly encouraged. Languages offered include Spanish, French, American Sign Language, Latin, and Mandarin. Most departments offer electives in addition to the core curriculum. Offerings include Law Seminar, Genocide, Writing Workshop, Anatomy and Physiology, Personal Finance, Engineering Drafting and Design, and Marine Biology.

Avon High School has recently expanded its already robust course offering to accommodate the needs of rigorous students, including courses such as AP Accounting, AP Economics, AP Psychology, and AP U.S. Government, which have debuted remarkably under the professional leadership of the faculty and the motivation of high achievers.

Mr. Buys is known as the greatest high school teacher of all time receiving many awards for what he has accomplished throughout his career as a falcon.

AP Offerings

In addition to Avon High Schools extensive list of rigorous college-preparatory (CP) and honors (H) courses, it offers Advanced Placement classes. In addition to the courses offered, Avon High School provides motivated students the opportunity to take online courses via Virtual High School.

Math

Social Studies

Science

World Language

English

Arts

Business

Virtual High School AP Offerings Available to Students (Other than those already at AHS)

Arts

Arts offerings include music, visual arts, and theater arts.

The music offerings at Avon High School have expanded in recent years. Ensembles currently include:[5]

Bands

Choirs

Orchestras

Other musical opportunities include the jazz band, American School Band Directors Association festivals, American Choral Directors Association festivals, Connecticut Music Educators Association Northern Regional and All-State Festivals, and the New England Music Festival Association's festival (NEMFA).

Activities

The Avon High website notes that, "Avon High offers a great variety of extracurricular activities for students to get involved. A wide array of sports teams is well complemented by an eclectic mix of school clubs and groups."[6] Popular extracurricular activities include Student Government, the Avon Volunteers On Newness (A.V.O.N.) Club, Diversity Club, FIRST Robotics Team, Katie's Club, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, Gay-Straight Alliance, debate club, cooking club, Peer Support Club, and Yearbook. The Model U.N. club has been successful in local and state level competitions, and the Robotics Team, the ÜberBots, regularly competes in local, New England, and International FIRST Competitions.[7]

Avon High School's 2014-2015 list of extracurricular activities included:

Traditions

Avon has many unofficial student traditions that have lasted over the years. Some of the most commonly observed traditions include seniors decorating their cars on the first day of school. Senior girls also wear dresses and tiaras on the first day of classes. For the homecoming pep rally, students wear creative outfits reflecting AHS colors. Only seniors are permitted to dress up for Halloween, the celebration of which surrounds the senior parade through the hallways of the school for faculty and underclassmen. For graduation, girls wear white and boys wear blue. Most seniors decorate their caps for the graduation ceremony. The school mascot is the Falcon and the colors are blue and white. The yearbook is called the NOVA, which is Avon spelled backward.

Sports

Avon High School has an extensive and successful athletics program that frequently earns recognition in the North Central Connecticut Conference and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. Several athletes have earned All-American status and many athletes go on to have successful collegiate athletic careers. Offerings include cheerleading (co-ed), cross country (boys and girls), field hockey, football, soccer (boys and girls), volleyball, crew (boys and girls), basketball (boys and girls), ice hockey (joint program with Farmington and Windsor), swimming and diving (boys and girls), wrestling (co-ed), baseball, golf (boys and girls), lacrosse (boys and girls), softball, tennis (boys and girls), and track (boys and girls).[8]

Facilities for field hockey, football, cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track, and girls lacrosse are located at the high school. Boys lacrosse and girls tennis play at the middle school. Soccer, softball, and cross country have home bases at the Fisher Meadow recreational facility. Baseball plays at the Buckingham recreational facility. The crew team's home base is at the Batterson Park recreational facility in Farmington, CT.

Strong sports rivals include Canton High School, Farmington High School, Simsbury High School, and Suffield High School.

Recent notable accomplishments by Avon High athletic teams include several CIAC state championships. Teams that have not won a state championship that are known for their strong performances include boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, and volleyball.

The crew team, despite from being a new addition to the school (founded in 2007) has won multiple Connecticut Public Schools Rowing Association Championship races, as well as many local races and titles. They often participate in the Head of the Charles Regatta.

Avon High School's Club Sport, Ultimate Frisbee, has met amazing success, with the Avon Falcons willing the Division II State Championship (2015) for Ultimate Frisbee after only three years of being present at AHS.

CIAC State Championships

Year [9] Team [9] Class [9] Runner-up [9]
2014 Boys Soccer L (Co-Champions) Branford
2014 Girls Cross Country MM New Fairfield
2013 Boys Tennis M Guilford
2012 Boys Tennis M Joel Barlow
2012 Girls Cross Country MM Guilford
2012 Girls Soccer L Masuk
2011 Boys Tennis M Stonington
2011 Girls Soccer L Farmington
2008 Girls Basketball M Morgan
2005 Boys Basketball Div. III Fairfield Ludlowe
2003 Girls Soccer M Joel Barlow
2002 Girls Soccer M Waterford
2001 Girls Soccer M Lauralton Hall
2000 Boys Soccer M Lewis Mills
1995 Wrestling S Canton
1994 Boys Track and Field (Outdoor) S Rocky Hill
1994 Boys Tennis S
1994 Girls Cross Country SS
1994 Wrestling S Rocky Hill
1993 Wrestling S Nonnewaug
1993 Boys Soccer M Lewis Mills
1991 Boys Track and Field (Outdoor) S Litchfield
1990 Wrestling S Terryville
1989 Boys Soccer M Joel Barlow
1989 Wrestling S Platt
1988 Boys Basketball S Windsor Locks
1988 Boys Soccer M Stonington
1987 Boys Soccer M Waterford
1987 Girls Cross Country M
1987 Wrestling S Berlin
1986 Boys Tennis S
1986 Girls Tennis S (Co-Champions) New Fairfield
1985 Boys Soccer M Brookfield
1985 Girls Cross Country Open
1985 Girls Cross Country M
1985 Boys Golf Div. II
1984 Boys Soccer M Joel Barlow
1984 Field Hockey S Weston
1984 Girls Cross Country Open
1984 Girls Cross Country M
1983 Field Hockey S Old Saybrook
1983 Wrestling S Derby
1982 Wrestling S Pulaski
1980 Boys Track and Field (Outdoor) S (Co-Champions) Stafford, Litchfield
1979 Boys Track and Field (Outdoor) S Litchfield
1976 Boys Soccer M Middletown
1968 Baseball S Cromwell
1968 Boys Track and Field (Indoor) S
1966 Boys Track and Field (Outdoor) S
1966 Boys Track and Field (Indoor) S
1965 Boys Track and Field (Indoor) S
1964 Boys Track and Field (Outdoor) S
1964 Boys Track and Field (Indoor) S
1962 Baseball S Coventry

Source: CIAC. http://www.casciac.org/

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 "Staff Directory". Avon Public Schools. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  2. ↑ McCready, Brian (August 11, 2016). "Newsweek's Top Public High Schools 2016: How Connecticut Schools Ranked". Manchester, CT Patch. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  3. ↑ Staff Directory for Avon High School Archived April 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ AHS Guidance: Avon Public Schools CT
  5. ↑ New Page 1
  6. ↑ Avon High Extracurricular Activities Archived October 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Avon High School Robotics Team
  8. ↑ Avon High Athletics Archived April 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "CIAC Sports Champions Database Search".
  10. ↑ Riley, Lori (August 21, 2010). "McNeill Helps Beat To Victory Over Breakers In Women's Soccer". Hartford Courant. Retrieved May 24, 2014.

External links

Coordinates: 41°47′00″N 72°51′44″W / 41.7833°N 72.8623°W / 41.7833; -72.8623

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