Medford High School (Massachusetts)

For other schools of a similar name, see Medford High School.
Medford High School
Address
489 Winthrop Street
Medford, MA
USA
Coordinates Coordinates: 42°25′48.1″N 71°7′30.2″W / 42.430028°N 71.125056°W / 42.430028; -71.125056
Information
Type Public Secondary
Motto Empowering students to reach their potential as learners
Established 1835 (1835)[1]
School district Medford Public Schools
Headmaster John Perella
Staff 178.6[2]
Faculty 95.5[3]
Grades PK, 9-12
Gender Coeducational
Enrollment 1155 (2013-2014)[4]
 • Grade 9 299
 • Grade 10 258
 • Grade 11 259
 • Grade 12 288
 • SP 8
Classes 416
Student to teacher ratio 12.1 : 1
Color(s) Navy Blue and White         
Athletics Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Crew, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball[5][6][7]
Mascot Mustang
Rival Malden High School
Accreditation NEASC
Average SAT scores 511 verbal
513 math
508 writing
1532 total (2015-2016)[8]
Newspaper Mustang News
Yearbook The Blue and White
MCAS % proficient and advanced ELA: 97
Math: 90
Science: 75 (Spring 2014)[9]
Website Medford High School

Medford High School is a public high school located in the western edge of the Lawrence Estates section of Medford, Massachusetts on the southwest border of the Middlesex Fells Reservation. Students in the town of Medford may also attend the Medford Vocational-Technical High School on the same site, or the Curtis/Tufts alternative high school in South Medford.

History

The Old High School building was built between 1894 and 1896 with a rear wing including a gym added in 1914 to its location on 22-24 Forest Street near Medford Square. Additional North and South wings were added in 1929 and 1939 respectively and those wings were the only ones in use following a fire in 1965 until the close of the school in 1971.[10]

The current campus was completed in that year and during the first decade of the 2000s underwent a major renovation in the third phase of the district's three phase school improvement plan.[11]

In 2012, the Medford High School Alumni Association (MHSAA)was founded. The Association serves as a networking bases among all MHS Alumni and works to give back to the MHS community.

Campus

Medford High School shares its campus and building with Medford Vocational-Technical High School in the Lawrence Estates section of Medford and on the southwest border of the Middlesex Fells Reservation.

Curriculum

Most Medford High School students undertake a college preparatory curriculum that includes four classes of English, three classes each of mathematics, social studies, sciences, and for college-prep students, foreign languages, two classes each of physical education, health/wellness, one class of fine arts and one class of media and computer technology. All students must also complete fifteen hours of community service each year.

Students can choose from thirteen Advanced Placement courses to earn college credits.

The English department requires two general literature and writing courses, one on American literature and one on world literature, with Shakespeare appearing in three of those courses. Electives include courses in mythology, plays, writing, AP Language and Composition and AP Literature and Composition. A separate English Language Learners department includes courses for bringing non-native speakers up to fluency. The social studies core requires a credit in world history, and one in United States history with electives including contemporary issues, psychology, and AP courses in U.S. History, European History, U.S. Government and Politics, and Psychology. Humanities electives through the occupational offerings department include an Accounting/Computers sequence and Basic Finance.

Medford High School's foreign language offerings include French, Spanish, and Italian as well as courses on the cultures coinciding with those languages. There are AP electives for French and Spanish.

MHS's science department offers courses in Anatomy and Physiology, Engineering, Environmental Science, and Science Fair Projects. Its AP offerings include Biology, Chemistry, and Physics (C). Through the math and media and technology departments, computer oriented electives include C++, digital video, and web design. Math electives include AP Calculus.

The art department includes sequences in ceramics and in sculpture as well as offering AP Studio Art. Music courses include Band, Jazz Band, Chorus, and Orchestra.

The family and consumer sciences department offers a course sequence in exploring childhood, while the health department provides courses in relationships, lifestyle choices, and transitioning to adulthood.[12]

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

Medford High School is a member of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association in the Greater Boston League.[13]

Clubs and publications

Medford High School offers a number of clubs including the Book Club, the National Honor Society, and the MHS Band. The school's yearbook is assembled by its members and Mustang News recently transitioned from an offline newspaper to an all online format.[14]

Weekend school

The Japanese Language School of Boston (ボストン日本語学校 Bosuton Nihongo Gakkō), a weekend supplementary Japanese school, holds its classes at Medford High, and the school offices are in Arlington.[15] It was established on June 7, 1975. The classes were originally held in the NEC Systems Laboratory but they began to be held at their current location after four months.[16]

Notable alumni

Academics, Authors, Mathematicians, and Scientists

Athletes

Entertainers

Politicians and Government employees

Other

Elizabeth Short, cold case murder victim[17]

Former Principals

Notable teachers/faculty

References

  1. ↑ Annual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1763.
  2. ↑ "Staffing Data by Race, Ethnicity, Gender by Full-time Equivalents (2013-14)". Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  3. ↑ "Medford High School Teacher Data". Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  4. ↑ "Directory Profiles: Medford High School: Student Data: Enrollment". Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  5. ↑ "Fall Sports << Medford Public Schools". Medford Public Schools. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  6. ↑ "Winter Sports << Medford Public Schools". Medford Public Schools. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  7. ↑ "Spring Sports << Medford Public Schools". Medford Public Schools. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  8. ↑ "SAT Performance Report - School and District Profiles". Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  9. ↑ "Medford High: MCAS Tests of Spring 2014 Percent of Students at Each Performance Level for Medford High Regional". Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 2014-09-18. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  10. ↑ "oldmedfordhigh.org Building History". Old Medford High Condominiums. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  11. ↑ "History of New Schools". Medford Public Schools. Retrieved 2011-05-03.
  12. ↑ "Educational Opportunities Handbook 2010-2011" (PDF). Medford High School and Vocational-Technical High School. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
  13. ↑ "Member Schools: School Lookup: Medford High School". Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved 2011-05-03.
  14. ↑ "Activities". Medford Public Schools. Retrieved 2011-05-03.
  15. ↑ "Address & Contact" (Archive). Japanese Language School of Boston. Retrieved on May 8, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Welcome!" Japanese Language School of Boston. May 8, 2014. Retrieved on May 8, 2014.
  17. ↑ http://www.theblackdahliainhollywood.com/?p=73
  18. ↑ Matt Byrne (2012-03-12). "Medford High School Headmaster to retire in July". Boston.com. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
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