Rustin High School
Encyclopedia
Bayard Rustin High School is the third and newest high school of the West Chester Area School District
in West Chester, Pennsylvania
, named after civil rights
activist Bayard Rustin
, himself a West Chester native. Construction began in 2003 and the school opened for the 2006-2007 school year. Since opening, Rustin has excelled in both academic competitions and athletic competitions, and in 2011 was named one of Newsweek's top 500 high schools in America.
team placed fifth in the Pennsylvania
State Tournament.
In both 2009 and 2010, the Rustin Science Olympiad team placed third in the Pennsylvania
State Tournament.
In 2010, the Rustin Varsity Academic Competition Team, participating in a series of quiz bowl tournaments, placed first in the regional semi-final tournament, placed first in the regional championship tournament, and placed first in the Pennsylvania Academic Competition. In 2011, they returned to the state championship competition, losing in the semifinal round.
In 2008, sophomore Ethan Marshall placed first and sophomore Lisa Xu placed seventh in their events in the national FBLA competition.
In 2009, freshman Karen Jin placed first and junior Lisa Xu placed third in their events in the national FBLA competition.
In 2008, 2009, and 2010, the Rustin Mock Trial
team advanced to the county playoff round.
Since the school opened in 2007, the Rustin DECA
organization has had members advance to the National Competition. It has one of the largest DECA programs in the state.
In 2010, the Rustin Speech and Debate team advanced to the Pennsylvania State competition.
In 2008, the Rustin football
team won the District 1 class AAA Championship.
In 2009, the Rustin ice hockey
team won the Flyers Cup
, defeating Hershey 3-2. Later in 2009, the team won the Pennsylvania
State Championship, dismantling Mars High School 5-0.
In 2009, All-American Senior Laura McGlaughlin won the State Championship in the 100m breaststroke, and was named swimmer of the year by the Daily Local Newspaper.
captured the school's first State Championship in 2006 at the USSBA All States Championships in Allentown
. As a result the band was invited to compete in the USSBA National Championships in 2007. The marching band captured another State Championship in 2009 and was again invited to compete in the USSBA National Championships in 2010. They will also be going again for a third time in 2011 thanks to their performance at the 2010 National Championships.
In its first year, the music program produced one musician that was invited to PMEA's District 12 Band. In the 2008-2009 season several more musicians were invited to the PMEA tournament with three progressing to the All State Band or Orchestra. One member of the band was named an All American and participated in the US Army's band program.
(branch of Kiwanis), and Interact (branch of Rotary International
). Students do various service activities ranging from collecting arts and crafts supplies to helping elementary schools, conducting various drives, and fundraising
.
Rustin also held its own community fair for the first time in 2009 to raise awareness about service and clubs in the community.
Rustin's Key Club was started by Helen Liu. In March of 2010, the Pennsylvania District of Key Club International inducted Liu to the position of Lieutenant Governor of her Key Club Division. In March of 2011, the Pennsylvania District of Key Club International elected Liu as the District Governor of all of Pennsylvania Key Club, the highest of only three state officer positions.
Class of 2009: Alexandra Strauss, Schreyer Honors College
Class of 2010: Lisa Xu, University of Pennsylvania
Class of 2011: Ryan Kenny, University of Pennsylvania
West Chester Area School District
The West Chester Area School District covers a basis, for the area of West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States. The borough of West Chester is the center of the district...
in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
, named after civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
activist Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin was an American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, pacifism and non-violence, and gay rights.In the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation , Rustin practiced nonviolence...
, himself a West Chester native. Construction began in 2003 and the school opened for the 2006-2007 school year. Since opening, Rustin has excelled in both academic competitions and athletic competitions, and in 2011 was named one of Newsweek's top 500 high schools in America.
Academic Competitions
In 2008, the Rustin Science OlympiadScience Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an American elementary, middle, or high school team competition which tests knowledge of various science topics and engineering ability. Over 6,200 teams from 49 U.S. states compete each year. Most teams compete in three levels of competition: regionals, states, and nationals...
team placed fifth in the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Tournament.
In both 2009 and 2010, the Rustin Science Olympiad team placed third in the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Tournament.
In 2010, the Rustin Varsity Academic Competition Team, participating in a series of quiz bowl tournaments, placed first in the regional semi-final tournament, placed first in the regional championship tournament, and placed first in the Pennsylvania Academic Competition. In 2011, they returned to the state championship competition, losing in the semifinal round.
In 2008, sophomore Ethan Marshall placed first and sophomore Lisa Xu placed seventh in their events in the national FBLA competition.
In 2009, freshman Karen Jin placed first and junior Lisa Xu placed third in their events in the national FBLA competition.
In 2008, 2009, and 2010, the Rustin Mock Trial
Mock trial
A Mock Trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or...
team advanced to the county playoff round.
Since the school opened in 2007, the Rustin DECA
DECA (organization)
DECA, also known as Collegiate DECA on the college level) is an international association of students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service . DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing,...
organization has had members advance to the National Competition. It has one of the largest DECA programs in the state.
In 2010, the Rustin Speech and Debate team advanced to the Pennsylvania State competition.
Athletics
In 2006, the Rustin Girls Soccer team won the District 1 class AA Championship.In 2008, the Rustin football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team won the District 1 class AAA Championship.
In 2009, the Rustin ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team won the Flyers Cup
Flyers Cup
The Flyers Cup is an annual high school ice hockey tournament held by the Philadelphia Flyers. The invitational tournament is the scholastic hockey championship for eastern Pennsylvania high schools and is conducted through three tiers of play, AAA, AA, and A with AAA representing private schools,...
, defeating Hershey 3-2. Later in 2009, the team won the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Championship, dismantling Mars High School 5-0.
In 2009, All-American Senior Laura McGlaughlin won the State Championship in the 100m breaststroke, and was named swimmer of the year by the Daily Local Newspaper.
Music
The Rustin Marching BandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
captured the school's first State Championship in 2006 at the USSBA All States Championships in Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
. As a result the band was invited to compete in the USSBA National Championships in 2007. The marching band captured another State Championship in 2009 and was again invited to compete in the USSBA National Championships in 2010. They will also be going again for a third time in 2011 thanks to their performance at the 2010 National Championships.
In its first year, the music program produced one musician that was invited to PMEA's District 12 Band. In the 2008-2009 season several more musicians were invited to the PMEA tournament with three progressing to the All State Band or Orchestra. One member of the band was named an All American and participated in the US Army's band program.
Community service
Rustin has several community service clubs, including KICS (school-run), Key ClubKey Club
Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
(branch of Kiwanis), and Interact (branch of Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
). Students do various service activities ranging from collecting arts and crafts supplies to helping elementary schools, conducting various drives, and fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
.
Rustin also held its own community fair for the first time in 2009 to raise awareness about service and clubs in the community.
Rustin's Key Club was started by Helen Liu. In March of 2010, the Pennsylvania District of Key Club International inducted Liu to the position of Lieutenant Governor of her Key Club Division. In March of 2011, the Pennsylvania District of Key Club International elected Liu as the District Governor of all of Pennsylvania Key Club, the highest of only three state officer positions.
Valedictorians
Class of 2008: Peter Jin, Princeton UniversityClass of 2009: Alexandra Strauss, Schreyer Honors College
Class of 2010: Lisa Xu, University of Pennsylvania
Class of 2011: Ryan Kenny, University of Pennsylvania