West Philadelphia High School
Encyclopedia
West Philadelphia High School is a secondary school located in the West Philadelphia
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
The school was completed on November 1, 1912. and occupies an entire city block between 47th and 48th streets, between Walnut Street and Locust Street. It was originally divided into a boys and girls school, but both were combined in the 30's to ease administration and streamline education.
Assistant Principals: Mr. Salmon, Ms. Jackson, and Ms. Burch
West Philadelphia High School has over 162 full time faculty and staff members, including teachers, teaching assistants, non-teaching assistants (NTA's) and maintenance and housekeeping staff. Because of the grand scale of facility, many of the staff and faculty are dived into "communities" that support subdivisions of the student body in various areas of the building.
,opened in 1912 with a student population in excess of 5,500. Such was the press on the new high school, which originally stood as two separate buildings for boys and girls, that the City was compelled to open Overbrook High School
in 1926; a third high school, John Bartram, followed in 1935.
WPHS's athletic field, which is located at 48th and Spruce Street (one block south of the school building), was formally known as Passon Field and home to Negro League baseball in the 1930s. The park was the home field of the Eastern Colored League
's Philadelphia Bacharach Giants
starting in 1931, and the Negro National League's Philadelphia Stars
in 1934 and 1935. In 1936, the Stars moved to Penmar Park at 44th and Parkside where they played the majority of their home games through their final season in 1952. The field is still in use by West Philadelphia High School's football and baseball teams.
, has been profiled in The Philadelphia Inquirer
, Popular Mechanics
, and the local ABC
affiliate Channel Six's Action News
, and countless websites and newsletters.
In addition, the school is slated to receive a new building to replace the 90 year old structure, one of the oldest school buildings under continuous use in the state, as part of a district-wide capitol improvement plan. Despite the enthusiasm for a new home, the new construction is not without controversy. The school is currently in one of the most densely populated areas of Philadelphia. Finding a suitable location for the new building has proven to be a challenge. The district changed their minds several times prior to settling on a plot of land at the corner of 49th and Chestnut Streets. In 2009, they demolished the existing district-owned buildings at that location and in early 2010 they began the foundation of the new West Philadelphia High School.
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
The school was completed on November 1, 1912. and occupies an entire city block between 47th and 48th streets, between Walnut Street and Locust Street. It was originally divided into a boys and girls school, but both were combined in the 30's to ease administration and streamline education.
Administration and Staff
Principal: Mrs. Mary S. DeanAssistant Principals: Mr. Salmon, Ms. Jackson, and Ms. Burch
West Philadelphia High School has over 162 full time faculty and staff members, including teachers, teaching assistants, non-teaching assistants (NTA's) and maintenance and housekeeping staff. Because of the grand scale of facility, many of the staff and faculty are dived into "communities" that support subdivisions of the student body in various areas of the building.
School Mission
The mission of West Philadelphia High School is to provide the students with a quality education to ensure that they graduate with the requisite knowledge, skills and personal philosophy to be effective citizens—well-prepared for their futures in the world of work, college or any other post-secondary education. The entire staff is committed to creating and maintaining a positive school climate, which engenders students' academic success and personal development.History
West Philadelphia High School (WPHS), Philadelphia's first secondary school West of the SchuylkillSchuylkill
Schuylkill may refer to the* Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania, United StatesPlaces:* Schuylkill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, neighborhood in South Philadelphia* Schuylkill Expressway, portion of I-76 in Philadelphia* Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania...
,opened in 1912 with a student population in excess of 5,500. Such was the press on the new high school, which originally stood as two separate buildings for boys and girls, that the City was compelled to open Overbrook High School
Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)
Overbrook High School is an inner-city, public, four-year secondary school in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-School:...
in 1926; a third high school, John Bartram, followed in 1935.
WPHS's athletic field, which is located at 48th and Spruce Street (one block south of the school building), was formally known as Passon Field and home to Negro League baseball in the 1930s. The park was the home field of the Eastern Colored League
Eastern Colored League
The Mutual Association of Eastern Colored Clubs, more commonly known as the Eastern Colored League , was one of the several Negro leagues, which operated during the time organized baseball was segregated.- History :...
's Philadelphia Bacharach Giants
Bacharach Giants
The Bacharach Giants were a Negro league baseball team that played in Atlantic City, New Jersey.- Founding :The club was founded when two African-American politicians moved the Duval Giants of Jacksonville, Florida, to Atlantic City in 1916 and renamed them after Harry Bacharach, the city's mayor...
starting in 1931, and the Negro National League's Philadelphia Stars
Philadelphia Stars (baseball)
The Philadelphia Stars were a Negro league baseball team from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Stars were founded in 1933 when Ed Bolden returned to professional black baseball after being idle since early 1930...
in 1934 and 1935. In 1936, the Stars moved to Penmar Park at 44th and Parkside where they played the majority of their home games through their final season in 1952. The field is still in use by West Philadelphia High School's football and baseball teams.
Small Learning Communities
- AUTO - Automotive Academy
- B&T - Business and Technology
- UL - Urban Leadership
- 9 - Ninth Grade Success Academy
Sports Programs & Extra Curricular Activities
- Senior Prom
- Cheer leading Squad
- Dance Club
- Musicals
- Choir
- Volleyball
- Baseball
- Boys & Girls Basketball
- Football
- Track
- Philadelphia Student UnionPhiladelphia Student UnionThe Philadelphia Student Union is a non-profit organization led by youth that builds power among Philadelphia high school students to demand a high quality education...
- Hip Hop Club- Project P.E.A.C.E
Recent developments
West Philadelphia High School has been in the news recently for a number of inspiring activities. Most recently the West Philadelphia High School Electric Vehicle Team (WPEVP)has been receiving nationwide press over its hybrid race car. The team, developed as a partnership with the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, has been profiled in The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...
, and the local ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate Channel Six's Action News
WPVI-TV
WPVI-TV, channel 6, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. WPVI has its studios located on the border between Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd, and its transmitter is located in the...
, and countless websites and newsletters.
In addition, the school is slated to receive a new building to replace the 90 year old structure, one of the oldest school buildings under continuous use in the state, as part of a district-wide capitol improvement plan. Despite the enthusiasm for a new home, the new construction is not without controversy. The school is currently in one of the most densely populated areas of Philadelphia. Finding a suitable location for the new building has proven to be a challenge. The district changed their minds several times prior to settling on a plot of land at the corner of 49th and Chestnut Streets. In 2009, they demolished the existing district-owned buildings at that location and in early 2010 they began the foundation of the new West Philadelphia High School.