Wheeling Park High School is a high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

 in Wheeling, West Virginia

Wheeling, West Virginia

Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, and is the only public high school serving Ohio County, West Virginia

Ohio County, West Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 47,427 people, 19,733 households, and 12,155 families residing in the county. The population density was 447 people per square mile . There were 22,166 housing units at an average density of 209 per square mile...

. Park, as it is sometimes called, is home to roughly 2,000 students in grades 9-12.

The school opened for the 1976-1977 academic year following the consolidation of Wheeling, Triadelphia, Warwood, and West Liberty high schools. By choosing colors of its predecessor high schools, Wheeling Park selected red, white, and blue as its official school colors. Mr. Bernie Dolan became Wheeling Park's sixth principal in July 2008. Hi

Former principals include:

• Sam DeFilipo (1976–1982)
• Phyllis Beneke (1982–1988)
• George Krelis (1988–2001)
• Dianna Vargo (2001–2005)
• Christine Carder (2005–2008)
• Bernie Dolan (2008-present) WPHS 1979

Graduation requirements

In meeting or exceeding West Virginia state graduation requirements, Wheeling Park requires the following courses to be completed prior to graduation:

• Language Arts - 4.5 credits
• Social Studies - 4 credits
• Mathematics - 3 credits (with 1 credit in Geometry)
• Science - 3 credits
• Physical Education / Health - 1 credit in each
• Visual and Performing Arts - 1 credits
• Career Major - 4 credits
• Electives - 3.5 credits

Advanced placement

Wheeling Park offers 12 courses specifically designed for Advanced Placement testing. In addition to the courses listed below, students may also choose to test in music theory and foreign languages.

• Biology
• Calculus AB
• Calculus BC
• English Language
• English Literature
• Geography
• Physics B
• Physics C
• Political Science
• U.S. History
• World History
• Statistics
• Chemistry

Along with Advanced Placement, there are also a few courses that can be taken for college credit through West Liberty University and West Virginia Northern Community College

West Virginia Northern Community College

West Virginia Northern Community College is a public, multi-campus community college with the main campus located in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia, United States...

.

West Virginia Educational Standards Test

West Virginia uses the (WESTEST) West Virginia Educational Standards Test to assess their students proficiency levels by grade level.

Students at Wheeling Park beat out the state average in every category in 2009

• Math - Grade 11 61% proficient compared to 59% State Average
• Reading - Grade 11 59% proficient compared to 52% State Average
• Social Studies - Grade 11 69% proficient compared to 63% State Average

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY:Bold text

Golf: 2002,2010,2011 Boys cc:1986,2007,2008, Girls cc: 1984

Boys basketball: 1980, 1995,(2010,2011 state runner-up)

Girls basketball: 1998,1999

Football: 1991 state runner -up

Hockey:2005,2006,2008,2009

Cheering: 1989

Boys soccer: 1991,2001

Girls soccer:1998, 1999,2000,2001

Boys tennis: 2006

WRESTLING: 1977,1978,1981,1986,1987,2006

girls track: 1995
boys track :1978,1979,1988,2007

Campus Information

The high school building houses physical education, special education, technical education, and regular education. The building is 860 feet long and 550 feet wide for a total of 473,000 square feet. There are three floors of masonry block insulation with brick veneer. Additional education wings added in 1984 on both ends of the building comprise 7750 square feet. Three gymnasiums, a fitness center, wrestling room, and indoor Olympic-sized pool make up the Physical Education department. "The Palace", located in the main building, is one of the largest gymnasiums in the Wheeling area. Inside the school building, the Beneke Theatre, The Media Center and the Food Court areas are the main common spaces. The music department is home to private recording studios, a piano lab, and 2 large practice halls. The new JB Chambers Performing Arts Center at WPHS is scheduled to open in August of 2011. This 3 level, 1,200 seat theatre will be the main performing hall for local schools and musicians. There are four lighted tennis courts, and eight-lane track and adjoining baseball, softball, football and soccer fields which complete the entire 52 acre complex.

Performing arts

Wheeling Park is also home to bands, choral ensembles, and orchestral groups. Additionally, Wheeling Park is widely considered to have the best high school music program in West Virginia and the Upper Ohio Valley. Furthermore, the school's speech team has won 32 consecutive state championships, and its Concert Band has achieved 27 consecutive "superior" ratings at Region 1 Band Festival.

Wheeling Park also is the home to the award winning Forensics team, who in 2011 won their 32nd consecutive state championship. Students in the Speech and Theater department have opportunities to enter The National Forensics League, The International Thespian Society, and Park Players.

Course offerings

The performing arts department provides instruction in the following areas:

Dance

• Dance I - IV

Music

• Instrumental Music
  • Wind Ensemble
  • Jazz Band
  • Music Appreciation
  • Music Theory Honors I - II
  • Percussion
  • Piano I - IV
  • String Ensemble
  • String Orchestra
  • Steel Band(after school only)
• Vocal Music
  • Concert Choir
  • Men's Ensemble
  • Minutemen
  • Voices of Freedom
  • Young Patriots

Theater

• Performance
  • Acting I - II
  • Drama
  • Introduction to Speech & Theater
• Technical
  • Applied Technical Theater
  • Stage Design

Career and technical

Wheeling Park High School is known nationally for their exceptional career & technical programs. The SkillsUSA Club is the main branch of career & technical, with several classes going to nationals yearly.

Automotive technology

• • Fundamentals of Automotive Technology
  • Brakes
  • Basic Engine Concepts
  • Suspension & Steering Diagnosis
  • Electrical/Electronic Systems
  • Engine Performance

Business education

• • Accounting Principles I
  • Accounting Principles II Honors
  • Basic Keyboarding
  • Business Computer Applications I
  • Business Computer Applications II Honors
  • Business Computer Literacy
  • Business Law
  • International Business Marketing
  • Introduction to Business & Marketing
  • Management & Entrepreneurship Honors
  • Maketing I
  • Office Management
  • Personal Finance
  • Travel WV

Child development

• • Child Development I
  • Child Development II
  • Child Development III
  • Child Development IV

Collision repair technology

• • Fundamentals of Collision Repair
  • Non-Structural Analysis and Damage Repair
  • Surface Preparation & Refinishing
  • Structural Analysis & Damage Repair
  • Advanced Refinishing Techniques
  • Custom Finishing Processes

Communications technology

• • Fundamentals of Broadcasting
  • Radio Broadcast Applications
  • Television Production Applications
  • Broadcast Management
  • Broadcast Management II
  • Producing Live Television
  • Video Editing

Computer systems and operational support

• • Fundamentals of Computer Systems - Mr.Schiel
  • Technical Computer Applications - Mr.Hill
  • Programming Concepts - Mr.Schiel
  • Web Development & Support - Mr.Hill
  • A+ Certification Software Honors - Mr.Hill
  • A+ Certification Hardware Honors - Mr.Hill
  • A+ Computer Technicians Operating Systems - Mr.Hill

Drafting

• • Fundamentals of Drafting
  • Drafting Techniques
  • Drafting Specialization & Mechanical
  • Drafting Specialization & Architectural

Electronics technology

• • Fundamentals of Electronics
  • DC Circuits & Electron Physics
  • Basic AC Circuits
  • Basic Solid State Devices & Circuits
  • Analog Circuits
  • Digital Circuits
  • Wiring & Soldering
  • Electronics Specialization

Notable alumni

• Reggie Watkins (West Virginia University
  West Virginia University
  West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
  
  );
• David Heath (West Liberty University); eCommerce Pioneer & CEO of www.CompuStore.com
• Rico Cox (University of Pittsburgh
  University of Pittsburgh
  The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
  
  ); Former NFL football player
• Daryl "Boogie" Johnson (Oklahoma State University); Former football player (1993-1995)
• Nick stafenow 2000 1st team all state ( Duke University football)