Altoona Area High School

History

The first six official graduates of Altoona Area High School graduated in 1877.

A riot occurred at the school in 1907 after boys in the senior class attempted to disrupt a junior class social. A large fight ensued and several students were injured after students threw stones and fired revolvers.

Another riot occurred at the school in 1910 after 25 senior students—on their last day of school—marched into the school's chapel service with their faces smeared. A large fight resulted, leading to the arrest of two students and suspension of 25 others.

In 1943, Altoona High became the only high school in the United States to have a World War II veteran as its class president. Robert G. Pennington, 18, had enlisted in 1942, and served four months in the Marine Corps before obtaining a medical discharge. He then returned to school.

Country music star and gay rights activist Chely Wright attended the school's 1998 prom, after accepting a request from student Dave Showalter that she be his date.

In 2002, school officials permitted an undercover female police officer to pose as a student for three months in order to identify drug transactions at the school. Five students were charged with drug violations.

Facility

The school was first located at the Webster Building, then became established in a separate building until 1895. In 1905, it moved to its present location on sixth avenue. This building cost $250,000. After the First World War, the building was not large enough to house the number of students it had enrolled. In 1927, a $1 million annex was added to accompany the facilities. A $14 million project during the 1970s allowed the school to be completely renovated and a 1200-seat auditorium was built. A new gym, called the fieldhouse, was also constructed. In 1995, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association High School All-America game was telecast live from the fieldhouse by ESPN2.

Building features

The school itself consists of two buildings (A and B) which contain a planetarium, full size gym, television studio, auxiliary gym, electronic learning laboratory, and regulation size swimming pool. An $88 million renovation of building A and a new B building was constructed across sixth avenue on the site of a former intramural playing field and running track. The new Building B is connected to Building A by a pedestrian bridge over Sixth Avenue. The new building opened in fall of 2021. The Vocational Technology Center is located adjacent to the high school.

Attendance boundary

The district (of which this is the sole comprehensive high school) includes all of Altoona and Logan Township, and a small portion of Tyrone Township. It includes the census-designated places of East Altoona, Elberta, Eldorado, Juniata Gap, Mill Run, Newburg, Red Hill, Sickles Corner, and Wopsononock. It also includes most of each of the following CDPs: Greenwood and Lakemont.

Students and teachers

Number of students- 2224

Ninth grade- 630

Tenth grade- 575

Eleventh grade- 494

Twelfth grade- 525

Number of teachers- 134.91 (on an FTE basis)

William P. Kimmel Alternative School

The District offers this school for students who are not successful or are disruptive in the traditional public school setting. The school focuses on dropout prevention, improving student's reading and math skills and assisting the student to successfully graduate. The school was named for a former school board president.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program. The district owns three fields with artificial turfs enhance physical education, intramural and interscholastic athletic opportunities.

Athletics

There are numerous sports and athletic programs available to the students at Altoona Area High School including an Intramural sports program. The Football and Track and Field teams compete at historic Mansion Park, which recently underwent field replacement. The District also operates the Sheetz Athletic Training Center a 3600 square-foot facility opened in August, 2009.

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track, and Wrestling

Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, and Winter Track.

The following Altoona High School teams won PIAA state championships in their respective sports.

1939 Boys' Cross Country

1941 Boys' Cross Country (tied with Mt. Lebanon)

1951 Boys' Cross Country

1954 Boys' Cross Country

1982 Girls' Cross Country

1983 Girls' Cross Country

1986 Girls' Basketball

1988 Girls' Basketball

1988 Girls' Cross Country

1995 Girls' Basketball

2008 Boys' Outdoor Track & Field

2009 Boys' Indoor Track & Field

2010 Boys' Indoor Track & Field

Notable alumni

Brad Benson, former professional football player, New York Giants

Rob Boston, author, advocate of church-state separation

Blaine Earon, former professional football player, Detroit Lions

Danny Fortson, former professional basketball player

Richard Geist, former Pennsylvania House of Representatives member

Kevin Givens, professional football player, San Francisco 49ers

Mike Iuzzolino, former professional basketball player

Betty James, businesswoman, wife of Slinky inventor Richard T. James

Eli Mencer, former professional football player, Seattle Seahawks

Johnny Moore (basketball), professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs. Retired #00

Maury Patt, deceased professional football player

Mike Reid, songwriter, football player, Grammy Award winner

Doug West, former professional basketball player, Minnesota Timberwolves and Vancouver Grizzlies

Paul Winter musician, Grammy award nominee

Alfie Wise, actor