Cleveland Heights High School
Encyclopedia
Cleveland Heights High School (or commonly known as Heights) is the senior high school of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District
.
The school is mostly African-American, with 76% identifying themselves as such, and Caucasian (19%), multiracial (4%) and Asian (1%) minorities.
Heights is known for its athletic teams, which play in Division I.
The school is known for its strong music departments, including the Vocal Music Department (VMD) which include A Cappella, Men's and Woman's Barbershop, Singers, and Men and Women's choruses. There is also a Gospel Choir which is an extracurricular group. The Instrumental Music Department (IMD) consists of the well respected Heights High Symphony, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Concert Orchestra, Marching Band, Jazz Lab, and Jazz Band. During the 1960 and 1970s, Heights High's music programs were nationally renowned with the Choir and Orchestra considered amongst the best in the country. For a number of years, world renowned musicians performed with the Orchestra and the Heights Band & Orchestra Parents organization and Heights Choir Parents Organization played a major role in promoting music and making Heights High synonymous with the highest quality music. Recently, the Heights High Symphony, Symphonic Winds and Jazz Ensemble competed in the 2007 Heritage Festival in Chicago, Illinois culminating at an award ceremony at Medieval Times
where the Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Jazz Ensemble received Gold (or Superior) ratings.
The school is also known for its student-run newspaper, The Black & Gold, as well as for its former AP Calculus BC program.
The life stories of forty-eight fascinating graduates of Cleveland Heights High School are featured in the book Every Tiger Has a Tale written by Gary Stromberg, a 1968 graduate of the school.
In 1991, the school won the 23rd National High School chess tournament. The team consisted of Andy Gard, Joshua Jex, Ari Singer and Wenning Xing. Wenning Xing also tied for the second place individual spot with a score of 6.0 out of seven; Josh Waitzkin (of "Searching for Bobby Fischer" fame) took first place with 6.5 out of seven.
. Heights has divided itself into what used to be five and now four small schools designed to improve student achievement based on an individual's learning style. The five schools at Heights are:
Much controversy among the student population and teachers as well has risen around the implementation of Small Schools at Heights as well as how they have been run.
Former Heights High Instrumental Music Directors:
Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District is a public school district based in University Heights, Ohio, United States.The district enrolls approximately 6,500 students and covers most of Cleveland Heights, all of University Heights, and a small portion of South...
.
History
Cleveland Heights High School was founded in 1901. The current student population is more than 1800, with 18 students per full-time teacher.The school is mostly African-American, with 76% identifying themselves as such, and Caucasian (19%), multiracial (4%) and Asian (1%) minorities.
Heights is known for its athletic teams, which play in Division I.
The school is known for its strong music departments, including the Vocal Music Department (VMD) which include A Cappella, Men's and Woman's Barbershop, Singers, and Men and Women's choruses. There is also a Gospel Choir which is an extracurricular group. The Instrumental Music Department (IMD) consists of the well respected Heights High Symphony, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Concert Orchestra, Marching Band, Jazz Lab, and Jazz Band. During the 1960 and 1970s, Heights High's music programs were nationally renowned with the Choir and Orchestra considered amongst the best in the country. For a number of years, world renowned musicians performed with the Orchestra and the Heights Band & Orchestra Parents organization and Heights Choir Parents Organization played a major role in promoting music and making Heights High synonymous with the highest quality music. Recently, the Heights High Symphony, Symphonic Winds and Jazz Ensemble competed in the 2007 Heritage Festival in Chicago, Illinois culminating at an award ceremony at Medieval Times
Medieval Times
Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament is a family dinner theater featuring staged medieval-style games, sword-fighting, and jousting performed by a cast of 75 actors and 20 horses. Each location is housed in a replica 11th-century castle, with the exception of the Toronto location, which is housed...
where the Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Jazz Ensemble received Gold (or Superior) ratings.
The school is also known for its student-run newspaper, The Black & Gold, as well as for its former AP Calculus BC program.
The life stories of forty-eight fascinating graduates of Cleveland Heights High School are featured in the book Every Tiger Has a Tale written by Gary Stromberg, a 1968 graduate of the school.
In 1991, the school won the 23rd National High School chess tournament. The team consisted of Andy Gard, Joshua Jex, Ari Singer and Wenning Xing. Wenning Xing also tied for the second place individual spot with a score of 6.0 out of seven; Josh Waitzkin (of "Searching for Bobby Fischer" fame) took first place with 6.5 out of seven.
Gates Foundation involvement
Heights High School recently became a pilot school for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Small schools movementSmall schools movement
The small schools movement, also known as the Small Schools Initiative, in the United States of America holds that many high schools are too large and should be reorganized into smaller, autonomous schools of no more than 400 students, and optimally under 200. Many private schools of under 200...
. Heights has divided itself into what used to be five and now four small schools designed to improve student achievement based on an individual's learning style. The five schools at Heights are:
- Legacy
- Mosaic Experience
- R.E.A.L.
- Renaissance
- P.R.I.D.E was removed after the 2010-2011 school year
Much controversy among the student population and teachers as well has risen around the implementation of Small Schools at Heights as well as how they have been run.
Former Heights High Instrumental Music Directors:
- 1969–1988: Director Robert Bergantino. While at Heights High his orchestras were recognized as being among the best in the country as evidenced by numerous appearances at Music Education Conferences, a perfect record of receiving unanimous "I" ratings in every competition entered, and 19 touring appearances in many parts of the country.
- 1974–2001: James W. Bane. While at Heights High School his teaching responsibilities included Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Marching Band and Jazz Band. Mr. Bane's was well known for Jazz Nights, featuring the schools talent, as well as consistently directing an 100+ member Marching Band. Mr Bane and Dr. Mayer are responsible for starting the Chamber Ensemble elective at Heights High School
- 2001-Present: Brett Baker
- 1992–2004: Director Dr. Frederick R Mayer. His teaching responsibilities included Heights High Symphony, Concert Orchestra, Chamber Ensembles, Marching Band, African-American music, music theory and music technology. During the summer months Dr. Mayer was the director of the Cleveland Music School Settlement Summer Music & Fine Arts Camp.
- 2004-2007: Director Donna Dehn. Was responsible for teaching and directing the Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, AP Music Theory and the Chamber program, which consists of approximately 20 student chamber groups. These groups compete at OMEA Solo and Ensemble contest, perform recitals at Heights High, and provide live music at community functions.
- 2007–2009: Scott Astey.
- 2009-Present: Daniel Heim.
Heights High Vocal Music Department
Heights High Vocal music director Craig L. McGaughey was first employed at Heights during the 2000–2001 school year to teach Heights Singers, Heights A Cappella Choir, and Men's and Women's Choruses which consist of over 150 students per year. These groups compete at national competitions and at O.M.E.A Solo and Ensemble contest, perform concerts at Heights High, and perform at many community venues. The Heights Singers and A Cappella Choir have won many national competitions and go on a yearly tour.Facts
- Name commonly shortened to “Heights”
- Team Names: Tigers, Lady Tigers, Tigersharks (SwimmingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
) - Colors: Black and Gold
- Location: Cleveland Heights, OhioCleveland Heights, OhioCleveland Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The city's population was 46,121 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Cleveland Heights is located at ....
, a suburb on the east side of Cleveland, at the corner of Cedar and Lee roads. - Had 1,909 students for the 2006-07 school year.
- Had a well recognized AP Calculus BC program under the instruction of teacher Jim Voytas. This program was recognized by the Siemens FoundationSiemens FoundationThe Siemens Foundation is a non-profit organization run by Siemens AG. It is responsible for the Siemens Westinghouse Competition, a prestigious science award for high school students in the United States, and also is involved in the Siemens AP Scholar Award...
http://www.siemens-foundation.org/ which acknowledged Voytas with an Advanced Placement award for his work. Voytas retired at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. - Was featured in the 2006 movie The OH in OhioThe OH in OhioThe Oh in Ohio is a 2006 comedy film directed byBilly Kent. It was screened at several US film festivals from March to May 2006 and was released theatrically by Cyan Pictures on July 14, 2006...
that included Mischa BartonMischa BartonMischa Anne Marsden Barton is a British-American fashion model, film, television, and stage actress, best known for her role as Marissa Cooper in the American television series The O.C..-Early life:...
and Danny DeVitoDanny DeVitoDaniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
. The cafeteria and pool are easily recognizable, along with other spots frequented by Heights High students such as Coventry Village. - Has a well-respected Technical Theatre program, currently led by Keith Newman.
Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships
- BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
— 1947 - BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
— 1997 - HockeyHockeyHockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
— 1973, 1977, 1987 - SwimmingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
— 1932, 1933, 1934, 1965 - WrestlingWrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
— 1976 - Track and FieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
— 1941, 1982, 2008 - Girls Track and FieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
— 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995
External links
- Cleveland Heights High School website
- Cleveland Heights High School Alumni website (unofficial)
- Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District website
- The Alvin Gray Archives of the Cleveland Heights - University Heights School District
- Heights High History
- Heights High Hall of Fame
- GreatSchools.net overview
- Small Schools Main Page
- Ice Hockey Team's website