William Tennent High School
Encyclopedia
William Tennent High School is a public high school serving grades 9 through 12, located in Warminster, Pennsylvania
, USA.
The school is the only public high school serving Warminster
and Upper Southampton
townships and Ivyland
borough in the Centennial School District, located in Bucks County
, Pennsylvania
.
The school was named in honor of William Tennent
, an early American Presbyterian minister and founder of the original Log College
, a very early theological school located in the colony of Pennsylvania. The first William Tennent High School was located across the street from the current high school and when both were in use, the buildings were called William Tennent Intermediate High School (grades 9 and 10) and William Tennent Senior High School (grades 11 and 12) (the current school). The site of the original Log College
is located near the modern high school
The findings of this study was presented to the School Board in February, 2005.
This study chose Option #3, which consists of demolition of the existing “A” building. It would be cheaper for the district to bus students north.
Option 3 is being followed through on but students will not attend Central Bucks South School District. Instead they are building an academic building behind the current gym building. The New academic building opened for the 2011-2012 school year and is fully functional, aside from the front entrance due to the demolition of the old "A" building. The rear entrance of the new building is currently serving as the main entrance until the old building is gone.
Elementary Schools
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...
, USA.
The school is the only public high school serving Warminster
Warminster Township, Pennsylvania
Warminster Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 32,682 at the 2010 census.The town was named for the town of Warminster in Wiltshire, England.-Geography:...
and Upper Southampton
Upper Southampton Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Southampton Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,152 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
townships and Ivyland
Ivyland, Pennsylvania
Ivyland is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known as one of the finest collections of Victorian Buildings in the state and most of it is on the National Register of Historic Places...
borough in the Centennial School District, located in Bucks County
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
, 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...
.
The school was named in honor of William Tennent
William Tennent
William Tennent was an early American religious leader and educator in British North America.-Early life:Tennent was born in Mid Calder, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, in 1673. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1695 and was ordained in the Church of Ireland in 1706...
, an early American Presbyterian minister and founder of the original Log College
Log College
The Log College was the first American Presbyterian theological seminary located in what is now Warminster, Pennsylvania. It was founded by William Tennent and his son Gilbert Tennent and operated from 1726 until William Tennent's death in 1746....
, a very early theological school located in the colony of Pennsylvania. The first William Tennent High School was located across the street from the current high school and when both were in use, the buildings were called William Tennent Intermediate High School (grades 9 and 10) and William Tennent Senior High School (grades 11 and 12) (the current school). The site of the original Log College
Log College
The Log College was the first American Presbyterian theological seminary located in what is now Warminster, Pennsylvania. It was founded by William Tennent and his son Gilbert Tennent and operated from 1726 until William Tennent's death in 1746....
is located near the modern high school
New Construction
During the Fall of 2004, School Board Members retained the services of Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates to conduct a Feasibility Study and to prepare options concerning William Tennent High School. With respect to this study, the following tasks have been completed:- Representatives from Burt Hill visited the District on November 3 and 4, 2004. The following tasks were completed during this visit:
- Toured the existing facility with Burt Hill staff so they were able to examine the overall function of the building
- Conducted a preliminary meeting with Warminister Township officials to discuss the District’s intentions for the study and to determine applicable building codes; and reviewed the approval process.
- Interviewed with selected faculty, staff, and student representatives to understand their perspective on the facility.
- Presented preliminary findings to the Board Operations Committee.
- Developed three options for consideration.
- Presented preliminary options to the Board on December 6, 2004. At this meeting, the following options were approved for further consideration:
- Option 1: This option consists of a minimal renovation to the existing facility. The existing building configuration remains as is, and the renovations to ensure that the students and faculty remain warm, safe, and dry.
- Option 2: This option consists of major renovations to the existing facility in order to provide an environment more suitable for the educational curriculum. Interior modifications are made in order to provide a more efficient use of space and to create additional classrooms.
- Option 3: This option consists of demolition of the existing A building. Students would then attend Central Bucks South High School in the Central Bucks School District.
The findings of this study was presented to the School Board in February, 2005.
This study chose Option #3, which consists of demolition of the existing “A” building. It would be cheaper for the district to bus students north.
Option 3 is being followed through on but students will not attend Central Bucks South School District. Instead they are building an academic building behind the current gym building. The New academic building opened for the 2011-2012 school year and is fully functional, aside from the front entrance due to the demolition of the old "A" building. The rear entrance of the new building is currently serving as the main entrance until the old building is gone.
Notable alumni
- Paul Hipp Class of 1981 - Tony Award Nominated stage, tv, film actor Paul HippPaul Hipp-Early years:Paul Hipp was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hipp left Pennsylvania for New York City immediately after high school, starting his career playing for tips on the streets of Greenwich Village while studying acting with Mira Rostova and at HB Studio with...
- Brian BakerBrian Baker (actor)Brian Edward Baker is an American actor best known for his recurring role as a trenchcoated spokesman in Sprint's television commercials.-Early career:...
Class of 1985 - actor, former Sprint pitchman - Thomas W. DruceThomas W. DruceThomas W. Druce is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He represented the 144th legislative district.He graduated from William Tennent High School in 1979 and from Westminster College in 1983...
- former Pennsylvania State RepresentativePennsylvania House of RepresentativesThe Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
, class of 1979. - Frank CoonellyFrank CoonellyFrank Coonelly is the president of the Pittsburgh Pirates. His hiring was announced by the Pirates on September 13, 2007. He replaced Kevin McClatchy who purchased the Pirates with a group of investors in 1996 and served as the CEO for the next 12 seasons...
Class of 1978. President, Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
Where Students Go Before William Tennent HS
Middle Schools- Log College Middle School
- Eugene Klinger Middle School
Elementary Schools
- Alta S. Leary Elementary
- Longstreth Elementary
- McDonald-Davis Elementary
- Fred J. Stackpole Elementary
- Willow Dale Elementary
- Davis Elementary (Closed)