Newtown High School (New York City)

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Newtown High School is a high school in Elmhurst, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. Its multinational student body consists of approximately 4,000 students. The current Newtown High School building, a palatial structure nestled among densely packed private houses at 48th Avenue and 90th Street, was completed in 1921, with additions completed in 1931 and 1958. The school offers college classes, advanced placement (AP) classes, a pre-engineering program and technology preparation.

The school emerged from one man's dream. His name was Dr. James Darius Dillingham. His goal was to build an academic high school in the farming town of Newtown, one of the five townships of the original Queens County. Dr. Dillingham was raised on a farm in Massachusetts, educated as a lawyer and ultimately decided to become an educator. He came to Queens at the age of 29 in 1894 to become the principal of the school.

The school consisted of a small wooden building dating from 1866 that housed every grade in the town. From the start, Dr. Dillingham wanted the school to grow and so, in 1897, he got the local school board to allocate $75,000 for the construction of a new building that would tower over any existing structure in the area. It took three years to complete. In June 1900, Newtown held a graduation for one student, William Boyce. Because Dr. Dillingham had not forgotten his childhood, Newtown was the first academic school to offer courses in agriculture. The new curriculum boasted new science laboratories, a large foreign language department and college preparatory math. He also enlisted known scholars, such as Professor George Kingsbury, to the staff. In 1910, Newtown dropped all lower grades and became solely a high school, with 747 students. That year, Newtown graduated 14 students.

In the same year, 1910, the city ordered Dr. Dillingham to close the school. "It was too small", they said, "and by the way, Elmhurst didn't even need a high school". If Newtown was too small, Dr. Dillingham would solve the problem. He badgered the board for more money for expansion of the school. Each year, the board asked him to close the school, and each year he got a one-year extension.

In 1920, the board allocated $1 for an addition to the school. It would hold a large auditorium and have an inspiring tower. When the new addition opened, the large auditorium, dedicated to the standing principal, was called Dillingham Hall. Dr. Dillingham had the pleasure of walking into an auditorium bearing his own name for 15 more years as principal. By the end of his tenure, Newtown would have two more additions, an athletic field and 8,500 students.

There were no deans or security officers in those days. When a student misbehaved or got into trouble, Dr. Dillingham would walk him home personally and talk to the student's parents. It was low-tech but effective.

Today, Newtown High School still has an athletic field, one principal, AP classes, 13 assistant-principals, 4,500 students, more than 200 teachers and an inspiring tower - a symbol that Newtown High School still towers above the rest.


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