Parkland High School (Allentown, Pennsylvania)

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Location
Parkland High School
2700 North Cedar Crest Boulevard South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania PA, United States
Information
Principal	Richard T. Sniscak
Enrollment	3,187 (as of 2005-06)
Type	Public
Grades	9 - 12
Established	1949
Information	610-351-5600
Mascot	The Trojan
Colours	Red and Grey
Homepage	Parkland High School

Parkland High School, located in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, United States, is a public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12. It is the only high school for the Parkland School District.

The school is located at 2700 North Cedar Crest Boulevard in South Whitehall Township. The school's mascot is the Trojan who currently is played by Clint Gyory, and schools colors are red, grey, and white.

With 3,187 students in the 2005-2006 academic year, Parkland is the second largest high school in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, behind only Allentown's William Allen High School.

1 Academics
2 Arts
3 Athletics
4 Staff
5 Recent Controversy
6 Notable alumni
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Academics

Parkland High School is known for its competitive academic programs. Almost 10 percent of Parkland High School students are identified as academically gifted, with IQs exceeding 130. The class of 2007 boasted 15 National Merit Finalists and a mean SAT score of 1603, with 81% taking the test and 65% going to a four-year college.^[1].

Parkland is a four-time winner (1988, 1990, 2001 and 2007) of Scholastic Scrimmage, a televised academic contest during which teams from Pennsylvania high schools compete in rapid recall of factual information. Since the beginning of the competition, only Emmaus High School has won more Scholastic Scrimmage competitions.

In 2004 and 2006, the school's Scholastic Scrimmage team finished third in Pennsylvania's Academic Competition in Harrisburg. Parkland also has a strong tradition of excellence in regional debate leagues, having won many championships, most recently in 2005 and 2006. The school also is competitive in FBLA-PBL and Science Olympiad competitions, regularly sending contingents to states. In 2001 and 2002 the school participated in the FIRST competition and in 2002 won the Virginia regional and took second in the Philadelphia regional, allowing them to send the robotics team to Epcot Center for the national championship.

Parkland's Political Science Club offers students the opportunity to participate in various Model United Nations conferences. Parkland consistently sends winning delegations to the Kutztown, Wyomissing, LVIAC, and Ivy League Model United Nations Conferences. For the past several years, Parkland has been named best delegation at the LVIAC conference for accumulating the most awards.

During the 2007 school year, a group of sophomores decided to bring the Odyssey of the Mind competition to the district. Two teams were formed, both advancing to the State competition, and one advancing to the World Finals at Michigan State University where it placed 8th. This team also won the prestigious Ranatra Fusca creativity award. At the 2008 Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Competition, Parkland secured a 2nd place in Problem 3, The Wonderful Muses, and a 1st place in Problem 5, The Eccentrics.

During the 2007-2008 school year, students founded several additional clubs: the Philosophy Forum, the Magic Club, and the Parkland Pictures Film Club. Furthermore, students started The Trojan Horse, a humor magazine offshoot of the Parkland LitMag Club. The Trojan Horse no longer exists due to administration shutting it down.

[edit] Arts

Parkland has many musical groups, including orchestral ensembles, choral groups, and a concert band, jazz band, and marching band. The marching band competes in the Tournament of Bands (TOB) competition, and the jazz band competes locally. Every four years, the music department organizes a trip to Disney World.

The school's music program sent five musicians to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference (PMEA) state music festivals in the 2004-2005 academic year. PMEA organizes competitive auditioned ensembles each year, of which the state groups are the most prestigious. Approximately 500 students are selected for these ensembles each year. In the 2006-2007 academic year, they sent three musicians to the All-State music festivals.

The theater department puts on several productions each year including one large musical. In the spring of 2006, the arts department was honored with 5 "Freddy" Awards given out by the State Theater in neighboring Easton, Pennsylvania, including "Best Female Lead" and "Best Overall Production" for its rendition of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Nominated for 16 Freddys in 2008, Parkland won the award for Outstanding Scenic Design for their production of Les Miserables. Each year, the Freddys are awarded to recognize excellence in high school theater in the Lehigh Valley.

Parkland is known for its annual Festival of the Arts that takes place in the spring. Students organize the event that includes live concerts in the Auditorium, festival food and games on the front quad, displays of high school art work, and live demonstrations and exhibits by local artists.

[edit] Athletics

Parkland competes in the Lehigh Valley Conference in District XI of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, one of the most competitive athletic divisions in the nation. Parkland's primary athletic rivalry is with Emmaus High School in neighboring Emmaus. Cumulatively among all of its sports, Parkland has secured nine Pennsylvania State Championship titles.

Parkland is particularly well known for several exceptional athletic programs, including its girls and boys' basketball and girls and boys swimming teams, both of which won Pennsylvania state championships in 2006. The school's girls softball team won the first Pennsylvania state-wide championship ever held (in 1975).

[edit] Swimming

The girls swim team were PIAA class 3A state champions in 2001, 2003, and 2006 and have been ranked in the top 10 nationally. Both the boys swim team and the girls swim team are annually a major threat in the state. The boys have won districts several times over the past 15 years. In 2004-2005, both the girls' swim teams took second place in the Pennsylvania state finals.

[edit] Football

In 2002, the Parkland football team won the Pennsylvania AAAA State Championship, led by All-American Austin Scott. The season culminated in a 34-12 victory against Woodland Hills High School at Hersheypark Stadium. The team ended the year ranked the 11th in the nation, according to USA Today "Final 2002 Super 25 Football Rankings"^[2]. Scott compiled 3,853 yards (fourth highest in high school football history) and 53 touchdowns, both still state records. In honor of Scott's accomplishments, the school retired his number, 33, the following year.

In 2007, the Parkland football team finished the season 15-1, and concluded the regular season undefeated for the second year in a row. They lost the PIAA AAAA championship to Pittsburgh Central Catholic 21-0. The game was played on December 15, 2007 at Hersheypark Stadium.^[3].

[edit] Basketball

In the 2003-2004 season, the boys basketball team advanced all the way to the state finals before bowing out to Penn Hills High School by a score of 57-48.^[4]. In the 2004-2005 season the girls basketball team captured the PIAA state championship title.

[edit] Hockey

Parkland's ice hockey team participates in the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League (LVSHL). Both Parkland's varsity and junior varsity teams have won their league's championships numerous times. On March 12th, 2008, Parkland's Junior Varsity team won its fifth consecutive championship, leaving little doubt as to whom the most dominant program is.

The Varsity team recently claimed its third title in 5 years, as they swept Northampton in a best of 3 series. This was Parkland's third overall title as well ('04, '06, '08)

[edit] Tennis

The Parkland boys tennis team won the District XI AAA championship in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 and advanced to the final 8 in the state all four years. In 2007, Parkland claimed both the District XI singles 1st place, 3rd place, and 4th place titles along with the 1st place and 2nd place doubles titles. In 2008, Parkland claimed the District XI singles 1st place and 4th place titles, in addition to the 1st place and 2nd place doubles titles. This year marked the third consecutive year that Parkland secured the District XI singles, doubles, and team titles.

[edit] Volleyball

The Parkland boys volleyball team has won 6 District XI titles (1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2008) and finished 3rd at the PIAA Championships in 1996 (losing to Hempfield in semifinals) and 1997 (losing to Central York in semifinals). The junior varsity team finished the 2007 and 2008 seasons undefeated in league play and has won the Black Knight Invitational tournament both years also.

[edit] Cross country

The Parkland boys and girls cross country teams have consistently been atop their division. In 2004-2005, both the girls' cross country team took second place in the Pennsylvania state finals.

[edit] Staff

The school is supported by eight administrators, one transitional coordinator, two supervisors, 16 department chairs, 10 counselors, two psychologists, three nurses, 188 teaching professionals, and 113 support staff.

[edit] Recent Controversy

In January 2008, Parkland made local headlines after a student, nicknamed "Fuzzy," streaked at a televised basketball game. He was expelled from school, fined $300, and forced to enroll at Educare, an alternative education center.^{[citation needed]} Later in January, the school made national headlines when the Lehigh Valley DA launched an investigation into child pornography featuring students, which was circulated throughout the school via cell phones.^[5]