Poughkeepsie High School is the public high school (grades 9-12) in the city of Poughkeepsie, NY. (Not to be confused with Poughkeepsie Day School, which is a nearby K-12 private school.) It is categorized as an inner city school district as a result of the high percentage of students living in low-income households. In the 2007-2008 school year, 60% of students were eligible for free lunch.[1] PHS did not meet the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) specified by the No Child Left Behind Act in 2009. The student:teacher ratio was approximately 14:1 in 2007, but budget cuts in 2009/2010 have decreased the number of teachers in the district.[2]
The school offers AP courses in the following subjects: Biology, Calculus AB, English Literature, French Language, Spanish Language, and United States History.[3]
In 2007, there were 1278 students enrolled in the High School. The average class size was 20-25 students. The attendance rate in the 2005-2006 school year was 86%, and the suspension rate in that same year was 22%. 22% of teachers have their Masters Degree plus 30 Hours or Doctorate.[4]
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Poughkeepsie High School opened in 1857 on the second floor of an elementary school; the first graduating class was 1863. Classes were not held in 1865, but resumed in 1866 in rented space. A new building was opened in 1872.
Yet another new building was built in 1914 to accommodate 1,200 pupils. By the early Fifties, the population was outgrowing this building as well, and another location was sought. The building and property were later sold to the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, which renovated it and operated it as Our Lady of Lourdes High School.
The current school opened for classes in 1956. Additions to the building were approved in 2002 as part of $27 million approved by voters for additions to buildings in the district that year.[5]
85% Black
2% White
13% Hispanic
51% Male
49% Female[6]
Under the current superintendent, Dr. Laval S. Wilson, the High School has begun to operate as an America's Choice School. The America's Choice program aims to improve the standings of schools deemed to be at-risk. The program utilizes specific teaching methods as well as intensive teacher training regimens in order to attempt to improve student achievement, test scores, and graduation rates, as well as to reduce the number of discipline problems.[7]
Poughkeepsie High School's mascot is the Pioneer, and the school colors are blue and white.
There are many extracurricular activities accessible to students who attend the school. Student clubs include:
Break Free
Caribbean Club
Concert Band
Drama Club
Environmental Club
Gay/Straight Alliance
Green Teen
Jazz Ensemble
Latinos Unidos
Math Team
Mock Trial
Multicultural Coalition
National Honor Society
Orchestra
Pioneer Post School Newspaper
Science Olympiad
Sister2Sister
Brother2Brother
New Paltz STEP program
Student Association
Wind Ensemble
WPSX Radio
Yearbook
[8]
Arlington High School (LaGrange, New York), Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Poughkeepsie Day School, Spackenkill High School
As of 2008, Poughkeepsie High School graduates who are accepted to Vassar College receive a special financial aid package. This Program eliminates loans for the PHS graduates attending Vassar and replaces them with scholarship funding.[9]