Methacton High School

Methacton High School
Location
1005 Kriebel Mill Road Eagleville, PA 19403 United States
Coordinates	40°10′33″N 75°23′51″W / 40.1757°N 75.3974°W / 40.1757; -75.3974Coordinates: 40°10′33″N 75°23′51″W / 40.1757°N 75.3974°W / 40.1757; -75.3974
Information
Type	Public high school
Motto	Learn, Lead, Succeed- Together!
Established	1961
School district	Methacton School District
Principal	Judy Gallagher-Landis[1]
Faculty	183 (2016-2017)
Grades	9-12
Gender	Co-educational
Enrollment	1,757 (2016-2017)
Student to teacher ratio	13:1[2]
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Green and White
Mascot	Warriors
Newspaper	The Windy Hill
Yearbook	The Methactonian
Budget	$101.5 million [3]
Website	Methacton High School

Methacton High School (MHS) is a college preparatory school located in Eagleville, Pennsylvania that serves students in grades 9-12 from Worcester and Lower Providence townships. The school's mascot is the warriors, and its colors are green and white. The school has approximately 1,757 students and 183 faculty. The current principal is Judy Gallagher-Landis.

History

The first thing accomplished as the two districts merged was the opening of the Lower Providence-Worcester Joint Junior-Senior High School in 1961. The school was later named Methacton, and graduated its first class in 1964.The origin of the school's name is believed to be an American Indian term for "windy hill."^[4]

Vincent Farina, the man for whom the administration building is named, served as the first principal of the joint junior-senior high school. After serving as the second Supervising Principal of the Lower Providence-Worcester Joint School System in 1962-63, he was later named the superintendent of the Methacton School District, a capacity he continued in until his retirement in 1977.^[5]

Academics

Individualized schedules are provided to all students that reflect a strong core curriculum with the flexibility to explore various academic and personal interests. Extensive technology applications include state of the art computer labs, Internet access throughout the building and a full range of computer based curricular offerings. The library houses over 32,000 volumes as well as access to various electronic media. A complete telecommunications studio provides daily student broadcasts integrated with courses designed to prepare students for the twenty-first century. The Counseling staff offers a full range of services to students and parents from college and career planning to individual counseling needs.

Methacton High School was ranked #14 out of 689 public high schools in Pennsylvania by SAT score in 2012.^[6]

Advanced Placement

The high school currently offers 24 AP courses:

• AP Art History
• AP Biology
• AP Calculus (AB & BC)
• AP Capstone Seminar and Research
• AP Chemistry
• AP Computer Science A
• AP Computer Science Principles
• AP English Language
• AP English Literature
• AP Environmental Science
• AP European History
• AP Human Geography
• AP Music Theory
• AP Physics C: Mechanics
• AP Psychology
• AP Spanish Language & Culture
• AP Statistics
• AP Studio Art (2-D, 3-D, & Drawing)
• AP U.S. Government
• AP U.S. History

The high school recently released that it would be adding AP Capstone, one of approximately 1,000 schools worldwide to implement AP Capstone, in addition to AP Computer Science Principles, for the 2017-2018 school year.^[7]

Extracurriculars

In addition to the clubs and activities found in most high schools, Methacton High School has multiple extracurricular organizations. Also, a nationally recognized Community Service Program all focused on preparing students to be lifelong learners.

• Academic Decathlon — Team competition in which contenders match their intellects with students from other schools. There are 10 categories of challenge, which encourage academic versatility and stress educational opportunity and excellence.
• Electric Car Club — The club explores alternative energy transportation, showcasing their alternative vehicles at competitions and events.^[8]
• Debate Club — New club formed in 2014. Promotes the study of public speaking and debate.
• Environmental Club — Organizes recycling for the school as well as maintaining the pond in the breezeway and the greenhouse.
• Food Experience Club — Food review club in which members can explore foods through the club community.
• Habitat for Humanity — Does charity work in the local community.
• History Bowl — Participates in the National History Bowl and Bee Competition. Has qualified for the national competition the past 2 yrs.
• Investment Club — Promotes the study of economics and participates in the Stock Market Game.
• Key Club — Promotes community service as a branch of the Kiwanis Club. Activities include the annual March for Babies.
• Model United Nations — Methaction is one of two public schools in the Delaware Valley that has a Model UN team and competes at DELMUN, the other being from the Upper Perkiomen School District.
• Music Appreciation Club — Meets weekly to discuss new and old music as well as hosting the annual battle of the bands.
• National Honor Society — Nation's premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character.
• Robotics Club — Founded in 2011-2012 school year to promote the studies of the physical sciences and engineering.^[9]
• Science Fair — Participates in both the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Sciences (PJAS) Competition and the Montgomery County Science Research Competition (MCSTA). Winners from MCSTA move on to the Delaware Valley Science Fair, where several students have been able to advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Competition (ISEF).
• Theatre Company's mission is to present to the community the best plays by the world's greatest playwrights while maintaining a strong educational theatre program that fosters an ensemble spirit and offers students opportunities to learn.
• Warrior News Team — Produces news programs, including morning announcements.
• Warrior's Performance Group — Raises awareness about human rights, diversity through visual and performing arts.

Athletics

Methacton is a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) District 1 member. Boys sports include: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, and Wrestling. Girls sports include: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, and Volleyball.^[10]

Enrollment for sports, in 2013, totaled 1,271 students.^[11]

The school's athletic website is: www.methactonwarriors.org

Notable alumni

• Jennifer L. Holm,^[12] Newbery Honor-winning author
• Courtney Friel,^[13] Fox news reporter
• Elin Hilderbrand,^[14] romance novelist
• Eric Wareheim,^[15] co-creator, writer, and star of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and Tom Goes to the Mayor
• Robbie Wine,^[16] professional baseball player for the Houston Astros (1987–1988) and the head coach at Penn State University (2004-2013)
• Ryann Krais,^[17] gold and bronze medalist the 2007 World Youth Championships in Athletics (track and field)

References

1. ↑ Official site, "Meet the Principal". Accessed October 20, 2013.
2. ↑ U.S. News, "". Accessed February 19, 2015.
3. ↑ Methacton.org, "". Accessed January 31, 2017.
4. ↑ Methacton School District Profile
5. ↑ About Methacton
6. ↑ "The 50 area high schools with the highest SAT scores, updated". Philadelphia Business Journals. Retrieved 03/05/15.  Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
7. ↑ "MHS Newsroom". Methacton High School Website. Retrieved January 31, 2017. 
8. ↑ "Methacton Electric Car Club". Methacton Electric Car Club. 
9. ↑ Methacton High School Robotics. Accessed 5 December 2011.
10. ↑ "PIAA Methacton High School". PIAA. Retrieved February 19, 2015. 
11. ↑ "PIAA Methacton High School". PIAA. Retrieved February 19, 2015. 
12. ↑ Official site of Jennifer Holm. "Bio". Accessed 30 March 2010.
13. ↑ Courtney Friel
14. ↑ Elin Hilderbrand
15. ↑ Eric Wareheim
16. ↑ Robbie Wine Coach Bio
17. ↑ "Heptathlete Krais is following in Jackie Joyner-Kersee's path". Sports Illustrated. 2008-04-24. Archived from the original on 2010-10-02. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 

External links

• Methacton High School