Brookline High School Explained

Brookline High School
Coordinates:42.3333°N -71.13°W
Location:115 Greenough Street
Brookline, Massachusetts 02445
Enrollment:2,117 (2023–24)
Teaching Staff:191.8 (FTE) (2023–24)
Sat:643 verbal
660 math
1303 total (2023-24)
Ratio:10.4 (2020–21)
Team Name:Warriors
Mascot:Spartan Warrior
Colors: Red
Blue
Newspaper:The Cypress
Headmaster:Anthony Meyer

Brookline High School is a four-year public high school in Brookline, Massachusetts. It is a part of Public Schools of Brookline.

As of the 2023–24 school year, 2117 students were enrolled in the high school, served by 191.8 teachers (on an FTE basis), the student to teacher ratio was approximately 10.9 to 1.[1] As of 2023, the enrolled student body race/ethnicity was self reported as 7.4% African American, 16.0% Asian, 12.9% Hispanic, 53.3% White, and 10.3% Multi-ethnic.

History

19th century

Brookline High School was founded in the Spring of 1843. Instruction began on August 17, 1843, on the lower floor of the Town Hall on Walnut Street, which was described by a former student as a "dismal, damp and dark room...not unlike a tomb".[2] Benjamin H. Rhodes, a Brown University graduate, was the founding headmaster, serving until 1847. Rhodes was succeed as headmaster by Hezekia Shailer who served until 1854. John Emory Horr, a Harvard College graduate, then served as headmaster for 33 years until 1888.[3]

On November 3, 1856, the second Brookline High School location, a newly constructed two-story building on School Street designed by architect Joseph L. Richard, opened.

In fall 1895, the third and present location of Brookline High School opened as Shailer Hall, a new three and a half story brick structure with a pitched roof designed by architects Andrews, Jaques and Rantoul.[4]

20th century

In September 1903, the Manual Arts building, which was built at a cost of $100,000 on Tappan Street, opened. The ninth grade moved from the School of Practical Arts in the elementary schools to the high school in September 1921, following an addition to the main building, which increased the capacity to 1500 students.

In 1965, the main building was expanded and remodeled at a cost of $1.5 million.[5]

The school has Symbolic Panels made by the sculptor John A. Wilson.[6]

21st century

In May 2018, Brookline voters supported a debt exclusion override to fund the expansion and renovation of Brookline High School. This building project included the construction of a new building at the 111 Cypress Street site, a new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) building to replace the building at the corner of Tappan and Greenough Streets, renovations to the 3rd floor of the main building and the Tappan gymnasium, as well as improvements to Cypress Field.[7]

In early 2022, Brookline High School opened a new building on 22 Tappan Street, designed primarily to house freshmen.[8]

Academics

Brookline High School has received the gold medal for Best High Schools from U.S. News & World Report.[9] Boston magazine has frequently ranked Brookline High School as one of the best high schools in Massachusetts for academic performance; in 2008, the magazine ranked Brookline High School top in the state.[10] [11]

In 2020, Boston magazine ranked Brookline High School as the 20th-best public school in Massachusetts.[12] As of 2021, Brookline High School was ranked 64th nationally for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), according to U.S. News & World Report.[13]

Although the Advanced Placement (AP) program at Brookline High School is smaller than at other high schools, it has grown dramatically over the past decade. In 2020–21, 435 students took 797 AP exams, and 91.9% of students scored “3” or above on these exams.[14] In 2019, Brookline High School was ranked in the top 5% of the most challenging public high schools in America (952nd of 22,000).[15] The rank was determined by the Challenge Index defined as the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests taken in a year relative to the number of seniors who graduate.[16] In 2020, the 5-year graduation rate was 96.5% with 86% of students planning to attend a 4-Year private or public college.[17] [18]

Athletics

Brookline High School features the largest interscholastic athletics program in New England, with 71 teams in 40 sports.[19] Some of the atypical sports include squash, curling, golf, ultimate disc, crew, sailing, water polo, and rugby.

In 2014, Brookline High School rebranded their athletics program. The new logo featured a Spartan Warrior's helmet, successor to the arrowhead logo. A new color scheme was also introduced with navy blue replacing royal blue.

Boy's crew

In 2013, the boys crew team took home their first national championship; the winning lightweight double featured athletes who would ⁷later go on to row on the lightwight teams at Cornell and Princeton universities.[20] [21]

In 2014, the boys took home a bronze at nationals in the openweight double, only to win another national title in the double in 2015.[22] In 2016, the boys lightweight four won their regional championship, but fell short of a third national title, placing 5th at nationals.[23]

Boys cross country

In 2007, the Brookline High School boys cross country team won the first ever Nike Team Nationals northeast regional meet by just one point over Danbury High School in Bowdoin Park, New York.[24] They went on to place 7th at Nike Team Nationals in Portland, Oregon.[25] In addition to the 2007 campaign, in the 2006 and 2009 seasons the team placed 3rd at the Massachusetts Division 1 State Meet, in 2005 they finished 2nd, and on November 20, 2010, won their second state championship, giving them their fifth top three finish in six years and second 1st-place finish in four. On November 19, 2011, they won their third state championship, for a run of three championships in five years.

Boy's volleyball

In 2021, the boys volleyball team had the 8th best record (15-5) of the 81 teams in Massachusetts.[26]

Football

Since 1894, the Brookline High football team has played rival Newton North High School in the traditional annual Thanksgiving Day game, one of the oldest high school football rivalries in Massachusetts and on the list of high school football rivalries more than 100 years old.

Girls crew

In 2022, Brookline High School athletes finished third in the women's under-17 fours at Head of the Charles.[27] Because the crew is not recognized as a school sport in the fall, the athletes rowed under the club name of Friends of Brookline Rowing, whose members are the same as those of the high school's spring rowing team. In 2023, the boys crew team took home two bronzes at regionals in the men's under-17 fours and men's youth second fours categories.[28]

Girl's wrestling

In 1993, Brookline was the first public high school in the nation to organize and support a girl's wrestling team, which has since been duicated by hundreds of high schools nationally.

Ultimate disc

The most popular athletics program at Brookline High School, as of 2017, is ultimate disc with over 110 students participating.

School Within A School

School Within A School (SWS) is an alternative, democratic education program based in Brookline High School.[29]

The Cypress

The Cypress, formerly The Sagamore, is a school-affiliated newspaper published monthly by students of Brookline High School. The first issue appeared in January 1895. The newspaper is independent; the production is funded entirely through selling advertisements and subscriptions.[30] It receives no funding from the high school.[31]

Over the past few years, the paper has publicized and discussed issues in and around the school, including racism and teenage pregnancy. The school is noted for its tradition of high tolerance of sensitive topics discussed in the newspaper. In 2011, New England Scholastic Press Association awarded The Sagamore "Highest Achievement" in Newspaper Class I category.[32]

Notable incidents

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Enrollment Data (2021-22) - Brookline High (00460505) . 2022-03-16 . profiles.doe.mass.edu.
  2. Book: Proceedings of the Brookline Historical Society . Brookline Historical Society . 1907.
  3. Web site: John Emory Hoar . 2022-03-15 . www.digitalcommonwealth.org . en.
  4. Book: Denehy, John William . A History of Brookline, Massachusetts, from the First Settlement of Muddy River to the Present Time . Brookline Press . 1906 . Brookline, MA.
  5. Book: Holland. Bertram H.. Safeguard of the Republic. 1993. Brookline High Alumni Association.
  6. James Cameron. More About New Glasgow. 1974. p. 194
  7. Web site: Expansion Project. Brookline High School. en. 2020-03-12.
  8. Web site: James . McCown . September 14, 2023 . Brookline's new high school design makes the honor roll . 2023-10-03 . BostonGlobe.com . en-US.
  9. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/massachusetts/districts/brookline/brookline-high-school-9325 USNews
  10. Matt Rocheleau, Boston Globe, "Newton high schools make Boston Magazine's top 10", Boston.com, August 26, 2009.
  11. http://www.bostonmagazine.com/best_high_school_chart Best Public High Schools chart
  12. Web site: 2020-08-25 . The Best Public High Schools in Greater Boston . 2022-03-16 . Boston Magazine . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2022 . U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools . March 15, 2022 . USNews.
  14. Web site: 2020-21 Advanced Placement Participation Report by All Students - Brookline High (00460505) . 2022-03-16 . profiles.doe.mass.edu.
  15. Web site: Jay Mathews Challenge Index High School Ranking System . 2022-03-15 . Jay Mathews Challenge Index . en-US.
  16. News: Perspective Huge change in character of our most challenging high schools . en-US . Washington Post . 2022-03-15 . 0190-8286.
  17. Web site: Cohort 2021 Graduation Rates -Brookline High (00460505) . 2022-03-16 . profiles.doe.mass.edu.
  18. Web site: Plans of High School Graduates (2021-22) - Brookline High (00460505) . 2022-03-16 . profiles.doe.mass.edu.
  19. http://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/PSB/SCHOOLS/Brookline+High+School/ Brookline Schools website
  20. https://www.herenow.com/results/#/races/56/results Youth National Championships Oak Ridge, TN June 7-9, 2013
  21. Friedman, Alex. "Brookline rowers dubbed best lightweight youth pair in USA", Wicked Local Brookline, June 11, 2013. Accessed December 22, 2016. "While most seniors were throwing their cap into the air celebrating their graduation, five seniors from the Brookline High School varsity crew team were preparing, racing and recovering from the Youth National Championships, where two Brookline rowers took home the gold.... Senior Jack Ruske and sophomore Jordi Cabanas destroyed all competition in the men's lightweight youth 2x A final, finishing two seconds ahead of second-place Miami Beach."
  22. http://brookline.wickedlocal.com/article/20150617/NEWS/150616665 "Brookline rowers take home gold"
  23. https://www.herenow.com/results/#/races/20233/results Youth Nationals Mercer Lake, West Windsor, NJ June 10-12, 2016
  24. http://www.dyestat.com//?pg=nikentn-regional-videos&PHPSESSID=0927cae40a643bc6a53627b21096e284 "Webcast: Nike Team Nationals 2007"
  25. http://or.milesplit.us/meets/21197/results/59770 "Oregon Runners: Nike Team Nationals"
  26. Web site: April 2, 2022 . MA High School Boys Volleyball Rankings . April 2, 2022 . MaxPreps.com.
  27. Web site: Women's Under-17 Fours Head Of The Charles 2022 . 2023-10-03 . www.regattacentral.com.
  28. Web site: Northeast Youth Championship – Lake Quinsigamnd, Worcester, Ma – May 20, 2023 – May 21, 2023 . 2023-10-03 . herenow.com.
  29. Web site: School within a School . 2013-04-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120124142619/http://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=212&Itemid=311 . 2012-01-24 .
  30. Web site: About Us . 2023-02-14 . The Sagamore.
  31. Web site: Mission. 2021-07-18. The Sagamore.
  32. Web site: Awards. 2021-07-18. The Sagamore.
  33. Web site: Brookline High School Fire . 2022-03-16 . www.digitalcommonwealth.org . en.
  34. Web site: Belknap . Harry . 1936-10-01 . Remarkable Fire Stop Made by Brookline Firemen at School Blaze . 2022-03-16 . Fire Engineering: Firefighter Training and Fire Service News, Rescue . en-US.
  35. Web site: Fulton. Deirdre. June 2005. Not in Kansas. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20051204225543/http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/this_just_in/documents/04747408.asp. 4 December 2005. 18 July 2021. bostonphoenix.com.
  36. Web site: Irons. Meghan E.. Meyers. Alyssa. November 30, 2017. Brookline students walk out to protest racial climate in wake of videos. 2021-03-03. BostonGlobe.com. en-US.
  37. Web site: 2020-05-29. Hundreds Of Brookline Teachers Face Layoffs Amid COVID-19 Economic Downturn. 2021-03-03. News. en.
  38. http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/adrien_jeff00.html Jeff Adrien
  39. Web site: Famous Alumni | Brookline High School Alumni Association .
  40. https://www.boston.com/real-estate/real-estate-news/2015/06/24/17-famous-people-who-have-called-brookline-home/
  41. Web site: Michael Bluestein . 2022-04-01 . Foreigner . en-US.
  42. Smith, Jessie Carney. Notable Black American Women: Book 2. USA: Gale Research, 1991. 503. Print.
  43. Lashinsky . Adam . The Enforcer . . 160 . 6 . 117–124 . September 28, 2009 . January 24, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100111065100/http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/09/10/the-enforcer-who-is-oracles-safra-catz/ . January 11, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
  44. Adrian, Jack. "Obituary: Hugh B. Cave; Prolific writer of pulp (`pure' supernatural, `Spicy', SF, romance, westerns, hard- and soft-boiled detective fiction, weird-menace and shudder- pulp) over eight decades.", The Independent, June 30, 2004. Accessed April 18, 2008. "His astonishing career spanned all but the first couple of decades of the 20th century and into the 21st, his first published writing, as a 15-year-old student at Brookline High School, Massachusetts, being a short story in The Boston Globe entitled 'Retribution'..."
  45. Web site: Brookline High School Alumni Association . 2014-02-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221153020/http://www.brooklinehighalumni.org/golftournament_2009.asp . 2014-02-21 . dead .
  46. Web site: Effort to rename a park goes on - the Boston Globe. .
  47. Layman, Tom. "All-points bulletin on James Driscoll", Boston Herald, June 19, 2014. Accessed December 23, 2016. "Driscoll, a Brookline High School graduate, currently sits in 125th place in the points standings for the PGA Tour's playoff system, meaning if the season had ended before this week's Travelers Championship he would technically be the last player in the field."
  48. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/23/opinion/fanfares-for-michael-dukakis.html?sq=%22Brookline+High+School%22&scp=5&st=nyt "Fanfares for Michael Dukakis"
  49. News: Nightengale . Bob . BOB NIGHTENGALE Theo Epstein returns to Boston, champions another cause with his twin brother . 25 October 2023 . USA Today . 27 April 2017.
  50. http://www.huntingtontheatre.org/mobile/Articles/?depth=1&srcid=1676 The "Challenge Constantly Renewed"
  51. Chase, Katie Johnston. "True to his nerd: John Hodgman finds a niche as 'Daily Show' resident expert, mendacious author, and dorky PC", The Boston Globe, September 24, 2006. Accessed December 3, 2007. "Fletcher graduated from Brookline High School a year before he did, and the two have been together since Hodgman was 17."
  52. Borchers, Callum. "Seven things you should know about Sam Kennedy", The Boston Globe, March 23, 2014. Accessed December 23, 2016. "Kennedy and Epstein — classmates at Brookline High School — were suddenly reunited in leadership positions for their hometown team."
  53. Cromie, Robert. "Kenney of the Fifth!", Chicago Tribune, November 14, 1943. Accessed December 23, 2016. "Caption: George C. Kenney at the time he was graduated from Brookline High School in 1907."
  54. Baird, Susanna. "Kraft Cements His Love for the Old Alma Mater", The Boston Globe, November 14, 2004. Accessed April 18, 2008. "Robert Kraft's hands have pressed down into history. Brookline High School, alma mater of the NFL's winningest owner, has instituted a Hollywood-esque Walk of Fame, complete with concrete handprints. Kraft, "Bobby" to his peers in the BHS class of 1959, is the walk's first inductee."
  55. News: Sheasley. Chelsea. Horror show: Q&A with Brookline's Nicholas McCarthy. 26 September 2017. Wicked Local. June 30, 2012. en.
  56. Brozan, Nadine. "Chronicle", The New York Times, March 16, 1993. Accessed April 21, 2008. "The year is being bracketed by two celebratory weekends -- one last June, one this June -- that include class reunions. Last year's event brought more than 2,000 graduates back to the school, including Mr. Wallace, Alan Rachins, a star of "L.A. Law," and former Gov. Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts and his wife, Kitty."
  57. http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2005/Riley_Jonathon.asp USATF profile for Jonathon Riley, January 10, 2014
  58. Web site: Brookline High School Alumni Newsletter, Winter 2006 . 2013-12-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131231004134/http://www.brooklinehighalumni.org/2006WinterNwsltr.pdf . 2013-12-31 . dead .
  59. Beggy, Carol; and Shanahan, Mark. "Monet goes to Vegas; Kerry goes out on the town", The Boston Globe, November 6, 2003. Accessed February 17, 2008.
  60. Brozan, Nadine. "Chronicle", The New York Times, March 16, 1993. Accessed February 5, 2008. "Mike Wallace is lending a hand to his old school, Brookline High School, at a benefit -- unusual for a Massachusetts public school -- in New York tomorrow evening. Mr. Wallace, class of '35, will interview the school's acting headmaster, Dr. Robert J. Weintraub, at a cocktail party that is expected to draw 60 or so Brookline graduates to the University Club on West 54th Street."
  61. Book: Goldman, Steven . The Making of Casey Stengel . Potomac Books, Inc. . 2005 . Washington, D.C..
  62. http://www.brooklinehighalumni.org/halloffame.asp Athletic Hall of Fame
  63. Web site: 2022-03-14 . John Yau . 2022-03-15 . Poetry Foundation . en.
  64. Book: Muddy River Annual. 1989. Brookline High School. Brookline.

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