Hutchinson Central Technical High School, informally known as Hutch-Tech, is a high school in the City of Buffalo, New York. Its founding on September 14, 1904[1] under the name Mechanics Arts High School marked the beginning of technical education on the secondary level in the city of Buffalo. The current principal is Gabrielle Morquecho.
Mechanical High Elm Street School c. 1914 Mechanical High First Graduating Class c. 1907
The school was first housed in the then Elementary School No. 11 on Elm Street near Clinton Street. Daniel Upton, the founder of the school and its first principal, began operations with a faculty of four teachers and a pupil registration of sixty-four.
In September 1905, the school's name was changed to Technical High School, pending the move to a new building to be built on Cedar Street and Clinton Ave; the cornerstone was laid on November 14, 1912.[1] The Cedar Street building opened on July 14, 1918 with an enrollment of 1009 students, 863 boys and 146 girls. It offered evening classes, the first of its kind in Buffalo at the time.
The program of studies at Technical High School differed from that of other Buffalo high schools, in its introduction of Industrial Chemistry Machine Design, Engineering College Preparatory, Electrical, Commercial Art and Building Design and Construction to the program of the high school at this point.[4]
Technical High School Corner Stone laying and earth breaking c. 1912Technical High School Cedar and Clinton, c. 1914
The school received a charter from the Regents of the State of New York (now the New York State Education Department) under the name Technical High School of Buffalo in 1918, and remained in this building until 1954.[5] In the spring of 1921, Tech began issuing entrance exams[4] and became what is now known as a magnet school, even though with its course load it would normally fall into the classification of a vocational-technical school. That practice still continues today to help select classes, which now consist of roughly 200-300 students.
Technical High School building in May 2012
The school was in great demand during its forty years of instruction at this location. Most of Technical High School's equipment was transferred to the building formerly occupied by Hutchinson Central High School.[5] This building, located at South Elmwood Avenue and Chippewa Street, was completely renovated, remodeled and repainted. It is located within the boundaries of the West Village Historic District.[6]
Hutch-Tech was one of the world's first high schools with a digital computer, acquiring an IBM 1620 (Level C) in 1961.[5] This computer, with 20,000 BCD words of memory, was quite advanced for the time, and classes were taught in assembly language, symbolic programming, Fortran, COBOL, and numerical analysis. Many Hutch-Tech graduates from the 1960s became pioneers in computing. Perhaps the best known of these is astronomer and computer security expert Clifford Stoll.
The curriculum has been revamped and expanded continuously over the second half of the 20th century, for entrance into schools of engineering and or the training of technicians for entry-level positions in current technical fields. The programs the school now offers includes bio-chemical technology, computer technology, and engineering technology. Instruction in electricity and electronics is also provided. Hutch-Tech also offers a selection of college prep courses including Advanced Placement that both helped their major, and helped them meet their general education requirements that most colleges require. The courses include AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus, AP Spanish Language, AP Physics-C, and AP United States History.
More recently the building was set for renovation as part of a citywide plan to renovate dozen of schools in the city of Buffalo. The renovation took place from the summer of 2005 until the summer of 2007. The "New" building has more and updated classrooms with Promethean Ltd smart boards, a brand new gymnasium, new engineering and electrical equipment, and new science rooms. While the building was being renovated, school operations took place at Kensington High School on the city's East Side.
David Greco, retired 2010
At the end of the 2010 School Year, David Greco retired[7] after nearly fifteen years of service as head administrator at Hutch-Tech, and nearly twenty-five years as a history teacher, and administrator elsewhere, including Bennett High School, Buffalo Traditional, and others. This is five years later than his original retirement date of 2005, but Greco made a promise to see the renovations through, and see the students back to the building on South Elmwood. Greco's successor was Sabatino Cimato.
In November 2015, Sabatino Cimato was appointed to associate superintendent in charge of leadership for Buffalo Public Schools. Dr. Gabrielle Morquecho was named interim principal for the remainder of the school year. In July 2016, Dr. Morquecho was appointed Principal of Hutch-Tech.
David M. Greco – 1994–2010 (Principal - Buffalo Traditional School, retired[8])
Sabatino Cimato – 2010–2015 (Principal - North Park Academy, named Associate Superintendent in Charge of Leadership of Buffalo Public Schools)
Clubs and extra-curricular activities
The school offers a number of extra-curricular activities. Sports teams include: football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, hockey, swimming, rowing, golf, and Track. The school also features a number of clubs and organizations including: Student Council, Students Against Drunk Driving, GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance), Kappa Sigma Phi, Drama Club, JROTC, Foreign Language Clubs, Engineering Organizations, Drill Team, Cheerleading and a school newspaper club. Staff-led musical instruction supports several musical groups including a jazz ensemble, concert band and marching band.
In the news
In recognition of its unique programs and past accomplishments, Hutchinson Central Technical High School was honored as a National School of Excellence in 1988–1989 by the U.S. Department of Education.[9] In 1996, Redbook magazine cited HCTHS as one of the top 150 high schools in the country.[10]
In October 2005, the New York Civil Liberties Union successfully pressured the school to release students from their mandatory Junior ROTC program, arguing that the practice violates the State's Education Law, which provides that no child may be enrolled in JROTC without prior written parental consent.[11] In the end, Greco did release the student in question, and all others,[12] but not without the attention of the local media. WGRZ, the local NBC broadcast channel, carried the story,[13] as did the local publication Artvoice.[14]
On November 21, 2008, John Hoffmeister, former CEO of Shell Oil in Houston, spoke to the student body about alternative energy, in an event organized by the Buffalo Urban League.[15]
Following the theft of a student's bicycle from Hutch Tech in March 2009, the administration announced a policy that in essence banned bike riding to and from the school. The student brought the matter before the Buffalo school board, and the first bike rack at Hutch Tech was installed, contributed by a local bicycling advocacy group. The superintendent of schools expressed a desire and plan for bike racks throughout the Buffalo Public School District.[16][17]
In 2009, Hutchinson Central Technical High School was ranked 86th out of 131 Western New York high schools in terms of academic performance.[18]
In the 2011 U.S. News & World Report analysis of United States Best High Schools, Hutch Tech received a Bronze Star for exceeding state performance in its Poverty-Adjusted Performance Index, and greatly exceeding overall state average performance by its disadvantaged students. The school's college readiness score prevented receiving a higher ranking.[19]
In the 2013 analysis of United States Best High Schools, Hutch Tech was upgraded to receive a Silver Award for far exceeding state performance in its Poverty-Adjusted Performance Index, exceeding state average performance when not Poverty-Adjusted, as well as an improved college readiness score.
On April 4, 2014, Hutchinson Central Technical High School went into lockdown after a bomb threat was posted on Facebook. However, no explosive device was found in the school and after two hours, the lockdown was lifted. The 15-year-old sophomore student that police say posted the threat was arrested.
Pensacola High School is a secondary school located near downtown Pensacola, Florida, United States.
Taylorsville High School is a public high school established in 1981, located in Taylorsville, Utah, United States. The principal is Mrs. Emily Liddell. The mascot is the Wilbur the Warrior. The current enrollment is around 2,900 students and represents many different ethnic groups. Taylorsville High is one of eight high schools in Granite School District. Taylorsville High is located in the central part of the Salt Lake Valley and was built in 1981 to serve the growing population of the Taylorsville area. School boundaries are roughly Jordan River to 3100 West and 4100 South to 6600 South.
Natrona County High School (NCHS) is a public secondary school located in Casper, Wyoming, United States. It serves Natrona County School District #1, which encompasses all of Natrona County, Wyoming.
Ottumwa High School is a public high school located in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Ottumwa Community School District, and is the district's only high school. It was established in 1923. The school sports mascot is a bulldog.
Long Island City High School, commonly abbreviated L.I.C. or LICHS, is a public high school in Long Island City, Queens, New York City. The present building was built in 1995. The school had an enrollment of around 2,500 in 2015.
Sullivan South High School was a public high school located in Kingsport, Tennessee, in Sullivan County with a student body of just under nine hundred students. The school was formed in 1980 and closed in 2021, when the building was converted to Sullivan Heights Middle School and its students were reapportioned to West Ridge High School. Greg Harvey served as principal of Sullivan South between 2003 and 2017, leading the school for 14 years all together. Josh Tate, formerly an assistant principal at Sullivan South High School, served as principal from 2017 until the school's closing. The school was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and was a member of the TSSAA. With a graduation rate of 98%, it was well above the state median for high school completion.
William Rennick Boone High School is a public high school in Orlando, Florida. Built in 1952, the school is one of twenty high schools in the Orange County Public Schools system, created to accommodate the growing number of students at Orlando High School.
Math, Science, and Technology Preparatory School is a magnet middle/high school located in the City of Buffalo, New York. the first preparatory school in Western New York and the third in New York State. The school opened in September 2006 and has approximately 387 students. The current principal is Dr. Kevin Eberle, and the current assistant principals are Ms. Sarah Cosgrove and Ms. Danielle Womack.
Staten Island Technical High School, commonly called Staten Island Tech or SITHS, was founded in 1988. Located in Staten Island, New York City, the public specialized high school is operated by the New York City Department of Education. It consistently ranks among the best schools in New York City, New York State, and the nation in graduation rate, test scores, and attendance. According to niche.com, Staten Island Tech ranks #2 in New York State as well as #13 in the nation. Admission to SITHS is determined through an applicant's score on the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test.
Lynn English High School (LEHS) is a public high school located at 50 Goodridge Street in the eastern section of Lynn, Massachusetts, United States. It is a part of Lynn Public Schools, and the largest school in the Lynn school system.
The Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central, is a four-year, comprehensive, selective enrollment public high school located in downtown Syracuse, New York. The principal is James Natoli.
Orchard Park High School is a secondary school in Orchard Park, New York. The school has approximately 1725 children in grades 9–12. The students are divided among three houses with a principal for each house and a principal who oversees the entire school.
Riverside Institute of Technology was a public high school located in Buffalo, New York. It served Grades 9-12 and taught according to the Board of Regents. Riverside closed in June 2019 after years of low academic performance and safety concerns.
Frederick Law Olmsted School #156 is a high school located in Buffalo, New York. Named for the Kensington neighborhood it is located in, the building is located at 319 Suffolk Street in Buffalo. It currently serves as home to the Frederick Law Olmsted School at Kensington.
Grover Cleveland High School was a high school located in Buffalo, New York. It is named for former U.S. president and Buffalo mayor Grover Cleveland and generally housed students from Grades 9 - 12, teaching according to the Board of Regents. Currently, the school building houses The International Preparatory School.
Seneca Vocational High School, also known as Seneca Comprehensive High School and Seneca High School, is a former vocational high school located in Buffalo, New York. It was one of the first vocational schools built in Western New York. The building, located at 666 East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo, currently serves home to The Math, Science, Technology Preparatory School.
East High School was a comprehensive high school located in the East Side of Buffalo, New York. It operated from 1927 until 1977, reopened in 2005 and closed again in 2018 due to low academic performance. East High began phasing out in 2015 and was replaced by East Community High School and Pathways Academy, which are both housed in the building.
Buffalo Traditional High School is a former magnet school in Buffalo, New York. It served Grades 5 through 12 and was located at 450 Masten Avenue in the city's East Side. It closed in 2005.
School 87 is a public school building located near Downtown Buffalo, New York, located at 333 Clinton Street. The building served as home of Hutchinson Central Technical High School and the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts as well as a junior high school and a swing school building for other Buffalo Public Schools that were being reconstructed from 2007 to 2013. It most recently housed the Middle Early College High School.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
