Mt. Lebanon High School is a four-year, comprehensive high school located in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. It has an enrollment of 1,789 students in grades 9–12 for the 2023–2024 school year. Its mascot is the Blue Devil. The Mt. Lebanon High School is a nationally recognized high school and has received multiple Blue Ribbon School awards.[4] It is one of 24 public high school institutions in the world to hold a chapter of the Cum Laude Society, an organization that honors academic achievement at secondary institutions. [5][6] According to state test scores, 93% of students are advanced in math and 91% advanced in reading. [7]
The school was originally built in 1927, and was described after being built as one of the most advanced schools in the state.[8] The school had two additions added in 1956 and 1957. Ground was broken in 1970 for an addition, which was completed in 1972. This addition added another six-story building connected to the original building, an arts wing connected to the auditorium, and a new gymnasium.[9] Ninth grade students were later added to the school due to overcrowding at the junior high schools.
In 2012, construction started for the Science Wing and a new Athletic Building that included a new pool, a main gym, two smaller gyms, and an exercise center. Remaining portions of the school that were renovated include the 1930 wing on Cochran Road, the Auditorium, and Fine Arts Wing. These were completed in 2017. In addition, the old South Gym was renovated into the Center Court, which functions as the cafeteria, and is located to be accessible from all main courses.[8]
Athletics
The sports teams compete in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League - District 7 of the PIAA. The teams go by the name "Blue Devils" and the school mascot is the Blue Devil. The student section is known as the Devil's Den. It is often considered one of the largest and most passionate student sections in Pennsylvania.[10]
The high school has a sports rivalry with Upper St. Clair High School, which is often considered one of Pennsylvania's most storied rivalries.[11] The schools are neighboring communities, with Upper St. Clair High School around 3 miles (5km) south of Mt. Lebanon High School. Both schools are among the highest performing and wealthiest in the state.[12] The rivalry has garnered comparisons with the North Carolina-Duke rivalry,[13] with matchups between the two often gaining media attention from local and regional stations.
In 2021, Mt. Lebanon football coach Bob Palko was awarded the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award, following an undefeated season, winning the WPIAL 6A title, and the PIAA 6A state title.[14] Palko led Mt. Lebanon to a spot in the national rankings.[15]
According to state test scores, 93% of students are at least advanced in math and 91% advanced in reading.[28]
Facilities
Mt. Lebanon High School is located on 26 acres in the western Pennsylvania hills.[29] The indoor athletic facilities are connected to the Mt. Lebanon High School Center Court and academic buildings via a glass skybridge, recently named McFeeley Way, after the late high school principal Brian McFeeley.[30]
High School Buildings
A Building - Child development labs, food and nutrition labs, art rooms, staircase leading to center court
B Building (6-story original Mt. Lebanon High School) - Academic based and classrooms, writing labs, computer labs
C Building (6-story science wing) - Science classrooms and research labs
D Building (Fine Arts Complex) - Fine arts theater, main auditorium, music studios, visual arts studios
E Building (STEM Wing) - Full production television studio, engineering and graphics labs,
Indoor Athletic Building (connected by skybridge) - gymnasiums, fitness rooms, weight rooms, indoor pools
Full production digital media and television studio
Research
In 2015, AP Environmental Geoscience students from Mt. Lebanon High School launched a weather balloon from the school stadium for atmospheric research. The balloon was equipped with GPS tracking and cameras, the balloon broke through to the upper atmosphere, capturing atmospheric data.[33]
In April 2024, Mt Lebanon High School students presented and published award winning research at the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair. These include a research project on trace sunscreen contamination and algae growth, a hydrogen battery constructed via pressurized alkaline electrolysis and fuel cell earning an affiliate award, and a machine learning project aimed at early ALS diagnosis[34]
In May 2024, Mt. Lebanon High School science club members published research competing at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science State Competition receiving the first place award in computer science, a second place in physics plus a perseverance award, first place in mathematics and the Mathematical Excellence Award.[35]
In April 2025, Mt. Lebanon High School students presented award winning research to the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair. This research included a linear phased array radar development project, research in nanostructuring and thermal properties of silicon‑germanium, and several other student projects.[36]
The school offers a STEM Academy that provides students with opportunities to engage in STEM-related courses, career connections, promoting hands-on learning and exploration in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.[37]
Arts and extracurricular activities
In the 2002–03 school year, the high school received one of six Outstanding School Awards from the Educational Theatre Association.[38] The school's theater program began in 1930 and has produced a number of notable actors.[39]
In 2007, the American Music Conference listed Mt. Lebanon High school as one of the "Best 100 Communities for Music Education".[40] Mount Lebanon Percussion ensemble were invited by the NHL to perform at the 2011 NHL Winter Classic on live TV for the country.[41] The Mt. Lebanon Forensic Team won the Western Pennsylvania District Forensic Championship four years in a row, beginning in 2001. In 2004, the team won the state championship in dramatic interpretation and extemporaneous speaking and then earned a second-place title in extemporaneous speaking at the national competition in Salt Lake City.[42] In 2006, the team captured the Pennsylvania High School Speech League championship.[43]
The Devil's Advocate is Mt. Lebanon High School's monthly student newspaper.
Awards and rankings
In 2019, Mt. Lebanon High School received the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School award for its leadership in sustainability and environmental education while promoting health and wellness.[44]
In 2024, the high school placed in the top 4% nationally by performance metrics including state-required tests and college readiness.[45]
In 2025, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Mt. Lebanon High School the number one high school in the Pittsburgh region, and the 7th best in Pennsylvania. [46]
In popular culture
Filmography
Mt. Lebanon High School has been used as a filming location for multiple films or television programs, including the following:
Mt. Lebanon High School was the subject of an episode of CBS 60 Minutes, following a MRSA outbreak on the school's football team.[49]
Elk Cloner Virus
In the 1980's, the school garnered national media attention after 15 year old student Rich Skrenta created the Elk Cloner virus, the first widespread computer virus. Skrenta claimed to have created Elk Cloner as a playful experiment for his friends. The virus would eventually spread and infect Apple II computers throughout the 1980's.[50]
Elk Cloner infection message
Notable alumni
Mt. Lebanon is noted for having an extensive alumni network. This includes prominent figures in business, politics, entertainment, education, and athletics. [51]
Timothy Hauser (1948–2005) - economist with the United States Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Labor Statistics; two time winner of the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive winner
Dick Lamm (1935-2021) - former governor of Colorado and Presidential candidate
Gerald Bard Tjoflat (born 1929) - lawyer and jurist serving as Senior United States circuit judge and in the US Court of Appeals in the eleventh circuit
Sandra Moore Faber (born 1944) - world renowned astrophysicist, National Medal of Science recipient[69]
Terry Hart (born 1946) - former NASA astronaut and engineer
Stuart A. Herrington (born 1972 or 1971) - author and retired counterintelligence officer
Paige Kassalen (born 1993) – Electrical engineer who was the only American, female engineer, and youngest member of the ground crew for the Solar Impulse 2 project
Dan Klein (born c.1976) - computer science professor[70]
↑ "Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, First Session, 101st Congress: Hearings Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate". Vol.101, no.537. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1990. p.998.
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