Waltham High School

Last updated
Waltham High School
Address
Waltham High School
554 Lexington Street

Waltham
,
Massachusetts
02452

United States
Coordinates 42°22′43″N71°13′58″W / 42.3785°N 71.2329°W / 42.3785; -71.2329
Information
TypePublic
Established1849 [1]
School districtWaltham Public Schools
PrincipalDarrell Braggs (through Jun 2025) [2]
Staff166.95 (FTE) [3]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,816 (2023–24) [3]
Student to teacher ratio10.9:1 [3]
CampusSuburban
Color(s)Red and white
MascotHawk
Rival Arlington High School
NewspaperThe Talon Tribune
YearbookThe Mirror

Waltham High School is a public high school in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1849, it is among the oldest public secondary schools in the Commonwealth and the only high school in the Waltham Public Schools district. [4]

Contents

History

1849 – 1903: first campus

City voters authorized a dedicated high‑school building in 1849; the brick structure at Church and School Streets served students for more than fifty years. [5]

1902 – 1969: second campus (55 School St.)

A Classical‑Revival/Romanesque building—designed by Samuel Patch and Robert Glancey—opened in 1902 and was expanded in the 1920s. It housed Waltham High until September 1969, then Central Junior High, and since 2003 has formed the historic façade of John W. McDevitt Middle School. The original portion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. [6]

1969 – 2024: third campus (617 Lexington St.)

The third incarnation, opened in 1969, comprised 265,000 sq ft of vocational shops, science wings, and a 1,000‑seat auditorium. Accreditation concerns and aging systems placed the school on NEASC warning in 2005, [7] spurring replacement planning.

2020 – present: fourth campus (554 Lexington St.)

After prolonged debate, the city took the 33‑acre former Stigmatine Fathers property by eminent domain in 2018 [8] and approved a $375 million bond in 2019; [9] the Massachusetts School Building Authority contributed $118 million. [10] Construction began in September 2020, and the 422,000‑sq‑ft, net‑zero‑ready campus welcomed students for the 2024‑25 school year. [11]

Academics

Athletics

Waltham competes in MIAA Division I within the Dual County League.

The football teams of 1906 and 1907 finished undefeated during an era without formal playoffs. [19]

Performing arts

The fine‑arts department fields two competitive show‑choirs—Music Unlimited (mixed‑voice) and Music Express (treble‑voice)—and hosts the annual Eastern Show Choir Festival. [20] Year‑end productions include Senior Revue (est. 1968) and Dance Theater.

Leadership

Administration (2024 – 25)

Principals

TenurePrincipalNotes
Jul 1986 – Jun 2010John B. GraceffaPromoted from associate principal on 1 July 1986; retired at the close of the 2009‑10 school year. [24]
2010 – Jun 2018Gregory DeMeoExpanded AP offerings; retired after 35 years in education. [25]
Jul 2018 – Jun 2021Paul Maiorano (interim)Steadied planning for the new campus. [26]
Jul 2021 – Jul 2022Brenda PeñaFirst Latina and first woman principal; resigned weeks before 2022‑23. [27]
Aug 2022 – Jun 2025Darrell BraggsNamed interim Aug 2022, earned a three‑year contract in May 2023, will step down in Jun 2025. [28]
TBA 2025(search in progress)Superintendent Mendonsa reopened the search after rejecting three March 2025 finalists. [29]

2024 – 25 principal transition

Principal Darrell Braggs emailed families on December 23, 2024 announcing his June 2025 departure. A committee named three finalists—Donavan Tracey Jr., Courtney Gosselin, Mike Sabin—on March 27, 2025, but on April 3, 2025 Superintendent Dr. Marisa Mendonsa restarted the search, saying "we had not yet found the right fit." [30] The district will announce an interim model if no permanent principal is hired by July 1, 2025.

Superintendents of Waltham Public Schools (since 2007)

YearsSuperintendentNotes
2007 – 2010Peter AzarResigned after dispute with school committee. [31]
2011 – 2014Susan NicholsonRetired June 2015 [32]
2015 – 2018Dr. Drew EchelsonLeft for Harvard's Ed.L.D. program; doubled AP participation district‑wide. [33]
2019George Frost (interim)One‑year bridge. [34]
2020 – Oct 2023Brian ReaganOversaw construction of the new WHS; left for Hudson, MA, superintendent post. [35]
Dec 2023 – presentDr. Marisa MendonsaAppointed December 2023, assumed office 1 July 2024. Contract through 2027. [36]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "Mirror yearbook (1962)". Waltham High School. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "Waltham High School principal announces plans to step down". Waltham Times. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Search for Public Schools – Waltham Sr High (251200001979)". National Center for Education Statistics. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Waltham Public Schools – Waltham High School" . Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Mirror yearbook (1962)". Waltham High School. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  6. ↑ "Weekly List of Listed Properties (Sept 28 1989)" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "WHS Building Project – Background" . Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "City Council approves acquisition of Stigmatine property". Waltham Land Trust. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Waltham City Council Authorizes $375 Million For New High School". Patch. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "MSBA Approves $118 Million Grant For Waltham High School". Patch. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "$375 million high school is in the works for Waltham, Mass". American School & University. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "Waltham High School Announces Advanced Placement Scores" (PDF) (Press release). 19 July 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Waltham High School Program of Studies" . Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "Division 1 Baseball State Finals – Year‑by‑Year". Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "Boys Ice Hockey State Champions" (PDF). MIAA. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  16. ↑ "Waltham High Wins State Championship In Hockey At TD Garden". Patch. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "Waltham High School Cheerleading Wins Division 2 State Championship". Patch. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  18. ↑ "2024 Winter Cheerleading State Championship Results" (PDF). MSAA. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  19. ↑ "Scholastic Foot Ball of Greater Boston". NCAA Bulletin. 7 (1). August 1909.
  20. ↑ "WHS Music Show Choir". Waltham Public Schools. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  21. ↑ "Superintendent of Schools appointed". Waltham Public Schools. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  22. ↑ "Waltham High School principal announces plans to step down". Waltham Times. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  23. ↑ "House Offices". Waltham High School. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  24. ↑ "Retirees' Corner Newsletter – February 2020" (PDF). Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  25. ↑ "Waltham High School Principal To Retire". Patch. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  26. ↑ "Two WHS Associate Principals Are Finalists for Principal Job". WCAC‑TV. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  27. ↑ "Principal Quits as WHS Worries Multiply". WCAC‑TV. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  28. ↑ "Waltham High School principal announces plans to step down". Waltham Times. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  29. ↑ "Waltham Public Schools announces finalists for high school principal job". Waltham Times. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  30. ↑ "Finalists for Waltham High School principal share visions for school's future". Waltham Times. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  31. ↑ Peter J. Azar, 1948‑2013 , retrieved 7 June 2025
  32. ↑ "Waltham Seeks Superintendent Search Committee Members". Patch. 23 Jan 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  33. ↑ "Waltham Superintendent Echelson Resigns, Takes Job At Harvard". Patch. 8 Nov 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  34. ↑ "George Frost To Be Waltham Schools Interim Superintendent". Patch. 12 Dec 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  35. ↑ "Hudson hires Waltham superintendent Brian Reagan". MetroWest Daily News. 11 Oct 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  36. ↑ "Superintendent of Schools appointed". Waltham Public Schools. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  37. ↑ "Waltham's Mackenzy Bernadeau eyes great possibilities with Jaguars". MetroWest Daily News. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  38. ↑ "Rob Chiarelli Credits" . Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  39. ↑ "Pauline Kezer determined to beat the odds". Hartford Courant. 6 September 1994. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  40. ↑ "Jeff Lazaro statistics". Hockey‑Reference. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  41. ↑ "Mike Mangini – Artist Profile" . Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  42. ↑ "Tony Massarotti joins Red Sox radio booth". The Boston Globe. 7 Mar 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  43. ↑ "Fred Smerlas Stats". Pro‑Football‑Reference. Retrieved 7 June 2025.


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