Waltham High School

This article is about the current operating school. For the historic building on the NHRP, see Waltham High School (historic).

Waltham High School is a public high school located in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It is the only high school operated by Waltham Public Schools.

Waltham High School
Address
554 Lexington Street (2024-Present) 617 Lexington Street (1969-2024, Now Waltham Valor High School) Waltham , Massachusetts 02452 United States
Coordinates	42.3785°N 71.2329339°W / 42.3785; -71.2329339
Information
School district	Waltham Public Schools
Principal	Darrell Braggs
Teaching staff	161.50 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	1,751 (2022–23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	10.84[1]
Color(s)	Red and white
Mascot	Hawk
Rival	Arlington High School
Newspaper	The Talon Tribune
Yearbook	The Mirror

History

The current Waltham High School was finished being constructed in 2024.

In 2018, Waltham Public Schools exercised eminent domain to buy land for a new Waltham High School.^[2] A $374 million loan for a new high school project was approved in 2019; it was the largest loan in Massachusetts history for a public high school.^[3] Construction started in September 2020, and the new high school was finished before the 2024–2025 school year.^[4] The school was originally slated to open for the 2020-21 school year before numerous issues in the site plan, acquisition, design and construction processes shifted the opening date back.^[5]

Athletics

In 1906 and 1907, the Waltham football team was undefeated, although there was no organized playoff structure.^[6]

State Championships

Sport	Year(s)
Baseball[7]	1964
Cheerleading[8]	•State Champions (4x) 2016, 2021, 2022, 2024 •National Champions (4x) 2016, 2017, 2021, 2024 •13X Dual County League Champions • 6x North Regional Champions
Ice hockey[9]	2002, 2018

Performing arts

Waltham fields two competitive show choirs, the mixed-gender "Music Unlimited" and the all-female "Music Express". The school previously also had a lower-level mixed-gender group, "Music Odyssey".^[10] The program hosts an annual competition, the Eastern Show Choir Festival.^[11]

Notable people

Alumni

Main category: Waltham High School alumni

• Mackenzy Bernadeau, professional football player^[12]
• Rob Chiarelli, multiple Grammy Award winner^[13]
• Pauline R. Kezer, politician^[14]
• Jeff Lazaro, professional hockey player^[15]
• Mike Mangini, drummer^[16]
• Tony Massarotti, sportswriter and radio personality^[17]
• Normie Roy, professional baseball player^[18]
• Fred Smerlas, professional football player^[19]
• Joe Zeno, professional football player^[20]

Faculty

• Harry A. Dame, athletic director and football coach^[21]
• Hal Kopp, football coach^[22]

References

1. "Waltham Sr High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
2. Feltner, Kerry (January 14, 2020). "Waltham City Council: Unanimous vote on $11 million to secure new WHS site". Wicked Local Waltham. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
3. Feltner, Kerry (September 10, 2019). "Waltham City Council: $375 million WHS project moves forward". Milford Daily News. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
4. Feltner, Kerry (September 25, 2020). "Waltham High School project breaks ground: McCarthy: "We are finally here"". Metro West Daily News. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
5. Whelan, Bill (September 13, 2016). "New Waltham high school project hits one year delay". Wicked Local Waltham. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
6. Hallahan, John J. (August 1909). "Scholastic Foot Ball of Greater Boston". The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
7. Pave, Marvin (June 13, 2011). "Ray Yetten". Boston.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
8. Newman, Alex (November 26, 2016). "ICYMI: Waltham High School Cheerleading Wins Division 2 State Championship". Patch. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
9. Fisher, Jenna (March 18, 2018). "Waltham High Wins The State Championship In Hockey At TD Garden". Patch. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
10. "SCC: Viewing School - Waltham High School". Show Choir Community. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
11. Gilbride, Jeff (April 3, 2009). "Singers show off: Choirs gear up for festival at Waltham High". Wicked Local Waltham. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
12. Souza, Scott (April 13, 2016). "Waltham's Mackenzy Bernadeau eyes great possibilities with Jacksonville Jaguars". Wicked Local Waltham. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
13. "Rob Chiarelli". Grammy.com. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
14. Keating, Christopher (September 6, 1994). "Pauline Kezer determined to beat the odds". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
15. "Jeff Adam Lazaro". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
16. "Mike Mangini". Drum Solo Artist. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
17. "Tony Massarotti". CBS Local Sports. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
18. Pave, Marvin (April 21, 2011). "Former Braves pitcher Roy dies". Boston.com. The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
19. Zimmerman, Paul. "A Wild and Crazy Guy". Sports Illustrated Vault. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
20. "Joe Zeno". WCATV. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
21. "Harry Dame: Veteran Educator and Talented Coach". Chalkboard Champions. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
22. Megiola, Lenny (April 28, 2011). "Keohane is back as a head coach, this time at Rivers". Boston.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved October 16, 2020.

External links

• Official web site